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This is my Diabetes Type 2 Story

Priam

Priam

Active Member
Messages
39
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I've recently been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. my blood sugar was 65, whereas it should be between 42-48. It surprised me and my doctor. Although I'm 76 I have been an athlete all my life (not a particularly good one). I was a racing cyclist in my younger days, and then a fell runner when we moved to the Midlands, and latterly a cyclist again, when both knees failed. In winter I do about 30 minutes a day on the trainer and when it gets warmer, two to three, two-hour bike rides each week. My blood pressure is normal - about 120/70, as is cholesterol etc, although I do take a statin. My doc was surprised as I'm not overweight; he associated type 2 mostly with fat people, although normal bodied people can get it. I don't suffer any of the symptoms of depression and other mental problems associated with diabetes.
Although I've only been diagnosed in the last month I think I may have had it for at least sixteen months. Towards the end of 2014 I started to experience a mild pain in my lower abdomen - nothing that I could not tolerate, but annoying. On occasions the pain increased and when driving home, having spent Christmas at my daughter's, the pain became quite intense. It did drop off and on occasions became non-existent. My doctor examined me and couldn't find anything wrong but sent me for an ultrasound scan - which showed up nothing. The pain continued so I was sent to see a urology surgeon. His diagnosis completely floored me. According to him it was wearing too tight trousers. I thought he must be joking, as although they may have been marginally tight on my visit, I mostly wear tracky bottoms around the house.
But after my diagnosis and seeing the diabetes nurse (who seemed to have far more knowledge than doctors or specialists) who advised that diabetes can affect the bladder (no one had previously advised this) and advising what foods I should cut out, and those I should eat more of; within a couple of weeks the pain in my abdomen has completely disappeard.
I was a fairly big eater; plenty of wholemeal bread (we bake our own), so it wasn't supermarket rubbish, and I could polish off a pound of grapes with no problem, and a couple of bananas a day to boot. And I've never had a processed meal in my life. I did once - many years ago - have a Wimpy beef burger, but it was so disgusting, I've never touched one since.
I always thought our family ate fairly healthily as we had always had fresh food, plently of fruit and veg (maybe too much fruit), meat from the butcher (not the supermarket), so to be diagnosed was quite surprising.
Since visiting the nurse I have not had a grape for a month and only the occasional banana; very few potatos, no more than two of the thinnest slices of bread and plenty of green veg. Apart from the disappearance of the abdomen pain, I don't feel any difference. I don't qualify for a meter so I've no idea what my blood sugar is and therefore no idea what foods tend to spike it.
I'm due for another blood test in a couple of months, so I will know then if my austerity diet will have helped.

All the best to fellow sufferers

Tony
 
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Hi and welcome

Lots of us type 2s buy our own meters and strips to monitor our own blood glucose.
That way we dont have to wait for periodic tests by the doc.

It also means we can monitor our blood glucose reactions to foods and portion sizes, which helps tremendously in tailoring our diet to suit us individually.

There are lots of meters out there, but the most economical to run (that i have seen) is the SD Codefree. Have a shop around on the internet before you buy. The prices are very variable!
 
Hi @Priam

Welcome to this site. I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and we are all shocked when it happens, In your case with your very healthy lifestyle it is not surprising it has thrown you. It also seems you have had pretty good advice and are taken action.

I have only been on here for a few months but everyone is very supportive and there is a lot of experience so feel free to post any questions you might have. @daisy1 (I hope that is not too presumptuous Daisy1) will organise to send you an information pack that will have a lot of information that you will find invaluable

My only comment is that for me a meter is essential as I need to know where I am at so I can impact my levels (I couldn't wait 2 months to find out what is happening) If you are interested I'm sure others here can let you know the best and cheapest way to go about that in the UK
 
@Priam

Hello Tony and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it both useful and interesting. Ask as many questions as you want 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 over 150,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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 bloodglucose 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.
 
Hi. Yes, do get hold of a meter. I regret not getting one at diagnosis. BTW your GP should know that a diabetic presenting as slim may be a Late onset T1 (LADA) and not a T2 (see NICE Diabetes Guidelines). Bear this in mind if your blood sugars don't come down to a reasonable place even with your diet.
 
