Newbie type 2

[TammyLou]

Hey guys

I'm newly diagnosed and in need of a bit of support I guess.

I haven't been feeling well for a long long time, and despite being like the boomarang patient at the GP's surgery it seems diabetes has been missed for a long time. It's take 4 blood tests and 8 weeks from the initial visit to the doctor to finally get a firm diagnosis. I've been complaining of slow-healing infected hair follicles for 5 years, and in that 5 years I've also had carpal tunnel syndrome (now 'solved' via 2 surgical decompressions), both of which I now know to be typical, if not indicative, of diabetes. I'm considering changing my doctor because of this, but for now I feel like I have enough to be getting my head around!

Firm diagnosis was made on 22nd December, but the nurse 'didn't have time' to go through everything so I had to make an appointment. I went yesterday and spent 45 minutes with a nurse, being weighed, checked, referred etc. She's referring me to chirapodists, dietician and eye specialist, I've been started on metformin - starting on 1 twice a day for a fortnight and then increasing to 2 twice a day - and I've got to start on cholesterol tabs because my cholesterol was 4.9. I'm testing my blood sporadically, yesterday before lunch my bg was 6.2 and this morning before breakfast it was 7.2. I only started on my metformin last night so I am assuming they may take a little while to work.

For my part, I've started on a low GI eating plan which I intend to keep to not just to lose weight, but hopefully to eventually help control my BG. I have a long way to go with my weight, and certainly with exercise because currently, I just don't do any at all! I am trying to make it all about the diabetes and let the weight loss be a desirable side-effect. I've done weight watchers and slimming world and the cambridge diet and still here I am; this time I am doing it differently. I am not going to be weighing myself at all, instead I was weighed at the doctors yesterday and the next time I am weighed will either be at the dietician or at my review appointment in the doctors in 6 weeks, whichever comes first.

I probably seem like I've got it together and sorted and taking it all in, but I'm bricking it. My husband is amazing and my in-laws have been fabulous too, but my family have been less than supportive. My mam's 2 comments have been thus - 'There was a woman on the tele who was older than you and she got rid of diabetes in 2 months so you can do it too' and then 'Well you couldn't stick to a low fat diet what makes you think you'll stick to the diabetes one? You've brought it on yourself so don't moan'. Err, thanks?!

Anyway, thanks for listening (reading?!!) and I'll probably see you all around :mrgreen:

 

[daisy1]

Hi TammyLou and welcome to the forum Here is some information for new members. You are doing the right thing to test. Have a look in this info for the best times to test so that you can see what foods your body can cope with. Some advice on what foods you should cut out or at least cut down on is also contained in here. Exercise is important even if you can only start with a little then gradually increase it. Ask as many questions as you like as there is always someone here to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

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.

 

[Grazer]

I am trying to make it all about the diabetes and let the weight loss be a desirable side-effect.

In my view, a good way to go. I didn't try to lose any weight, just adjusted my carbohydrate intake (and went low GI) until I got the blood sugars I wanted. Side effect was the weight fell off. I was hardly overweight anyway, but within a short time my BMI was down to 22.5 I now "graze" on nuts and things to try and stop my weight falling further! By the way, I settled on 150 to 180 grams of carbs a day (about 50 to 60 % of guideline amount for a male) which did it for me. You'll have to see with testing what level of carbs you can tolerate. Your readings aren't scary now, so my guess is you won't be struggling to get to good levels on moderate carbs.
Why would you stick to this diet?? Tell your family, because the consequences of NOT aren't just about losing weight anymore; the complications from uncontrolled sugar levels don't bear thinking about.
Good luck and welcome!

 

[Daibell]

Hi TammyLou. Welcome to the world of Diabetes.....! With reference to testing I wouldn't worry too much about testing at breakfast due to overnight liver dumps of glycogen whcih can give erratic results; test in the way Daisy suggests after later meals during the day. Dont expect too much from the Metformin good though it is. Diet and exercise are key. Hopefully the dietitican will provide you with good up-to-date advice but if anyone suggests 'eating carbs with every meal' then politely ignore them as it's not necessary as long as you have some carbs during the day. Good luck.

 

[chocoholicnomore]

Why would you stick to this diet?? Tell your family, because the consequences of NOT aren't just about losing weight anymore; the complications from uncontrolled sugar levels don't bear thinking about.

+1

I totally agree with Grazer. I have been on every diet under the sun and couldn't stick with any of them. It was easy to give up and the only consequence was gaining more weight.

This is much different. I now refer to it as a new eating regime rather than a diet. Diabetes is for life and the consequences of not sticking to it are dire. It has to be for life and, therefore, has to be sustainable.

Welcome to the forum TammyLou. I am sure that you will find it really helpful and everyone is so friendly and supportive.

Good luck with it all.