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Newly diagnosed so much to learn

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nolanjoe92

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Hi I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes just over two weeks ago i had been feeling very ill few several weeks with usual symptoms dry mouth , need to drink alot , blurry vision , tirdness,extreme weight loss .Eventually the doctors finally checked me for diabetes after i said i was concerned this may be down to diabetes . I got my results back and my HBA1 came back as 135 :( and while in the doctors they checked my blood sugars after several hours of no eating and it was 17.9 :( .

Over the last two weeks i have really struggled with such a steep learning curve and coming to terms with the fact this is the cards i have been dealt and now i just have to deal with it . I did have a very poorly balanced diet before and energy drinks were my best friend ( i blame these as a main cause for my diagnosis) I am only 27 so very shocked i was as bad as i was as i was 6ft tall and 90kg so not overweight either.

I struggle now with understanding my bloods sometimes i can get into the high 5's my lowest so far was a 5.4 yesterday after some high intensity exercise but i am usually floating between 7-high 9's .
I struggle with the low carb diet i am doing it (less than 100g per day ) and in two weeks to be averaging 13-15 mmol per day down to averaging in the 7 mmol per day i am quite happy .

Does anyone have any tips that keep my bloods at a more stable level i know i will get spikes but i dont understand why they come sometimes example i woke up on 7.5 but then now 2 hours later with no food or anything but water to drink i tested 9 :( this seems to be happening most mornings now that i have a bit of a spike before breakfast but then it makes me paranoid about eating as it will push them even higher .

Any suggestions on ways to make managing these easier would be a massive help as two weeks ago i didnt even understand what carbs were (never really been into diet) so just feel a bit of a mental overload at the mo .
Its great to read how others manage to cope with their situations maybe i can learn a few tips .
 
Hi @nolanjoe92

welcome.

The weight loss, was that much before you got Diagnosed ?

No expert here, and i do hate to say it, but while the T2D can be for younger members
there is a possibility the DX is wrong and COULD be T1 instead.
sure others more knowledgeable will be along to offer better advice

and as for the spikes in the morning.
that is most likely dawn phenomenon

Our bodies feed us glucose to help us start our day
and that spike, can be stopped by some with a BITE to eat, cheese etc.
(have to think caveman to understand the real dynamics of how parts of us work.
With no supermarkets, they had to get out and find, catch or kill dinner,
so the morning help was most likely much needed,
now with a shop on every corner less so.:D)

But it is usually the last Number to drop, so i'd be cool about that for the moment.
are you testing before a meal and then 2 hours after ?
that tells you a lot more then the fasting test at this early stage.
 
Hi @nolanjoe92 and welcome to the forum.
Well done on your progress so far, down into single figures, brilliant!
In case you haven’t seen it here’s a link to our useful info post for newbies:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.17088/
Have a read and come back with any questions you might have.
And lastly please don’t blame yourself for your diagnosis, many people drink energy drinks and don’t get diabetes, you along with many of us here just developed an intolerance of carbohydrates.
 
Hi and Welcome

I have had similar to you although I was 70 when diagnosed and had no symptoms despite my glucose being 18.4 and my HbA1c 10.4! I just went for my free NHS check as I hadn't been to the Dr for ages.

The morning high is "normal" in the early stages, I still have that a lot of the time a few years on . I find the best way is no food after lunch time (or no breakfast if you prefer to eat later) and VERY low carbs. My breakfast is fried bacon or haloumi) two eggs and load of chopped up veg (spinach, tomato, mushrooms, garlic, celery etc) done in the microwave. I didn't like it at first but have got used to it now. Lunch is chicken curry, pork chop, chicken breast or similar with veg. The veg excludes starchy veg such as peas, potatoes, sweetcorn etc. My drink is strong black coffee with no milk or sugar (the only bit of my diet that hasn't changed as that is how I always drank it).

When I stick rigidly to this after a few days my morning glucose is in the high 6s; I have never managed any lower but am told that I was almost certainly diabetic for up to 10 years without knowing so I guess I am never going to get "perfection"; I just have to do the best I can with the odd lapse. Y have temptation all arounc me as my husband leaves chocolate, cakes etc on the coffee table and we now cook, shop and eat separately.

Good luck, you will get there, it just takes time and willpower.
 
thanks both for the comments its much appreciated .
jjraak -
jjraak said:
Hi @nolanjoe92

welcome.

The weight loss, was that much before you got Diagnosed ?

