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Donna73

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Hi all,

I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and feel a bit on my own really.

The doctor told on Thursday, he was vague, put me on tablets, referred me to a gym and referred me to the Desmond's program.

He told me they would go through everything with me. I thought fine that's great. Only they have no spaces available until the end of September!!!

I have no idea of what to do until then, he didn't go through any dietary plans or exercise or whether I should I be testing my own levels, so confused.

I just wondered if this normal practice? Do you have any advice you would kindly give me?

Thanks

Donna x
 
Hi Donna and welcome to the forum :)
Here is some information that we give to new members and I think it will be helpful to you. Ask any questions you like and someone will be here to answer.


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 30,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

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

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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
 
Hi Donna.

Welcome to the Forum. :)

Joining this Forum is probably the best thing you have done so far. :D

Everyone is so helpful and many like you have received vague advice from doctors regarding type2 diabetes. :?

Also before you buy anything regarding your condition, seek advice from this Forum. ( you will save a lot of money ).

Good Luck,

Roy. :)
 
Donna73 said:
Hi all,

I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and feel a bit on my own really.

The doctor told on Thursday, he was vague, put me on tablets, referred me to a gym and referred me to the Desmond's program.

He told me they would go through everything with me. I thought fine that's great. Only they have no spaces available until the end of September!!!

I have no idea of what to do until then, he didn't go through any dietary plans or exercise or whether I should I be testing my own levels, so confused.

I just wondered if this normal practice? Do you have any advice you would kindly give me?

Thanks

Donna x
Click to expand...

No, it's NOT normal practice. My GP gave me a list of appointments that required making with the practice's Diabetic Specialist Nurse (DSN) and Phlebotomist and the nurse took over the business of getting the right additional blood tests arranged along with the eye examination appointment and did the foot check, body mass index, waistline measurement and other things they're supposed to do.

The nurse went through the lifestyle and dietary changes needed and took me up the Ramipril "stairway" to get my BP under control (GP had started me on the lowest dose, she had the authority to get my dosages increased).

The fact the "diet" she gave me was wrong is another issue as following it gives me massive glucose spikes. If I hadn't got myself a BG meter, I wouldn't have known about these spikes at all and realised it's wrong for me.
 
Thanks everyone it's great to get some help and support.

Paul, I have had no tests apart from a blood test. It concerns me of the lack of information I have been given. No mention of a diabetic nurse.

Think a trip back is in order.

Thanks again x
 
Donna, another
23_3_361.gif
to the forum from me as well.

When you see your GP make sure you get your test result figure. Do not be brushed off as you need to be able to use your results to check your progress. Some Doctors seem to be under the impression that Diabetics can't be allowed to be proactive and are happy to let their condition escalate.

Oh and you are not alone anymore, you have us lot here to support you.
 
Thanks Catza, much appreciated.

I have some figures that he gave me to pass on to DESMOND'S but have no clue what they are or what they mean. All he told me was that they were high, no mentioned of what they should be.

The more I hear the more frustrated I feel, good job your all here x
 
Post the figures here so we can explain :-)
 
Both those BP numbers are excellent :)

the total cholesterol is better than mine. They would like it to be less than 3.1 and you haven't got too far to go with that.

The HDL again is better than mine and isn't too far out from what they want of greater than 1.5.

The HbA1c though needs some attention right now!!! Have a real good read of the items that Daisy's post above links to and work on getting your meals sorted with far fewer carbs and more protein, healthy oils/fats (not transfats) and loads of good non-starchy vegetables like salad, peas, legumes.

My favourite vegetable side is oven roasted peppers, courgettes and onions. I find mashed swede or microwaved sweet potatoes are good as well to replace ordinary potatoes.

Oh and invest in smaller dinner plates and desert bowls etc. smaller portions look better on a small dinner plate than on a large plate with loads of space on it...
 
Great thanks so much , that really helps.

Do you think I need to invest in a BG meter? Would that help any.

Daisy's advice is great, I just thought it was just about not eating chocolate and sugary food but there is much more to it.

Thanks again x
 
There are many kinds of BG meters on the market, I jumped the gun before I checked with this forum.

The CodeFree meter is good value and ideal for to start with, as the strips are cheap. ( I got it on amazon free delivery ).

Not the best quality,yet it will give you a descent guide.

The forum put me wise to this unit.

Roy. :D
 
Hi Donna and welcome to the forum.

I must say I'm pretty shocked at your doctor and DSN's casual attitude to your diagnosis but don't worry you've find the right place :)

I was diagnosed in December last year and using the advice I found on this site I got my blood sugar levels back to normal within around a couple of months or so and I have also normalised my cholesterol levels and blood pressure as well. I have now lost nearly 4 stone in weight too. My doctor is very pleased how I am getting on and has advised me to keep doing what I have been doing since it's obviously working really well. Not a cure as I still have to be very careful what I eat but I feel loads better than I did.

