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Taking Diabetes to Sea !!

S

sailorpip

Member
Messages
5
Hi everyone, I am a seafarer who has been ashore for several months due to: Initially Cellulitis which developed into leg ulcers and ultimately diagnosed T2 (diet & metformin) All this happened in the middle east and I was flown home with an RAF nursing escort.
So now my ulcers have healed, I went from 20 cigarettes a day to zero on the day of diagnosis..... this has played hell with keeping off sweet things in place of cigarettes. Podietry done/ Retinopathy done/ dentist done/ all very good. HBa1C due soon, then Occupational Health Dr will decide if medication is stable - then I can get my medical grading renewed to go back to sea - this could be anywhere worldwide (wherever the Royal Navy are). This is why I need as much advice with me as poss. My self testing (been doing for a couple of weeks) - give me readings of 7-8 on avg but 10-14 or even 16 on occaisions will the HBa1c usually be lower?
So having found this forum I feel better when far away and need advice. Thanks for reading
 
Hi there,

you've been through the wars. You're doing the right thing testing and keeping a check on things. How I admire you for giving up fags, wish I could but I'm not motivated at the moment.

Joining this site was one of the best things I have done since I was diagnosed in January. Theres so much information here and lots of support so take a time to read what's here. Post as many questions or comments and someone will be along to answer you.

There will be someone along who will post the information for newly diagnosed, have a good read of it, I keep returning to it as it's very helpful.

Hope you pass your medical.

Anchors aweigh.

Diane
 
Hi Sailorpip and welcome to the forum :) You have certainly been well taken care of by getting all the tests and Bravo Zulu for giving up smoking! To help you further, here is some information written for new members by the former monitors which should allow you to get your levels down. It's good that you have been testing them - testing before and 2 hours after meals is the most useful as it helps you to know the effect of each food on your BGs, then you can decide on portion size or whether to cut it out altogether. If you have any questions, just ask and someone will know the answer. The HbA1c is an average of your blood levels over the last 8-12 weeks and the scale is different so the results are not the same as the BGs you measure at home although they look misleadingly similar.

My husband was in the Royal Navy by the way :)

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.
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