Newly diagnosed T2

Hi @Acorncap and welcome - do not feel wretched and do not cry - I am also T2 as are many on this forum - lots of us following diagnosis have changed our lives for the better as you can too - tagging the lovely @daisy1 who will provide some great information to start you on the road to a healthier you!

I know the feelling i think most of us have been down that route.
And maybe a few life style changes may see you off medication in the future.

@Acorncap

I was diagnosed in June 2017. I kow exactly what you mean. There is lots of information out there and a lot seems contradict everything we "know" should be true. After I was diagnosed I ate healthily - low fat, wholemeal bread, fruit etc. Truns out that may not have been the best, although it did help a little. I am now following a low carb diet. This works for me, it might not for you but hey I love mushrooms fried in butter

I have only been on this forum about a week but there is lots of information and lots of people in the same place as you are (or they have been). Rob has tagged Daisy who wil beposting some information for you.

Chin up and remember lots of us have been there or are there.

Acorncap said:

Hi everyone I was diagnosed Dec 22 17 totally confused as what to eat and what not to eat been put on metformin have not taken them as yet scared to do so Spent a lot of time crying and feeling wretched Any advice would be gratefully accepted Thank you

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I cried buckets at the beginning too, I expect most people here did. And it is all very confusing, a lot to learn, but you don't have to learn it all immediately. Nothing bad is going to happen to you overnight! I would take the Metformin. It has been known for many years as a very safe drug and it should help a bit to lower your blood sugar. You can always stop it or ask your GP to change it if you think it does not agree with you.

When I first realised I had a problem with my blood sugar I took out all the books on diabetes I could find in the many libraries in the town where I live - at least 10. One of them stood out for me and I very soon returned all the others. To this day I have got it on extended loan and still consult it quite often. It is by Jenny Ruhl: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Diabe...=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515535245&sr=1-4 She has also put lots of helpful free info on her website: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/ I think you might feel less confused if you read some of what she has to say. She is very experienced and also comforting. She is diabetic herself, over 70, and knows what it feels like and the problems (and solutions) from the inside. Good luck!

@Acorncap

Hello Acorncap and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and useful. 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 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

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

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

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.
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.
  

I am exactly like you. Same date of diagnosis & reaction.

I am on metformin once a day & I defo have changed my eating habits I drink so much water recently in surprised I haven't turned into it.

I eat foids that have no or foods that are below 5% sugar & carbs & taking supplements.

I am slowly getting used to it now & even see it as kick I needed. Don't be too disheartened. If I can do it anyone can.

Metformin can be nasty but I was really unlucky to get just about every side effect possible - some people can take them with no problems at all, so you could be one of the fortune ones who get some benefit from it.
I could not take the tablets, but eating a low carb diet has returned all my readings to normal - I eat any meat or fish, shellfish, eggs and cheese, loads of crunchy salads courgettes mushrooms sweet peppers, cauliflower - any foods which are ten percent carbs or less, I drink coffee with cream or mint and licorice tea, and if my day's intake of carbs has been modest I have some berries and cream after dinner.

Hi and welcome to the diabetic world. As many others have said Metformin can, and does affect people in different ways. Some have complications/side effects while others don't. I was one of the unlucky ones that did. If you do experience any problems with it there is also a Modified, or Slow-Release (as some call it) version that may also be considered. Do your best and don't worry too much. Being diagnosed at end of March last year I'm very much still on a learning curve and haven't yet managed to gain control of my blood sugars, mainly due to quite a few severe infections which can push the numbers up. Once again welcome and good luck.