Totally confused

[andyw1]

Hi

I am sorry if this is a very vague post but I am totally confused.

For the past 5 year I have had to have an annual glucose intolerance test. I have had them and been told you are ok but come back next year.

In Jan I had my test as ususal but got a recall to the GP and was told very sorry but you are now diabetic, but we need to repeat the test for confirmation. Took test again. Spent 10 days worrying myself sick.

I have had a telephone call from the practice nurse tonight and was told that the result was not as bad as the last test, and that I was borderline diabetic (????). I did not need to be prescribed medication but need to amend my diet and reduce the level of carbohydrates. End of phone call.

I have been sitting down and thinking (bad idea ) I have had a blood pressure issue for 15 years but under control with medication. One of the things I have done is to amend my diet - cutting out all salt, fat and processed food where possible, but was told to eat more rice pasta etc. Arn't these are carbs.

I had asked the nurse if they had a diet plan and was told no - bit surprised.

I feel I have been told to sod off you are not serious enough to deal with. I am feeling really confused. If I can change my diet this is a minor sacrifice, but feel I am not getting very much support.

Any advice would be really appreciated

Andy

 

[daisy1]

Hi Andy and welcome to the forum You are right to try to change your diet to improve your levels. Here is some advice which we give to newly diagnosed diabetics, even though you are borderline, which may help you to stay borderline and not develop into full diabetes. In spite of what they say, it is necessary to cut down on carbs. This is explained in the following information.

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 30,000 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 ... rains.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

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.

 

[Gappy]

My opinion is pretend you are diabetic, make your changes then in a few months a diabetic would have a check up so book one with the doc after all why make changes if you don't know the effect?

 

[Mothman]

Hi,

i think that if you just reduce your carbs you wil be rather pleasantly suprised at the results. I have done so, and my readings have reduced in a spectacular fashion. I too was glucose intolerant but no one gave me any advice at the surgery, i just wish i had found this forum earlier.
Excercise will help too and less carbs will also cause some wight loss, again very beneficial too you if you are overweight.
Good luck and dont worry too much.

Andy

 

[Glados]

Hi Andy, your story sounds a lot like mine - except that I have now crossed the line into diabetes. But, like you, I have been told to sod off and try to get better for a bit. Seriously, the whole thing sucks. I have been refused a meter (I shall buy one) and can't see the nurse for weeks.

I suppose we just have to use this forum (thank goodness we have it) and do our best to exercise and cut carbs. But I share your feeling that the system is letting people down. :roll:

 

[BaliRob]

Dear Glados, You will not have to purchase a meter - nearly all companies will supply you with one for free. They want you to use theirs so that you will have to buy THEIR test strips. As you will not be getting a prescription and will have to pay for them yourself it may pay you to check prices. I do not know how the sellers obtain them but I order my One Touch Ultra test strips from Ebay and they are sent to me in Bali with no problems and all have been within their use-by dates.

 

[xyzzy]

My surgery couldn't even be bothered to send out the letter last March saying I had crossed the line into diabetes. I'm sure there are some great gp practices out there but its all a post code lottery. Read up about low carb diets on this forum and ask as many questions as you want but most importantly act now before you cross the line too.

I am so so angry with myself that I assumed last March that because the surgery hadn't called me back in that everything was now fine and that my change of diet must have worked. By December when I went back because I was feeling c**p and getting all the symptoms of diabetes it was too late.

Good luck.