Scared!!

Hi nicki,
Have a read around the forum and this website, http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes for an explanation of why restricting carbohydrates is a must in managing your diabetes. It is really trial and error for all of us as we are all different and the amounts we can safely consume are different. The advice that several members have received is that a plate of food should consist of 50% carbs. This is the problem as it conflicts with what actually works.
Have you been supplied with a meter and test strips? Management is impossible without these essential tools. You need to test, test and test again until you know the foods that are causing your levels to spike.
Hopefully you will be able to get your head round why your levels are too high and then come back and ask all the questions you may have.

With regard to your weight, it is estimated that 20% of diagnosed diabetics are not overweight.

Hope this helps,
Catherine.

Hi Nicky, Welcome.
By joining in the forum you have taken the first step to getting control of your Diabetes and getting some answers ( although you will get many shades of opinion !!)
When I was diagnosed 11 yrs ago T2 I asked the same questions. There is no stock answer - we are all different.

I started on single therapy, went to dual therapy and then triple therapy. This stabilised everything for many years. then recently everything went haywire. No real idea why. They kept mentioning Insulin but I didn't want that and thought there must be something else. For me there was another option so I have stayed off Insulin.
You need to discuss the other option such as triple therapy - obviously this would be a medical decision. Find out by browsing here as much as you can about the diet that works for you - for me it's low carb. Others use different methods. As someone said the better informed you are and the more assertive about your treatment the better it will get.
Don't be scared. You will get all the support you need here.
Ken

Hi nicki

Firstly welcome to the forum

Eat plenty of carbs, is a bit of a misnomer as it gives the impression that as long as you avoid sugary foods and drinks you can still pile your plate up with foods such as potatoes, rice pasta, and eat slices of bread etc with out any real worry… Which is sadly wrong in many respects…?

A diabetic whether they are T1 or T2, really needs to learn and understand, what carbs actually are where you can find them, and how to count them within a meal or a snack… Then they need to learn how they effect there blood sugar levels and work out the maximum amount of any particular/combination of carbs work for them with any meal or snack, they need to understand how other factors such as exercise, stress or illness effects this as well, to stand a chance of there condition.

You can achieve this in several ways, you could try the G.I diet which is less of a impact on lifestyle changes than the extreme low carb diet when you follow a strict 30g of carbs a day regime, or you can work on finding out what foods spike and raise your blood sugar levels and either reduce or eliminate them as needed to stabilise your blood sugar.

As to the insulin concerns, well I’m a T1 diabetic so insulin is a most, but at the end of the day, with either oral medication or insulin, each has it’s pro’s and cons to it… I do how ever find that having insulin actually does give me more flexibility that perhaps oral medication would give…

Take a look around the forum, there are plenty of ideas how to achieve good control, ask question for more information or just general support.

Hello Nicky, I can't give you any practical advice because I'm new T2 myself and as scared as you are. But what I can tell you is that there are absolutes mines of helpful and friendly info on this forum - I've relaxed an awful lot after reading through the threads, and realise that there IS life after diagnosis!

Hi Nicky
You certainly don't fit the obvious profile for T2
What BG levels are you getting?
Has your doctor excluded any possiblity of T1?
Go to the chemist and but yourself some Ketostix( very cheap) and check your urine for ketones.
If you find any, get yourself to A&E

Hi nicki
Are you being dealt with by just a GP or have you seen an Endocrinologist ?

Ken

What is an endocrinologist?
An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor. Endocrinologists diagnose diseases that affect your glands. They know how to treat conditions that are often complex and involve many systems within your body. Your primary care doctor refers you to an endocrinologist when you have a problem with your endocrine system.

What do endocrinologists do?
Endocrinologists are trained to diagnose and treat hormone imbalances and problems by helping to restore the normal balance of hormones in your system. They take care of many conditions including:

* diabetes
* thyroid diseases
* metabolic disorders
* over or under production of hormones
* menopause
* osteoporosis
* hypertension
* cholesterol (lipid) disorders
* infertility
* lack of growth (short stature)

Nicki
An Endo is aspecialist in all sorts of metabolic disorders. they are the ones to get to see when things aren't working out.
I really think you should ask for a referral to a Endocrinologist who should be able to sort out your problems. Ask for a second opinion. Be nice at the same time and voice your concerns. I'm sorry to say it but most GP's just play with peoples lives.
Be assertive.
Ken

Sue pipped to the post, again.

You can certainly ask your doctor for a referral to see an Endocrinologist,see what he says.Everyone is allowed a second opinion if they are not satisfied.

Why thank you Nicki !

we do have another name for her ?????