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Struggling with levels

N

NewbieHelp

Well-Known Member
Messages
140
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Think I’m just feeling sorry for myself as managed by diet and exercise up to now.

I don’t sleep well so my morning readings are up around the 8’s at the moment

I do low carb …. Don’t count them but avoid carb rich foods etc. some days my readings are normal others very high even if I eat same things . Spending a fortune on test strips

Exercise most days …. Can’t lose weight but think that’s menopause related ….

Very stressed at moment but went to GP who was pressuring me to take ozempic but side effects are all digestive related …. Already struggling with this so couldn’t deal with it if it got worse.

Torn with what to do ….gp only mentioned ozempic after I mentioned I was T2 so she obviously didn’t even look at my file when I was there …. Must be on commission!

Just disheartened by it all as doing my best and not seeing results.
 
Menopause makes everything more challenging. Would you like to share some of your meal ideas with us - we may be able to suggest a few easy tweaks to keep carb count down - carbs hide in the most bizarre places. Different readings for same foods is quite usual. Lots of things affect blood glucose, including stress.
 
Is there any one else at your surgery you can speak to ? Do you have a diabetic nurse there ?
a different GP ?
 
Breakfast examples would be:
Berries with Greek yoghurt with some mixed nuts or a small amount of keto granola or
Slices if chicken with cheese or
Cucumber and tomatoes with cheese spread

Lunch examples would be:
Low carb bread with chicken and cheese or with eggs
Omelettes
Salad plates …. Usually chicken or turkey with cheese and then salads like tomato cucumber peppers sweetcorn onion and maybe small bit of egg mayo or coleslaw

Dinner is usually chicken or fish with 2 or 3 types of veg - mixture of everything and maybe half a potato on occasion

Snacks is usually savoury if possible… nuts cheese tuna on occasion might have square of dark chocolate, small protein bar

Used to love milky coffee but now usually black coffee with a small drop of milk …. Haven’t been able to convert to no milk yet

This is much lower carb than a few years ago when I kept my Hba1c in the 30’s so definitely think it’s more stress related but don’t know how I can fix that
 
You should not have to pay for test strips or anything else diabetes testing and treating wise (free on prescription)
where are you from please ?
 
I’m in Ireland… I was told before I couldn’t get them on prescription as it was diet controlled and I wasn’t taking meds.

Bearing in mind if I took diet advice from health professionals here who told me my Hba1c was too high and handed me a food pyramid sheet and told me I should be eating brown bread etc potatoes pasta and cereal at every meal
 
@NewbieHelp Have you had your B12 and Vit D levels checked? A lower than optimal level of these can make weight loss harder, as can a sluggish thyroid.

And yes, GPs in the UK are now given incentives to prescribe weight loss drugs to T2s. It was announced in the media back in March. The day after I had a phone call from my surgery saying the doctor wanted to see me about my diabetes.
 
Haven’t had those levels checked in a while but will contact GP

That’s what I’m afraid of re suggestion to ozempic … no mention of it until I said I was T2 and then she was quite insistent I take it.

I’m obviously not against meds that will help me but when all the reported and common side affects are digestive related I’m concerned it will put me in a worse position than I am now.
 
Hi all, I got diagnosed as T2D last year (hba1c 105), avoided meds to start with and concentrated on diet with even more exercise. 3 months in, hba1c down to 62 with some weight loss. 6 months in hba1c 67 weight stable, started metformin and got a self funded BG test kit. 9 months hba1c now 54, weight stable, but a pattern with my BG levels was emerging? It seemed like my levels were high in the morning, so I decided to have a protein breakfast (chicken, salmon or a naughty low fat burger or sausage) with salad, pumpkin seeds and extra virgin olive oil, - most of which I would have laughed at a year ago. Upside is my morning BG levels appear much better and have started to lose weight again. Also, while on holiday I happened to meet another diabetic, who had the opposite of having very low BG levels in the morning, needed insulin. So despite the extortionate cost of self testing, I am glad that I have, but also wonder if by doing this early on I have potentially saved the NHS extra costs of potentially extra meds etc further down the line by not seeing what was going on with my BG levels? I also tried a libre freestyle, but found it unreliable, possibly due to last years heatwave, which then limits its use?
 
Are the free CGM trials available to you? Both Libre and dexcom run them regularly over here on the "mainland" They can be useful in watching BG trends
 
I know your GP probably took you by surprise when they suggested Ozempic. Just remember that Ozempic was designed originally as a type 2 diabetes treatment. These types of meds, I feel, have got a bad press, especially around side effects. Not everyone will get side effects, I started Mounjaro recently for my type 2 and have no side effects whatsoever. Your increased readings are of concern and you say you aren’t against medication so perhaps it might me worth having another think about a GLP1.
 
@NewbieHelp, your meal choices are excellent. Therefore I don't think it's your diet that is causing your problems. If, as you suspect it's stress related, that can be very hard to manage. Maybe you can find things to do that give you fun and relaxation? I think you are being very sensible regarding the medication.
 
lessci said:
Are the free CGM trials available to you? Both Libre and dexcom run them regularly over here on the "mainland" They can be useful in watching BG trends
Click to expand...
gp has said no need to test so not sure about free cgm trials but I will look into it, to see if available here or what criteria are
 
Thanks for your reply …. Terrified of common side effects as I already suffer with them so couldn’t risk making it worse.

The low dose she suggested according to various sources say it doesn’t effect blood sugar at such a low dose

If I was guaranteed no side effects I’d try it like a shot … I know some people aren’t affected but seems very common and I’m already in misery everyday

Will maybe go back and discuss with gp again
 
Thank you … yes I definitely feel it’s more stress related…unfortunately some things I can’t change but will try to work more on relaxing

Do u mean I’m being sensible not taking medication at this moment?

Thanks
 
I mean that you are being sensible to ask questions about medication, if you have any doubts, and by being aware of potential side effects.
 
NewbieHelp said:
gp has said no need to test so not sure about free cgm trials but I will look into it, to see if available here or what criteria are
Click to expand...
"no need to test" means that they won't pay for it. Not testing is a bit little only looking at the speedo in your car once every 3/6/12 months and the wondering why you're getting loads of tickets when the "average says you're under the limit , I wouldn't say go mad and use them all the time, but the info can be very useful
 
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