Newbie to Type 2

JayBee28 · Oct 4, 2021

Hi all,
I was diagnosed Type 2 just over 2 weeks ago. HBA1C was 51. My diet was absolutely awful so not really a surprise if I’m brutally honest. I originally asked for a blood text to check my hormone levels, as I’ve just started the menopause. I was feeling so tired during the day, especially in the afternoons.

I love sweets, chocolates, biscuits, potatoes and my favourite is pasta. Luckily, I also adore fish, chicken, turkey, berries and vegetables.

The diabetic nurse advised me not to get a monitor, but I got one anyway. My first test was over 11 which was really shocking. I have totally cut out sweets, chocolate, sugar in tea, potatoes, pasta, bread (apart from 1 slice of wholemeal). I’ve upped by protein and veg. I did a test yesterday and my level was 5.9. I’ve also increased exercise by just walking, but joining a gym next week. I’m going to take 1 x 500mg of metformin starting next week. I have a full review in 3 months. I’m chuffed with the start I’ve made, but any advice would be welcome.

I have so much more energy, the difference is unbelievable even over a couple of weeks. I need to lose about 6 stone. However, I’ve lost half a stone already!

Thanks all.

JB

coby · Oct 4, 2021

JayBee28 said:
Hi all,
I was diagnosed Type 2 just over 2 weeks ago. HBA1C was 51. My diet was absolutely awful so not really a surprise if I’m brutally honest. I originally asked for a blood text to check my hormone levels, as I’ve just started the menopause. I was feeling so tired during the day, especially in the afternoons.

I love sweets, chocolates, biscuits, potatoes and my favourite is pasta. Luckily, I also adore fish, chicken, turkey, berries and vegetables.

The diabetic nurse advised me not to get a monitor, but I got one anyway. My first test was over 11 which was really shocking. I have totally cut out sweets, chocolate, sugar in tea, potatoes, pasta, bread (apart from 1 slice of wholemeal). I’ve upped by protein and veg. I did a test yesterday and my level was 5.9. I’ve also increased exercise by just walking, but joining a gym next week. I’m going to take 1 x 500mg of metformin starting next week. I have a full review in 3 months. I’m chuffed with the start I’ve made, but any advice would be welcome.

I have so much more energy, the difference is unbelievable even over a couple of weeks. I need to lose about 6 stone. However, I’ve lost half a stone already!

Thanks all.

JB

Hi, and wow what a fabulous start! Congratulations on that, and well done for disregarding your DN's advice on the meter. It is going to be your best friend and guide you through this unfortunate journey. You are a star!

JayBee28 · Oct 4, 2021

coby said:
Hi, and wow what a fabulous start! Congratulations on that, and well done for disregarding your DN's advice on the meter. It is going to be your best friend and guide you through this unfortunate journey. You are a star!

Thank you

Ronancastled · Oct 4, 2021

JayBee28 said:
I was diagnosed Type 2 just over 2 weeks ago. HBA1C was 51.

Greetings, you're my twin, my A1c was 52 at diagnosis.

JayBee28 said:
I was feeling so tired during the day, especially in the afternoons.

Snap, I used fall asleep in work all the time

JayBee28 said:
I love sweets, chocolates, biscuits, potatoes and my favourite is pasta.

Snap again, I was ultra-carbing before diagnosis.

JayBee28 said:
Luckily, I also adore fish, chicken, turkey, berries and vegetables.

Someone has done their homework

JayBee28 said:
The diabetic nurse advised me not to get a monitor, but I got one anyway.

Someone has really done their homework

JayBee28 said:
I’ve upped by protein and veg. I did a test yesterday and my level was 5.9.

My 3 week follow bloods post diagnosis dropped to 5.2 by doing exactly what you did.

JayBee28 said:
I have so much more energy, the difference is unbelievable even over a couple of weeks. I need to lose about 6 stone. However, I’ve lost half a stone already!

Keep doing what you're doing.
I kept the low carb & the walking up & lost 5st post diagnosis.
About 6 months post remission I was slowly able to up the carbs.

4 major things in your favour
(1) Low diagnostic level
(2) Weight to lose
(3) Immediate results
(4) Done your research

I could go all night to encourage you & I'll pipe back in if you keep posting.
You're an inspiration already.

