Sorry but I think this is absolute rubbish... how can someone with a below"normal" HbA1c get the complications of a condition they don't appear to have?
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- Thread starter SuttonRider
- Start Date
I have known 2 diabetic ladies who lost legs. That's 2 too many.
And how helpful do you think your first post on this thread was?....
The OP is asking for help and you are saying we can't give it because we are all different! Maybe tell the OP what you do personally?
PenguinMum
Expert
- Messages
- 7,187
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
This not a lecture but would love you to succeed in bringing down your BS. “Much in the way of veg” means to me there are some veg you like. How about trying some veg you have never tried before. My OH who isnt diabetic hated all veg when we met after years of overcooked greens etc but tried new ones and now enjoys a variety of veg he never tried as a child. You can roast mixed veg like peppers, mushrooms, courgettes, aubergine, tomatoes on a tray in the oven with a bit of olive oil making it easy. Nothing wrong with cooking enough brocolli for 2 days at a time. No chips. Fruit not good anyway. If you must have bread there are low carb options in the supermarkets. There are veg rice alternatives which are good. Just ask us for more info.
daisy1
Legend
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- Location
- Switzerland
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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- Tablets (oral)
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- Cruelty towards animals.
@SuttonRider
Hello SuttonRider and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask more questions when you need to and someone will be able to help.
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 235,000 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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
Hello SuttonRider and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask more questions when you need to and someone will be able to help.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 235,000 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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
Pinkorchid
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,927
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
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Yes we can give help without telling them they will loose limbs if they don't take it. Others here are managing to give advice without telling the OP they will loose limbs because it is not necessary to say that
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But where is your own constructive help? All you say is 'it may never happen' and criticize those of us who are trying to help. My advice about the limbs is from my own experience of people I once knew, it isn't scaremongering, it is fact, it happened.
Edit: I have known 5 diabetics in my lifetime, 2 of whom have lost limbs.
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No one is saying that they will lose a limb but the possibility is there as is going blind. The OP needs to know that if they continue the way they are going the possibilities of this happening to them are real and are increasing. Sugar coating these things doesn't help anybody.
@SuttonRider If I were you I would test my blood glucose levels as @Jaylee (and others?) suggested. Keep a diary of what you eat and what the BG levels are. It can be fun to see the figures go down day by day. It's also so good to know that you are in control. Whether you deal with this by diet alone or with the help of insulin you will still need to learn to carb count. I use a book called 'Carbs and Cals' and also the site www.myfitnesspal.com. Keep asking questions
Indy51
Expert
@SuttonRider
My suggestion is that you have a c-peptide test to establish what level of insulin you are producing endogenously. This will establish whether you are one of the rare Type 2s who under produce insulin because of irreparably damaged pancreatic beta cells. If you are one of those people, then injecting insulin may be an appropriate course of action.
However, the majority of Type 2's in fact already suffer from the over production of insulin. If you inject insulin on top of the amount already pumped out by your pancreas, you are risking complications of hyperinsulinemia - believed to be the cause of many complications of diabetes, especially the risks of cardio vascular disease. The earlier suggestion regarding the book "Diabetes Unpacked" was excellent advice.
My suggestion is that you have a c-peptide test to establish what level of insulin you are producing endogenously. This will establish whether you are one of the rare Type 2s who under produce insulin because of irreparably damaged pancreatic beta cells. If you are one of those people, then injecting insulin may be an appropriate course of action.
However, the majority of Type 2's in fact already suffer from the over production of insulin. If you inject insulin on top of the amount already pumped out by your pancreas, you are risking complications of hyperinsulinemia - believed to be the cause of many complications of diabetes, especially the risks of cardio vascular disease. The earlier suggestion regarding the book "Diabetes Unpacked" was excellent advice.
Concordjan
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 234
- Location
- Southend on Sea
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Not very good on computers!
At least by finding this forum you are in a great place to receive advice. It is up to you whether you take it or not, or face the probable complications.
I was never overweight and was told my diabetes wasn't diet related so just kept taking the ever increasing meds for years. Next step was to be insulin, as blood sugars never good. Then a magazine article led me to this forum. Started a low carb lifestyle, have decreased the meds dramatically and get good bs levels. It is worth it.
Pinkorchid
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,927
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I am not criticizing anyones advice or help about diet it is just about telling the OP he faces loosing limbs or his eyesight if he does not follow the advice given. No one can predict that not even the medical scientists know every thing about diabetes and why it affects some people differently to others so we certainly don't if they did there would be a cure by now
- Messages
- 14,295
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Ladies and gents. May I please remind you all of the requirements of our Forum Rules, and including, but not exclusively to these:
A3. Respect others’ differences. Do not disparage because they do not share your opinion or way of doing things. If you find an error then correct it constructively. State your source for the correction so there is no doubt about it.
A6. This is a Forum of many different personalities – if you disagree with someone then start a constructive debate or use the Private Message (PM) system to have a conversation. It is unhelpful to have to read miles of disagreeing posts, and can deflect from the purpose of the thread (i.e. thread derailing).
B3. Diet is a relevant, but sensitive topic and should be treated as such. Please be considerate to other people’s dietary choices.
