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New type 2
- Thread starter Rhi76
- Start Date
ajbod
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the club you never expected to join.
They will tell you that you don't need to test, (YOU DO) if you want to control your diabetes and stop progression. That way they don't have to fund it, unless you're on Insulin.
You have to be able to know what foods affect YOUR blood sugar levels. We are all different, and different Carbohydrates in different amounts trigger us. as a type 2 diabetic we are essentially intolerant of carbohydrates to a greater or lesser extent. A Glucometer will tell you which foods to either cut down or avoid. As a rule of thumb potatoes, bread, pasta, rice and most fruits apart from small amounts of berries.
Do you know your Hba1c score, this will tell you how far over the level of 48 which brings a diagnosis. a small amount over will need less intervention to get it back in line.
As to the diabetic nurse, if your very lucky they might actually know a reasonable amount about the condition, but don't hold your breath.
If they start talking about wholegrains and brown rice etc politely nod and basically ignore it, ALL carbs are a problem whatever colour.
They will probably weigh you, measure you, they may look at your feet. Test your blood pressure, basically a mini MOT.
An appointment will most likely be made for an eye test, to check for any signs of damage which is caused by raised sugar levels, which as you are now diagnosed you have probably had for some time without realising.
If you suffer from upset bowels due to the metformin, taking it with food can help, and it usually passes in a few days, but not always. If so ask for slow release metformin.
Above all else DON'T be afraid to ask anything, we're all in the same boat, we all had to learn, and accept that it's all very new to you. So no question is stupid or irritating, and the discussions that ensue teach us all some new things.
Diabetes seems to be affected by everything to some degree so things can constantly change, but it's reassuring to find someone else who has had the same experience as ourselves.
They will tell you that you don't need to test, (YOU DO) if you want to control your diabetes and stop progression. That way they don't have to fund it, unless you're on Insulin.
You have to be able to know what foods affect YOUR blood sugar levels. We are all different, and different Carbohydrates in different amounts trigger us. as a type 2 diabetic we are essentially intolerant of carbohydrates to a greater or lesser extent. A Glucometer will tell you which foods to either cut down or avoid. As a rule of thumb potatoes, bread, pasta, rice and most fruits apart from small amounts of berries.
Do you know your Hba1c score, this will tell you how far over the level of 48 which brings a diagnosis. a small amount over will need less intervention to get it back in line.
As to the diabetic nurse, if your very lucky they might actually know a reasonable amount about the condition, but don't hold your breath.
If they start talking about wholegrains and brown rice etc politely nod and basically ignore it, ALL carbs are a problem whatever colour.
They will probably weigh you, measure you, they may look at your feet. Test your blood pressure, basically a mini MOT.
An appointment will most likely be made for an eye test, to check for any signs of damage which is caused by raised sugar levels, which as you are now diagnosed you have probably had for some time without realising.
If you suffer from upset bowels due to the metformin, taking it with food can help, and it usually passes in a few days, but not always. If so ask for slow release metformin.
Above all else DON'T be afraid to ask anything, we're all in the same boat, we all had to learn, and accept that it's all very new to you. So no question is stupid or irritating, and the discussions that ensue teach us all some new things.
Diabetes seems to be affected by everything to some degree so things can constantly change, but it's reassuring to find someone else who has had the same experience as ourselves.
Thank you both @ajbod thats all very helpful thank you . I feel a bit scared of the metformin after reading about it causing the runs etc .
Also more advice on diet / nutrition the better I mean what if we cut / reduce carbs what do we use to feel full ? Snack on as even fruits are a no no . It just feels like pretty much everything is now not allowed
Also more advice on diet / nutrition the better I mean what if we cut / reduce carbs what do we use to feel full ? Snack on as even fruits are a no no . It just feels like pretty much everything is now not allowed
Lobsang Tsultim
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 526
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Snacks: cheese, olives, pork scratching, nuts, sliced meat, peanut butter on a celery stick, pickled eggs! Lots of choice really. We make sure we don’t feel hungry by eating moderate amounts of protein and good healthy fats. Salads are a great delivery system for some quality olive oil or homemade mayo. In fact it’s surprising how many meals are suitable for adding mayo to. Check out this site, diet doctor and the Freshwell Project for recipe ideas.
catinahat
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,446
- Location
- Halesowen
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Reality tv
Yes it can be a bit daunting at first but you really don't need to change everything in one day. Take time, make gradual changes, you will soon get the hang of it, it's not that difficult.
