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Newly diagnosed and a bit dazed and confused

CatLady666

CatLady666

Member
Messages
8
Location
Leeds
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello all
Diagnosed 2 weeks ago and just plucked up the courage to post as I am not used to this as don't do social media!
A little background.....
I remember thinking I didn't want to be fat n forty and then woke up fat n 46! In April I decided to do something and joined 'fat club' and went swimming for the first type of exercise for many years. After 3 months I had lost a stone and was swimming once a week (small steps) as I am on methotrexate for a skin problem I have regular bloods and see my Doc so feeling pretty good about the weight loss I asked for a cholesterol test and he said I will also check your blood sugar as according to our records it was raised in 2011 (didn't say what figure) and not followed up. So went for the test and made an apt for two weeks when Doc back from hols. The day after test I had a missed call from surgery, rang them and said I needed to come in sooner. Saw a GP I did not know who was telling me I was type 2 diabetic before I had even sat down, 10 minutes later with an armful of leaflets, a number of 11.9 over 3 months, a prescription for metaformin and statins (although I don't recall her telling me the cholesterol level)so dazed I left the surgery and promptly burst into tears in the car at the apparent injustice of thinking I had made healthy changes to find this out.
I spent ages searching the internet scaring myself until I found your website but am still confused by the conflicting info on diet with info on here conflicting the leaflets from Doc. Rang to make an apt with Diabetes course to be told wait time of three months, left a message for the diet person over a week ago and haven't had a response yet so feeling a little hung out to dry.
After reading about testing spoke to chemist in Tesco who recommended accu-check Aviva as docs may prescribe strips. Bought and then spoke to Nurse on phone who said they don't prescribe as the GP I saw doesn't believe you need to test as the 3 monthly test will do ,I said to the nurse does that mean I spend three months not knowing what damage I might be doing! Tesco kindly checked it 3 days after first taking metaformin (2 hours after lunch) and it was 11.9. I have now been on the metaformin for 9 days and used the machine for the first time today. 9.1 before lunch and 10.2 after 2 hours. I have upped to swimming twice a week and walking twice a week and have cut down smoking but don't feel I can stop as well as everything else at present, I have a stressful job and on top of this have just found out I have to apply for my own job in the third restructure and this will be the third time applying for my own job in ten years and feeling a little undervalued. I feel better for just writing this down and any assistance/advice would be appreciated. Oh I have also started cutting down on carbs and am now up to 1 stone 5 pounds off with another 2 stone to go to get to ideal weight but wonder what the reaction will be when I go see my own Doctor tomorrow morning! Any advice on a constructive discussion about the strips would be helpful as the info I found on this site is from 2010. Thanks for taking the time to read my 'off load'
 
Welcome! Great name, I think I'll like you:D

Well done for posting such a good intro, you have come to the right place for answers and advice, just beware the information overload!:D

Signy
 
hello and welcome
i remember getting a phone call from the hospital at 3am from the dr at blood test department saying, you need to see your gp urgently as you are type2
 
Hello and a warm welcome from me.
Well done for posting, and please stay. This forum is the best place to find support, help and advice, and a place to rant if you wish. We don't bite (most of the time)

Your surgery seems to be somewhat lacking in diabetes care strategies I'm afraid, but panic not, this is fairly typical.

First of all prescription for strips. Very few of us type 2's get these. We have to buy our own. Doctors and nurses will justify this by saying we don't need to test. If we don't test, how do we know if we are the right track with diet? How can we learn which foods cause unacceptable rises? We can't. To wait 3 months is ridiculous and could even be dangerous if we don't start to control our levels immediately on diagnosis. I wish you luck with that one, but you may find yourself buying your own I'm afraid.

Next, most GP's prescribe statins on a diabetes diagnosis because we are at greater risk of CV disease. However, my advice to you is to ring your surgery or ask your GP for a proper print out of your test results - glucose, cholesterol and anything else they did. You are entitled to this. Once you have it, you can do your research at leisure as to whether you want to take the statins or not, and will find it useful to look back on to compare against future tests.

There is a lot of conflicting and confusing information about diet, but one thing you must do is cut right down on carbs and the obvious sugary stuff. You may find your "fat club" dietary suggestions are incompatible with diabetes, but the secret is to find a diet that suits you and your lifestyle. Use your meter to learn. Best idea is to keep a strict food diary, recording everything you eat and drink, along with portion sizes. Then test immediately before eating and again 2 hours after your first bite (with nothing else in between). Record these levels next to your food. Eventually you will build up a picture of what you can and can't manage. If you get a big rise with a meal, look at the carbs in it, then try the same meal again another day with a reduced portion of those carbs. keep doing this until you arrive at a portion size you can manage. One tip - it is wise at the beginning to limit your meal to one type of carb maximum so you can work out whether it suits you or not.

Please have a good read round and come back with any questions.
 
