Newly diagnosed

[Nicnak]

Hi

I am been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes which came as a shock, I have been prescribed metformin of which I took 1 a day for 1 week then I was told by the nurse to increase to 2 tablets twice daily as she said my reading was high, is this a normal process? I have to have bloods in 6 weeks and report back to the nurse, sorry but it’s like a minefield taking all the information in

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Nicnak and welcome to the forums.

As for the metformin, yes, that's normal. My understanding is that it can be a bit rough on some people's digestive systems so they work you up to the desired dose gradually.

Do you know what your reading was? (presumably an hba1c) It's worth finding this out so that in the future you'll know whether your medication and/or lifestyle changes are helping you.

And here's my favourite brief intro to T2 and low carb, by @JoKalsbeek.
JoKalsbeek's blog | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community

Do have a browse round the forums and feel free to drop in anywhere that looks interesting. If you have any questions, just ask.

Once more, welcome.

 

[arthur73]

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes just recently. My Hba1c reading is 13.3. I go to the specialist and give me 8 unit of Insulin which I inject every night. I eat less now. I plan to eat a little bit more since I feel sick if I eat less. Is this reading ok?

 

[ianf0ster]

@Nicnak , @arthur73 Hi and welcome to the forum.

Metformin is the usual first drug prescribed for Typ2 3 Diabetes. It is considered very safe except for the effect on some people's digestive system however it doesn't have much of an effect but does tend to suppress appetite.

Insulin is usually only prescribed for Type 2 if the Blood Glucose is very high and is often the drug of last resort. This is because the problem in Type 2 Diabetes is insulin resistance, meaning the patient is producing insulin (usually in higher than normal levels, but that insulin ids unable to force the glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells where is is both used for energy and stored as body fat.
It is probably undisputed that visceral fat around the organs causes/is associated with insulin resistance, so if the eating habits are not changed, the fat pile on the insulin resistance gets worse and the dosage of insulin keeps going up.

It is carbohydrates in foods which convert to glucose, so it isn't the fat you eat that makes you fat, it's the sugars and starches (i.e. carbohydrates). Thus many on this forum have cut down on carbohydrates in order to put their T2 diabetes into remission.

 

[Nicnak]

@Nicnak , @arthur73 Hi and welcome to the forum.

Metformin is the usual first drug prescribed for Typ2 3 Diabetes. It is considered very safe except for the effect on some people's digestive system however it doesn't have much of an effect but does tend to suppress appetite.

Insulin is usually only prescribed for Type 2 if the Blood Glucose is very high and is often the drug of last resort. This is because the problem in Type 2 Diabetes is insulin resistance, meaning the patient is producing insulin (usually in higher than normal levels, but that insulin ids unable to force the glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells where is is both used for energy and stored as body fat.
It is probably undisputed that visceral fat around the organs causes/is associated with insulin resistance, so if the eating habits are not changed, the fat pile on the insulin resistance gets worse and the dosage of insulin keeps going up.

It is carbohydrates in foods which convert to glucose, so it isn't the fat you eat that makes you fat, it's the sugars and starches (i.e. carbohydrates). Thus many on this forum have cut down on carbohydrates in order to put their T2 diabetes into remission.

Thank you for the information I am reading my way though information and I have started cutting down a lot on carbs, I am also avoiding sugar so it is working progress, my reading was 15.6