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Newly Diagnosed...T2

@mizloco - Hello and Welcome to the Forum.:). Yes, we have all been there when told about having Diabetes. But, it does get better - there is so much to take in - but take one day at a time. I will tag @daisy1 who will provide you with some basic information. Have a good read and if you have any questions - just ask on the forum, someone will come along and answer.:)
 
@mizloco

Hello and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want 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 over 150,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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 bloodglucose 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.
 
Hi @mizloco and welcome to the forum. It is a shock when you first get that diagnosis and does take a bit of time to get your head around it all. But you have done well to find this forum, there is a lot of good advice and support on here. You can control this condition.
 
Thank you. I do think I'm in shock a bit. I have read a lot in the last 24hrs and sent of for a couple of books. I have also ordered a medical alert bracelet, joined diabetes UK and found this forum so I have been productive. I just need my inner world to settle and catch up.
 
@mizloco it took me about a month to get over all the initial emotions, not just shock, but also denial, anger, shame, confusion and fear.
This forum helped a lot. Six months later I am having to be careful not to become too complacent and lax. Again this forum is helping with that.
 
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hi think i felt shocked when i was first told still having problems but this forum and the people on here help so much good luck
 
Hi and welcome. Do ask any questions as things settle. Just a word of warning about diet info in books and even from Diabetes UK (not this site) that some still advocate having loads of carbs and reducing fat. This is completely wrong. Keep the carbs down and have enough protein, fat, veg and non-tropical fruit to keep you feeling full.
 
mizloco said:
Found out this morning...feel a bit numb and lost if I'm honest.
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Hi. It will get a lot easier to the point of not feeling at all lost the more you bounce around this site and ask questions. Most important thing of all (not just with diabetes) is knowing you can have some control over what's going on. So, my advice is inform yourself as best you can...make sure you have a self-testing meter, and then test before and a couple of hours after eating (your pre and post meal readings should be similar or your grub has too many carbohydrates in it)...note down the food and the readings...that record of things will inform you what's okay for you and what's not. Whatever a doctor says to you about not testing...it's standard blah blah...testing is the only way to see how you're doing. It is what will help you get control and you will not feel so lost. In fact, with the right diet and the progress you can make..you may even feel good about yourself as a result. we get lots of rubbish chucked at us in life..it's just another thing to deal with - that's all. Check out low carb dieting and ask questions...get in control. Good luck. Paul
 
Welcome @mizloco

This is a great place to be to help you thru this.

Ask any questions you may have to help you understand diabetes as there are years of experience on here
 
Hi ,must seem strange advice to be told to eat less fruit and eat more fat as it goes against every thing you have been told , but it does work ,you will lose weight and lower your BG to healthy levels, maybe reversing you diabetes,stick with a LowCarb diet and stick with this forum
 
Hi @mizloco - make sure you eat enough Protein, Fats, Veg and non-tropical Fruit. Pleinster is right in saying: test before you eat and 2 hours after, keep a food diary and record everything you eat and your blood sugar results.:)
 
pleinster said:
Hi. It will get a lot easier to the point of not feeling at all lost the more you bounce around this site and ask questions. Most important thing of all (not just with diabetes) is knowing you can have some control over what's going on. So, my advice is inform yourself as best you can...make sure you have a self-testing meter, and then test before and a couple of hours after eating (your pre and post meal readings should be similar or your grub has too many carbohydrates in it)...note down the food and the readings...that record of things will inform you what's okay for you and what's not. Whatever a doctor says to you about not testing...it's standard blah blah...testing is the only way to see how you're doing. It is what will help you get control and you will not feel so lost. In fact, with the right diet and the progress you can make..you may even feel good about yourself as a result. we get lots of rubbish chucked at us in life..it's just another thing to deal with - that's all. Check out low carb dieting and ask questions...get in control. Good luck. Paul
Click to expand...
The doctor did say I do not have to test, but I did wonder how I would know what I was doing. I shall look at testing kits. Thanks.
 
@mizloco - Hi, I remember seeing website info in one of the threads about meters, but cannot remember which thread it was??? So, I am going to tag @Bluetit1802 who I believe has the information web link on meters. (Thank You Bluetit in advance)
 
mizloco said:
The doctor did say I do not have to test, but I did wonder how I would know what I was doing. I shall look at testing kits. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I shake my head at their disconnect between what they THINK is right and what diabetics KNOW to be right. Get a kit and you'll then be in charge and as everyone else has said, ask and you'll get more knowledge than you could possibly dream of. Veterans abound and we're all here to help You'll be fine :)
 
Thank you all for your help. I have posted in the section about testing. I want to do this right so it improves not gets worse.
 
Hi @mizloco . Enjoy the forums. I wish I had their help when I was diagnosed 13yrs ago. Probably wouldn't be on insulin now. I'll never know but I know how to make the best of my diabetic status now. Thanks to the forum. NHS is very limited but excellent for meds and medicial advice.
We cannot advise on your medical treatment but support your journey. The ups and the downs. We all have them even the perfect poster.
Just remember there are hundreds of people available to help. Your never on your own. Welcome and enjoy! :-)
 
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