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Newbie - Ready to start to beat T2 :)

mouseee

mouseee

Well-Known Member
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Hi, I'm Amanda and was diagnosed T2 on Tuesday.
I have a family history of T2 so it wasn't a surprise. Three generations have had T2 that we know of. My mum has kindly given me migraines, asthma and almost the exact same body shape so why not T2! i'm feeling OK about it all at the moment. I have had it at the back of my mind for years and so have almost been mentally preparing myself for it.
It took from my realisation on Friday ( I realised I had cups of undrunk tea and had been choosing water - and drinking masses), checking other symptoms and ticking about 70 % of the boxes, to emailing Dr on Monday to having a diagnosis on Tuesday. I am so glad I live in the UK as the NHS have been amazing so far. I had bloods done Monday, Dr rang me with the initial bg of 15, the hbac1 about an hour later - 101 which I have just found out makes an average bg of 15ish. Diabetic check yesterday and fasting bloods today. Diabetic referral completed so the next round of appointments will start soon.

Started Metformin Tuesday evening and think I have just started getting the side effects! However, feel a bit more human now already. T2 in UK are not advised to get a meter but I have bought one and my fasting bg was 11 yesterday and 9 today. I even felt hungry when I woke up.

I am a 'doer' so I have already got stuck into what I can do turn this around. The reality will hit me in a few weeks time that this is something I will have to manage forever. My mum is a poorly lady with carers and all sorts of additional health issues and I don't want to go that way too.

I have already changed my diet which needs to be tweaked as I get more information, I will be exercising after the 39 degree heat has passed us! (we are very not used to that in the UK, the hottest day on record). I am finding more and more information as to how to manage and reverse T2. Its a very confusing world, there is lots of conflicting advice so I guess it's just a case of finding what works best for me.
At the moment I have reduced my carbs dramatically. All my 'healthy' snacks were carbs based, cereal bars, rice cakes etc so retraining my brain and my body. It will hopefully be easier for me to make those changes as the choice is stick with T2 and further potential health issues or choose to make the changes i need to make to reverse it.

I've already found out loads of useful information from these forums, so thanks people!
 
You label yourself a "doer" and you think the diagnosis'll hit you later... Good! It hit me like a ton of bricks the moment I saw what my numbers were, and I had to cope with that right at that moment, as well as being a control freak who wanted this thing licked yesterday! ;) Perk of having it truly hit you later: By then you'll already have your daily bloodsugars under control, so you'll know it's quite doable, which makes coping a lot easier. ;) Seriously, you're off to a good start, what with the meter and the low carbing.

Conflicting info and having to figure out what works for you. Well... That is, alas, exactly how it works with T2. There's no cut and dry answers, as we're all different. The things that work for practically everyone who still produces their own insulin, are sometimes a little too drastic for their personal tastes (carnivore diet, keto). And with conflicting advice, sometimes it's just best to find out for yourself what works: being your own guinea pig. Your insulin production, resistance/sensitivity etc are unique to your person. And that's why having a meter is such a good thing. It'll tell you what you can and can't handle. Test before a meal and 2 hours after the first bite. Go up more than 2.0 mmol/l? Then that was a bit too carby and needs adjusting. Go that route and before you know it you could well be off of the metformin.

It's 40 degrees and over in the Netherlands today. Records are being broken here too. You'll probably feel a bit extra uncomfortable due to the temps, as diabetics and heat don't usually mix well. I know it always knocks me off my feet. So do take it easy, take care to drink enough and add some salt into the mix. Excersize can indeed wait. (And when you start, try doing things like long walks or swimming. The heavy-duty stuff'll get your bloodsugars up).

Good luck eh,
Jo
PS: This might help. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/
 
@JoKalsbeek thanks for the link! It was literally exactly what I needed to read today!

I did eat a bagel today. It's now off my menu permanently BG well and truly spiked and I ate it early afternoon and it was high when I tested just before dinner. My eyes are also blurry again so at least I now know what really high BG does to me. Off for a walk now it's a little cooler. It won't be a long one today though!
 
Hi and welcome from a relative newbie to the Club - 8 weeks in (Started off with hbac1 of 111 and now 61) and likewise I have found the NHS to be very supportive as is this site which has a wealth of information and people who are willing to help with sound advice.
 
Hi and welcome. You've got off to a good start. BTW it's best to do a meter check 2 hours after a meal rather than a fasting test as the latter can be affected by what's called the 'Overnight liver dump' where the liver dumps glucose into the blood to get you going for the start of the day.
 
mouseee said:
@JoKalsbeek thanks for the link! It was literally exactly what I needed to read today!

I did eat a bagel today. It's now off my menu permanently BG well and truly spiked and I ate it early afternoon and it was high when I tested just before dinner. My eyes are also blurry again so at least I now know what really high BG does to me. Off for a walk now it's a little cooler. It won't be a long one today though!
Click to expand...
Yeah, bagels will do that.... But I hope you enjoyed it! ;) As I was saying goodbye to a doog many foodstuff, I encountered quite some new ones on the way so... It's not all giving up, there's some adding-to-the-menu as well. ;) You'll probably experience a little eye trouble as your bloodsugars fluctuate, and as you go down, your brain has to stop compensating for the visual distortion the sugar in your eyes has been giving you for some time, so if the blurriness gets bad, just get some cheap reading specs, as it won't last long. :)
 
Hi Amanda I'm a newbie too. I too have chucked out all the carbs and started a new lifestyle. Top tip- get in a load of sachets of sugar free jelly and make up 4 pots at a time.Add a few berries and eat with cream.its a great snack or dessert and no carbs.
 
mouseee said:
Hi, I'm Amanda and was diagnosed T2 on Tuesday.
I have a family history of T2 so it wasn't a surprise. Three generations have had T2 that we know of. My mum has kindly given me migraines, asthma and almost the exact same body shape so why not T2!
Click to expand...

Hi Amanda, you may find, as others including myself have, that eating a much lower carb diet may also help with those migraines. I also inherited chronic migraines from my mum, but since being diagnosed with T2 five and a half years ago and starting my LCHF diet, I've not had a single one and as a bonus I'm now able to enjoy some of my trigger foods (dark choc, blue cheese, and red wine) so in some ways for me getting diabetes has for me been a "good thing"!! o_O

Meters and low carb diets are two of the best "antii-diabertes" weapons you can use, so good luck!

Robbity
 
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