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Starting my Type 2 diabetic journey

James G

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello everyone,

I received my diagnosis for type 2 diabetes at the end of September 2025, since then its been a whirlwind of things to learn and remember. I started out with mmol/mol of 105 for which they put me straight on to Gliclazide until i could attend my diabetic appointment with the Dr & nurse. long story short, i came out of the office with a spinning head, prescription for metformin and continued gliclazide and a CT scan on my pancreas booked.
I'm in a positive place, to be fair, I'm not going to let this beat me, this is the wake up call I've needed for a long time. I was 21.5 stone last year and without knowing it id dropped a stone and a half in the run up to my diagnosis.
Armed with my trusty glucose monitor I've made a decision to begin a journey of self improvement. For the last 2 weeks ive cut direct sources of sugar out and maintained 3 healthy meals a day. As a reward i last weighed in at 19st 9, and, finding myself suddenly bursting with energy I've set myself an exercise regime with my youngest son for motivation of 2 miles fast walk per night, i also sneak in a quick fast pace mile walk every morning before work.

I need to (will) lose weight
I need to (will) get fit
I need to (will) win!

this is the new me, and i wish all the best and good health to everyone out there living with the 'betes!
 
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Hi @James G & welcome to the forum

What a lovely positive post there’s lots of info all around the forum and if you check out the links in my signature you may find some helpful information

Well done on the good start & the weight loss!
 
Love your positivity.

Have a good read of the forum, you most certainly can (will) do all the you hope to do. It's not easy at all, but the more you persevere the easier it does become.

I was 110 when I was diagnosed in 2023 and am now 38 (last test in may). The trick for me was counting the carbs in everything I eat and cutting it right down. No more potato for me (used to love jacket potatos and chips). I was 20 stone in 2020 and am now 13 stone 5.

I found that the libre 2+ really helped me to find out which foods affected me the most. There was a free 15 day trial for it but I've just checked and it's on hold at the moment sadly.

All the very best with your adventure and I really hope it works out for you. You'll have to keep us up to date with how you are doing.
 
i most certainly will, thanks for the advice ill have a look into the libre 2+ unit
I'm giving potato and pasta a wide birth, ramping up the greens (broccoli, beans, spinach etc...) stocking up on the mackerel and tuna.
my ultimate goal will be the 13 stone mark, ill get there I'm sure , some interesting reads on this forum, rather than the ai generated stuff from google
 
I think Dexcom still have a free trial one if you want to try a CGM - check that they're compatible with your phone 1st. I've used both on and off, my personal preference is the Dexcom, they only run at 10 day (plus a grace period" as opposed to th 15 for the Libre, but if you decide you want to use on a regular basis they have a subscription service which works out less expensive. And don't forget to claim your VAT exemption too
 
It’s a shame the Libre isn’t available as a free trial for now. However having used it for several years, I’ve just switched to the Dexcom One + and have signed up for their subscription which works out significantly cheaper per day. It has the advantage of the ability to have current blood sugar level displayed my Apple Watch!
However I digress, welcome to the forum @James G , you seem to be off to a flying start. I saw my diagnosis as the proverbial kick up the b*m. I lost a shed load of weight and got my blood sugars back to normal very quickly thanks to the advice and support of this forum. Stick around and let us know how you get on.
 
For some reason, while in the popular media they all suggest eating less and exercising more fore weight loss, that's not how it works fin real life for most people.

About 10% of Type 2 diabetics are slim (normal BMI or even underweight) - so weight isn't the main factor.
100% of Type 2 diabetics have an abnormally low response to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. Unlike Type 1 diabetics, the majority of Type 2's produce lots of insulin, just not enough of it to force the glucose in their bloodstream (there from digesting carbohydrates) into their muscles. So the major factor is eating more carbohydrates than their body can deal with.

A low carb way of eating not only lowers blood glucose (in almost all Type 2's) but in the majority it also reduces weight (without additional exercise) and it does this without (for most) any hunger or reduction in calories.
I was just 2lbs into the overweight BMI category when I started low carb, I eat more fats and proteins instead of carbs so my caloric intake actually rose (fat has 9 calories per gram while carbs have only 4 calories per gram). My Blood glucose dropped as did my weight without any additional exercise, though as I started to feel I had more energy I started to dislike exercise less and so tended to do a little more!
 
