New Diagnosis - Home Testing

dewbod1975 said:

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with (I think) T2 Diabetes on 15/02. I say 'I think' as its not been confirmed yet but that is my assumption.

Still getting my head round it but I'm on Metformin at the moment to bring down by blood sugar and I'll do that alongside dietry changes. I'm not overweight and an already active so in terms of weight loss / increase in activity, theres no major changes I can make there (unless someone tells me otherwise).

In terms of diet, I obviously need to lower my sugar intake and would like advice of what is the best meter to buy for home testing. I'd like to be able to monitor what different foods do to my BS and rule things in / out accordingly.

Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Hi @dewbod1975 ,

Welcome! I'll tag @daisy1 for her info sheet, and I'll add my own nutrition thingy below. Right now though: Metformin tells your liver to cool it with the glucose dumping. (Usually in the morning, it's called Dawn Phenomenon). It doesn't actually do anything about what you've eaten. As for cutting sugars, well... You'll read it below. Best tip I can give you: get a meter. It makes life a whole lot easier.

There’s a few things you should know.

1. Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested, so not just straight sugars, but starches too. Food doesn’t have to taste sweet to make your blood sugars skyrocket.

2. A meter helps you know what foods agree with you, and which don’t. Test before and 2 hours after the first bite. If you go up more than 2.0 mmol/l, the meal was carbier than you could handle. (It’s easy to remember, as you’re a T2: all 2’s, all over the place!)

3. In case you didn’t know already, this isn’t your fault. It’s genetics, medication, decades of bad dietary advice, and basically all manner of things, but nothing you can actually blame yourself for.

4. Diabetes T2 is a progressive condition, unless you (also) change your diet. So you have options. Diet-only, diet with medication, or medication only. But that last option will most likely mean more medication over the years. (And there is more than just metformin, so if it doesn’t agree with you, there’s lots of others to try). So even if going really low carb isn’t for you, you might consider moderately low carb an option, with meds to assist.

5. Are you overweight? 90% of T2’s are. Yeah, that means 10% are slim and always were. If you did gain weight, it was the precursor of this metabolic condition. We make loads of insulin, but become insensitive to it. So carbs we eat turn to glucose, and normally, insulin helps us burn that glucose for fuel. When it doesn’t, that glucose is stored in fat cells instead. When those fat stores are full, the glucose remains in our bloodstream, overflowing, into our eyes, tears, urine, saliva… And then we’re T2’s. So weight gain is a symptom, not a cause. This also means that “regular” dietary advice doesn’t work for us. The problem lies in our inability to process carbs. And most diets focus on lowering fats and upping carb intake. Which is the direct opposite of what a T2, or prediabetic, for that matter, needs.

6. There are 3 macro-nutrients. Fats, protein and carbohydrates. Those macro’s mean we get the micro-nutrients we need: that would be vitamins and minerals. So… If you ditch the carbs, you should up another macro-nutrient to compensate, to make sure you don’t get malnourished or vitamin deficient. Carbs make our blood sugars rise. Protein too, but nowhere near as bad as carbs do, so they’re alright in moderation. Fats however… Fats are as good as a glucose-flatline. Better yet, they’ll mitigate the effects of any carbs we do ingest, slowing down their uptake and thus the sugar-spike. Contrary to what we’ve been told for decades; fats are our friends.

7. Worried about cholesterol? On a low carb diet, your cholesterol may rise a little as you start to lose weight. That’s a good thing though. (Believe it or not). What was already there, stored in your body, is starting to head for the exit, and for that it’ll go into your bloodstream first. So when you have lost weight and it stabilises, so will your cholesterol. And it’ll probably be lower than what it was before you started out.

8. You’ll lose weight on a low carb diet. Weight loss will help with your insulin-resistance, and not only that… Going low carb might help with other issues as well, like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and depression.

9. Always ask for your test results. You don’t know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you’ve been.

10. Last, but certainly not least: If you are on medication that has hypoglycemia listed as a side-effect, like Gliclazide for instance, do NOT attempt a LCHF diet without a meter nor your doctors’ knowledge/assistance. You can drop blood glucose levels too far, too fast, if your dosage isn’t adjusted accordingly. This could mean a lower dose in stages or even stopping medication completely. Never do this without discussing it with your doctor first!


So what raises blood sugars? Aside from the obvious (sugar), starches raise blood glucose too. So bread, and anything made with grain/oats flour, rice, potatoes, pasta, corn, cereals (including all the “healthy choices”, like Weetabix and muesli), most beans and most fruits. So you’ll want to limit your intake, or scratch them altogether.