Hi and welcome - yep, you've been wrung out and hung up to dry like so many T2s. It's scandalous how it's so often dealt with. Never mind, you've posted on here (well done!) and this is where we can help you to start making things a whole lot better. You have encountered the conflicting dietary advice and worked out that carb reduction is the key, and you've lost some weight so good for you there too! And of course the stupid advice that T2s don't need to test :banghead:

Take a few deep breaths, have a good read around and see what others do (my story is summarised below) and ask whatever you want.
 
Heathenlass said:
Welcome! Great name, I think I'll like you:D

Well done for posting such a good intro, you have come to the right place for answers and advice, just beware the information overload!:D

Signy
Click to expand...
Hello Heathenlass
Love the cat pic. That's just what I feel like doing and the look on my eight cats faces would be priceless
 
Hello and welcome,Im new as well and this site has changed my life and made me feel much better and confident,lots of help and support,if you are worried just post and someone will help
 
CatLady666 said:
Hello all
Diagnosed 2 weeks ago and just plucked up the courage to post as I am not used to this as don't do social media!
A little background.....
I remember thinking I didn't want to be fat n forty and then woke up fat n 46! In April I decided to do something and joined 'fat club' and went swimming for the first type of exercise for many years. After 3 months I had lost a stone and was swimming once a week (small steps) as I am on methotrexate for a skin problem I have regular bloods and see my Doc so feeling pretty good about the weight loss I asked for a cholesterol test and he said I will also check your blood sugar as according to our records it was raised in 2011 (didn't say what figure) and not followed up. So went for the test and made an apt for two weeks when Doc back from hols. The day after test I had a missed call from surgery, rang them and said I needed to come in sooner. Saw a GP I did not know who was telling me I was type 2 diabetic before I had even sat down, 10 minutes later with an armful of leaflets, a number of 11.9 over 3 months, a prescription for metaformin and statins (although I don't recall her telling me the cholesterol level)so dazed I left the surgery and promptly burst into tears in the car at the apparent injustice of thinking I had made healthy changes to find this out.
I spent ages searching the internet scaring myself until I found your website but am still confused by the conflicting info on diet with info on here conflicting the leaflets from Doc. Rang to make an apt with Diabetes course to be told wait time of three months, left a message for the diet person over a week ago and haven't had a response yet so feeling a little hung out to dry.
After reading about testing spoke to chemist in Tesco who recommended accu-check Aviva as docs may prescribe strips. Bought and then spoke to Nurse on phone who said they don't prescribe as the GP I saw doesn't believe you need to test as the 3 monthly test will do ,I said to the nurse does that mean I spend three months not knowing what damage I might be doing! Tesco kindly checked it 3 days after first taking metaformin (2 hours after lunch) and it was 11.9. I have now been on the metaformin for 9 days and used the machine for the first time today. 9.1 before lunch and 10.2 after 2 hours. I have upped to swimming twice a week and walking twice a week and have cut down smoking but don't feel I can stop as well as everything else at present, I have a stressful job and on top of this have just found out I have to apply for my own job in the third restructure and this will be the third time applying for my own job in ten years and feeling a little undervalued. I feel better for just writing this down and any assistance/advice would be appreciated. Oh I have also started cutting down on carbs and am now up to 1 stone 5 pounds off with another 2 stone to go to get to ideal weight but wonder what the reaction will be when I go see my own Doctor tomorrow morning! Any advice on a constructive discussion about the strips would be helpful as the info I found on this site is from 2010. Thanks for taking the time to read my 'off load'
Click to expand...
First of all I was in a similar position to you.
I need to lose 6 stone and have now ditched 3.
My doc wouldn't give a meter either but has now given in. It helps to have evidence to show your doc.
As @Bluetit1802 says, I would keep a food diary. Log everything. In addition, weigh yourself once a week and record results. Test before eating and 2 hours after. Log your bs results.
Consider buying new meter to prevent bankruptcy! See http://www.homehealth-uk.com
You can get meter for £12 and strips are £25 for 5 pots as opposed to £25 for 1 pot!
You need the promo code which I can give you.
Re diet, I would recommend something completely counterintuitive ! Read http://www.dietdoctor.com
It was recommended to me on the day I was diagnosed and I had a cholesterol problem by a kind forum member. I was sceptical I will admit but I checked out the guys credentials - I even emailed him. He really is a doc in Sweden who specialises in diabetes and obesity. I have never looked back! Good luck!
 
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Hello and welcome Catlady. Like you I am a recently diagnosed as type 2. I have found the information on this site extremely useful. The posters are kind and extremely knowledgeable based on first hand experience. :)
 
Dear All
Thank you for your kind messages of support and advice.

Visited my Doc this morning and he won't prescribe test strips and even told me not to test and rely on the HBA1C 3 monthly thingy! still getting the hang of the jargon. However he did spend time going through some stuff and said as not to overload me with info he wants to see me once a fortnight for 6 weeks to give me more info and will test again in 6 weeks. Keeping me on 500mg metaformin till then.

He said my cholesterol is 5.6 and he is not concerned about that and blood pressure ok too and my diagnosis reading for the HBA1C was 74 also not really wise as to what this means. Got the smoking lecture and pre warned for round two next time ...

