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newbie with problems!!

T

Tawa93

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
hallo all, Iam new here, having been diagnosed last 2 weeks, but Iam going for hb1ac results later today. I am in such turmoil , I don't know where to start. I was put on metformin 2 weeks ago, but my BMs have stayed in the mid teens , despite increase in medication to 500mg x3 /day. I also started wearing distance glasses in April and my prescription for the glasses was very weak , and had no problem with close things like my computer and phone, but now over the last week, I can hardly read my I-pad and phone. am I going blind in a space of 2 weeks?
 
Tawa93 said:
hallo all, Iam new here, having been diagnosed last 2 weeks, but Iam going for hb1ac results later today. I am in such turmoil , I don't know where to start. I was put on metformin 2 weeks ago, but my BMs have stayed in the mid teens , despite increase in medication to 500mg x3 /day. I also started wearing distance glasses in April and my prescription for the glasses was very weak , and had no problem with close things like my computer and phone, but now over the last week, I can hardly read my I-pad and phone. am I going blind in a space of 2 weeks?
Click to expand...

I highly doubt you're going blind :) Changes in blood sugar and high sugars can cause blurry vision.

Let me tag @daisy1 for you as she has some basic info.

What kind of things are you eating?
 
@Tawa93 - Hello and Welcome to the Forum :). Let us know on the Forum what your HBA1C result is today. Ask as many questions as you want - there will always be someone to answer.
 
@Tawa93

Hello Tawa and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members and I hope this will be useful to you. Following a low carb diet and the Low Carb Program should reduce your sugar levels and help your eyesight hopefully. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able 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 over 150,000 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-and-whole-grains.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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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 bloodglucose 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.
 
Tawa93 said:
hallo all, Iam new here, having been diagnosed last 2 weeks, but Iam going for hb1ac results later today. I am in such turmoil , I don't know where to start. I was put on metformin 2 weeks ago, but my BMs have stayed in the mid teens , despite increase in medication to 500mg x3 /day. I also started wearing distance glasses in April and my prescription for the glasses was very weak , and had no problem with close things like my computer and phone, but now over the last week, I can hardly read my I-pad and phone. am I going blind in a space of 2 weeks?
Click to expand...
Don't worry, exactly the same happened to me a couple of weeks after I was 'labelled', and it lasted a week or so.
I too was terrified I was losing my sight already! After dramatically reducing my intake of sugar etc my GP reassured me that previously the Lens had probably been full of glucose, built up over a period of time and as those levels are coming down the lens changes shape more quickly - hence the blurriness!
My eyes were back to normal after a week or so.
I am presuming you have now stopped or reduced sugary stuff .... I guess this shows what you are doing is working and the glucose levels are coming down.
 
Hi and welcome. Yes, the eyesight problem will resolve as your blood sugar comes down. Note that metformin never has that much effect on blood sugar but helps a bit. Diet is the key so do follow the advice from @daisy1. Do get hold of a glucose meter so you can take control. The SD Codefree on the web is one of the cheapest.
 
Hi - good advice above. It's all about getting the blood sugar levels down under control, and that can be done pretty quickly and very successfully for many Type 2s with the right approach.
Essentials - get a meter (investigate on line)..very easy to use and the only way to know your blood sugar level at a given moment (ie. so changes a s result of different foods can be noticed - and preferably recorded);
Diet - many, many of us have cut carbohydrates where possible, where we find we can sustain it (eg. i am down to less than 50g a day maximum and often less) - note that carbs effectively turn to sugar in the blood, so they are as important as sugar when considering labels;
Fluid - keep the intake up (maybe 2 litres a day of water or very diluted juice)
Things to try - abandon toast, bread in general, cereal, potatoes in any form, pasta, pizza, rice - and see what impact that is having.
Don't worry - there's plenty left to eat that good, and you will learn a lot more about what you are eating.
Good luck.
 
liam1955 said:
@Tawa93 - Here is the link for the SD Codefree Blood Glucose Meter and state you are Diabetic (vat exemption) and it is mmol for the UK.
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-producrs/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring
Click to expand...
Two years on and I've managed to control my diabetes by diet alone, however twice recently I have become exceptionally tired mid-afternoon. I'm considering getting a meter. How often do you have to get new lancets, please? Is it worth ordering more with a new meter? @liam1955
 
@chiefsub68 - Hi :). The SD Codefree Blood Glucose Meter is popular with a lot of members on the Forum and the Test Strips are the cheapest to buy. You can buy multiple packs of Test Strips which is of better value. As for Lancets these can be used several times, which a lot of people do. (each box has 100 Lancets) but you can order extra boxes too. Always quote you are Diabetic as you don't pay vat and for the UK you need to order mmol.
The most important piece of a Diabetic's kit is a Blood Glucose Meter. :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for all the helpful advice, it's comforting to know there is support out there,!

My HB1ac was126 or 226 , it's now a all a blur and the doc said normal was about 40. So iam about 4 or 5 times over the limit. I have given up my 2 favourite drinks (lambirini and calsberg) out all together . What is the advice on bread.? I don't like white bread and have always brown. Is this bad for you as well. Months ago I went through a stress full period and my weight came down from 126kg to 110kg in six weeks, I put it down to stress, but it appears it may have been the diabetes, or maybe it was triggered by the stress? I power walk for 45 minutes every second day where possible, as iam told I need to lose more weight. Iam on 2g metformin bd from yesterday . My diet traditional is mainly rice, is brown rice an alternative?
 