Which food items remain on the shopping list? Well, meat, fish, poultry, above ground veggies/leafy greens, eggs, cheese, heavy cream, full fat Greek yoghurt, full fat milk, extra dark chocolate (85% Lindt’s is great!), avocado, (whole) tomatoes, berries, olives, nuts, that sort of thing… Meal ideas? Have a couple:

Scrambled eggs with bacon, cheese, mushrooms, tomato, maybe some high meat content sausages?
Eggs with ham, bacon and cheese
Omelet with spinach and/or smoked salmon
Omelet with cream, cinnamon, with some berries and coconut shavings
Full fat Greek yoghurt with nuts and berries
Leafy green salad with a can of tuna (oil, not brine!), mayonnaise, capers, olives and avocado
Leafy green salad with (warmed goat's) cheese and bacon, maybe a nice vinaigrette?
Meat, fish or poultry with veggies. I usually go for cauliflower rice or broccoli rice, with cheese and bacon to bulk it up. Never the same meal twice in a row because of various herbs/spices.

Snacks? Pork scratchings, cheese, olives, extra dark chocolate, nuts.

Of course, there’s loads more on the web, for people more adventurous than I. (Which is pretty much everyone). Just google whatever you want to make and add “keto” to it, and you’ll get a low carb version. There’s a lot of recipes on the diabetes.co.uk website, as well as on www.dietdoctor.com where you’ll also find visual (carb content) guides and videos. And I can wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Jason Fung’s book The Diabetes Code. It’ll help you understand what’s going on in your body and how to tackle it, whilst not being a dry read. Not only that, but you’ll know what to ask your doctor, and you’ll understand the answers, which is, I believe, quite convenient.

dewbod1975 said:

Hi @JoKalsbeek . Thanks for the welcome and the information. Much appreciated! I had no idea what Metformin actually did so thanks for confirming. I just got told to take it with no real explanation of what it does, side effects etc. And I'm due to see a (I assume) diabetic nurse in a couple of weeks so at the moment I'm in the dark and just guessing at what sort stuff I should be eating / not eating.

And would you have any recommendations for a meter? I've had a little look online and there's lots of choice. Are the all much of a muchness?

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Hey Dewbod,

Well, Metformin, if you check the leaflet meant for doctors (dunno if it's in the patient leaflet too), should be given after 3 to 6 months of a diet change, if it has failed to improve numbers. Barely anyone knows that, and certainly isn't advised that. I sure wasn't, just got put straight on, without even being seen. (My own GP was on holiday). For me, the side effects were brutal... Never left the loo again. It is supposed to be better if you take it with food though. And there's a slow release version to, should there be bowel issues... But , well, for me, it was enough to look for alternatives, and as it turned out, going low carb suited me fine. Have been off the meds (was switched to gliclazide after the metformin fiasco), and off the statins too, three months into the diet change. Have had non-diabetic numbers since.

Which would've been next to impossible without a meter. And while meters are cheap, the strips sure aren't! My pharmacy doesn't carry anything other than the Contour TS. I have four of them, and they work fine, but the strips cost an arm and a leg. And especially in the beginning, you're going to use a lot of those while you figure our what food works for you and which don't. (I spent 1000 euro's that first year. Thankfully, now I know what's what, I don't have to test often anymore. Just when I'm feeling off or need to know where I'm at when we eat out or I've been a little more active than usual. So it does level out after a while.). https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose-meters/sd-codefree-blood-glucose-meter.html and https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose-meters/spirit-healthcare-tee2.html have cheap strips though. @bluetit, what was the discount code thing again?

In any case... You might want to start out ordering at least 200 strips in one go. You'll go through them fast that first month. I wish you and your fingers all the best.
Jo

@dewbod1975 welcome to the club and the forum.
Whilst type 1 is often thought of as "a childhood diseases" more than 50% of people with type 1 were diagnosed older than 20 years old.
You say the type of your condition has not been confirmed but you have been put on Metformin. I understand this is rare (but not unknown) for someone with type 1 so your doctor may already be making assumptions based on your age. What is being done to confirm the type?

dewbod1975 said:

what is the best meter to buy for home testing. I'd like to be able to monitor what different foods do to my BS and rule things in / out accordingly.
Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Welcome to the forum @dewbod. It is useful to get a bg meter for self testing. Many manufacturers will give you a free bg meter, but the main cost is the ongoing cost of testing strips which can work out at 40-50p per test.
The cheapest in terms of testing strips are the SD Codefree (which some report as inaccurate) and the TEE2+ meter. I use the TEE2+, which costs £9.99 - but if you phone the suppliers Spirit Healthcare they might send you a free meter. The test strips cost £7.75 for 50. You do get 10 free strips with the meter, but it's best to order at least 50 more strips when you order the meter.
Remember to tick the box to say you are diabetic as you will then be exempt from VAT.
Contact details are here:

@dewbod1975 do you know what your HbA1c (blood test) figure was? If not you should find out from your gp surgery so you know where you are starting from.

