Hello, I have just registered on this site having been diagnosed with Type 2, two months ago. It was a shock as I have no symptoms and this was picked up through a blood test for something else. I was asked if I wanted to take medication! Obviously my answer was no if I could do something about it myself which she agreed to. The only advice I was given was to look at this website as that is "all we do" the nurse told me. So I have been left to my own devices and the information is patchy to say the least. I followed a healthy eating plan for a few weeks and then I have completely gone off the rails and need to pull it back. How do I know what affects me if I have no symptoms? Is anyone else in this predicament? I thought it was all about sugar intake and didn't realise about carbs. I am due to go back for a further blood test in a month's time. Thank you.
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Newly diagnosed
- Thread starter Daizee
- Start Date
Resurgam
Master
- Messages
- 10,142
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
If you have been given a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes then you will have a Hba1c over 48, which is due to high blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar comes from our diet in the first place, so not overdoing the carbohydrate is usually where to start.
An ordinary type 2 should see that their blood glucose 2 hours after starting to eat a meal alters with the amount of starch and sugars in the meal. Using a meter to monitor the levels and then tweaking the content of the meals is how many type 2s control their diabetes and reverse it back to normal levels.
Blood sugar comes from our diet in the first place, so not overdoing the carbohydrate is usually where to start.
An ordinary type 2 should see that their blood glucose 2 hours after starting to eat a meal alters with the amount of starch and sugars in the meal. Using a meter to monitor the levels and then tweaking the content of the meals is how many type 2s control their diabetes and reverse it back to normal levels.
MrsA2
Expert
- Messages
- 6,932
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
A bg meter will show you exactly what foods do what to your body. A few finger pricks a day for a couple of months will be invaluable as you build a woe (way of eating) that lowers your bg.
@Rachox has a list of meters she can send you
It may seem a daunting learning curve, but take it steady and you will get there. Plenty of help and support here
@Rachox has a list of meters she can send you
It may seem a daunting learning curve, but take it steady and you will get there. Plenty of help and support here
Hi @Daizee and welcome to the forum. Thanks for the tag @MrsA2
Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.
HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews if you use this link and select the meter plus 5 packs of strips, and then add the code dcuk (all lower case) at check out you may get money off, I’m not sure if this code is still valid.
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/
Links to the strips for future orders:
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/
There are also discount codes for when you come to buy more strips - "navii5" and "navii10" will give you 20% off purchases of 5 packs of strips and 25% off 10 packs of strips respectively. Again I’m not sure if these codes are still valid.
Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
Discount codes for the Code Free strips
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833
SPIRIT HEALTHCARE
They have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular however I haven’t been able to find it on their website lately.
(Old link which doesn’t work for me now but maybe works for you, if it doesn’t try the phone number below
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793 )
The strips are to be found here:
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097
Some members have got a free Tee2+ by phoning up to order, with a large order of strips they often throw the meter in for free:
Phone number 0800 8815423
If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.
Don’t forget to check the box if you have pre diabetes or diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)
Here’s some info on UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.
HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews if you use this link and select the meter plus 5 packs of strips, and then add the code dcuk (all lower case) at check out you may get money off, I’m not sure if this code is still valid.
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/
Links to the strips for future orders:
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/
There are also discount codes for when you come to buy more strips - "navii5" and "navii10" will give you 20% off purchases of 5 packs of strips and 25% off 10 packs of strips respectively. Again I’m not sure if these codes are still valid.
Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
Discount codes for the Code Free strips
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833
SPIRIT HEALTHCARE
They have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular however I haven’t been able to find it on their website lately.
(Old link which doesn’t work for me now but maybe works for you, if it doesn’t try the phone number below
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793 )
The strips are to be found here:
https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097
Some members have got a free Tee2+ by phoning up to order, with a large order of strips they often throw the meter in for free:
Phone number 0800 8815423
If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.
Don’t forget to check the box if you have pre diabetes or diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)
Hi Daizee,
Welcome to the forums
Yes I agree with the others above, get a BG meter then test just before you eat the 2 hours after the first bite. This will tell you what spikes you and what doesn't. I decided to go Low Carb and it has really helped me by lowering by BG levels and losing weight (slowly) plus feeling better.
It is all a bit confusing at the start but you will get used to it as long as you don't ignore it, it never goes away by ignoring it so tackle it straight on, read posts around the forums and I'm sure you will learn a lot, I know I have.
Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Welcome to the forums
Yes I agree with the others above, get a BG meter then test just before you eat the 2 hours after the first bite. This will tell you what spikes you and what doesn't. I decided to go Low Carb and it has really helped me by lowering by BG levels and losing weight (slowly) plus feeling better.
It is all a bit confusing at the start but you will get used to it as long as you don't ignore it, it never goes away by ignoring it so tackle it straight on, read posts around the forums and I'm sure you will learn a lot, I know I have.
Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Debandez
Well-Known Member
Hi Daizee and welcome to the forum.
As the others have said, blood glucose testing is a great way of seeing how different food/drink effect you. @Rachox has shared details of the popular meters. I've attached a guide to testing which will help. Keep a food diary. I used the app 'mysugr' to put my blood glucose results in, it gives an estimated hba1c. This is the blood test used to diagnose type 2 diabetes.
Here's some info on hba1c levels and what they mean:
www.diabetes.co.uk
If you contact your surgery they will give you your number, you will know where you are then. You can then cross reference with attached chart.
When I was diagnosed I followed this advice on testing and it soon became very apparent what I needed to avoid. I made myself a swaps list which I've also attached. My hba1c came down nicely with these small but significant changes.
A good thread to look at on here is the success stories thread.
There seems so much to take in doesn't there? I made a short video putting the important bits together that you might find useful, it's in the success stories thread. Here is the link:
www.diabetes.co.uk
This is a wonderful forum, there is always someone there to help and guide you. Just ask if you have any questions.
As the others have said, blood glucose testing is a great way of seeing how different food/drink effect you. @Rachox has shared details of the popular meters. I've attached a guide to testing which will help. Keep a food diary. I used the app 'mysugr' to put my blood glucose results in, it gives an estimated hba1c. This is the blood test used to diagnose type 2 diabetes.
Here's some info on hba1c levels and what they mean:
Glycosylated haemoglobin & diabetes. HbA1c facts, units, diagnosis, testing frequency, limitations, control & conversion. How blood glucose levels link to A1c.
Glycosylated haemoglobin & diabetes. HbA1c facts, units, diagnosis, test frequency, limitations, control, conversion. How blood glucose levels link to A1c.
www.diabetes.co.uk
If you contact your surgery they will give you your number, you will know where you are then. You can then cross reference with attached chart.
When I was diagnosed I followed this advice on testing and it soon became very apparent what I needed to avoid. I made myself a swaps list which I've also attached. My hba1c came down nicely with these small but significant changes.
A good thread to look at on here is the success stories thread.
There seems so much to take in doesn't there? I made a short video putting the important bits together that you might find useful, it's in the success stories thread. Here is the link:
45 minute video including 79 slides on how I put my type 2 diabetes into reverse
I found this brilliant forum after my type 2 diabetes diagnosis in December 2017. The forum members helped and guided me back to good health in a short space of time. Forever grateful. So i recently decided to make this video sharing exactly how I put my type 2 into reverse and also lost over...
www.diabetes.co.uk
This is a wonderful forum, there is always someone there to help and guide you. Just ask if you have any questions.
Attachments
Thank you for your reply. I'll look into getting a meter and need to do a lot of reading to understand about carbs etc.
