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recently diagnosed type 2

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graham56

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hi everyone...got diagnosed with type 2 3 weeks ago after being put on steroids for another problem...have been reducing steroids each week and am now down to 10mg/day but my blood counts are all over the place and go up 30 during the day and even on a morning only come down to 9. I have been put on metformin 2 tabs/day but have not noticed any difference yet, how long before tese start to kick in and do they make a big difference?? I am really trying to watch what I eat but am finding it extremely difficult and constantly feel hungry. I cant even have cereal for breakfast as I notice my counts shoot straight up to over 20, 2 hours after eating. I am really trying but it does get me down and I am worried that my counts are extremely high yet my nurse does not seem concerned. I have looked at the glycerol index and carbohydrates on foods but I get bamboozled by it all, any advice will be extremely welcome as I am at a loss what to eat/drink
 
Hi Graham and welcome

in a minute soembody will be along to give you the link to the info for the newly diagnosed. It is good stuff so have a read of it.


Then you will no doubt have a milllion questions, so get back and somebody will try their best to answer them for you.
 
Welcome to the Forum.
Here is the information for newly diagnosed that my pal Sue and I put together. It should help.......

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306&start=0

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002&start=0

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:

Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091&start=0

Ken / Sue
Click to expand...
 
thanks, can you recommend a good carb counter book, i have looked at Carb Counter: A Clear Guide to Carbohydrates in Everyday Foods (Collins GEM) (Paperback) and Atkins Comprehensive Carb Counter
are these suitable????
thanks again
 
The one we like and use on here to quote from is the Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible 2011 ( it is updated every year) It is not pocket sized however !

The other that many use is the Collins Gem Carb counter or Calorie Counter. This is pocket sized but not so accurate. You can find both of them on Amazon or in good book stores.
 
If you were on steroids for an infection (which I was once - I'm not asking!) the infection itself will upset your BG levels, so maybe you don't have to worry too much just yet. Once you get your carb counter book, eat as normal for a few days, counting all your carbs and testing as told on here, and you'll soon find out which foods make your BGs spike. Then you can do something about it on a structured basis.

It's scary at first, but this is a great site - yoo'll get all the help and info you could possibly need - I have! :D

Viv 8)
 
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