Recently Diagnosed

[Nightrider_1uk]

Hi i've recently been diagnosed with T2. Bit dissapointed with clinics response. Problem picked up at work health screening. Visited doctor, who sent me for blood tests, Fasting level 9.6 Went to the clinic 1 week later, results 9.6, Put on Diet only control (which I am happy with), and sent off with leaflets. Just had 2nd appointment 4 weeks later, Lost 1 stone, and fasting level 7.6. Lot happier with this.

Discussed testing with nurse,. She commeted that doctor does not like testing for type 2 people might get obsessed with it. Was told that even If i could get tests, the most he would recomment was 2 tests a week, and thats all the strips I would get.

They dont seem to be very proactive, no testing, no regular appointments (so I have asked for one). Apparently, I will see the practice's Diabetes Doctor soon, but as yet have no appointment. Have been reffered for feet and eye checks. How am I meant to know if I am controlling my Diabetes if i dont check???. Weight loss cannot be the only indicator surley.

Was given a Contour Meter today after entering a competetion on this web site so I shall use that and do my own testing. Tested t his evening (about an hour ago, but did not eat until 8pm) and result was 7.5, but this was with the new contor so I will see what sort of readings i get with this meter.

Have changed my diet in respect of cutting out all the **** I used to eat.( soft spot biscuts, cakes, sweets, chocolate etc) but was very intertested to read about the Carb issues you people have identifed. (I do tend to eat bread, pasta, rice & potatoes as a large part of my staple diet). So looks like I will be doing a lot more testing.

Thanks for the support, keep up the good work

 

[cugila]

This is the information we frequently give out to newly diagnosed Type 2's. Have a read, it may help you.

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics.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.

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.

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 affect 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 !!

As a Type 2 the latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

Ken / Sue.

 

[crystalsue]

Hi, I am in exactly the same boat as you as I was diagnosed in early April. I had a huge disagreement with my nurse only last week about self testing and got the very same speel. Tried "the duty of care by the pratice" route plus the wanting to be "proactive" route but without success. Obviously the nurses have been told to restrict self testing as much as possible due to cost, but I think this is so short sighted. Surely the tablets cost more than the strips.

I had followed the NHS diet and lost a stone but after all meals my tests were reading 12.5+. Followed the low carb for two weeks and now down to 6.5 after meals.

Without self testing I would not have known this and would have quite happily carried on with the recommended diet and obviously would have had a high reading in my next test and suspect would have been put on tablets.

I am hoping that when I go back if I show her that I test about twice a week and that it does encourage me to keep on a diet that works she might change her mind - but I am not holding my breath.