Newbie here

[Andy0182]

Hi all,

After developing symptoms, thirst, and an increased urge to pee in January, and two blood tests to date, I met today with the diabetic nurse at my surgery and received my diagnosis, my first hba1c was 76, which dropped to 69 on the second.

After getting symptoms, I've significantly changed my diet, increased my activity levels, cut refined sugar completely, and adopted a low-carb diet, no bread, pasta potatoes, etc. This has helped me to shift some weight, dropping a clothes size and waist size, which is great.

Having spoken with the nurse, it was reassuring to learn that she understood the health benefits of the diet in relation to diabetes, and I told her my ultimate aim was to reverse it. She's booked me in for another blood test in May, to see if my progress is continuing, but if there is no significant change she would advise me to start on medication, this is something I really want to avoid.

I'm still taking all of this in and processing it at the moment, I've spoken with my partner about it but really don't want to tell anyone else, not even family. I guess many have been in the same boat, I'm 41, not hugely overweight, and determined to beat this, if anyone has links or resources to help me with this low-carb journey I'd be forever grateful, thank you, and hello!

 

[KennyA]

Hi all,

After developing symptoms, thirst, and an increased urge to pee in January, and two blood tests to date, I met today with the diabetic nurse at my surgery and received my diagnosis, my first hba1c was 76, which dropped to 69 on the second.

After getting symptoms, I've significantly changed my diet, increased my activity levels, cut refined sugar completely, and adopted a low-carb diet, no bread, pasta potatoes, etc. This has helped me to shift some weight, dropping a clothes size and waist size, which is great.

Having spoken with the nurse, it was reassuring to learn that she understood the health benefits of the diet in relation to diabetes, and I told her my ultimate aim was to reverse it. She's booked me in for another blood test in May, to see if my progress is continuing, but if there is no significant change she would advise me to start on medication, this is something I really want to avoid.

I'm still taking all of this in and processing it at the moment, I've spoken with my partner about it but really don't want to tell anyone else, not even family. I guess many have been in the same boat, I'm 41, not hugely overweight, and determined to beat this, if anyone has links or resources to help me with this low-carb journey I'd be forever grateful, thank you, and hello!

Hi and welcome to the club nobody wanted to join. We've all been where you are now, so you'll need to ask as many questions as I did when first diagnosed.

You've done very well so far, and hit the right low-carb path (in my opinion). I'd suggest trying to put out of your mind anything you poreviously thought you knew about healthy eating. For the last 40 years or so this has been to base meals around carbs (largely with the intention of reducing cardiovascular illness) but this does not work well for those of us with or prone to T2 diabetes. It may even have contributed greatly to the increase in diabetic numbers being seen in much of the western world.

I also found that telling people about my diagnosis helped enormously in managing expectations: some people were astonished that I was eating fat "when you're overweight and diabetic" but the results have been convincing - in normal bg range after the first three months and since then more than 25kg of fat gone in the following 40 months. Never been on any medication. Other people on this forum have made much bigger reductions than I have.

I would also beware what you read on the internet, mainly because US sources use different measurements to many other countries and people quite often quote figures without reference to the metrics being used. So for example you'll get people saying "6.5 is definitely diabetic" and the reader assumes this means (UK) 6.5mmol/litre when it actually means (US) 6.5%.

The other piece of advice is to test your blood glucose levels using a fingerprick glucometer before and two hours after eating, to see what various foods do to you. The NHS will not pay for this but in my view it's essential if you want to manage your own condition.

This forum is a huge reservoir of knowledge and advice, almost all of it from personal lived experience. Some useful links in my signature block below. The thing to remember is that what works for one person won't necessarily work for another, so it's important to find what works for you.

best of luck.

 

[Hiitsme]

Welcome

From what you say you are making a really good start to taking control. I found a meter and testing the most helpful thing as it showed me what I could eat and what was better avoided. @Rachox has details of various meters but you need to look at the price of strips as they are the onging cost. Do ask questions and people will try and help.

 

[MrsA2]

but really don't want to tell anyone else, not even family.

Please don't feel guilty bout it. There are several schools of thought as to what causes T2, everything from genes, to modern processed food, to what your mother ate while pregnant with you, amd many others too. Being overweight is a symptom, not the cause. There are many people who don't have excess weight who have T2 as it can be linked to a build up of fat in the liver, which is different to dietary fat.
T2 diabetes is now affecting so many millions and millions of people across the world that it is just too big an epidemic for individuals to have bought upon themselves.
Rather than dwelling on cause, concentrate instead at looking forward and working on getting it under control, for life,

Do also consider telling your blood relatives as there does seem to be some link there, either through genes or childhood eating and habits, but they will be as likely to develop it as you are. You are not alone, and it's nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[jjraak]

Hi all,

After developing symptoms, thirst, and an increased urge to pee in January, and two blood tests to date, I met today with the diabetic nurse at my surgery and received my diagnosis, my first hba1c was 76, which dropped to 69 on the second.

After getting symptoms, I've significantly changed my diet, increased my activity levels, cut refined sugar completely, and adopted a low-carb diet, no bread, pasta potatoes, etc. This has helped me to shift some weight, dropping a clothes size and waist size, which is great.

Having spoken with the nurse, it was reassuring to learn that she understood the health benefits of the diet in relation to diabetes, and I told her my ultimate aim was to reverse it. She's booked me in for another blood test in May, to see if my progress is continuing, but if there is no significant change she would advise me to start on medication, this is something I really want to avoid.

I'm still taking all of this in and processing it at the moment, I've spoken with my partner about it but really don't want to tell anyone else, not even family. I guess many have been in the same boat, I'm 41, not hugely overweight, and determined to beat this, if anyone has links or resources to help me with this low-carb journey I'd be forever grateful, thank you, and hello!

Great start, but a hug for the shock at DX.

I told everyone.
Surprised how many people I spoke to in my company & among our customers who also had it, but never mentioned it.


The thing I found was friends & families eyes glazed over, because I became a bit over zealous sharing how I dropped 3 stone, ate my fill of foods I like and got back to normal numbers HBA1c of 40 with six months, and all without any real upheavals, apart from a short readjustment to the change in diet.

So different folks , different strokes ...

But I agree with others, tell those close, as well.

I see it as shouting a warning to others, saving them from the same fate is worth the mild discomfort.

For many it's a real shock at DX, and reading up can seem you're about to enter a very long, very dark, lonely tunnel.

But the many on here, show that there IS a way out or at least a way to slow if not stop T2D in its tracks .

Family & friends may well follow, so the more we get the message out about diet, the better informed everyone else following becomes.

Good luck on your journey.