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New to site - Diagnosed with Type 2 recently

dewin

dewin

Newbie
Hello!

I was diagnosed as having Type 2 diabetes a few months ago. It wasn't pleasant news, but I was not devastated either, having had some experience working with people with problems with alcohol and advising individuals on diet, lifestyle etc. It is well known that people with problems with alcohol misuse are at very high risk of developing diabetes. Then suddenly, it hit me that it really isn't something to be taken so lightly! Despite giving sound advice to others... Are these feelings, the sudden realisation that you are diabetic 'normal' after feeling so apathetic (for want of a better word) towards the condition? This apathy has resulted in missed meals on a regular basis. I know the risks of not having a regular, balanced diet, but stress and even depression have contributed to the fact I don't eat so regularly, despite having a very good diet when I do eat.

Does anyone have any advice on all of the above; including emotional and physical health?

I take just 500mg of Metformin twice daily with food.

Leigh
 
Re: Recently Diagnosed - Type 2

Hi leigh,

Someone will be along soon to post the usual advice this forum gives to newly diagnosed type 2's, i've seen this many times and i'm sure you'll find it a great help!

My father had diabetes, so it was always a chance of me inheriting type 1 diabetes, but even when i was diagnosed like you it still comes as a shock!

I think alot of people go through a denial stage, i definately did. I didn't eat right, i didnt even take my insulin properly. Then i realised how poorly it was making me and how much i was missing out on because i was poorly all the time!! at first i thought diabetes had ruined my life. Then with lots of help and support (including fro this site) i began to realise if you work WITH your diabetes it gradually becomes a way of life and feels totally normal to test, inject etc. Almost like getting up and brushing your teeth :)

I can empasise with you in stress and depression affecting your lifestyle. It must seem like a continous loop for you! It is advised to eat regularly and healthy. Also exercise helps too, not just with your diabetes but it may help stress and depression too!

What have your Blood glucose levels been like? This will be a big indicator of how you are doing, if you let us know people can advise on how you could better control diabetes. and i'm sure people have been in the same boat with stress and depression too.

I hope some of this helps a little. Even if its comforting to know your not alone in what you are experiencing.

ebony
 
Ebony... Thank you very much for the reply and for your words of encouragement.

My diet is very good in fact, it is just that when I got depressed recently (I'm in a respite home at the moment for depression), I missed meals. I would eat my breakfast, usually of muesli or porridge with berries and a couple of slices of whole grain toast, take my Metformin then forget to eat for the rest of the day until the evening meal. I was feeling unwell and that feeling of lethargy and drunkeness coupled with the depression had devastating effects and I ended up in this home. It is a lovely place and I've had great support. Through this care and support I am back on track and I am eating regularly. I go home today. Argh!!! Happy to go home, but apprehensive too.

My glucose levels have fluctuated from quite low, as low as 3.5 and close to quite high, as high as 10.5. I do not do home testing, but recently I have been tested a few times a week. I have an appointment for bloods to be taken on Thursday, the second of my 'checkups'.

I'm grateful to you for your reply and I am confident that I can come back to the site for good advice and empathy... That's comforting.

Thanks again

Leigh
 
Herte is the advice we offer to newly diagnosed Type 2's that Ebony refers to. Have a read and see if it matches up with what you say is your h'healthy diet ?'

Here is the advice we 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.

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

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......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 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. 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.

Ken / Sue.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you so much for the reply and for the advice. I am well informed on what foods to eat, but don't always stick to it! I've great cook books... GI diet books etc. I choose not to eat meat, but I do not consider myself a vegetarian as I do eat chicken and turkey occasionally (rarely), and I eat fish fairly regularly. My problem recently was that I forgot to eat during the day; a result of depression...

I would be very grateful for some advice on any links between depression and the effects of sugar (or the lack of) on depression. I have plowed the Internet for such information, but without much success or rather, without coming across any reliable scientific evidence.

Thank you again for your valuable advice... It has given me the impetus to try and stick to a regular diet.

Best wishes

Leigh
 
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