Well done on such a good start. If you are the same as I am, the weight will go effortlessly once you eat in a way that supports your body through diabetes. There are lots of delicious things we can still eat - I don't miss carbs and sugars at all. You have a hold on this and you will be fine. Stay with us and share your experiences, which will help others.
 
Dexcom are still doing their free trail, I got one about 10 days ago, and found it really helpful with knowing what puts my levels etc
 
I would also highly recommend getting the Dexcom free trial. I think CGMs are the best help you can get at seeing how what you eat affects your blood sugar. Everyone is different and so can their reaction to foods, what works for one person may not work for another - I have found CGMs an invaluable tool in helping me to reduce my blood sugar.
 
Well, its been 3 months since i began my journey and here's where I'm at... I'm currently weighing in at 18 stone 6 lbs and walking between 5 - 6 miles per day (3 miles in the morning b4 work, and 2 - 3 miles on an evening inc. weekends!)
scary to think that its not that long since i was 21stone 7lb .
I can be honest and say that i have enjoyed changing my lifestyle and am feeling much better for it, I'm now at the point where my clothes are feeling very loose on me and require a belt for m'trousers!

i must however address a negative side...
I do feel that my relationship has suffered though as my new routine of morning and evening walks are being misconstrued as suspicious behaviour by my wife to the point where she makes unfounded allegations of infidelity even though my son comes with me!
My new, healthy eating habits have also come under fire with my being accused of forcing my ideology on others despite the fact that i don't stop anyone from the household eating what they choose. I just choose not to eat chips or heavy carbs whilst i lose my excess weight.
Needless to say, I'm staying strong (just as i did when i stopped smoking 25 years ago) after all, its MY health and MY diabetes. If those around me cannot accept my new lifestyle then i guess what will be will be.
My sons give me all the support i need even if others cannot.

Back to the light...
My first hba1c check coming up... was 105 at the start... ill post my new reading when i get the result...
 
Well done on changing your lifestyle and your weight loss. I’m sure your HbA1c will have improved too. Can you see if your wife would come walking with you, it would make for a lovely family activity?
 
You have done amazingly well!

Changing lifestyle can be a challenge, but if you do it the right way, it is all about eating delicious food and cutting out the stuff that didn't give you much in the first place, and gaining enormously in terms of health and fitness - it is so much easier to exercise once you have lost some weight and are fuelling yourself properly.

I used to have huge crashes in energy, and very unstable mood, but everything has changed for the better with eating unprocessed healthy foods and limiting carbs to those in veggies and berries. There is so much information and support on this forum, it is a brilliant resource, and non-judgemental too.

When I was diagnosed this forum and the many members offering support and encouragement, as well as their experiences with diabetes was the only thing that gave me hope that I could make a difference to my health.

Good luck with the HbA1c result, and the rest of your journey.
 
sounds like your doing awesome and great bit of positivity overall.

I think @Rachox's suggestion could prove fruitful. is there perhaps some nice walks you did together in the past which maybe can do again a wee trip down memory lane? another wee suggestion if not doing already, have a date night once every week or two, somewhere nice for the both of you. Could be likes of trip to park with a lovely weepicnic (weather permitting), on the more dul/rainy days, maybe a wee trip to the cinema,10pin bowling, film night or whatever else you both used to spend time doing together.

glad you've got the support of your sons.

best wishes to the future
 
I'm so impressed with what you've done so far, and I'm sorry your wife is feeling insecure about it. I do hope she comes on board soon and is supportive. Your sons don't want to be without a father, so it's good that they are helping. I wish you every success.
 
hi all, just got my results in for my HBA1C... 39, down from 105

39! im blown away!

this has prompted a note on my file saying normal but unexpected - make appointment with Dr
 
James G said:
hi all, just got my results in for my HBA1C... 39, down from 105

39! im blown away!

this has prompted a note on my file saying normal but unexpected - make appointment with Dr
Click to expand...
A big congratulations from me @James G . I bet you are very pleased with that result. Well done
 
James G said:
this has prompted a note on my file saying normal but unexpected - make appointment with Dr
Click to expand...
Congratulations on your result, very well deserved. Drs aren’t used to seeing such improvements, they expect type 2s just to get worse and worse. I saw a GP who I hadn’t met before one year for my annual review and the first question was, why are you here? You’re not diabetic!
 
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