New T2 - starting to change 55yrs of bad habits

Welcome. It’s going to take time to adjust but your levels aren’t terrible. I was a tad higher at 55mmol and got to low 40’s within a few months just by cutting out the carbs. No medication. Lots of others have done likewise and even better so it’s definitely achievable.
Try focusing on what you can eat. Cheese, cream, bacon are just a few that encouraged me. And look up low carb alternatives for favourites. There are a lot of recipe sites out there to help. And if you look at the end of my message there are a couple,of links that are really useful to newbies explaining lots more and giving yet more very helpful links. Read lots, ask lots and take it a step at a time.

Be aware statins can raise blood glucose and simply reducing the carbs (and therefore your insulin resistance) will lower cholesterol ……and there’s a lot of discussion about ideal levels and how they are measured and evaluated to be had too which is worth digging into if you are taking statins reluctantly.

Cheekturner said:

HbA1c is 53.

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It won't feel like it now but being picked up at a low diagnostic level has been a blessing for some.
It's likely that modest changes will result in great rewards.

Welcome aboard. Don't ever blame yourself for being ill. Plenty of people eat and drink whatever they want to, and don't develop diabetes. It's just the luck of the draw. And many of us have been where you are now, and put our illness into remission. We are all here to share our knowledge and offer a helping hand on those days where one is needed.

Cheekturner said:

At the moment all I can notice are the things I have to give up... But I know that although beer, bread, take aways and crisps are awesome, my body can't process them very well.

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I was the same but now, 2 years on, my tastes and preferences are so far removed from what I used to like that even I am amazed!
I don't miss what I thought I thought I would, and I love my new weight, my new body and my new vitality.
Hold on to the future vision and don't look back

Hello and welcome @Cheekturner

Welcome to the club no one wants to join Having said that you have made a great start. Getting a meter will allow you to work out exactly what level of carbs your body can handle.

When I started I also focussed on what I could no longer have. It's a very normal reaction. Change is hard. But you will find that it does get easier a lot faster than you would think.

Good luck and welcome.

Cheekturner said:

Also finally given into taking statins as total cholesterol now 7.2.

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The total number is fairly meaningless... do you have a full lipid panel breakdown?

Also statins are fairly well know to raise blood sugar levels.. just about the last thing you currently need.

Cheekturner said:

so have decided to start by lowering carbs

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That's the key and maybe cut out a meal .... extending your fasting period can be very beneficial too.

Thank you all for info on statins...I never knew!
I'm a newbie and have found this thread interesting.
Looking to get a meter to improve my health. Any suggestions?

Nikki-616 said:

Thank you all for info on statins...I never knew!
I'm a newbie and have found this thread interesting.
Looking to get a meter to improve my health. Any suggestions?

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@Rachox meter info needed please

Nikki-616 said:

Thank you all for info on statins...I never knew!
I'm a newbie and have found this thread interesting.
Looking to get a meter to improve my health. Any suggestions?

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Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.


HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews if you use this link and select the meter plus 5 packs of strips and then add the code dcuk (all lower case) at check-out, you’ll get the meter free. So total cost for meter + 5 x 50 strips will be £31.76.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/

Links to the strips and the meter for future orders:

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/

There are also discount codes for when you come to buy more strips - "navii5" and "navii10" will give you 20% off purchases of 5 packs of strips and 25% off 10 packs of strips respectively.

Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/

Discount codes for the Code Free strips

5 packs 264086

10 packs 975833



SPIRIT HEALTHCARE have a meter called the Tee2 + found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793

with the strips found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097

Some members have got a free Tee2+ by phoning up to order, with a large order of strips they often throw the meter in for free:

Phone number 0800 8815423


With more expensive strips is their Caresens Dual, this one has the advantage of glucose and ketone testing in one machine, it’s to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/collections/caresens-dual



If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.

Don’t forget to check the box if you have pre diabetes or diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)

Much appreciated Rachox

Cheekturner said:

Thanks @bulkbiker

In my first week of having breakfast in over 20 yes (in order to take my morning pill) I've been pleasantly surprised by the impact on my coffee consumption and size of lunch and subsequent energy in afternoon.

I think dropping lunch a few times a week will certainly be possible.

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Personally I'd ditch breakfast and the pill..but that's just me...

Or take the pill with lunch if you want to keep it so you extend your overnight fast still

Cheekturner said:

Thanks again for all your replies, I'm grateful for your help.

There's so much to take in

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And no rush. It's a marathon not a sprint to get into remission, and stay there.