No expert here, and i do hate to say it, but while the T2D can be for younger members
there is a possibility the DX is wrong and COULD be T1 instead.
sure others more knowledgeable will be along to offer better advice

and as for the spikes in the morning.
that is most likely dawn phenomenon

Our bodies feed us glucose to help us start our day
and that spike, can be stopped by some with a BITE to eat, cheese etc.
(have to think caveman to understand the real dynamics of how parts of us work.
With no supermarkets, they had to get out and find, catch or kill dinner,
so the morning help was most likely much needed,
now with a shop on every corner less so.:D)

But it is usually the last Number to drop, so i'd be cool about that for the moment.
are you testing before a meal and then 2 hours after ?
that tells you a lot more then the fasting test at this early stage.
Click to expand...

im hoping its type 2 but as you mentioned this is still not 100% confirmed but as i seem to be responding to the tablets they are holding fire before confirming if type 1 or type 2 . before meals im generally anywhere between high 5's to 7 and after anywhere from 7-9 it seems to rise by about 2 to 2 1/2 . I have read afew things about the DP so maybe i will try have a small bite to eat when i wake to see if that helps as you suggested :)
 
Thank you for the kind words it is good to hear experienced members telling me i seem to be doing something right :) thank you for the link i will be sure to have a read through as in the end i just want to educate myself as much as possible to ensure i stay healthy and can still enjoy life as much as possible without letting this feel like it controls me . I think im just at the stage where i blame myself as its all very new im slowly coming to terms with it and the fact i was just unlucky but i cant change it now lol . Really happy when im in single figures and when i got a 5.5 last night it was like a victory so if i can keep having these small steps i will be happy :)
 
Arab Horse said:
Hi and Welcome

I have had similar to you although I was 70 when diagnosed and had no symptoms despite my glucose being 18.4 and my HbA1c 10.4! I just went for my free NHS check as I hadn't been to the Dr for ages.

The morning high is "normal" in the early stages, I still have that a lot of the time a few years on . I find the best way is no food after lunch time (or no breakfast if you prefer to eat later) and VERY low carbs. My breakfast is fried bacon or haloumi) two eggs and load of chopped up veg (spinach, tomato, mushrooms, garlic, celery etc) done in the microwave. I didn't like it at first but have got used to it now. Lunch is chicken curry, pork chop, chicken breast or similar with veg. The veg excludes starchy veg such as peas, potatoes, sweetcorn etc. My drink is strong black coffee with no milk or sugar (the only bit of my diet that hasn't changed as that is how I always drank it).

When I stick rigidly to this after a few days my morning glucose is in the high 6s; I have never managed any lower but am told that I was almost certainly diabetic for up to 10 years without knowing so I guess I am never going to get "perfection"; I just have to do the best I can with the odd lapse. Y have temptation all arounc me as my husband leaves chocolate, cakes etc on the coffee table and we now cook, shop and eat separately.

Good luck, you will get there, it just takes time and willpower.
Click to expand...


Thank you again for more advice anything is appreciated :) im hoping to in general keep my bloods at a sensible level more for my own peace of mind as when it goes high its very deflating especially since i have cut out ALL Treats no sweets no crisps no fizzy drinks lol . my aim now is to just try my best to find the right balance asn diet to keep things as stable as possible and try to learn what to expect and when regarding how my blood sugar levels work :)
 
Hi nolanjoe92,
I am a thin Type 2 (though not exactly young any more). Assuming that you are confirmed as Type 2 then we are both TOFI (Thin Outside, Fat Inside). This is because we don't have as many sub-cutaneous fat cells as most people, so when high Insulin causes our bodies to store fat, it does so internally in and around the liver (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver), kidneys and pancreas. This tends to make Glucose intolerance (T2) worse much more quickly than for a person who has plenty of fat cells under their skin.

The fact that we don't have so much weight to lose means that a Low Carb (and Higher traditional fat) way of eating is generally the most appropriate one for us. Don't think that we don't have weight to lose - in my late teens/early twenties I was about 9lbs lighter than I am now at 68, even though I have already lost 27lbs since diagnosis by implementing a LCHF Way Of Eating (no conscious calorie restriction).

I feel it is important to have some 'treats', otherwise Low Carb is just so unappealing. In my case treats are things with high fat that I can snack on like Cheese, Full Fat plain Yogurt with a few berries (or double cream if preferred to yogurt). I also have already cooked bacon (cut up into small pieces) in containers in my fridge - I add some to meals to make them more tasty. I find I can eat a few (up to 3 or 4) squares of Lindt 95% chocolate (14gms pre 100gms).

The only way to find out what you can eat is to keep measuring your BG both before and then 2hrs after eating since we all have different reactions (some can eat apples or carrots - I can't).

I wish you good luck on your T2 journey. Accept that it is for life (not just a matter of 'getting cured') and you will be fine!
 
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