Bread and rice is generally a big no no due to the carbs as your body turns the carbs into glucose and you get a spike in your BG level if you must eat rice try the BARE NAKED range of rice and noodles that are very low in carbs
 
@Tawa93 - Hi :). Here are HBA1C categories:

Normal. Below 42 mmol.
Prediabetic. 42 to 47 mmol.
Diabetic. 48 mmol or Over.

Metformin takes time to build up in your system to reach the desired effect. Always take it with or after food, never on an empty stomach as you may suffer with stomach upsets.
We are all different when it comes to food. What one person can eat and not have much effect on blood sugar, another person can eat the same thing and their blood sugar can go higher. Use your Blood Glucose Meter to check blood sugars before you eat and then check 2 hours later to see what effect (if any?) that meal had on your blood sugars. And keep a Food Diary and record the foods and blood sugar results, you will soon start to see which foods to avoid. :)
 
@Tawa93
I was 'labelled' 3 months ago and my hba1c at that time was 97 ... not much less than yours.
I've taken the 3 key elements to heart that I was told by the health care professionals very much, eat healthily, i.e. Cut out the **** - I'm sure you know exactly what I mean, get regular activity and exercise, which it sounds like you're doing .... both of which will help you achieve the 3rd element - lose weight!
Almost 3 months later I have lost 4st, myBMI is now 26 and my hba1c was 53 ... Very close to where it needs to be. All my other stats, BP, chol, etc are all also now absolutely normal and exactly where they should be. I have eaten a VERY healthy diet, but yes I have eaten bread, potato and rice, but very much in moderation and far more 'carb conscious' than I ever was - but that wasn't difficult!
As has been alluded to - we are all different. The only advice I will give you - is listen to all the advice which will be contradictory and then do what is right for YOU!
Good luck :)
 
Hallo all, I have just completed one dish for my food diary. My BS was 7,7mmols before the meal ( actually that's the lowest it's been since I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago). So I had my experimental meal, slept for 2 hour (on night duty), then rechecked. It's gone up to 10,5mmols. What sort of range in rise should I be happy with and when should i avoid the meal altogether? I hope this makes sense?
 
Tawa93 said:
Hallo all, I have just completed one dish for my food diary. My BS was 7,7mmols before the meal ( actually that's the lowest it's been since I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago). So I had my experimental meal, slept for 2 hour (on night duty), then rechecked. It's gone up to 10,5mmols. What sort of range in rise should I be happy with and when should i avoid the meal altogether? I hope this makes sense?
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome @Tawa93

This link should give you the NHS guide range for blood glucose.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

A good guide is that if your blood glucose rises by more than 2mmol/l at 2 hours after eating, then you have eaten too many carbs in the meal and need to adjust your carb portion sizes downwards. For instance, if you start at 5, then try not to go above 7 at 2 hours. If you start at 9, then try not to go above 11 at 2 hours. If you do this, then usually, over time, your blood glucose levels will drop to be in range before the meal (below 7).

Hope that helps.
 
Liam1955 said:
@chiefsub68 - Hi :). The SD Codefree Blood Glucose Meter is popular with a lot of members on the Forum and the Test Strips are the cheapest to buy. You can buy multiple packs of Test Strips which is of better value. As for Lancets these can be used several times, which a lot of people do. (each box has 100 Lancets) but you can order extra boxes too. Always quote you are Diabetic as you don't pay vat and for the UK you need to order mmol.
The most important piece of a Diabetic's kit is a Blood Glucose Meter. :)
Click to expand...
Many thanks, Liam.
 
@Liam1955 Hi Liam - the meter arrived today. First reading after breakfast (a couple of Weetabix and milk) was 15, second (after a 50km bike ride and a vegetarian English breakfast) was 10, and it's now down to 5.2 before my tea. Is that sort of range normal? Many thanks.
 
@chiefsub68 - Hello. When you joined did you get the information post from Daisy1? Here is the ranges for us Type 2.
Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l.
2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Always make sure you wash you hands before doing a test. Cereals and milk do tend to raise blood sugars. You could try Bacon, Scrambled Eggs for Breakfast in place of Cereal. We all respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work for another. To see what a particular food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before eating and then test 2 hours later. This will give you a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
 
Thanks, @Liam1955 . I can't recall the post from @daisy1 but I joined some time ago and have only recently become active again. I'm vegetarian (no eggs) with very few chewing teeth so my diet choices are limited. I'll try testing over a few days and see how I get on. Many thanks.
Liam1955 said:
@chiefsub68 - Hello. When you joined did you get the information post from Daisy1? Here is the ranges for us Type 2.
Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l.
2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Always make sure you wash you hands before doing a test. Cereals and milk do tend to raise blood sugars. You could try Bacon, Scrambled Eggs for Breakfast in place of Cereal. We all respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work for another. To see what a particular food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before eating and then test 2 hours later. This will give you a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
Click to expand...
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