New joiner, new type 2, introduction

[Dougie22]

Hi everybody,

Just thought I'd introduce myself. I've just signed up this minute. I've used forums on other (non health) subjects and always found them very useful, especially with unusual questions. I intend to read a load of postings first to get a feel for things and look to see if you have "sticky" topics - used elsewhere to keep common issues near the top of the lists. I have found that its usually easier to ask the questionagain than spend two nights trying to find someone who has asked it before and got an answer. Is that the same here?

I'm 57 and have come down from 19 stone to about 17.5 stone over the last few months while my diagnosis of type 2 was being formed and immediately afterwards. My first A1C has come in at 7.8 and I'm trying to lose weight and eat well to try to stay away from medication. I was diagnosed in March by two fasting readings, the first of 10.5, then 8.8. I've been for all the usual tests and these are all negative so far (ecg, feet, eyes) and I've seen the dietician. My doctor is wholly against home meters (relying on A1C only) and that put me off, but I've decided to go ahead anyway and bought one today. First trial test, three hours after a reasonable lunch gave 10.8 but I'll do a fasting one for a couple of days before starting before or after meal tests. I think most of my early questions are going to be about what these numbers mean, what's good and bad and how to get them down! It would be great if someone could direct me to an existing thread that talks through specific reading numbers and peoples experiences.

Some other background is that I've had an extremely high cholesterol level for years (currently 8.0) but have had bad experiences on three different statins so I'm now a "statin refuser". I know it's not recommended but its my body after all.

I am an active gym member and now semi retired so I've been able to up my exercise to a good level and I'm going two to three times a week.

No time to do much further reading just now but I'll get back to it after the weekend.

Many thanks to all those who devote their time and energy to answering the same questions over and again. These forums wouldn't work without you.

Cheers

Dougie22

 

[Dougie22]

Hi again,

Can't find a way to edit my post, but I've found the stickies, thanks.

Dougie

 

[daisy1]

Hi Dougie and welcome to the forum You did the right thing to get yourself a test kit. You are certainly going the right way about looking after yourself. The Forum Monitors have written some basic information for new members which I think is the sort of thing you are looking for. Have a good look around and ask as many questions as you like as there's always someone who will know the answer.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.

 

[IanD]

Welcome to the club no-one wants to join. I hope you find the help you need here. You're talking to people who have years of experience, rather than professions who only know what they have been taught.

I was diagnosed at 60 with similar readings - HBA=8, cholesterol=7.6.

I also couldn't take statins, but I have reduced chol to around 5 using Flora pro-active & oat bran. My diet is fairly low carb. At 72 I am well, fit & active. I thank advice from this forum to directing me to a low carb diet. For 7 years I followed the standard "healthy diet" involving a high proportion of starchy carbs, & the complications were beginning - crippling muscle pains & extreme tiredness. The last 3 years on low carb & the complications have gone.

My report on the X-PERT diabetes course is here.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hi Dougie and welcome to the forum

I think most of my early questions are going to be about what these numbers mean, what's good and bad and how to get them down! It would be great if someone could direct me to an existing thread that talks through specific reading numbers and peoples experiences

The NICE recommendations tell you the maximum they should be for a Type 2 diabetic.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

As to how to get there, the earlier post by daisy has all you need to get started, simply by testing before and 2 hours after every meal and reducing the carb content of your meals till you reach those figures. Buying yourself a smaller diner plate so it still looks full is a great way to start reducing your meal portions to healthier levels, almost all non diabetics eat too much nowadays hence the increase in the weight of the general population.

Theres loads of useful stuff here to help you reach your personal targets both in weight loss and blood glucose (bg) control.

Good luck

 

[jwilki]

Hi Dougie and welcome to the forum.
Have a good look around there is so much accurate and useful information to help you to adjust to this.
Good luck

 

[Dougie22]

Hi again,

Many thanks for the initial information. I've managed to read everything you've sent me to but I'll need to have more time to have a wider look round the forum.

So far, the forum's key messages seem to be:

1. Get a meter, use it and try to understand how you react to various foods, especially carbohydrates.

2. Try to convince your doctor to support the above point of view and, preferably, prescribe strips (and lancets?) for you. (I have so far failed in this with the diabetic specialist doctor in my group surgery.)

3. Carbs are far more important than stated in the official NHS literature and as described by the dietician (although she did reduce the carbs from 1/3 plate on the official literature "Healthy Living with Diabetes" to 1/4 plate).

4. The main way to get your BG levels down to within the recommended range is to reduce the intake of carbs.

5. The "two hours after eating" reading should be below 8.5 (my brand new NHS leaflet "My Diabetes" says this reading should be kept below 10!)

Have I got this broadly right?

My overnight fasting reading from my meter(two days) is 7.9/7.8 (I know about the dawn effect) so it looks like I have some way to go before I can have a good overnight reading. I have done one full days testing. It will take some time before I can draw any conclusions regarding food reactions but there are already indications that including bread and potatoes in a meal gives much higher 2 hour readings (over 12 in one case) than bulger wheat and bean salads.

If I have a really good day, will my overnight (fasting) reading come down or will this typically only come down significantly after weight loss?

I've addded a signature which kind of sums up my approach. I am a bit of a cynic regarding the advice on health matters from NHS/HCPs, especially their view on "preventative" medicines like statins, so I guess I'll fit in here :? :?

 

[primmers]

I find that good control the day before lowers the next mornings fasting sugar reading and a run of well controlled days results in a trend for the fasting sugar readings to get lower as well.

By the way, welcome aboard

 

[lister]

Welcome aboard Dougie.

 

[Dougie22]

Hi,

I've had a god look round the forum now.

The responders seem to be doing an excellent job of answering peoples questions regardless of which part of the forum they post them. This can't be easy.

I'm aware that I've asked a few implied questions above - should I move them to the questions section or ask my new ones there? Or does the continuity of keeping all mine together help?

Can I also say that I realise that my situation as a newly diagnosed type 2 is much better than that of some of the memmbers who need immediate authoritative help. I am a little humbled and happy to wait for answers. You are providing an excellent service. Thanks.

 

[daisy1]

Hi Dougie I think your questions would get more attention if you posted them again with some details if possible and choose the appropriate forum to put them. Ask a Question is always a good place if you can't find another forum that is relevant. That way you will get answers from people who are interested and knowledgeable about the subject who only look at particular forums.