You need to change your thinking about food, we all get so used to what we eat it can be difficult to think of alternatives. When first diagnosed for me breakfast was cereals or porridge, maybe toast. Lunch was a sandwich.
Now if I eat breakfast which is not very often, it will be bacon, eggs, leftovers from my evening meal, full fat yoghurt and a few berries. For lunch I just have whatever would have gone on the sandwich but more of it with some salad. For main meals, I've alway been a meat and two veg sort of bloke, I still am just don't have any high carb/starchy veg like spuds or parsnips. I have lots of whatever meat with mainly above ground leafy veg, with a nice knob of butter on my veg instead of gravy.
It's not the best ides to snack because every time you eat your pancreas is forced to churn out even more insulin, not eating so often, even cutting out a meal if you can gives your pancreas a much needed break.
If you are hungry though and feel you need something, cheese, olives, boiled eggs, nuts, slices of cooked meat, any thing as long as it's not beige carby nutritionally poor rubbish.
ajbod
Well-Known Member
When it comes to food there are 3 macro-nutrients, Protein, fat and carbohydrates. imagine a pie chart in 3 segments for each one. The whole adds up to the calories your body requires to function properly.
If you reduce one segment, then either 1 or both others need to increase to fill the pie. so if you reduce your carbohydrate calories by say 400. then you need 400 calories of protein, fat or both.
If you go low enough on your carb intake you should enter a state of dietetic ketosis, this is where your body uses primarily fat as it's fuel source.
Then if you have weight to lose you can reduce your calorie intake and your body will burn stored fat to compensate for the shortfall.
Provided you do not stick to a religious amount of calories for any extended time, your metabolism will not slow down to match the calories consumed. This way any weight loss can continue unabated ( and if going well is usually rather rapid).
If you do go the Keto route as many on here have, forget calories they are virtually meaningless. Eat when you're hungry only, and you will probably find yourself missing several meals as you just didn't need them.
Avoid snacking, as each time we eat, we induce an Insulin response. And due to type 2 we are all usually Hyperinsuliemic (too much Insulin), which causes fat storage and blocks stored fat burning. That's why we gained weight prior to diagnosis (not because we were greedy fat gits) as the media would like you to think, it's a symptom.
The human body NEEDS NO CARBOHYDRATES at all. There is not 1 single essential vitamin or mineral within them, The small amount of sugar our bodies need for the brain, can easily be produced by our livers converting fat to glucose.
As to the Metformin remember you only hear the horror stories, you don't hear of the millions worldwide who don't have problems.
If you reduce one segment, then either 1 or both others need to increase to fill the pie. so if you reduce your carbohydrate calories by say 400. then you need 400 calories of protein, fat or both.
If you go low enough on your carb intake you should enter a state of dietetic ketosis, this is where your body uses primarily fat as it's fuel source.
Then if you have weight to lose you can reduce your calorie intake and your body will burn stored fat to compensate for the shortfall.
Provided you do not stick to a religious amount of calories for any extended time, your metabolism will not slow down to match the calories consumed. This way any weight loss can continue unabated ( and if going well is usually rather rapid).
If you do go the Keto route as many on here have, forget calories they are virtually meaningless. Eat when you're hungry only, and you will probably find yourself missing several meals as you just didn't need them.
Avoid snacking, as each time we eat, we induce an Insulin response. And due to type 2 we are all usually Hyperinsuliemic (too much Insulin), which causes fat storage and blocks stored fat burning. That's why we gained weight prior to diagnosis (not because we were greedy fat gits) as the media would like you to think, it's a symptom.
The human body NEEDS NO CARBOHYDRATES at all. There is not 1 single essential vitamin or mineral within them, The small amount of sugar our bodies need for the brain, can easily be produced by our livers converting fat to glucose.
As to the Metformin remember you only hear the horror stories, you don't hear of the millions worldwide who don't have problems.