Hi @dewbod1975,

I too was diagnosed with T2 last week following a blood test requested by myself after my vision became blurry over the last month. Absolutely terrified of the eyesight issue. Been diagnosed Metformin and started today. Really want to explore the possibility of reversing this with low carb diet and weight loss (I am around 10-15kg overweight). First day on Metformin has not been pleasant.
Like you, doctor was pretty sketchy about anything other than taking the Metformin. I am not sure what my HbA1C level was but I think she said 11.0.
I am so glad I signed up here this evening as felt really alone in this process, everyone here seems so friendly and helpful.
How are you finding the Metformin?

dewbod1975 said:

Hi @Prem51 . Thanks for the replies and information about the meter. I'll order one asap.

In terms of my HbA1c, I think it was 84? Does that sound about right? I'll contact them and confirm.

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Are you in England? If so, your surgery is supposed to put blood test results on line, but you do have to register for this facility at your surgery. Meanwhile, I do suggest you phone the surgery and ask the receptionist for a print out of your test results. You are entitled to these. There will be a lot of useful information on there. Not just blood sugar levels but also anything else you were tested for such as cholesterol, liver & kidney functions etc. It is vital you have this information, and best you have it before you see the nurse. You then have all the same information that she has.

dewbod1975 said:

BUT...I am conscious that this could see a real drop off in BS levels so I don't want to go too far the other way. I would have no really way of telling if my BS levels were too low. And I've had no specific dietary information from my GP (apart from reduce sugar!) so should I continue eating as I normally was alongside taking the Metformin or continue to reduce sugar / carbs as well?

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Metformin is a very mild drug. You are extremely unlikely to see low blood sugar levels. It doesn't work that way. There is no need to worry. As for continuing to eat as you normally do ....... why? No time like the present to get this disease under control.

dewbod1975 said:

Hi @helensaramay .
. And I've had no specific dietary information from my GP (apart from reduce sugar!) so should I continue eating as I normally was alongside taking the Metformin or continue to reduce sugar / carbs as well?

Click to expand...

If you can get hold of a meter with cheap strips you should soon see lower blood glucose levels if you avoid eating carbohydrates, that is starches and sugars. Lucky type twos can return to normal levels of glucose quite quickly and get Hba1cs in the normal range after a few months eating low carb. If you do not remove the problem of too high a carb intake for your body to cope with, then blood glucose will spike after eating.

Welcome to the forum @Hope55 The gastric side effects of the Metaformin should subside after a week or two, but if they don't ask your GP for the slow release version which is supposed to have less unpleasant side effects.

Prem51 said:

Welcome to the forum @Hope55 The gastric side effects of the Metaformin should subside after a week or two, but if they don't ask your GP for the slow release version which is supposed to have less unpleasant side effects.

Click to expand...

Thanks very much @Prem51 , will see how day 2 goes!

@dewbod1975
Hello and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and helpful.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

Hope55 said:

Hi @dewbod1975,

I too was diagnosed with T2 last week following a blood test requested by myself after my vision became blurry over the last month. Absolutely terrified of the eyesight issue. Been diagnosed Metformin and started today. Really want to explore the possibility of reversing this with low carb diet and weight loss (I am around 10-15kg overweight). First day on Metformin has not been pleasant.
Like you, doctor was pretty sketchy about anything other than taking the Metformin. I am not sure what my HbA1C level was but I think she said 11.0.
I am so glad I signed up here this evening as felt really alone in this process, everyone here seems so friendly and helpful.
How are you finding the Metformin?

Click to expand...

Your eyesight'll stabilise after a while, when you get your bloodsugars down. The glucose in your eyeballs distorts your vision, and as that changes, so will your sight; don't buy any glasses for now (except maybe cheap reading ones), as it'd just be money down the drain.

Metformin was hell for me, and it didn't get better after 2 weeks for me, alas... But there's so much more you can do to get your bloodsugars down. Metformin just affects how much glucose is dumped into our bloodstream by our liver, usually as we wake (It helps us get energy to start the day), but it doesn't do anything for what you eat. I'll post my little nutrition thing, maybe it'll be useful, maybe not, but thought maybe you'd be interested.

There’s a few things you should know.

1. Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested, so not just straight sugars, but starches too. Food doesn’t have to taste sweet to make your blood sugars skyrocket.

2. A meter helps you know what foods agree with you, and which don’t. Test before and 2 hours after the first bite. If you go up more than 2.0 mmol/l, the meal was carbier than you could handle. (It’s easy to remember, as you’re a T2: all 2’s, all over the place!)

3. In case you didn’t know already, this isn’t your fault. It’s genetics, medication, decades of bad dietary advice, and basically all manner of things, but nothing you can actually blame yourself for.

