Newly Diagnosed

Liz231185

Newbie
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2
Hi everyone! I was diagnosed yesterday with pre diabetes . I went to the gp regarding something completely different and now find myself with this shock diagnosis. I want to do whatever I can to avoid this turning into type 2 diabetes but I’m very uneducated on how to go about it.I will be seeing my gp next week for help but wanted to ask on here if there are any books/forums/websites that you have found useful?
 

Prem51

Expert
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7,393
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Hi @Liz231185 and welcome to the forum. It's good that you are taking action now to avoid becoming fully diabetic.
You must realise that you need to avoid sugar and sugary drinks, including fruit juice. But you also need to avoid or limit starchy carbohydrates like pasta, potatoes, bread and rice, as carbs turn to sugar in our bodies.
Many of us on here have found that adopting a Low Carbohydrate High Fat (lchf) approach to eating has reduced our blood glucose levels. Have a read round the threads to see how this works and ask any questions you want to.
 

Liz231185

Newbie
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2
Hi @Liz231185 and welcome to the forum. It's good that you are taking action now to avoid becoming fully diabetic.
You must realise that you need to avoid sugar and sugary drinks, including fruit juice. But you also need to avoid or limit starchy carbohydrates like pasta, potatoes, bread and rice, as carbs turn to sugar in our bodies.
Many of us on here have found that adopting a Low Carbohydrate High Fat (lchf) approach to eating has reduced our blood glucose levels. Have a read round the threads to see how this works and ask any questions you want to.

Thanks for your reply...I’m trying to learn as much as I can.i have always done “diets” that involve a lot of fruit and low fat so I’m finding it hard to get my head around what I need to do...but I know I can do it with a lot of help and advice so thankyou.x
 
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Guzzler

Master
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Hello and welcome to the forum. Your have already found the best resource for knowledge and support, it is this site!
Tagging @daisy1 for her great info pack offered to all newcomers.
Your diagnosis basically means that you have a measure of Insulin Resistance, what this means is that your body cannot metabolise carbohydrates efficiently so it follows that a drop in carbohydrates in your diet will improve your chances of better health prospects in the future.
Have a wander around the forum and ask as many questions as you like.

Books that I have read are The 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet by Moseley which was a fair start and a couple of others but I am now reading Eat Rich Live Long by Cummins and Gerber. This book not only explains in detail how the normal western diet affects us but also has recipes and meal plans. It will, I am sure, become a reference book for me as the authors are tip top experts on the metabolism. While you decide, there are loads of useful videos on YouTube by such as Low Carb Down Under, Virta Health and Jason Fung (whose short presentations are a must for the newly diagnosed, see his video on Insulin Resistance first).
 
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zand

Master
Messages
10,784
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Hi, welcome to the forum :)

I would recommend asking your doctor for a printout of your results too. Or you could ask to access them online. It's easier to stay focussed if you know your test results. If there's anything you don't understand in them, which your doctor hasn't explained, just ask here and someone will be able to help
 

Terrytiddy

Well-Known Member
Messages
835
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi @Liz231185 welcome to the forum.:) Please don't worry you are in the best place for help, advice and support, so any questions just ask away.:happy:
 
M

Moggely

Guest
Hi I can say no more then all the above posters except to say welcome to the forum. I think you will find all your answers in here and there is so much to learn. Good luck.:happy:
 
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mo53

Expert
Messages
7,869
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Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
@Liz231185 hello and welcome. You have come to the right place here. Have a look at some of the threads and read the excellent information which @daisy1 will provide. If you have any questions ask here and someone may help or point you in the right direction to find the answer.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
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Cruelty towards animals.
@Liz231185

Hello Liz and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions when you need to and someone will 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.