I am not and never have been a sweet lover but since diagnosis keep looking at cupcakes, psychological I know, and whilst in Asda (on my own) looked at one which soon put me off to find it had 30mg sugar in one cupcake and didn't realise I had said 'how f***** much' aloud until the chap at the side of me took a step away and I got the 'care in the community' stare! Could't help but giggle which perhaps reinforced his view somewhat further.

I know the advice is to eat oily fish but can't stand 'fishy' fish so would fish oil capsules be any good?
Also since cutting out hidden sugar stuff such as beans (which I have been shovelling in since joining slimming world) and lowering carbs I feel slightly hungover with low level headaches. Is this normal?
 
Scandichic said:
First of all I was in a similar position to you.
I need to lose 6 stone and have now ditched 3.
My doc wouldn't give a meter either but has now given in. It helps to have evidence to show your doc.
As @Bluetit1802 says, I would keep a food diary. Log everything. In addition, weigh yourself once a week and record results. Test before eating and 2 hours after. Log your bs results.
Consider buying new meter to prevent bankruptcy! See http://www.homehealth-uk.com
You can get meter for £12 and strips are £25 for 5 pots as opposed to £25 for 1 pot!
You need the promo code which I can give you.
Re diet, I would recommend something completely counterintuitive ! Read http://www.dietdoctor.com
It was recommended to me on the day I was diagnosed and I had a cholesterol problem by a kind forum member. I was sceptical I will admit but I checked out the guys credentials - I even emailed him. He really is a doc in Sweden who specialises in diabetes and obesity. I have never looked back! Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks for your info and it's really great you have lost so much weight. I struggle a bit with eating so often and dislike a lot of high fat food. I have lost 1st 4lb with 2st 2lb to go to get to a healthy weight of 10 and a half and am really enjoying swimming and walking for the last few weeks which is the most I have done for years as I guess sat on the exercise bike in the garage with a cig in one hand and a glass of wine in the other chatting to him fixing the bike doesn't really count Ha Ha
 
Hello Catlady. Your Doctor is being very thorough with the info isnt he? I felt just like you when I started cutting out carbs but as I had also just started the metformin I didnt know if it was that or a mixture of the two. The headaches went after a couple of days. :)
 
Hello was diagnosed around midnight last night with a doctor banging on my door! Apparently I am 29 but should be an 8 (?). I have been put on METFORMIN twice a day to reduce my sugar. Told to eat and drink no sugar and will be reviewed on Friday and if it has not gone down will be admitted. Spent an hour in Tesco looking for things with no sugar and have ended up with a tin of tuna potatoes and carrots. Eyesight is very blurred so cannot drive and been signed off from work. I am really confused with trying to find food and drink with no sugar and also with my poor eyesight and spaced out moments I am worried for the future. As long as I can lower from a 29 by Friday I believe I won't have to be admitted (fingers crossed!). Anyway thank you for listening and any advice on lists of food I can eat or websites will be much appreciated.
 
Hello @Cullyjon

It isn't so much sugar you need to avoid, it is carbohydrates. All carbs turn to sugar once inside your system. Look for the "total carbohydrate" amounts on the labels, ignore the "of which sugars". Potatoes, rice, pasta and bread are the worst culprits initially. You can eat as much meat, fish, eggs, cheese as you like, plus vegetables and salads, mushrooms and a few tomatoes. Once you get yourself sorted out, you can get into some sort of rhythm with your diet, but between now and Friday try to avoid those foods. What a great doctor you have!!!!!!!! Good luck.
 
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oh my goodess Cullyjon you must have got a real shock. Im sure someone will provide you with the information you need. :)
 
Cullyjon said:
Hello was diagnosed around midnight last night with a doctor banging on my door! Apparently I am 29 but should be an 8 (?). I have been put on METFORMIN twice a day to reduce my sugar. Told to eat and drink no sugar and will be reviewed on Friday and if it has not gone down will be admitted. Spent an hour in Tesco looking for things with no sugar and have ended up with a tin of tuna potatoes and carrots. Eyesight is very blurred so cannot drive and been signed off from work. I am really confused with trying to find food and drink with no sugar and also with my poor eyesight and spaced out moments I am worried for the future. As long as I can lower from a 29 by Friday I believe I won't have to be admitted (fingers crossed!). Anyway thank you for listening and any advice on lists of food I can eat or websites will be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Hello Culleyjon
Can't provide much in the way of advice as new to this but wish you luck for Friday and the people here have been so kind since I plucked up the courage. I am loving scrambled eggs n grilled bacon for breakfast (can't bring myself to fry!) turkey n salad for dinner and chicken (dry fried in the paprika maggi papyrus papers)with veg. If anthing I feel as though eating too much but scales say otherwise. I echo the comment that you have a really good Doc and am sure you will receive helpful valuable advice here
Regards
CatLady
 
Forgot to mention already have an apt for retinal screening and received my free prescription card yesterday so will save as currently pay for pre payment certificate. every cloud .........
 
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