Suddenly Panicked

[Bobbs]

hi

I’m just this week diagnosed as T2 and waiting on an appt with the diabetic clinic. My GP wanted to start me on Metformin but I refused and pleased could I try weight loss and controlling my blood sugar till at least I get my appt through. Turns out that she still needs a second HbA1C as you are supposed to have 2 done two weeks apart and I’ve only had 1 done, second to be done on Tuesday. She wouldn’t tell me the results of my HbA1c that she’s basing my diagnosis on and said it’s the diabetic clinic that will tell you that.

Anyway, I’m not properly on my diet yet as I’ve gone from feeling that “I’m fine with this, diabetes is no big problem as I’ve watched 3 generations of my family deal and in some cases not deal with it and die through complications. My mum was diabetic for 30 years when she stayed with us and was so good so why shouldn’t I” to “omg omg, this is dreadful on top of my other illnesses, how will I deal, I need lists, lists and more lists to plan and cope. I need this book, that book, every book I can see about low carb recipes. “ I should have seen that creeping in when I asked earlier in the week about books. Amazon now loves me while I feel nothing but disgust with the garbage that I’ve somehow bought while going against everything my common sense tells me.
Depression and Anxiety are part of my co morbidities.

My anxiety is in full flown mode. Possibly not healed by the first anniversary of the death of my cousin who mys like my brother. He died because he ignored his diabetes. I nagged, screamed and begged him to stop his hopeless ways. I warned him about complications, I tried to almost frighten him by telling him that full sugar coke was the way to having his leg amputated. When he was waiting to go for his second above the knee amputation, I was still begging and pleading with him. At his funeral I thought my heart would break through such a needless death. My mum went through the same with her sister, his mother. In out family, we fall into 2 camps, the observant and the it will never happen to me group. I fall strictly into the first thank god.

Sorry for being a pest here but I just had to let this go

 

[lucylocket61]

Welcome and remember to breathe.............

paging @daisy1 for her excellent advice for newcomers.

 

[xfieldok]

Your certainly not a pest. We all go through variations after diagnosis.

Your most important tool is your blood glucose mater. It will help to identify which foods you can tolerate and which you can't.

We are all different and what suits me may not suit you.

You really need to know your HbA1c number. That gives you a base from which to start.

When you have your meter start to use is along with a detailed food diary which includes portion size.

If you need advice on meters, please ask.

Once you have absorbed some information, you will feel less panicked. We have all been there.

 

[Bobbs]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your messages!

Xfieldoc, I bought a Codefree mid week after checking here and it’s a lovely wee glucometer. I’m used to dealing with glucometers with my late mum. My tastings have ranged this week between 14.2 and 9.4. Not great but in the scheme of things not truly hideous. I need to get them down though.

It’s funny, I’ve been so upbeat about it. One of my friends who called me the day after diagnosis said how pleased she was the way I was dealing with it. She was my rock when I was at my worst with my depression. I think it was all bubbling up inside and coming out the same way anxiety and depression flares present and that’s by buying. I’ve a room full of craft supplies and books have always been my nemesis to spend on. I should have picked up that I was going to crash when I created a library of low carb and ketogenic cookery books .

I’ve just sat and cried my eyes out tonight at teatime when my husband went and made tea for us. My poor love is so supporting and loving and has his own ream of disabilities. Least I can do is feed him. All day I’ve been on my knees with pain and feeling ghastly. That doesn’t help. Hubby just rocked me and said it’s ok, we will deal with it together like always and we will both be eating the same diet.

Sorry, I’m rambling again. I’m not usually like this, honest, I’m usually the supportive one.

 

[Freema]

hi

I’m just this week diagnosed as T2 and waiting on an appt with the diabetic clinic. My GP wanted to start me on Metformin but I refused and pleased could I try weight loss and controlling my blood sugar till at least I get my appt through. Turns out that she still needs a second HbA1C as you are supposed to have 2 done two weeks apart and I’ve only had 1 done, second to be done on Tuesday. She wouldn’t tell me the results of my HbA1c that she’s basing my diagnosis on and said it’s the diabetic clinic that will tell you that.

Anyway, I’m not properly on my diet yet as I’ve gone from feeling that “I’m fine with this, diabetes is no big problem as I’ve watched 3 generations of my family deal and in some cases not deal with it and die through complications. My mum was diabetic for 30 years when she stayed with us and was so good so why shouldn’t I” to “omg omg, this is dreadful on top of my other illnesses, how will I deal, I need lists, lists and more lists to plan and cope. I need this book, that book, every book I can see about low carb recipes. “ I should have seen that creeping in when I asked earlier in the week about books. Amazon now loves me while I feel nothing but disgust with the garbage that I’ve somehow bought while going against everything my common sense tells me.
Depression and Anxiety are part of my co morbidities.

