Ive just recently been told I’m type 2 diabetic and have been put on metaformin twice a day. My glucose level was 25. Iwas told I would not need to test but how am I supposed to know what my levels are as I don’t have to see my dr again until the end of February. Just told to buy a carbs and call book and watch my diet. Well! I just feel completely overwhelmed by it all! Help!
Type 2 newly diagnosed
- Thread starter Cobby
- Start Date
4ratbags
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,334
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Messages
- 15,898
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Hi Cobby! Welcome to the Forum! The most useful corner of the internet for Type 2s!
I was diagnosed last May. I stumbled on this forum the night I was diagnosed. I immediately ordered a blood glucose meter (I’ll post info on that at the end of my post. I reduced my carbohydrate intake dramatically and tested, tested and tested my blood some more! To be precise before each meal and two hours after first bite. I soon found what foods would keep me within the guidelines here:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
I have loads of weight to lose and have lost 5 stone so far with out much effort. I’ve found the low carb way of eating satisfying and enjoyable.
I’m on Metformin and tolerate it well after a bit of stomach upset to begin with.
Meter info. I have the SD Code Free from Home Health.
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/
The starter pack comes with 10 lancets, 10 test strips, a lancing device and of course the meter. If you buy the strips in bulk you can use these discount codes:
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833
You can use the codes over and over.
Also check the box to say you have Diabetes and you won’t pay VAT.
Hope that helps
I was diagnosed last May. I stumbled on this forum the night I was diagnosed. I immediately ordered a blood glucose meter (I’ll post info on that at the end of my post. I reduced my carbohydrate intake dramatically and tested, tested and tested my blood some more! To be precise before each meal and two hours after first bite. I soon found what foods would keep me within the guidelines here:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
I have loads of weight to lose and have lost 5 stone so far with out much effort. I’ve found the low carb way of eating satisfying and enjoyable.
I’m on Metformin and tolerate it well after a bit of stomach upset to begin with.
Meter info. I have the SD Code Free from Home Health.
https://homehealth-uk.com/product-category/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-monitor/
The starter pack comes with 10 lancets, 10 test strips, a lancing device and of course the meter. If you buy the strips in bulk you can use these discount codes:
5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833
You can use the codes over and over.
Also check the box to say you have Diabetes and you won’t pay VAT.
Hope that helps
Bluetit1802
Legend
- Messages
- 25,216
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi and welcome aboard!
Some great information from the above posters, and I can't add a lot. I do agree wholeheartedly with the advice to buy a meter. Without one you are working blind.
One thing I do suggest is that you contact your surgery and ask for a print out of your blood test results. You will be having many blood tests from now on, and it really helps if you know exactly where you stand. It isn't just the HbA1c or the blood glucose, it is also cholesterol, lipids, liver and kidney functions that are important to us. We need to be able to keep an eye on whether we are improving or deteriorating in some way - we cannot always trust our doctors to do this for us, so we have to take responsibility for our own health. (If you are in England you could also ask if your surgery puts test results on line as they were asked to do before May 2016, and if they do, ask how to register for this.)
Some great information from the above posters, and I can't add a lot. I do agree wholeheartedly with the advice to buy a meter. Without one you are working blind.
One thing I do suggest is that you contact your surgery and ask for a print out of your blood test results. You will be having many blood tests from now on, and it really helps if you know exactly where you stand. It isn't just the HbA1c or the blood glucose, it is also cholesterol, lipids, liver and kidney functions that are important to us. We need to be able to keep an eye on whether we are improving or deteriorating in some way - we cannot always trust our doctors to do this for us, so we have to take responsibility for our own health. (If you are in England you could also ask if your surgery puts test results on line as they were asked to do before May 2016, and if they do, ask how to register for this.)
I see testing as a tool for self-leaning, therefore I test before and 2hr after starting to eat a meal if I wish to know what the meal does to my BG. I am looking for an increase in BG of less than 2, regardless of what level BG was before the meal. Most people who do this and learn what to eat get great results.
However people who commit to reducing their carbs to under 40g a day, and check carefully the carb content of all food and drink, also get great results without doing self-testinging. (Lost of people don't need to reduce carbs that much, but without a meter, you have no way of telling. But it seems that the people who take the most radical action, and then reintroduce a few carbs if then can after a few months, get better results then people who remove as few carbs as they can getaway with.)
I found the meal I could improve most with the least effect was breakfast, remember it is all about removing sugar and food that converts into sugar when we eat it. https://phcuk.org/sugar/ has lots of useful information about how different food is converted into sugar when we eat it. (My normal breakfast now contains lots of eggs with cheese or baken etc.)
This recent video gives a good overview of what low carb diets are like.
However people who commit to reducing their carbs to under 40g a day, and check carefully the carb content of all food and drink, also get great results without doing self-testinging. (Lost of people don't need to reduce carbs that much, but without a meter, you have no way of telling. But it seems that the people who take the most radical action, and then reintroduce a few carbs if then can after a few months, get better results then people who remove as few carbs as they can getaway with.)
I found the meal I could improve most with the least effect was breakfast, remember it is all about removing sugar and food that converts into sugar when we eat it. https://phcuk.org/sugar/ has lots of useful information about how different food is converted into sugar when we eat it. (My normal breakfast now contains lots of eggs with cheese or baken etc.)
This recent video gives a good overview of what low carb diets are like.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 15,898
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
@Cobby
Hello Cobby and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic 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 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:
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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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.
Hello Cobby and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic 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 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
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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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.
Also newly diagnosed, that's really helpful start-out info, thank you. My GP suggested the 8 week blood sugar diet as I'm significantly overweight too so seems a good idea to try.