Resurgam · Oct 5, 2021

Before you start going to the gym, see how you react to the Metformin, as some of us are unlucky enough to experience the full and distressing consequences, and you would not want to be exerting yourself when they strike.
Some can take the tablets and are absolutely fine - I got a nice new professional standard carpet cleaner before the end of the first week.

ianf0ster · Oct 5, 2021

Hi @JayBee28 and welcome to the forum.
Congratulations on your good start.
When you say you are going to take Metformin next week, I presume that currently your Blood Glucose is compeltely lifestyle controlled and that you aren't taking any diabetes drugs.
If so, have you considered that you probably don't need to take Metformin in order to have a non-diabetic HbA1C within 3 to 6 months?
So take Metformin if you want to, but without any further changes your HbA1C is are effectively pre-diabetic or better already! Just that because it is an average over the life of your red blood cells and they live approx 3 months, the actual test will take some time to catch up with your progress!

What Metformin does is to help suppress your appetite as well as to inhibit your liver from making and dumping as much glucose into your blood stream. But as it gets accustomed to your new lower 'normal' BG levels, your liver will do that less and less without any medication.
I didn't change anything to go from an HbA1C reading in the pre-diabetic range to one in the non-diabetic, just allowed time for my liver to get accustomed to normal Blood Glucose levels.

Ronancastled · Oct 5, 2021

@Jay Bee
Listen to @ianf0ster above.

If you're body can do it naturally then count yourself lucky & take advantage.

JayBee28 · Oct 8, 2021

Ronancastled said:
Greetings, you're my twin, my A1c was 52 at diagnosis.

Snap, I used fall asleep in work all the time

Snap again, I was ultra-carbing before diagnosis.

Someone has done their homework

Someone has really done their homework

My 3 week follow bloods post diagnosis dropped to 5.2 by doing exactly what you did.

Keep doing what you're doing.
I kept the low carb & the walking up & lost 5st post diagnosis.
About 6 months post remission I was slowly able to up the carbs.

4 major things in your favour
(1) Low diagnostic level
(2) Weight to lose
(3) Immediate results
(4) Done your research

I could go all night to encourage you & I'll pipe back in if you keep posting.
You're an inspiration already.

Thank you so much for your encouragement, it really helps.

JayBee28 · Oct 8, 2021

Resurgam said:
Before you start going to the gym, see how you react to the Metformin, as some of us are unlucky enough to experience the full and distressing consequences, and you would not want to be exerting yourself when they strike.
Some can take the tablets and are absolutely fine - I got a nice new professional standard carpet cleaner before the end of the first week.

Thank you for the information, I have decided not to take the tablets, but see how I get on during the first three months

JayBee28 · Oct 8, 2021

ianf0ster said:
Hi @JayBee28 and welcome to the forum.
Congratulations on your good start.
When you say you are going to take Metformin next week, I presume that currently your Blood Glucose is compeltely lifestyle controlled and that you aren't taking any diabetes drugs.
If so, have you considered that you probably don't need to take Metformin in order to have a non-diabetic HbA1C within 3 to 6 months?
So take Metformin if you want to, but without any further changes your HbA1C is are effectively pre-diabetic or better already! Just that because it is an average over the life of your red blood cells and they live approx 3 months, the actual test will take some time to catch up with your progress!

What Metformin does is to help suppress your appetite as well as to inhibit your liver from making and dumping as much glucose into your blood stream. But as it gets accustomed to your new lower 'normal' BG levels, your liver will do that less and less without any medication.
I didn't change anything to go from an HbA1C reading in the pre-diabetic range to one in the non-diabetic, just allowed time for my liver to get accustomed to normal Blood Glucose levels.

Thank you so much for the information, very useful.

Mbaker · Oct 8, 2021

Some great advice above. I can feel the enthusiasm the other posters have, as we can see you are a responder, by your immediate progress.

I would add to try to incorporate your walking after meals, for greater benefit. When you go to the gym focus the majority of your effort into resistance training; as this has pay backs further into the future.

Newbie to Type 2

JayBee28

Well-Known Member

coby

Well-Known Member

JayBee28

Well-Known Member

Ronancastled

Well-Known Member

Resurgam

Master

ianf0ster

Well-Known Member

Ronancastled

Well-Known Member

JayBee28

Well-Known Member

JayBee28

Well-Known Member

JayBee28

Well-Known Member

Mbaker

Well-Known Member

Newbie to Type 2

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Master

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency