Newbie here - my DSN doesn't know what she's taken on!

[Mushroom]

Hi all. Just wanted to introduce myself. It's been a bit of a journey so far.
I am 51 years old and an ex Food teacher! Diabetes diagnosis made after bout of vasculitis settled down but tingling in hands and feet remaining. Fasting blood test revealed Type 2. Not a surprise as weight classed as obese and waist measurement off the scale. High blood pressure and cholesterol.
Started with low GI foods. Went to my first Desmond. Then had second DSN appointment and by then had lost a stone and blood pressure was down. DSN said she would tell the doctor I had lost weight as they didn't think I would be able to diet as I just caved in to the Metformin prescription initially. Given Simvastatin prescription but started to look at cholesterol-lowering foods. Researched the internet, bought books AND FOUND THIS FORUM. What a valuable resource!
Started lowish carbing (had stopped eating bread, potatoes and pasta anyway - my previous weaknesses). Now about to test with blood meter. (Doctor said only used for Type 2 for hypos and I should send it back and spend the money on going out for a meal!) Didn't go to my second Desmond.
Now lost almost 2 stones with 7 to go. Get hungry but not a big deal. Don't get the intense food cravings I used to get.
I think my DSN is going to find me a bit of a handful. I am hoping my 3 monthly (second) blood results will show glucose control.
My best wishes to all of you on here with your personal journeys.

 

[Mushroom]

Now found out how to add signature!

 

[MaryJ]

welcome to the forum Mushroom,

You sound like youre well on your way to a fabulous set of blood results.

Good luck DSN lol

Mary x

 

[librarising]

Mushroom wrote
Doctor said [meter]only used for Type 2 for hypos and I should send it back and spend the money on going out for a meal!

So it's true what they say about mushrooms.
Your GP's trying to keep you in the dark and feed you a load of s$%t :crazy: :crazy:
Was that a 'healthy' hi carbs meal they were recommending ? Probably

Welcome aboard

Geoff

 

[daisy1]

Hi Mushroom and welcome to the forum
Here is the information we give to new members which I think you will find is more helpful than the information you have been given so far. Ask all the questions you need to as there is always someone to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS


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 30,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

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

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.
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Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.

 

[Grazer]

Hi Mushroom and welcome! You stick to your guns and I'm sure you'll get great results.

 

[mrsknitty]

Hello and welcome! :wave:

 

[Ann19]

Hi Mushroom :wave:

This forum is a great resource I'm sure you'll find lots of tips like I have.

Ann

 

[Mushroom]

Hi again,
Thank you to all. Geoff - yes, 'healthy' Eatwell Plate - lots of carbs. Was never sure about it when I taught 'Food and Nutrition'. I am using the low carb message to help my friend's parents. They have been given a blood meter and told to use twice a week but not why the testing will help and what they should do with the information.
I think my lowered BP on my second DSN visit was to do with my weight loss and exercise. The nurse thought it was because I had been worried about the possible diagnosis on the first visit. I knew what was coming so I knew it wasn't that. I would like to get to my target weight and then assess where I go from there with meds. My logic is that less belly fat must be far healthier in terms of cardio risks than the weight I am/was now and counteract any medication. (Most of it's gone from my ankles so far!)
Mary x

 

[hanadr]

As a "food" teacher, I imagine you realise how little the healthcare professions know about food. If they knew, they surely wouldn't give the scandalous advice that they do.
I taught science and my degree in a biological science taught me about metabolism and molecular biology, which I've had to brush up. I graduated in 1970 after all.
I keep meaning to find a dietician to ask what specific deficiency disease is caused by not eating carbs, since I can list the ones for particular vitamins and protein.
If there's no deficiency disease, the food cannot be "essential".
Hana

 

[Mushroom]

Hi hanadr, no not sure health care is all it should be. When I was teaching 'Eatwell Plate' and started to read that starch turned to sugar 'quickly', whereas we taught it was 'slow release', it just didn't add up. I would be interested to know what problems a diet deficient in carbs would do, as well. In flour, the fibre, calcium, protein and iron can all be found in other less weighted sources.

 

[Mushroom]

Just an update. I first posted this in August 2012 a few months after diagnosis for Type 2.
Have now lost a total of 5 stone, still have 4 to go but feel so much better. Never took the statins or Metformin I was originally prescribed. Thought I needed to sort myself out and make massive changes to lifestyle.
When I originally posted, I had just bought a meter. I tested continually to start with and got used to keeping below the 7.8 advised on here, not the NHS 8.7. I hardly test at all now as I'm used to foods which might spike and portion sizes. Don't eat bread, pasta or potatoes anymore - they my weaknesses.
Two years on I am LCHF and loving it. So easy to keep to. Just had my latest diabetes review. I was 7.1 HbAc1 at diagnosis, now 5.3. within non-diabetic range. No diabetes complications. Normal blood pressure. Cholesterol went up with LCHF initially but now settled down and ratio and HDl are good, trigs are down. Still refusing statins.
My DSN has changed and I have a new lady. This one says she wishes all her patients were like me. She says it is difficult to speak to her patients about the effects of not managing their diabetes. She says they don't want to know and because the complications come on relatively slowly, they choose to ignore the risks until it's too late.
She asked about LCHF and what I eat each day. She was open to the idea that fats other than hydrogenated may not being a problem where sugar increasingly is. She says she will pass on this website on to her patients.
The message is: don't rely on your DSN to solve your problems, take control of your health.
Again, I wish all newly diagnosed and old-timers on this forum the very best!