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What to expect?

A

Andy2000

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Type of diabetes
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Hi

I have recently been told by the Dr that I have Diabetes this resulted from a fasting blood test, can't remember the exact figures something like 70+ points. I am now waiting for an appointment with the surgery diabetes nurse to discuss what happens next. I purchased a blood glucose meter and test strips on line and seem to be getting an average reading of about 11.5 over the last few days (highest 17 lowest 8). Still another week until my appointment but would be handy to know what to expect. I know I'll have to diet as I am overweight but can I diet/exercise myself into a reasonable control or should I expect medication or even worse injections .. Or should I just stop overthinking this and wait until I speak to the nurse?

Cheers

Andy



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Hi. I suspect you are a Type 2 as you are overweight. Yes, do change your diet to have lower carbs; don't worry about proteins, fats & veg etc. With a bit of luck if you can cut down on the carbs you may get away with no meds. The nurse may start you on Metformin which most of us have. It's a safe drug but doesn't make a vast difference. If you are prescribed the plain version and have stomach problems do ask for the Slow Release (SR) version. It's highly unlikely you will need insulin at this stage and probably not for many years. Note that some nurses draw on very out-dated diet information, so beware any advice to have starchy carbs with every meal or to just have a 'healthy diet' (whatever that is!). Carbs are the villain.
 
Hi Andy,

Firstly, you need to ask for written details of your blood test. You can have a full print out but you have to ask. The 70+ sounds like you had an HbA1c test, which is an average of your blood glucose levels over the previous 2 to 3 months.

Well done on getting the meter. Use this to test your foods and meals and how they affect your levels by testing immediately before you eat and initially 2 hours after starting to eat. Set yourself an attainable target, and when you reach that target consistently, lower it.

The nurse should talk to you about diabetes, tell you to lose weight, and will advise on a diet. If she is anything like most diabetic nurses she will spout out the NHS guidelines for a healthy diet, telling you to eat plenty of carbs, cut down on fat, and other advice that is incorrect for diabetics. Your meal testing will soon show you that carbs, especially the starchy ones like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, batter and pastry, will spike your readings to unacceptable levels. She will tell you to cut out sugar, cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks. That is good advice. However, she may not tell you that all carbs turn to sugar once in the system and most are equally as bad as refined sugar. You will learn this as you progress.

She should also test your feet for any loss of feeling or refer you to a podiatrist. Plus she should refer you for a routine retinal screening test. We have these annually or more often if necessary. So make sure your feet are clean with clean socks when you go! ;) She will then arrange a further review in probably 3 months time. She may also prescribe medication for you if she feels you need it. This is likely to be Metformin.

Keep browsing the forum and ask as many questions as you like. No question is too silly if you don't know the answer. Good luck!
 
Hi Andy, welcome, and well done for getting yourself a meter already.

You are not far from what I was when diagnosed just over two months ago. I had a long (3 weeks) delay until I saw my DN and I made use of the time to change my diet and start exercising so that by the time I got to see her I was already on my way to control and we agreed for me to carry on unmedicated and see what my next review results were. I'm confident that I will be continuing unmedicated and be able to get my BGs back to 'normal' levels - although I will still (and always) be diabetic.

But start now on exercise and carbohydrate reduction and you should start to see big improvements which would stand you in good stead when you see the DN. Test in the morning (fasting), before you eat and 2 hours after you start eating so that you can determine how different foods spike you. You will soon get to see what is good and what is bad.

I do LCHF which works for me (www.dietdoctor.com/lchf).

Good luck!
 
You've already bought a monitor (your nurse might not approve) so there is nothing stopping you seeing exactly how your body reacts to what you put in it/do to it. Regardless of what the doctor or nurse says, high readings and big jumps equate to long term damage and those high readings will follow carb feasts. Try to modify that and change your behaviour. With luck that will also help you lose weight (am personally having big problems with that one!). Fit some exercise into your daily life. I've just been for a steady 40 min. walk and my bg was 4.8 at the end of it. I only see numbers like that after a walk.
 
Oh yes, about testing. We are told - if we are told to test, that is - to test before and two hours after. If you can afford the test strips and don't mind the procedure, test at one hour too and then every hour until you are back to baseline. You dont have to do this every meal, but to do some extensive testing along these lines gives so much more information, I think. I tried glass noodles once. One and two hour said 6.4 but baseline was 4.8 so I kept testing. After three hours I was 7.8, four hours 7.3. I gave up and had a handful of nuts and a square of 85% chocolate. At five hours I was 4.9.
 
i,m recently been told i,m type2 and saw the surgery diabetic nurse last friday. she has referred me to a dietician because i,m overweight
have you been given any meds?
 
Thanks for the comments all. Have lost a few pounds already so fingers crossedI can find a diet that isn't too bland. Another week until I see the nurse. No meds or anything yet. Surprised at how long the diagnosis process is taking though.


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Andy2000 said:
Thanks for the comments all. Have lost a few pounds already so fingers crossedI can find a diet that isn't too bland. Another week until I see the nurse. No meds or anything yet. Surprised at how long the diagnosis process is taking though.


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I was diagnosed esrly Feb and I am still waiting to see the DN!!. Having found this forum though I feel I can get all the info I need and im doing ok.
 
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