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Just diagnosed Type 2. Do I need medication help please?

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Jan1956

Jan1956

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Hi all,

My GP confirmed today that my fasting blood test result was 7.2 which confirms diabetes which has been rather a shock. I am also struggling with work related stress and my blood pressure is bordering on hypertensive. My cholesterol reading was 5.2 but the bad cholesterol component was a bit high too. So all in all a bit of a state for a 56 yr old?

I think there was so much to take in today that the Dr just said he'd do a repeat non fasting test ( to get a 3 month history) and see me again, but he was very clear that this is a diabetes diagnosis and not glucose intolerant as the cut of is 7?

Is there any chance I will be advised to try to manage this by diet rather than medication? I desperately want to try diet control but just don't really understand how diabetes works and whether by reducing stress and adjusting diet it will also help the lower my diabetes reading? Any advice here as I am not keen to take tablets but don't want to risk my health further?

My late father was Type 2 at the same age as me but I have no idea if his reading was under 7? He managed by diet alone.

I am going to research into low GI FOODS (also if anyone has ideas on a good guide/cook book it would be appreciated ?)

Thank you and very grateful for any advice http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/images/smilies/smile.gif
 
Hi jimbob7, welcome to the forum 🙂 I#m sorry to hear about your diagnosis - but don't panic! This is something that you can manage well, enjoy a full and healthy life with, possibly better than you might otherwise have done without this extra 'kick' to motivate you 🙂

It sounds like you are just in the 'diabetic' range so there is every chance tat you will be able to achieve good blood sugar levels without the need for medication - some GPs will always advocate this as a first approach. But you should know that it is a very wide-ranging condition, and there is no shame if you require an additional help from medication, it's simply to do with how you as an individual are able to manage.

I would recommend reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and also getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. These will give you a good insight into what to expect and how to tackle things. In the case of food choices, many people find that a low GI or GL (Glycaemic Index/Load) diet helps them to keep their blood sugars under control - The GL Diet for Dummies is a good introduction. This i a method of choosing and combining foods that will have a slow and steady impact on your blood sugars.

Also, exercise can help enormously with maintaining good blood sugar control, so if you are able to find an activity you enjoy and can do daily, that will be a great help!

Please do ask if you have any questions. There is an awful lot of information out there, but hopefully the personal expereinces of the members here will help you to sort the wheat from the chaff. I look forward to hearing more from you 🙂
 
Hi,

I'm type 2 too.

I tried diet and excerise and it didn't work for me so I got put on tablets.

I still do the exercise and it has lowered my HbA1c. I've lost weight slowly and my BMI is now normal.

If you get your HbA1c below 6.5% then the risk of compications is lower.

Have a look at www.bloodsugar101.com. Useful stuff to think about there.

Regarding low GI stuff, porridge for breakfast is fantastic. Slow release food and slows liver glucose dump.

Think about getting a blood glucose meter and testing so you see how your body reacts to food, exercise and medication. My meter is my best friend and helped me learn my new food portion sizes.

Keep a food / exercise / BG diary so you can see what is good and what needs looking at.

BG = Blood glucose.

Oh and one last thing, ASK US anything. No qustion is stupid.
 
Welcome Jim,

With your borderline result you have got a good chance of holding it back with diet changes and more exercise. Most GP's will give you a few months on lifestyle changes to see if you can make the modifications required to control your diabetes. The test your GP is doing now (hba1c) will give a better indication of how your diabetes has been I think. Try and get hold of a blood glucose meter and ask for test strips from your GP and take pre and 2 hour post meal tests to see the effect different meals have on your levels. This will help you see where changes should be made. If you GP doesn't want to prescribe you strips tell him you need then to see the effect food has on your levels. Keep a diary with what food you eat and your test results, it will give you are clearer picture of what's what.

Getting your blood glucose down will help your BP and probably your cholesterol too. Try not to worry, just take a day at a time. Diabetes is a complex condition so don't feel you have to learn everything quickly.

Best wishes,

A 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum Jim 🙂

You will get some excellent advice here, although the one thing I would add is that a few of us have found that Oat-So-Simple isn't slow release, so if you go down the porridge route it might be best to avoid that!

This website: http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/d-day.html is also very helpful.
 
Welcome to the forum.

As a comparison, when diagnosed, my BG was in the 20's and my HbA1c was 13.3% (in old money).

Now, I rarely exceed BG's of 7 and my last HbA1c was 6.0%. That is with diet and exercise alone after losing weight and taking a bit more care about my diet.

Whilst you may need medication to get things under control (your medical team is best placed to advise you on that), being diagnosed with Type 2 isn't necessarily a problem if you tackle it head on. By the way, I was started on medication initially, but was able to stop it later.

My quality of life now far exceeds anything I had prior to diagnosis!

Good luck,

Andy 🙂
 
If you think you would benefit from losing a few lbs healthily, I recommend Slimming World and a bicycle. In 6 months I've lost 4st, BG and blood pressure in normal range now. SW costs a fiver a week, with discounts if you pay for 6 or 12 weeks in advance. Some (but not all) PCTs will pay for the first 12 weeks; for example Oxfordshire does, Hertfordshire doesn't. It's worth asking your GP or diabetes nurse. As for a bike, you could ask your local police when/where there's going to be a sale of recovered stolen/abandoned cycles.
 
Thank you

Northerner said:
Hi jimbob7, welcome to the forum 🙂 I#m sorry to hear about your diagnosis - but don't panic! This is something that you can manage well, enjoy a full and healthy life with, possibly better than you might otherwise have done without this extra 'kick' to motivate you 🙂

It sounds like you are just in the 'diabetic' range so there is every chance tat you will be able to achieve good blood sugar levels without the need for medication - some GPs will always advocate this as a first approach. But you should know that it is a very wide-ranging condition, and there is no shame if you require an additional help from medication, it's simply to do with how you as an individual are able to manage.

I would recommend reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and also getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. These will give you a good insight into what to expect and how to tackle things. In the case of food choices, many people find that a low GI or GL (Glycaemic Index/Load) diet helps them to keep their blood sugars under control - The GL Diet for Dummies is a good introduction. This i a method of choosing and combining foods that will have a slow and steady impact on your blood sugars.

Also, exercise can help enormously with maintaining good blood sugar control, so if you are able to find an activity you enjoy and can do daily, that will be a great help!

Please do ask if you have any questions. There is an awful lot of information out there, but hopefully the personal expereinces of the members here will help you to sort the wheat from the chaff. I look forward to hearing more from you 🙂
Click to expand...

Thank you for your helpful support. I am ordering the book youv suggested on line n
and have printed off your reading suggestions. You've heped put thisinto perspective. Much apreciated!
 
jimbob7 said:
Thank you for your helpful support. I am ordering the book youv suggested on line n
and have printed off your reading suggestions. You've heped put thisinto perspective. Much apreciated!
Click to expand...

You're very welcome 🙂
 
Thank you

To all those who've replied-

I am so grateful to you for your trrouble and for your sound advise. I can see some light at the end of the tunnell now. I am going to ask GP for a glucose monitor.

My next blood test should give the GP guidance on how my diabetes has been in recent past I think, and I am going to try to see this as positve in moving forward and getting levels down. I am carrying too much weight and- your replies have made me realise that I have to address this to save my health. Exercise seems to be my way forward with monitoring glucose levels and diet control - hopefully my result has been the kick up the but I needed to ACT !! 🙂 🙂
 
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