B4. There is rarely one way of dealing with diabetes. Be tolerant and courteous to those preferring to adopt a different approach.
C12. ‘Carbs/fat/statins/x medication is bad’ – Members are free to express their opinion of certain diets, but personally negative statements should not be made about those that follow the diet/medication regime.
Thank you in anticipation.
A3. Respect others’ differences. Do not disparage because they do not share your opinion or way of doing things. If you find an error then correct it constructively. State your source for the correction so there is no doubt about it.
A6. This is a Forum of many different personalities – if you disagree with someone then start a constructive debate or use the Private Message (PM) system to have a conversation. It is unhelpful to have to read miles of disagreeing posts, and can deflect from the purpose of the thread (i.e. thread derailing).
B3. Diet is a relevant, but sensitive topic and should be treated as such. Please be considerate to other people’s dietary choices.
B4. There is rarely one way of dealing with diabetes. Be tolerant and courteous to those preferring to adopt a different approach.
C12. ‘Carbs/fat/statins/x medication is bad’ – Members are free to express their opinion of certain diets, but personally negative statements should not be made about those that follow the diet/medication regime.
Thank you in anticipation.
Maybe this article can clarify things. Here is one of my sources. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-amputation.html
Guzzler
Master
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- 10,577
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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- Diet only
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- Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
Even if the OP is producing little or no insulin he still needs to test in the right manner and learn to count carbs if he ends up on mixed insulin, I don't think there's any getting away from that.
AdamJames
Well-Known Member
I feel your pain. A lot of people on this forum report that after a while on a LCHF diet, they love it and they genuinely have no desire to eat the 'bad stuff from the old days'.
I never reached that point and am not sure that I will. I've had to cut out alcohol which I sorely miss even after months of abstinence. I also get very envious of people buying things like biscuits, crisps, pies, chips and cream cakes when I'm shopping. I don't want the long-term adverse health effects of eating those things, but I do want the immediate pleasure of eating them. There are some textures and flavours you just can't find on LCHF.
If there was a cheap, quick and easy "pill" I could take to be able to eat these things and be healthy, I'd take it. I don't see insulin as being that. I'd fear that if I used insulin to allow me to keep eating the things I want, I'd be heading down a slope of needing more and more insulin. I'd also feel like I'm permanently a slave to medication monitoring, rather than temporarily a slave to close diet monitoring.
Being a "slave to diet" isn't a bad description of what it was like at first, but that changes. It can become an adventure, your taste can change and over time it becomes second nature when out shopping. But all I can say is that it does get better. A lot of it is in the mind - trying to find positive ways of approaching it instead of focusing on feeling deprived of the things you like. I've discovered some stuff I now really like, plus there are one or two foods from the 'bad old days' that, when I've been silly enough to try them again, I genuinely don't like any more.
There are also some "halfway house" food stuffs, such as low carb bread which can help out a lot. If you go on "the adventure" of finding "the right" foods for you, you can be having a breakfast of sausage, bacon, egg, mushrooms and two slices of buttered toast for breakfast, even with a cup of tea with milk in, and be having less carbs than a small slice of normal bread.
I went through being a slave to diet for a while last year. A positive way of expressing it would be "a learning process" which gets easier the more you learn. Now I still need to monitor things, in the sense that I don't seem to have an appetite suppressor, so I need to watch calories no matter what type of food I am eating (some people find that LCHF automatically inhibits their appetite) as I want to lose weight. But the benefits are huge. I'm feeling better, I can do my hobbies such as hill waking much more easily, and there are many days when I don't need to monitor things at all.
Anyway it's your decision of course, but such an important one that, even though you've tried LCHF before, I'd be tempted to try it again, testing each meal's effect on your blood glucose, and be willing to feel like a bit of a slave just for a week or so until you've built up a good picture of what you can safely eat and what you like.
AdamJames
Well-Known Member
That's probably the best point made so far.
If you see having to monitor food as being a slave to diet, insulin isn't a way of avoiding that. You are just giving yourself one extra thing to monitor, because you have to match insulin to food.
SuttonRider
Active Member
- Messages
- 26
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Insulin
One other question @SuttonRider .
What are your blood sugar levels doing through the day? Give us a breakdown on morning levels, before meals, 2 hours later & before bed.
To other members; please don't back off the support because captain Lantus is here!
I only take my BS once every couple of days, if that, so I don't know where its at during the day.
SuttonRider
Active Member
- Messages
- 26
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Thank you Adam, I can see that its very good advice.
Bluetit1802
Legend
If I were you I would start more regular and organised testing, alongside a food diary. For a few days, stick to your current diet and test before each meal and again 2 hours after first bite. You may be in for some shocks, but it will show you what we are all trying to tell you about carby meals.
Boo1979
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,849
- Type of diabetes
- Other
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
I agree that it is not helpful / appropriate to regale people with warnings of losing limbs / sight etc - people who have read anything about diabetes or indeed been lectured by any DSN or GP, will be very aware of the dangers / risks and bashing them over the head with it is not likely to help
By the same token I think it equally inappropriate to hold out dietary changes as a cure for diabetes (post #17) particularly to someone with longstanding diabetes where the prospect of a cure is more unlikely although significant improvements in blood sugar control and reduced risks of complications are certainly both possible & likely
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