Unexpected outcome.

Sorry for the long ramble but I had to share what happened this morning.

I was diagnosed T2 just over 5 months ago. I had suspected I was a diabetic from early February and decided then that I was going to sort out my weight problem so changed to a low GI diet. I then found this site and realised that the best way forward would be to get a BG monitor and I have never looked back. This week I have hit my first 5st weight loss milestone.

Yesterday I was at the Eye Hospital to see if the hemorrhages in my eyes had improved and happily they have all gone and I was given the all clear. However it was the appointment from Hell. 2hrs wait before I was first seen for the eye drops to be applied then a further 1hr delay before I saw the Senior Registrar. He started scanning my eyes but then had to run off to answer his pager. This happened a further 3 times and I could feel myself getting more and more wound up. On top of this I was also worried as a very close friend was in surgery for a triple bypass and his wife was sat on her own waiting for the out come. So..... by the time the Doctor got round to actually looking at my eyes he casually said that he suspected I had high blood pressure and, as a result, he decided to have my BP tested.
..... 183/87 .....<gulp>

To cut the ramble a tad, I ended up at my GP Surgery this morning having my BP checked by the practice nurse. I do have White Coat Syndrome but it is on my notes so the marginally raised BP was OK but my weight loss caused a raised eyebrow. I explained how I ended up low carbing as a result of using my meter and the nurse was interested enough to ask for the addy of this forum and said that whatever I was doing obviously was working so she wanted to see if our forum was as good as I said.

Looking at my notes she saw I was due a 6 month Diabetes checkup in September and to my complete surprise proceeded to book me in for the appointment and asked me what blood tests I wanted in addition to an HbA1c.

Without realising it I had been with the practice Diabetic Nurse and it looks like I have an ally in my LCHF diabetes control.

lucylocket61 said:

Not good news about the wait for the eyes....

but FANTASTIC about your weight loss and having a Diabetic nurse who is supportive :clap:

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I must admit to feeling very relieved to find that I seem to have a sympathetic DN. Now I just need to keep my fingers crossed that my test results will show I am really succeeding with my LCHF regime.

Dillinger said:

Fantastic stuff (apart from the waiting around).

If you are worried about blood pressure you could ask about Lisinopril or Ramipril which both reduce blood pressure but also help prevent damage to your kidneys and eyes.

Keep on with the brilliant work you are doing!

Best

Dillinger

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Thanks Dillinger, because I always get slightly iffy BP readings when he tests me my GP advised me to take 5mg of Lisinopril every other day some time ago. He has always accepted that my home readings are usually in the region of 120/60 but worries that stress could effect me more than is usually acceptable. After years of discombobulating unsuspecting medics I am not normally panicked when the white coat malarkey kicks in but yesterdays reading at the hospital was an all time record high. :crazy:

Hi rtee, 8lbs is a great weight loss, you are averaging around 2lb a week which is fantastic. :thumbup:

I can truly say that my weight loss has just been a side effect of keeping my BG levels down. I now recognise that I have ended up on a low carb/ high fat diet but I arrived at my current diet regime by eating to my meter. By testing all the components of my diet I established that I was extremely grain intolerant and that on the whole most carbohydrates have to be eaten in very small amounts. I also found that most fruit had my sugar readings staying sky high at the +2hr mark. Strangely I can eat cherries with no effect but the normally safe 'berries' are a no-no. What I have done as a result of the posts I have read on here is too eat more good fats rather than increase my protein.

So all I can advise you is to use your meter. I know it can be a real pain testing all the time but make a record of your readings together with what and how much you eat. I seemed to be using strips as though they were going out of fashion in the first few months. 10 a day was not unusual :shock: but gradually I found that I had tweaked first my breakfasts then my lunches to the point that I didn't need to test for those meals. My evening meals have taken longer as they are far more varied but I am getting to the point that I seem to be able to predict my +2hr result so I do not need to test that meal every day.

We are all different and what diet regime works for me may not work for you so don't mess about, you are obviously on the right track, do loads of tests and make sure you use the results to tweak your diet to suit you. If you can keep up a 1-2lb a week weight loss then be proud of yourself. You may have a lot to loose, as I have but we will get there in the end as long as we establish a sustainable diet regime.

Oh and embrace the 'false hypos', your body has been having too much fun lapping up all that sugar in the past and it's great to know you are now winning the battle to reeducate it.

Thanks again Dillinger. :thumbup:

Your links reinforce my intention to keep taking the Lisinopril. I know I am only on a small dose (equivalent of 2.5mg a day) but having the extra protection is reassuring whilst I do my best to loose the weight that, together with Diabetes, puts me in a risk category. My 3 readings to-day have averaged 104/63 which is fairly normal for me, baring anyone in the medical profession taking the reading , so I wouldn't like the dosage to be increased and risk having my BP drop too low.