My anxiety is in full flown mode. Possibly not healed by the first anniversary of the death of my cousin who mys like my brother. He died because he ignored his diabetes. I nagged, screamed and begged him to stop his hopeless ways. I warned him about complications, I tried to almost frighten him by telling him that full sugar coke was the way to having his leg amputated. When he was waiting to go for his second above the knee amputation, I was still begging and pleading with him. At his funeral I thought my heart would break through such a needless death. My mum went through the same with her sister, his mother. In out family, we fall into 2 camps, the observant and the it will never happen to me group. I fall strictly into the first thank god.

Sorry for being a pest here but I just had to let this go

metformin is actually a very fine medication if your stomach can cope with it, it´ll many time also help the person in making it a bit easier to loose weight. I took it initially for the first year but due to my successful lowering of HbA1c down to 34 , my GP took the metformin away from me again. but of cause the culprit is to go low carb to get normal blood glucose levels as a type 2 diabetic, try with under 150 grams in total daily initially, or even lower

 

[Resurgam]

I only had one Hba1c to be diagnosed - I suppose that different doctors work differently - but I was definitely diabetic with Hba1c of 91.
However, I have been eating low carb and being really happy with my results, which were in the normal range soon after diagnosis. I find that I can stick to low carb foods and am now planning my next change of clothes - I have shrunk down to a L from XXL - even my feet shrank.
I don't really bother with portion sizes, except for my little bowl for berries and cream - I just do not eat any grain, no potatoes no starchy veges only the low carb fruits a couple of times a week. I get frozen ones so there is no chance of them going off before I enjoy them.
I have bought a few kitchen 'toys' as my other half doesn't do kitchen things - maybe a few gadgets will help the pair of you - I have a halogen cooker - it has a timer so can be set and left, and a temperature sensing grill - again, set it and let it get on with things, and the Actifry - it makes great chicken thighs and also has a timer.
I was put on Metformin and a statin - I lasted five weeks, then threw them away. I can resist all temptation just by thinking that it might push me back into the prediabetes range and might be put on the tablets again.

 

[lucylocket61]

Ramble all you like. Several of us on here, including me, are crafters and have mental health challenges too.

hugs.

 

[Resurgam]

I have a Scrapstore fairly close by - good thing it is not close - where things which might otherwise have been thrown away go to be rescued.
I recently made waistcoats for some young morris dancers we have been teaching and am now working on hats - one furry and a top hat to go with my morris kit - it is great to have so much material to work with and it doesn't cost much. Maybe look up scrapstore in your area and see if there is one close enough to visit. I find it very therapeutic to spend time with my bags of scrap - look up Poole scrapstore and you will see what treasures there are to be had.

 

[Rachox]

Hi Bobbs, just popped in to say welcome, and well done to your husband for his support, mine eats whatever low carb meals I cook too, it makes all the difference. Anyway any questions or support you need come straight back here, there’ll always be someone to help.

 

[Bobbs]

@Resurgam kitcgen gadgets we have aplenty. Both of us love them. Before hubby developed progressive sensory motor peripheral neuropathy he was a chef. I’m a better cook though

@lucylocket61 hah, another mad crafter as I call myself. We should have a crafting thread in the off topic section lol

Btw, it’s not that I have an issue with metformin per se but I saw the horrible effects it had on mum and no one in the medical field would acknowledge there was a problem. Start of her decline. I just don’t want to start off taking it. I’d like to at least get a go at diet control before we jump in with medication. I rattle already.

You are all special people. Xxx

 

[AllieRainbow]

Give yourself some time and it will get easier. I thought I was OK with the diabetes, but after a couple of weeks I felt rather overwhelmed by the thought of dealing with it for the rest of my life. I came on here for support, and got lots of positivity from people and lots of virtual hugs. People on here really understand the rollercoaster of emotions we feel when given a life changing diagnosis.

I am now 8 weeks in and I am happily eating Low Carb High Fat, and loving the food. I have made low carb bread, and my own seed crackers that the whole family loved, and it seems a lot more workable now. I am getting lots of feedback using my meter to see what to avoid, what to eat, and when to eat it, and I have even tried fasting to lower my sugars.

There is so much information on here that I can't possibly read it all, but what I have learned so far has made a huge difference.

Everything will be OK. You are among friends who understand, and we are all in it together, which makes it a lot less lonely.

I too have cupboards full of craft supplies - we should definitely have a thread on off- topic!!

 

[Brunneria]

Hubby just rocked me and said it’s ok, we will deal with it together like always and we will both be eating the same diet.

That. There.
Please tell him that doing that - showing an interest, caring, supporting and being willing to adjust his own way of eating to match yours - that is the the most wonderful thing he can do.

