Newbie
- Thread starter Louise.GSD
- Start Date
Terrytiddy
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 835
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi @Louise.GSD welcome to the forum. I will tag @daisy1 to provide you with the welcome info. What other info do you have re your diagnosis? What was your HbA1c? Weight? etc What dose of Metformin were you prescribed? These may help people understand your issues. You are in the right place for plenty of advice, help and support. 
Guzzler
Master
- Messages
- 10,577
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
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- Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
Hello and welcome to the forum. You need only give the information that you feel comfortable with.
Metformin has, for some people, some unfortunate side effects but it is considered a safe and effective first treatment for Type 2 Diabetes. I can understand your reluctance to start medication especially as you seem to have lowered your blood glucose (was this using a meter at home? If you havn't got one yet I would strongly advise that you do so and then we can help with getting you started).
Have you thought of a dietary regime to aid your health? There are a few options but the most successful involve lowering the amount of carbohydrate in the diet.
Have a wander around the forum and ask as many questions as you like.
Metformin has, for some people, some unfortunate side effects but it is considered a safe and effective first treatment for Type 2 Diabetes. I can understand your reluctance to start medication especially as you seem to have lowered your blood glucose (was this using a meter at home? If you havn't got one yet I would strongly advise that you do so and then we can help with getting you started).
Have you thought of a dietary regime to aid your health? There are a few options but the most successful involve lowering the amount of carbohydrate in the diet.
Have a wander around the forum and ask as many questions as you like.
Hi,
I purchased a accu check tester today and my reading before my evening meal was 4.9 then approximately 90 mins after ratings it was 13.5 I am now thinking of taking my metformin.
How accurate are the home testing devices ?
My HbA1c is 7% and after looking on this website i am convinced that I need to take my meds, I think maybe that I’m just in denial
I purchased a accu check tester today and my reading before my evening meal was 4.9 then approximately 90 mins after ratings it was 13.5 I am now thinking of taking my metformin.
How accurate are the home testing devices ?
My HbA1c is 7% and after looking on this website i am convinced that I need to take my meds, I think maybe that I’m just in denial
Guzzler
Master
- Messages
- 10,577
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
Hi,
I purchased a accu check tester today and my reading before my evening meal was 4.9 then approximately 90 mins after ratings it was 13.5 I am now thinking of taking my metformin.
How accurate are the home testing devices ?
My HbA1c is 7% and after looking on this website i am convinced that I need to take my meds, I think maybe that I’m just in denial
Could you tell us what that meal was, please?
The meters are good, there is a margin of about 10% either way but they are a great tool.
Bluetit1802
Legend
- Messages
- 25,216
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Metformin is a mild drug that doesn't do very much to lower blood glucose, especially keeping levels down after a meal. It helps a tiny bit, but not to any great extent, so don't worry about it. Diet is the key, and I suggest that as you spiked right up to double figures your meal contained a lot of carbs? If you keep a detailed food diary including portion sizes, and record your before eating and post meal levels alongside, this will show you what your food choices are doing to your blood sugars and your danger foods will soon become obvious. The best time for testing after a meal is 2 hours after your first bite.
Jenny15
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 770
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Other
- Dislikes
- Jazz music, science denial, and running out of coffee.
Metformin is the kind of drug that you need to take every day no matter what your blood sugar levels are doing during the day (provided it has been prescribed for you, based on recent, accurate blood tests done at the lab, and there isn't a specific reason to stop, such as when you're about to have surgery, or if side effects are really bad.)
It does reduce blood sugar levels a bit, which I have always found quite helpful, along with reducing the carbs I eat etc.
It's one of the few diabetes drugs that you don't need to worry about hypos (low blood sugar) in my experience. There's a Metformin subforum if you want to read about it in more detail, too:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/metformin-biguanides.52/
It does reduce blood sugar levels a bit, which I have always found quite helpful, along with reducing the carbs I eat etc.
It's one of the few diabetes drugs that you don't need to worry about hypos (low blood sugar) in my experience. There's a Metformin subforum if you want to read about it in more detail, too:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/metformin-biguanides.52/
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
@Louise.GSD
Hello Louise and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful and interesting. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will 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 235,000 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:
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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello Louise and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful and interesting. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will 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 235,000 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
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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Welcome @Louise.GSD Your HbA1c of 7 is not desperately high , but high enough that you need to take action. A few years ago you would be in the barely diabetic range, the figure has been dropped. Usually people are given three months to try get their diabetes under control by diet and exercise before taking medication. Well done getting the meter and starting to use it now you need to keep a food diary for a while, not forever but until you see patterns emerging of foods that your body can no longer tolerate. We call this 'eating to meter' and is one way of tackling the problem. Be prepared for your food shopping to take about twice as long as usual over the next couple of weeks as you read the information on packets and tins. You want to aim for foods that have less than 10g carbohydrate per 100g. You will be surprised how many foods have high sugar content, but it is the carb content that you need to notice.
I kept a simple spreadsheet and also noted weight and body measurements on a daily basis. I also noted exercise taken and mood. Within a short time I was fitter, had lost weight and looked slimmer and had control of my diabetes without medication. It can be done, although there will be days when you don't know what is going on - then you come on here and have a rant!
I kept a simple spreadsheet and also noted weight and body measurements on a daily basis. I also noted exercise taken and mood. Within a short time I was fitter, had lost weight and looked slimmer and had control of my diabetes without medication. It can be done, although there will be days when you don't know what is going on - then you come on here and have a rant!
