My HbA1c was 9.5, that clearly needs to come down. I need to work on that. The 'nurse' told me I am always going to be ill due to my diabetes. I've still got 45 years plus in the same conversation. If the HbA1c 9.5 doesn't go down by Jan, I would need to go on injections. I've got a 'J' pouch which isn't doing me any favours, although too early to tell I'm taking a whole lot of supplements working a treat. The plan is to lose a couple of stones, next month or so. I don't sleep which doesn't help. The hospitals advice differs from G.P.'s on testing. But supplements really helping with 'J Pouch' issues, that's pleasing.
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- Thread starter rebel1
- Start Date
Your Nurse probably meant you will always have T2 diabetes and that is true. There is no cure. You can control it so that your BGs (Blood Glucose) levels are lower and much nearer to normal levels. If this is done you will not be "ill" with T2, and any progression is slowed right down.
Your HbA1c of 9.5% is higher than it should be and would be sufficient for a doctor to diagnose T2.
However, by reducing carbohydrate intake, losing weight, doing some excercise you will find your BGs will come down.
I am confident that with a proper diet and some excercise that your HbA1c will come down to nearer 7. something in maybe 3 months or so.
Have a look at the advice that will be posted soon, it is good advice and if followed you will see good progress in reducing your BGs.
H
Your HbA1c of 9.5% is higher than it should be and would be sufficient for a doctor to diagnose T2.
However, by reducing carbohydrate intake, losing weight, doing some excercise you will find your BGs will come down.
I am confident that with a proper diet and some excercise that your HbA1c will come down to nearer 7. something in maybe 3 months or so.
Have a look at the advice that will be posted soon, it is good advice and if followed you will see good progress in reducing your BGs.
H
phoenix
Expert
Hi,
I'm sorry that you now have diabetes as well. It won't go away but when controlled you won't feel ill.
I think that you should ask for a referral to a dietitian. You need good advice on a diet that is appropriate for both conditions.
I did find another thread on here. Unfortunately, it's quite old an didn't really help much.
On a wider internet search, I came across this support group which has a forum. It seems that quite a few of the members also have diabetes.
http://www.iasupport.org/pouch_home.aspx
Whilst I was searching I also found this site;
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/spe ... index.html
It mentioned that many people who have this procedure have previously been on or are still taking prednisone (a steroid). If this is the case for you, then unfortunately it often causes glucose levels to rise.
(I only mention it because we certainly have people on here that have some experience of this )
I'm sorry that you now have diabetes as well. It won't go away but when controlled you won't feel ill.
I think that you should ask for a referral to a dietitian. You need good advice on a diet that is appropriate for both conditions.
I did find another thread on here. Unfortunately, it's quite old an didn't really help much.
On a wider internet search, I came across this support group which has a forum. It seems that quite a few of the members also have diabetes.
http://www.iasupport.org/pouch_home.aspx
Whilst I was searching I also found this site;
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/spe ... index.html
It mentioned that many people who have this procedure have previously been on or are still taking prednisone (a steroid). If this is the case for you, then unfortunately it often causes glucose levels to rise.
(I only mention it because we certainly have people on here that have some experience of this )
daisy1
Legend
Hi rebel1 and welcome to the forum 
You have already received some excellent advice from two members and here is the information mentioned by hallii which I hope will be helpful. Carry on asking questions as there is always someone who will be able to help you.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
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 30,000 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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.
You have already received some excellent advice from two members and here is the information mentioned by hallii which I hope will be helpful. Carry on asking questions as there is always someone who will be able to help you.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
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 30,000 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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.
phoenix said:
I see the dietitian who manages the 'J pouch', her advice is at odds with the advice given by my GP regarding testing daily.
I stopped taking prednisone in 2005. Even when you have 'J Pouch' surgery that takes away the main symptoms, but you still have pouchitis, which they only treat if you have specific symptoms. I think I'm on the verge of cracking the 'J Pouch' with supplements.
