Newly Diagnosed T2

[mhayleyc]

Hi, I had a phone call on Friday from my gp surgery from my nurse re blood sugar results.

I’ve been having yearly blood tests for the past 6 years after having gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my daughter.

This time round I had my test and was called by my surgery, told nothing to worry about but they needed to repeat the test. I started to worry. I went in for a repeat test and then waited 4 weeks for the results.

On Friday I was told my blood results were at 52 and 48 is the cut off for Type2 which puts me over. The nurse has prescribed me Metformin and told me to cut carbs out my diet but other than that I haven’t had anything else. When I had gestational diabetes I was testing my blood sugar levels at home with a kit. Should I be doing that again now and where do I get the kit? I also saw a diabetic nurse and midwife when I was pregnant. I feel like I’ve just had this diagnosis and been given tablets and that’s about it. Is it best to make a gp appointment to go over any questions or should I be seeing a diabetic nurse?

I suppose I’m wondering if I have to take any tablets at all or if I just lost some weight would my levels go down? Sorry for all the questions but just feel a little left out on a limb

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @mhayleyc and welcome to the forum.
It's good that you are asking sensible questions and also good that The nurse has suggested cutting down on carbohydrates - at least that's how I interpret what you said, because carbs are almost impossible to cut out and an HbA1C of 52 is only just in the diabetic range - so you don't need to cut carbs out.

Ordinary Type 2 diabetics on the NHS are very rarely provided with BG test meters and test strips, unless on insulin or some other powerful drug (Metformin is quite mild in it's desired effect, but for some it's side effects on the gut are all to powerful. If this is the case with you, then you can ask to be put on the SR version).

A popular way of putting Type 2 Diabetes into remission (there is no such thing as a cure), is a Low Carb way of eating. Testing different foods and meals with a BG meter can be a valuable tool in doing this. The simple explanation is here:

The Nutritional Thingy

There’s a few things you should know. 1. Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested , so not just straight sugars, but starches...

josekalsbeek.blogspot.com

Two of the most popular BG meters in the Uk Diabetes forums which have cheap(er) Test Strips (the main expense) are:
SD Gluco Navii
Spirit TEE2+
Both are available online.

A Low Carb way of eating often normalises all of the following Blood Glucose, weight and Blood Pressure. So there is usually no need to restrict calories or to do lots more exercise just for for weight loss

My HbA1C at diagnosis was slightly higher than yours and yet I wasn't given Metformin , but told I could try lifestyle changes for 3 months first, but warned that most patients failed. Once I found this forum I my meals changed out of recognition (Low Carb instead of Low Fat) and I was able to keep my Blood Glucose (at 2hrs after first bite) to 8.0 mmol or below. So remission soon followed.