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Very Confused

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lazy suzy

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4
Hi everyone,
Don't know if anyone can offer some good advise, but I could do with some.
I was diagnoised with type 2 last November and have generally followed the low Carb diet with some success. I have lost 29 kilos, but have another 10 to go., not easy as the weight loss has slowed down now. In addition to all my problems, I have been diagnoised with "Sleep Apnea" ( very severe),but now being treated, and high blood pressure.
I have managed to get my bs down to a reasonable level, but my fasting level is always high, appx; 135 - 140. I've checked for dawn phenomenom and have tried various suggested remedies, but nothing seems to work.
This last fortnight, I am worried that it is starting to get out of control. My readings have become a bit erratic, but we've had visitors and my diet changed a bit. Next week back to normal, hope it stableizes. I think the sleep apnea affects the fasting blood sugar a lot, but can't find much info on this.
Any advise would be more than welcome, by the way, I live in France, and they are a little "pre-historic" in their way of thinking, ie high carb diet, and precious little follow up.
I have found, on this forum, lots of good advise, I hope someone has some good advise for me.
Su.
 
Hi lazy suzy,

My word, but you've lost a few pounds there! That's a fantastic effort.
I know nothing about sleep apnea unfortunately, but hopefully someone else will.
I'm cetain that your bs and blood pressure will improve with your weight loss and low carb diet though. Can you tell us what you eat in the course of a day? I have fond memories of wonderful food in France, but I've been surprised on my last couple of visits that the relentless rise of processed carbs.

All the best,

fergus
 
Hi again, thankyou for the link Sue, had seen it and have to admit it has brought my sugar level down since I've been on cpap, does anyone else have this problem?
And thankyou, Fergus for your response. In answer to your question on diet, weekdays, I have homemade yoghurt and rhubarb and one slice of wholemeal toast and Marmite for breakfast, salad and some sort of protien for lunch, and in the evenings I have protien, lots of veg, and maybe a little carbohydrate, (rice, pasta, or new potatoes). Weekends I have an egg and toast for breakfast, the rest is much the same. Don't get me wrong, very occasionally we go out for lunch or dinner and that is when my bs is lowest!! Interestingly if I have a couple of glasses of red wine, My bs is much lower, but I know this is not good for sleep apnea.
I get lots of exercise as we have a big place here, 5 acres, miniature horses that need constant care, chickens, sheep and a big garden where we grow all our fruit and vegetables.
I know that stress is one of my biggest problems, as it pushes my bs up, but do not know how to control this, not easy in France with the language problems.
Thankyou for your support.
Su.
 
I live in France, and they are a little "pre-historic" in their way of thinking, ie high carb diet, and precious little follow up.
Click to expand...
well as others on here have read This is not my experience but I have type 1. If anything its 'over the top' follow up. On diagnosis they wouldn't let me out of hospital until everything had been checked including non diabetes related things such as mamography and other gynae tests.I have spent 2 and half weeks in hospital over the last 3 years ( 10 days when diagnosed the rest for education!)
During this time and in the waiting room for my 3 monthly appointments I've met several type 2s who have beeen taught how to sucessfully adopt 'prehistoric' regimes though adapted for their particular circumstance. An elderly British friend also sees my diabetologue for type 2, and has been referred to the dietician and offered 'therapeutic education' though he always disregards the advice since he won't change his lifestyle at all!

You are entitled to quite comprehensive follow up if you are treated by tablets and lifestyle intervention and your condition recognised as an ALD.. It is not detailed what is available to diet and exercise controlled diabetes and I expect that is more down to a watching brief. Treatment may be co-ordinated through the medecin traitant but can be through a diabetolgue.

You are entitled (as for any illness) to ask your doctor to refer you to the specialist (diabetologue)
You should have had a thorough initial examination ( incidently, you're also entitled to a very full health check every five years after the age of 50 diabete or or not, )
Yearly eye examination
You should be having HBA1cs regularly (at least 6 monthly)
tests for microalbuminirie, creatinine and cholesterol + triglycerides.
Blood pressure
weight
foot check
Yearly ecg
Échographie Doppler on legs every 5 years if over 40 or more regularly if necessary.
Specialist help to stop smoking if necessary
You should also be offered 'therapeutic education'

The quotes are from ALD n°8 - Prise en charge du diabète de type 2, the oficial document detailing treatments. which you can find here.
http://www.has-sante.fr/portail/jcms/c_419389/ald-n8-prise-en-charge-du-diabete-de-type-2

Incidently, you are expected to make your own appointments, there is no call back system as you might encounter in the UK. This is because the patient has far more choice over doctors than in the UK. If you are not happy with the treatment from your medecin traitant, you can always appoint a new one. This also applies to hospitals, my local public hospital has an excellent reputation for diabetes with patients coming from quite long distances rather than using their local facilities. Much as in the UK there are league tables and I expect people may use them or personal recomendation to choose.

If there is a language problem then try to find someone to go with you for consultations. I have found very few doctors to admit to speaking any English , though interestingly the more I've got to know them the more they seem to drop a few words into the discussion.
 
Thankyou Nellie for the useful information, most welcome.
Unfortunately my experience here in France has not been that good. We've been here for 8 years now so the language barrier is not a problem. I think maybe I've been unlucky with my choice of doctors.
5 years ago I had a blood test to check for diabetes (runs in the family so I took precautions). The test showed I was pre-diabetic but the doctor said nothing and, because of my ignorance at the time, thought all was ok. I have been into hospital here for a week to do "tests" which they did on the first two days then just kept me there for the next 5 days watching me take my blood.
When I asked what the results of the tests were I was just told they were fine and proceeded to ttry and prescribe medication.
I argued this point and said I wanted to try and control it by diet first. They gave me 3 months to get it below 7 and gave me a diabetic sheet of foods I could or couldn't eat and left me to it.
3 months later my HBA1c was down to 6.2 from 7.4 .
I haven't seen my gp since, but am due another blood test in a couple of weeks.
When i asked the specialist for the software for my ACCU Chek I was told there was no need, but I got one anyway from England.
No mention of eye test, foot check ups etc, just see you in a year, but get my blood checked every 3 months which I'm doing.
Somewhat dis-illussioned, but I've found this website and others a godsend. Couldn't have coped with it all without all the good advise on here.
My only worry now is how to get my morning blood sugar down, anyone got any tips I haven't tried yet?
Thanks again,
Su.
 
Hi Nellie,
Thanks for the link, my hospital was a subsidary of the one in Pontivy in the top 5, but like you I can't see what they are ranked on. Useful to know though.
Sarah, I've tried various snacks and going without any but my fasting bs is always around 130-140.
I have a sneaky suspicion that it may be to do with the sleep problem though, not food related at all. Still doing some research on that theory. Interesting though, if I have a couple of glasses of red wine with dinner, both my bs and bp are down in the morning. I thought of trying a glass before I go to bed, but the sleep specialist says it's not advisable 3 hours before bed.
Oh well, nice thought.
Thankyou both for replying, sometimes it's quite difficult being ill, especially in a foreign country.
There are so many different ideas, some conflicting, but like someone else on here said, we all have to find what works for us as indiviuals.
Su.
 
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