A meter is a must have, how else will you tell what in your diet is problematic, I've just started using our cross trainer again, I walk a lot and that's been my only allowed exercise, my diet is LCHF today I've used my meter to judge wether I can add in 50g of bananas I will know in another hour and a half if it's something I can use when I start exercising in a gym, so far 1hr post smoothie with 50g of banana BG 7.3 started at 6.3.

It's the best way to finding out what food you can actually get away with, I'm going to do 30 mins on the bike hopefully that will help lesson the effect.


So just over 2hrs post 50g of banana BG is down to 6.9 so on exercise days I might well get away with half a banana, funny thing is it not even something I've ever liked but it ok in a smoothie.

Btw @Priam welcome to the forum. It a good place to explore.
 
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Priam said:
I've recently been diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. my blood sugar was 65, whereas it should be between 42-48. It surprised me and my doctor. Although I'm 76 I have been an athlete all my life (not a particularly good one). I was a racing cyclist in my younger days, and then a fell runner when we moved to the Midlands, and latterly a cyclist again, when both knees failed. In winter I do about 30 minutes a day on the trainer and when it gets warmer, two to three, two-hour bike rides each week. My blood pressure is normal - about 120/70, as is cholesterol etc, although I do take a statin. My doc was surprised as I'm not overweight; he associated type 2 mostly with fat people, although normal bodied people can get it. I don't suffer any of the symptoms of depression and other mental problems associated with diabetes.
Although I've only been diagnosed in the last month I think I may have had it for at least sixteen months. Towards the end of 2014 I started to experience a mild pain in my lower abdomen - nothing that I could not tolerate, but annoying. On occasions the pain increased and when driving home, having spent Christmas at my daughter's, the pain became quite intense. It did drop off and on occasions became non-existent. My doctor examined me and couldn't find anything wrong but sent me for an ultrasound scan - which showed up nothing. The pain continued so I was sent to see a urology surgeon. His diagnosis completely floored me. According to him it was wearing too tight trousers. I thought he must be joking, as although they may have been marginally tight on my visit, I mostly wear tracky bottoms around the house.
But after my diagnosis and seeing the diabetes nurse (who seemed to have far more knowledge than doctors or specialists) who advised that diabetes can affect the bladder (no one had previously advised this) and advising what foods I should cut out, and those I should eat more of; within a couple of weeks the pain in my abdomen has completely disappeard.
I was a fairly big eater; plenty of wholemeal bread (we bake our own), so it wasn't supermarket rubbish, and I could polish off a pound of grapes with no problem, and a couple of bananas a day to boot. And I've never had a processed meal in my life. I did once - many years ago - have a Wimpy beef burger, but it was so disgusting, I've never touched one since.
I always thought our family ate fairly healthily as we had always had fresh food, plently of fruit and veg (maybe too much fruit), meat from the butcher (not the supermarket), so to be diagnosed was quite surprising.
Since visiting the nurse I have not had a grape for a month and only the occasional banana; very few potatos, no more than two of the thinnest slices of bread and plenty of green veg. Apart from the disappearance of the abdomen pain, I don't feel any difference. I don't qualify for a meter so I've no idea what my blood sugar is and therefore no idea what foods tend to spike it.
I'm due for another blood test in a couple of months, so I will know then if my austerity diet will have helped.

All the best to fellow sufferers

Hello Priam
I am aged 71 and my experiences are almost identical to yours I was fit although not athletic and not overweight I too enjoyed cycling, my symptoms were a painful burning rash on stomach and tops of thighs unfortunately it was invisible so was prescribed lots of ointment and moisturisers to no effect finally got an emergency appointment at local clinic, I was in the hospital neurology unit that night, I was diagnosed with diabetic amyotrophy (all muscles below the waist wasted away) after 5 weeks I was home complete with all sorts of contraptions to keep me upright and mobile. Enough of this ramble I too look on this as a challenge and not a problem and today I climbed a loft ladder in the garage after a year at home, I am also on the austerity low carb high fat diet it does seem to work I do recommend getting a meter I test perhaps 2/3 times a week 2 hours after food it just gives you a clue how you're doing and the effect of different foods.

Tony
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Priam said:
Many thanks.
Click to expand...
 
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