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New to diabetes.

R

Roy121

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hello everyone.
After a recent medical in work I was told to contact my GP and get tested for diabetes.
I went to docs, had a blood test and received a phone call a few days later from a receptionist asking me to come back in to discuss my diabetes. I said I take it my test is positive to which she replied "did you not know?"
I was obviously concerned and asked when was the next appointment which she replied was two weeks away. I asked her was there nothing sooner as I was worried about the news I'd just received which she replied no. Eventually I got an appointment one week later. In the meantime though I received a letter with a prescription in it telling me to take these twice daily with food. It was Metformin.
The appointment which was last friday turned out to be with the nurses station who told me they were only taking blood to confirm diabetes to which I replied has this not already been confirmed? The nurse said we need to make sure, we will have results back on Monday and if positive you will be brought straight in to see diabetic nurse. I am still waiting on the phone call from them.
All I do know is that I have confirmed type 2 diabetes.
I am scared. I don't know a big lot about this apart from reading on the net this past 2 weeks which I don't really understand a lot of it.
I spoke to the receptionist in docs as I couldn't get the hold of diabetic nurse or doctor who wasn't really much help, telling me to watch what I was eating until I saw the doc.
From initially being told by nurse doing my medical that my blood sugar level was 71 and was supposed to be less than 42, I have been having problems eating. My appetite has gone. I would say I am only eating a third of what I was this time last month. I have lost about 4kg in 3 weeks. The metformin label says take twice daily with meals. I am only managing one a day as I am only eating one proper meal a day and only picking through that.
Before I would eat quite healthy, not a lot of sweet stuff, no fizzy drinks, I would eat fruit with natural yogurt but after reading about how much sugar is in them I'm not even eating them anymore.
I'm lost and worried.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
 
Oh dear .... what an awful experience for you and the receptionist had no right spouting out all that information on the telephone to you!
I was at least asked to come see my doctor to discuss blood test results, and no more than that.
It's a whirlwind at first isn't it. I took a few weeks to come to terms with finding I had type 2 earlier this year but you will find most of your fears unfounded when you speak to folk on this forum and find out how to look after yourself. Don't worry about the decrease in appetite ... it will return. I went the same way upon diagnosis.
Hopefully somene on here will tag Daisy for you with info to help. I'm not too sure how to do that.
Feel free to talk at any time.
 
Hi and welcome @Roy121
I will tag @daisy1 for her to post her helpful info for newcomers.
It is daunting at first so try to take it one step at a time. As far as food is concerned it's the carbs in food that push our blood sugars up. So consider reducing things like bread, pasta, rice and potatoes as well as sugar. There will be a lot of helpful info from Daisy so do come back and ask questions.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. When Daisy1 posts her info it would be well worth your time to read through it thoroughly and follow all the links. At the bottom of the post is a link to the low carb program which will help you choose the best foods to eat. You will also want to purchase a meter and learn how to test. It is easy to do. You will be ok, just take your time and it will all fall into place. Please ask any questions you have here on the forum and someone will always answer. You have found this forum and it is the best possible place for you to be.
 
@Roy121

Hello Roy and welcome to the forum :) Here is the basic information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. It will help you to reduce the carbs in your diet and you can follow the link to the Low Carb Program if you want to try it. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

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 220,000 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 free 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.
 
Hi and welcome. Don't panic as things will be clear over the coming weeks. Note that Metformin can reduce your appetite for a while and change taste but this should fade. There are a lot of things you can still eat including fats and proteins and some carbs. There are a few non-sugar'd yogurts such as Irish fruit yogurts and others but most are loaded with sugar. You will realise just how much sugar is added to our foods and it can be avoided; all carbs are a problem of course unless controlled. A meter will help to guide you. Everything you need to know you will find on these forums so do look and ask.
 
Hi @Roy121 and welcome to the forum. It is a shock when you get that diagnosis and takes a bit of time to get your head around it all. I only ate a tinned salmon with wholemeal bread sandwich in the evening for the first couple of weeks after I was diagnosed. But there is a lot of good advice and support on here and you will find there are lots of things you can eat.
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled. You can bring your blood sugars down. Many of us on here have done that by adopting a Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) approach to eating.
Have a read round the threads and ask anything you want to.
 
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