Diet wise its really easy. Just drastically cut down or better cut out all things with plain sugar, so biscuits, cakes, sugar in tea and coffee, pure fruit juices, non diet versions of soft drinks. Next and really importantly try halving starchy foods like rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, cereals and any other flour based products. Replace what's now missing with extra meat, fish, eggs, cheese and especially vegetables. Vegetables that grow above ground are best although most of us find carrots fine. Things like yoghurt are fine as is a small amount of fresh fruit. I find the ones that end in "berry" are the best. If you don't mind artificial sweeteners things like Diet Coke are fine to drink. On the starchy foods that are left swap try brown basmati rice instead of white and brown or tri-colour pasta. The bread that most recommend is actually Bergen soya bread but some do ok with wholemeal as well.

The above diet is close to one you would be one recommended to try by the Swedish Health service. It was introduced in that country last year and the American health service and several other countries health services recommend something very similar for Type 2 diabetics. In the UK the diet guidelines are now over 30 years old and are only gradually being updated. As the UK is lagging behind you may find what I and other forum members recommend is different to what your are told is a good diet for you follow.

As your doctor is not one who believes in testing and test strips then like the others say I would recommend you get one. The SD Codefree is a good meter and you can get it off the health.co.uk shop on eBay or alternatively Amazon for under £20. Test strips are then £5 for 50 which is loads cheaper than most other meters. If you buy one make sure you order a UK mmol/l model and not an American mg/dl one or else the numbers it shows wont make sense.

The reason testing is important is you should try and keep your blood sugars below 8ish two hours after eating any meal. Above the 8 value is where the dangers of complications do begin to occur according to diabetic experts. So if you can't test how will you now if what you are eating is keeping you safe? The problem is every diabetic is different so my earlier advice to halve starchy foods is just a rough guide. You may find you need to eat less than half (like me) or that you can eat more than half like others.

As you get into it all and read around the forum you may see people talking about carb counting. If you want to understand what that is just ask. It is a powerful weapon that a diabetic can use to control their condition and one that many of us use to great effect.

Good luck and keep asking questions.

Regards

Steve

PS Here's two good links about what's good to eat.

First is the lady doctor who's low carb / low GI recommendations seem to form the basis of what's recommended in Sweden

http://blogg.passagen.se/dahlqvistannika/?anchor=my_lowcarb_dietary_programe_in

Second is a good beginners guide to low carb regimes that are excellent for reducing blood sugar levels and losing weight.

http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
 
Thank you, that's a great and dietary advise is so helpful.

I looked at Boots today at the meter's, they seemed quite reasonable ...... then flipping heck the replacement strips were so expensive!!!!

So thank you for the advise and I will definitely order of the internet x
 
Hi Donna, Sounds like my GP, it is totally disgracefull, I got all my advice from this wonderful forum. I was told by my GP to read to leaflets, eat normally.....just cut out refined sugars eat carbs at every meal and eat plenty fruit and veg! I went to see practice nurse who did various checks and tried to ask about diet and low carbing and also self testing, she said not to do any of these, particularly the self testing, I wasn't at that stage yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am pretty sure that had I listened to her advice, by the time I went back in October my levels would have been even higher, medication would have been definately on the cards and testing would have been deemed necessary!!!! I have bought my own meter and I am low carbing, at diagnosis my Hb1ac was a staggering 12.3, my fasting thumb prick test was 19.7, 6 weeks on I have reduced my carbs from 120g per day down to maybe 80g per day and in the last two days seen my bg go doen into single figures, best one so far was 7.2 but mostly 8s and 9s...... still high but I am getting there :D and best of all I am getting a general idea of what I can and cant eat and drink. As so many people say on here, take control of your diabetes, don't let it control you, and whats more listen to people who know what works, they are the experts! My optitian told me the other day my eyes had improved in six weeks :thumbup: so keep up whatever I am doing, it's working, I said my diet is now very good, she said yes it must be, lots of jacket potatoes and things..... I didn't correct her, but even people in the medical profession have absolutely no idea, even some Gps, so chin up, read the posts on this site, do yourself a favour and help yourself, you are the only one who can, I am determined not to go on medication if I can help it, my darling Dad died from the complications of diabetes, if I can help it.... that won't be me!!!
 
Could you post me your typical daily diet I am trying my best also not to end up on medication if I can help but can't get below 9.3. Any tips you can give wll be much appreciated x
 
Hi Fiona1, I was diagnosed back in May 2012, so not that long ago, I have managed to lose 21kg since then and continue to lose weight without what I would call being on a "Diet" simply put I was astonished how this low carbing works so well.

Generally am keeping to around 30g of carbs per day, while I am getting to my ideal BMI once there I will increase them to the point where I can maintain my Ideal weight. I do quite a bit of exercise in with it to, which all diabetics should be trying to achieve no matter how little that can be.
A typical day for me food wise would be some Greek yoghurt and mixed berries or almond nuts for breakfast, weekends I will have a fry up. Lunch will be chicken, tuna salad, or sausages, occasionally I will get an Indian takeaway from Tescos but be careful with them as they contain around 25g of carbs per tray, so say have half for lunch and the rest for dinner with some Cauliflower rice. Dinner could be any meat with any above ground veg or something out of the Low carb recipes on here take a look there are plenty to chose from all added by the forum members so you know they are OK. puddings they come in many variety's my favourites, Almond flour waffle or pancakes with 85% dark chocolate and fresh cream on them, or low carb Ice Cream, strawberries and cream there are hundreds on here. One thing I suggest is experiment with your food try it, then test if it's a high reading either reduce quant or don't have it again. Good luck.
 
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