What can I expect?

I had my first nurse appointment about 10 days ago myself. We went through some dietary advice and it seems my practice is more on the side of lower carbohydrate diet. Max 2 portions of fruit per day which I don't follow. I tend to only have fruit occasionally and even then its usually berries. But no fear, there is a lot of low carb stuff available like pasta, breads, wraps etc. I too love pasta but because of this diagnosis I'm quite willing to give up/ reduce heavily the normal starchy varieties. My practice nurse weighs me weekly too since I have 6 stone to lose too.

Second appointment we went through footcare and importance of that. If you have loads of hard skin etc you may be referred to a chiropodist since we have to take extra good care of our feet! She tested my sensations and ability to feel vibrations too. Also yearly retinal scanning routine is started and you should get an invitation for one of those soon. Dietitician is also possible referral subject, I didn't want one for the moment since I seem to be improving on my own.

Many nhs practices give out advice of eating high complex carb diet (brown rice, pasta and potatoes) but I have chosen the other way and gone towards restricting carbs. I only had very few symptoms and they have all disappeared and my sugars are already teetering near normal so I feel I'm getting on top of my diabetes. Keep asking questions and you will find a good balance that suits you and your lifestyle.

Hi Wiz,

Excellent advice from Saz and the only thing I would add to what you might expect is that they may want to do an HBA1C blood test, as you seem to have only had a fasting test so far. HBA1C shows them what your blood sugar levels have been over the previous 3 months, and the results are expressed as a percentage. However, this percentage figure is not the same as the result that you would get from a simple finger-prick type test. Your fasting test showed your blood sugar at that moment in time to be 7.8 mmol/l. That is your blood sugar level at its lowest point in the day, so it stands to reason that your average blood sugar level will be much higher. For an HBA1C they will need to take a blood sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis.

For an HBA1C you don't need to fast before the test. But if they decide to do a check on your cholesterol alongside the HBA1C then I'm afraid you will need to fast. If they haven't warned you in advance to fast then it's safe to assume you don't need to.

For both Wiz ans Saz, you don't necessarily need to give up pasta. There is a product called Dreamfields pasta that many of us have tried and is highly recommended. Their pasta is made so that only 5g per portion is digestible carb (it's only the digestible carb that raises your blood sugar). Unfortunately it's not cheap and they don't have many retail outlets, so most people get it by mail order either direct from Dreamfields or via one of the low-carb food stores (e.g. Avidlite or LowCarbMegastore). Incidentally you will find that the low-carb stores charge a huge amount for delivery (unless it's a big order), whereas Dreamfields prices are around 15p more per item but include delivery.

Hello Wiz

wiz said:

Hi people, as some will be aware I have very recently been diagnosed with diabetes and have my 1st appointment with the practice nurse on Friday.

As this is the first appointment regarding the diabetes I am wondering what to expect from this appointment what sort of tests and so on.

I was 7.8 on a fasting test and have no symptoms of diabetes, (caught very early ) so I am asuming with a good diet change I can hopefully control it.


What I am really going to miss if my "normal" food as I'm a person that loves pasta and a good curry with rice. The Pasta I eat a lot off as I also have Seasonal Affected Disorder and the carb craving is one of the things that goes with it.


Anyway I am aware many of you have been through the first stages of control any info as to what I will expect would be welcomed.

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I was diagnosed in November, with similar figures to yours (11 + 8 fasting tests a week apart), and with the 1st nurse appointment was told to lose weight (was 17 1/2 stone) and I should avoid drugs for diabetes. I got the balanced -diet -talk, the don't- need -to -test- talk as it will "make me anxious"

Following the advice on this forum, I have ignored the don't test advise and I've found that cutting carbohydrates has lowered my weight ( now 15 st. 12 in 2 months) and my fasting blood sugar ( 4.6 this morning) . I have found by testing that I'm relatively ok with potato and rice, but pasta and bread spikes the bs, so pasta I cut out, and bread I swapped from uncut white to burgen sunflower and linseed, which has about 1/2 the carbs. It could be that you're ok with pasta and not with potato.


I should mention that I have been put on a low dose of lisinopril, as my blood pressure was slightly high, but it has, apparently, protective qualities for the liver. I was dissapointed that when my blood pressure dropped, I wasn't taken off the drug, but was told that I'd be on it for life, because of it's protective qualities.

You'll be given another blood test for your HbA1C levels, which is an average test for your bs levels over the last 3 months, and a diabetic eye test to look at the blood vessels in the eye for damage.

I know it's a pain looking at labels all the time, but I want to walk my daughters down the aisle, and see my sons score their 1st goals for West Ham http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes%2Dfo ... 1&p=47934#

Anything you think I can help you with, PM me.
Cheers,
John

I was also advised not to test but use urine sicks but I'm ignoring it too. I have a meter and as soon as I get my pricker to work, I will be testing every morning and before and after meals until I know how various carbs and foods effect my sugars. I want my sugars to go non diabetic in time and am determined to do it to alleviate or stop complications. I have been given good advice when dealing with health professionals (even though I'm one myself...), use the services provided but also learn to smile and nod if advice given seems rubbish; eat a lot of pasta for example (unless it's ok for your sugars). Smille, nod and carry on with what ever you are doing. I managed to shock my nurse when I said I use full fat everything, cheese, milk, cream and butter.

It's amazing how we have been brainwashed to this low fat mentality so I feel exceedingly naughty every time I cook now. But I think this is the only way I can sustainably lose weight and feel like I'm not on a diet. I am currently waiting for 3 atkins books to arrive so I can learn the principles properly. I doubt I will go mental at low carbing but my future health has to be priority.

Hi dennis

I purchased a big mixed box of Dreamfields, only find that it sends my blood sugars high. I've given up with Dreamfields at the moment as it was just too scarey, and not much different to standard pasta. I would be interested in knowing what your before and after figures are for Dreamfields; how much you ate and how it was cooked and served.

Hi Zanc,
I have to say your reaction to Dreamfields is one I've not come across before. It shouldn't be possible for it to spike your BS because it doesn't contain enough carbs to do that, unless you have an enormous portion. I haven't had any for a while now, because I have found that I can handle small quantities of regular pasta with only a small spike, but when I did I simply had the recommended portion and followed the cooking instructions on the box. The only problem that I did find is that Dreamfields is actually so low in carbs that it is a bit too low to go with my medication and on two occasions I hypoed after a pasta meal that had no additional carbs to boost it!

PS served with minced beef and a home-made bolognese sauce.

zanc said:

Hi dennis

I purchased a big mixed box of Dreamfields, only find that it sends my blood sugars high. I've given up with Dreamfields at the moment as it was just too scarey, and not much different to standard pasta. I would be interested in knowing what your before and after figures are for Dreamfields; how much you ate and how it was cooked and served.

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Experience of Americans, where it's been available for longer, suggests this happens but is rare. Especially if overcooked, and more likely if it's reheated.

A commoner reaction is that is doesn't produce an immediate spike but a delayed one.

For most people it seems to do exactly what it says on the tin. It also seems to be repeatable so if it doesn't work for you it probably never will.