Newbee

Yes diagnosis is tough, lots of emotions, disbelief, guilt, blame, we know what you're going through.
The first thing you need to realise is that it's not your fault, you didn't cause your diabetes by eating the same diet as most other people. And despite what you may read in our wonderful press it's not particularly because you carry a few extra pounds either. There are millions of overweight people who don't have T2 diabetes, and lots of skinny people who do.
No one gets a free ride through life without getting ill with something and there are many things worse than T2.
At least with T2 your future health is pretty much in your own hands if your willing to change your diet and give up a few of your favorite foods.
Take your time, read around the forum, come up with a plan, you'll be fine

teedee501 said:

Hi , I’m a 55 yr old man that’s just been diagnosed with type 2 two weeks ago, I’ve started my metformin but I’m still struggling to come to terms with this diagnosis , If I’m honest my diet over last 10 years has been terrible but recently I’ve lost a stone and turned my diet around 100% …. But mentally I’m struggling …. Anyone else have similar feelings ??

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At the two week stage after my T2 diagnosis I was despondent. I also rued the fact that I was quite ignorant about nutrition and particularly carbohydrates. What helped was seeing some relatively quick results after taking action (cutting out carbs as much as possible being the key one). I'm still just a couple of years into my journey after diagnosis, but I take heart from the many folks on here who have managed their T2 for several years without further complications arising...some I think are nearing a decade or so....

Contrary to what everyone has been told for years was a healthy diet, you now realise it WASN'T.
People who are fat and not diabetic, are usually diabetics in waiting, granted some people are just fat!
You must by now also have realised that this has been building up for years. Insulin resistance is the problem, and is what caused the weight gain. The weight didn't cause diabetes, it's a symptom. as is raised blood sugar levels.
That diagnosis is a kick in the guts, but it's also a kick up the backside. Now is the time where YOU can shape your future health for the best.
As a type 2 we're usually awash with Insulin, as our system tries valiantly to overcome the resistance. Unfortunately more Insulin causes more resistance.
This is why lots of us do low carb, as the reduction in carbs, leads to a reduction in Insulin, which leads to a reduction in resistance, and better handling of blood sugar levels. The only way we can monitor this, is by measuring our blood sugars. As, if we can keep them as close to normal levels as possible, and we're all different here, then we know the Insulin levels will be as low as we can get them.
This way most of us are hoping to stave off more and more medication, for as long as possible.
Diabetes to us is a war, which we can never win, there is no cure, but with help from people here who have been fighting the battles, and gained insight into what can work. You can win each battle as it comes along.
By being inquisitive about the condition, you will rapidly reach a point where you know what works for you, and probably know more than the health care professionals who supposedly look after you, unless your very lucky.
Ask anything you want, we all had to before you, and nobody here judges anyone. No question is stupid, if you don't know, the only way to learn is ask.
Never be despondent if something doesn't work for you, someone will have another thing to try until the right answer comes up.

Got to be honest with you teedee501
dieticians may know the difference between a chicken salad and a cake, but they don't usually have much of a clue about diabetes
It takes a while to figure things out but basically it's all about the carbohydrates.
The good stuff in your diet is the chicken, steak, bolognese and salad.
The stuff causing your high blood sugar will be the fruit, porridge and pasta.
Most fruit is full of sugar, porridge is high in carbs and so is pasta, your dietician may think wholemeal is healthier, and it probably is for non diabetics. But our bodies can't see the colour of the pasta, it just sees the carbs.

teedee501 said:

Catinahat …. This could be quite true , but unfortunately carbs used to be my favourite food group ….lol….. I miss carbs

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You are not alone, every one of us has had to make difficult choices and sacrifice our favorite foods.
My Kryptonite has always been fruit and bread, but it's only when you stop eating the carbs you realise how addictive they are.
On the plus side though , avoiding carbs forces you to be inventive with your meal planning, try different foods, discover new favorites.
I will still very occasionally have fruit, but now I see it as a treat, something to be enjoyed, savoured, usually as desert to an extremely low carb meal. Definitely not a snack or something I just mindlessly eat just because I can

I thought I'd really miss the "healthy carbs" that were not healthy for T2s. Turned out I didn't miss them at all. It took a couple of months for me to stop thinking wistfully about fruit, but it doesn't cross my mind at all now. I concentrate on what I can eat, not on what I can't. I am really surprised at how quickly it all changed. Maybe it will be the same for you.