 

[lucylocket61]

@lucylocket61 hah, another mad crafter as I call myself. We should have a crafting thread in the off topic section lol


You are all special people. Xxx

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/diabetic-craft-club.61611/

 

[ickihun]

On bad days I say to myself "there's worse things could happen at sea".
After decades of coping with diabetes... I find my nipped scatica nerve more painful and distressing. It stops me walking without an aid and I've suffered for a few years non-stop with it now. All medics are hoping more weight loss will wave a magic wand. I hope they're right as nothing else works.
Roll on bariatric surgery and relief.

 

[rhubarb73]

Hello. As another newbie I recognise completely your panic and upset, and how hard it is to collect your thoughts and make a plan to deal with it. After a week of exploring this site, and the forums I already am starting to feel more positive and motivated. and normal!
Information can be overwhelming but it is a vital tool I think - I can't give advice (I'm learning too!) but in your shoes I would be more demanding of the GP to give you the test result - if your confidence is low then that can be hard, can you take someone with you to help you ask those questions? Hopefully you get the results soon. People here can help you to make sense of it. If the 2nd test is different then that is just more information which can help.
I thought that changing to a low carb diet would be really difficult - so I started with one meal, (lunch). I found after that I moved quicker than I thought I would as I got the hang of it. I'm still coming to terms with my own diagnosis, still angry, still upset, but making more sense of it now. Time helps. Support helps. Information helps. All those are on your side.

 

[daisy1]

@Bobbs

Hello Bobbs and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you need to and someone will be able to help.

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 235,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[Prem51]

Welcome to the forum @Bobbs. Depression and anxiety often do seem to go hand in hand with Type 2 diabetes.
You will get a lot of good advice and support on here. Ask any questions you want to, the people on here are friendly and supportive.

 

[Bobbs]

Gosh I'm overwhelmed by the kindness and support. One of the sad things about all this is I was a nurse specialist for 30 years before my back gaveway 5 years ago necessitating 2 lots of spinal surgery. It was unsuccessful sue to an overgrowth of scar tissue and bone spurs tangling up my sciatic nerve. Not funny. I'm on morphine and gabapentin for that. Leaves me with very poor mobility and horrid chronic pain. Then there is my hypertension. That showed up 2 years ago. Add in a bit of osteoarthritis and it all came together into a big black cloud that had me lost inside for the past 2 years. I've just started coming out of the depression but my anxiety and lack of self confidence are still crippling.

So there you go. Moi health wise in a nutshell. Some of you lovely people have to deal with so much more so I feel a bit of a whine. I should add, my speciality in Nursing was haematology. We didn't have a lot of diabetes and my role had taken me so far away from diabetes that it was something I last dealt with as a newly qualified Staff nurse (me and nurse nightingale were contemporaries don't you know) that means all information gratefully received.

@Chris/Yorkshire welcome to you too. I'm sure we will bump into each other lots during this journey which will probably have its ups and downs. Normally my GP wouldn't even think about not telling me things but normally my hubby is in with me. Perhaps she was worried I'd fall apart. I shall get everything I need when I'm in next week.

I've decided it's going to be a ketogenic diet for sure. Ketosticks on order told you all I had to be organised with my lists and plans. Sounds strange but I'm not OCD really.

Thank you all again, you took me from bordering on blind panic yesterday to thinking, yep, we can do this today. It will do hubby good to have the same diet. He's put on a lot of weight round his tum. He's now destinctly apple like. He also has a strong family history so let's shut that stable door now.

Thanks and hugs to all xxxxxx

 

[lindijanice]

Hey @Bobbs, welcome to the Forum - you certainly landed in the right site! We are like a big family in many ways and you will hear differing opinions on issues, some discussions even get a little heated and the lovely Mods have to remind us to play nice! BUT, we support one another, cheer one another on, encourage and inform one another and there can be tremendous growth as individuals in many areas of our lives as a result if we so desire to learn from what we glean on the Forum....

I would only add two things: 1) This is a marathon, not a sprint......it will take time, trial and error, tweaking this or that to get YOUR best protocol for YOU - there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to diabetes management; 2) If you go full out keto - 20gm of carb /day, you or hubby may experience the "keto flu" as your body balks at this slashing of carbs, as it is drastic, so be prepared......some can do the "all or nothing" approach, others found it better to lower carbs more gradually over a few weeks, like starting at 100 - 150 gm/day and then weekly lowering that until you are in full keto mode if that is what you decide to do.....some find that their "sweet spot" for control is around 50 - 75gm/day.....it will be up to you and your meter!! Can't stress enough the importance of the meter......a real game changer if used properly.

All the best to you and Hubby - his support will be tantamount as you embark on this new chapter of your lives. Blessings/L Be Patient, Be Kind, Be Understanding - to Yourself!! Be your best cheerleader