4. Diabetes T2 is a progressive condition, unless you (also) change your diet. So you have options. Diet-only, diet with medication, or medication only. But that last option will most likely mean more medication over the years. (And there is more than just metformin, so if it doesn’t agree with you, there’s lots of others to try). So even if going really low carb isn’t for you, you might consider moderately low carb an option, with meds to assist.

5. Are you overweight? 90% of T2’s are. Yeah, that means 10% are slim and always were. If you did gain weight, it was the precursor of this metabolic condition. We make loads of insulin, but become insensitive to it. So carbs we eat turn to glucose, and normally, insulin helps us burn that glucose for fuel. When it doesn’t, that glucose is stored in fat cells instead. When those fat stores are full, the glucose remains in our bloodstream, overflowing, into our eyes, tears, urine, saliva… And then we’re T2’s. So weight gain is a symptom, not a cause. This also means that “regular” dietary advice doesn’t work for us. The problem lies in our inability to process carbs. And most diets focus on lowering fats and upping carb intake. Which is the direct opposite of what a T2, or prediabetic, for that matter, needs.

6. There are 3 macro-nutrients. Fats, protein and carbohydrates. Those macro’s mean we get the micro-nutrients we need: that would be vitamins and minerals. So… If you ditch the carbs, you should up another macro-nutrient to compensate, to make sure you don’t get malnourished or vitamin deficient. Carbs make our blood sugars rise. Protein too, but nowhere near as bad as carbs do, so they’re alright in moderation. Fats however… Fats are as good as a glucose-flatline. Better yet, they’ll mitigate the effects of any carbs we do ingest, slowing down their uptake and thus the sugar-spike. Contrary to what we’ve been told for decades; fats are our friends.

7. Worried about cholesterol? On a low carb diet, your cholesterol may rise a little as you start to lose weight. That’s a good thing though. (Believe it or not). What was already there, stored in your body, is starting to head for the exit, and for that it’ll go into your bloodstream first. So when you have lost weight and it stabilises, so will your cholesterol. And it’ll probably be lower than what it was before you started out.

8. You’ll lose weight on a low carb diet. Weight loss will help with your insulin-resistance, and not only that… Going low carb might help with other issues as well, like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and depression.

9. Always ask for your test results. You don’t know where you’re going, if you don’t know where you’ve been.

10. Last, but certainly not least: If you are on medication that has hypoglycemia listed as a side-effect, like Gliclazide for instance, do NOT attempt a LCHF diet without a meter nor your doctors’ knowledge/assistance. You can drop blood glucose levels too far, too fast, if your dosage isn’t adjusted accordingly. This could mean a lower dose in stages or even stopping medication completely. Never do this without discussing it with your doctor first!


So what raises blood sugars? Aside from the obvious (sugar), starches raise blood glucose too. So bread, and anything made with grain/oats flour, rice, potatoes, pasta, corn, cereals (including all the “healthy choices”, like Weetabix and muesli), most beans and most fruits. So you’ll want to limit your intake, or scratch them altogether.

Which food items remain on the shopping list? Well, meat, fish, poultry, above ground veggies/leafy greens, eggs, cheese, heavy cream, full fat Greek yoghurt, full fat milk, extra dark chocolate (85% Lindt’s is great!), avocado, (whole) tomatoes, berries, olives, nuts, that sort of thing… Meal ideas? Have a couple:

Scrambled eggs with bacon, cheese, mushrooms, tomato, maybe some high meat content sausages?
Eggs with ham, bacon and cheese
Omelet with spinach and/or smoked salmon
Omelet with cream, cinnamon, with some berries and coconut shavings
Full fat Greek yoghurt with nuts and berries
Leafy green salad with a can of tuna (oil, not brine!), mayonnaise, capers, olives and avocado
Leafy green salad with (warmed goat's) cheese and bacon, maybe a nice vinaigrette?
Meat, fish or poultry with veggies. I usually go for cauliflower rice or broccoli rice, with cheese and bacon to bulk it up. Never the same meal twice in a row because of various herbs/spices.

Snacks? Pork scratchings, cheese, olives, extra dark chocolate, nuts.

Of course, there’s loads more on the web, for people more adventurous than I. (Which is pretty much everyone). Just google whatever you want to make and add “keto” to it, and you’ll get a low carb version. There’s a lot of recipes on the diabetes.co.uk website, as well as on www.dietdoctor.com where you’ll also find visual (carb content) guides and videos. And I can wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Jason Fung’s book The Diabetes Code. It’ll help you understand what’s going on in your body and how to tackle it, whilst not being a dry read. Not only that, but you’ll know what to ask your doctor, and you’ll understand the answers, which is, I believe, quite convenient.

Thanks very much @JoKalsbeek - this is very useful. I have been following this low sugar/carb plan religiously for three days now....and it may be my imagination but I am sure there is a slight improvement in my vision already! Blinding headaches every morning at 4am, think my body is just missing sugar.