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nippysweets

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Hi
I am Duncan. Just diagnosed last week with Type 2 and a BG count of 12.9 on the first test but no symptoms that I was aware of apart from the odd twinge in my toes which I've had for 10 yrs at least. I was introduced to this site by a work colleague who was 'shooting up' on insulin at the time.
Already it has proved useful regarding the side effects of Metformin - and here's me blaming the wife's cooking :?
I shall delve further into the site to see what I've got. I had the useful misconceptions - I'm not overweight, relatively fit for my age (55) and don't eat many sweets..diabetes? not me ..must be a mistake? Looks like I'll be giving up the pork pies and peperonni pizza?

Any advice gratefully accepted.

regards
Duncan
 
Hi Duncan and welcome to the forum :) I can remember being very surprised when I was diagnosed too as I didn't have any symptoms either. For a while I didn't believe my diagnosis. Good that you're already finding out useful things like Met side effects and what to do about them. You'll learn a lot on this forum. Here is some basic information, written by Ken and Sue the former monitors, for new members, which should be very useful to you. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like and someone 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.
Click to expand...
 
Welcome Duncan, you have a lot of research and learning to do, T2 is one of those conditions that you have to be pro-active with. there is lots of good advice on here and no doubt you will soon get the standard post that is good reading for all "newbies". (Ah! it's arrived!)

You will need a test meter and test strips, ask your doc. for them but be prepared to be refused, it's a post code lottery I am afraid.

It's quite a simple condition really, lots of carbohydrates make your blood sugars go up. Cutting down the carbs and excercise helps keep them down.

You need to test your blood sugar readings before breakfast, and two hours after food, you will soon get some idea of what you can and cannot eat. Keep a chart with times, how much carb you eat and what foods, then you can quickly see what affects your BGs (Blood Glucose) readings.

Rome was not built in a day, and getting good control will take maybe a couple of months, once you get to where you need to be you can ease off on the testing, I test about once a day now just to keep an eye on things.

So, it's your job to be as pro-active as you can, you have to manage your T2 on a day to day basis, it soon becomes second nature and now I hardly notice, just doing and eating the things that I know I should.

I have found that if your doc. (or Diabetic Specialist Nurse) is aware that you are being pro-active and have a certain level of knowledge you will be encouraged to partake in the decision making.

I am always invited to express my feeling regarding treatment and personal targets. You should have some targets for your Bgs and where you want them to be, probably best to discuss this with your doc. or DSN.

So ask away, there is plenty of good advice here.

H
 
Halli and Daisy1 - thankyou for the prompt replies and the references for further reading. Sounds like I am down for a bit of self experimentation.
I was wondering about testing. The Diabetics nurse didn't offer any free kit but I'll buy one of those Bayer jobs and see how it goes.

Thanks again.
Duncan
 
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