Hi all, my hba1c was raised at 56. The GP said they’d do it again in 3 months and to make some changes. I had it re-done 3 months later and it was 51. As I had two raised sugar results I am now a diabetic. They have agreed to let me try and reduce it further with diet alone but ideally they’d like me to take metformin. I am struggling to lose weight and feel de-motivated about the whole thing! I’m concerned about taking metformin due to the gastro problems it can cause as I already have gastro problems. I’m feeling really tired and lethargic and seem to keep sweating when doing just the slightest of things, I don’t know if this is normal or not? Any suggestions to any of my questions would be appreciated
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Any advice would be appreciated
- Thread starter Albeth
- Start date
- Status
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I think you are wise to resist the metformin at the moment as it can cause stomach problems in some people especially as you already have some issues. You have managed to bring your levels down so with some renewed effort you can do it. Have a serious look at your diet and keep a food diary as that will help you see where you can make some savings on your carbohydrate intake.
Sadly the information about diet from the NHS is not helpful for Type 2 diabetics as their advise is generally too high carb for many to tolerate. It is carbs not protein and fat that will push up blood glucose levels.
The sweating and lethargy are symptoms of high blood glucose so by making some changes to reduce carbohydrates you should start to feel better, but remember to stay hydrated as that will help to flush glucose out of your system.
Some examples of the sort of meals you have would help people make suggestions for where you could make some savings on carbs.
Are you testing at home with a blood glucose monitor as that is some thing which people advocate as being key to YOU having control of your diabetes and allow you to make better food choices.
Sadly the information about diet from the NHS is not helpful for Type 2 diabetics as their advise is generally too high carb for many to tolerate. It is carbs not protein and fat that will push up blood glucose levels.
The sweating and lethargy are symptoms of high blood glucose so by making some changes to reduce carbohydrates you should start to feel better, but remember to stay hydrated as that will help to flush glucose out of your system.
Some examples of the sort of meals you have would help people make suggestions for where you could make some savings on carbs.
Are you testing at home with a blood glucose monitor as that is some thing which people advocate as being key to YOU having control of your diabetes and allow you to make better food choices.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You definitely need to reduce carbohydrates not just sugar, it is ALL carbohydrates that convert to glucose. So when you look at packets look for the total carbohydrate not the sugar, some things can be low sugar but still very high carb. The things you need to watch are potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, cereals, pastry and fruits such as bananas and tropical fruit as well as the obvious cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks.
Hi @Albeth and welcome to the forum.
Yes, testing of your own (we are all different) body's reaction to the carbohydrates in our food, is the key step toward getting Type 2 diabetes. It's the carbohydrates we eat (all of then except for fiber) which convert to glucose and if more than we can handle cause our Type 2 Diabetes. And when I say all I mean all - even so called healthy ones like fruits and whole grains - even oats. Fortunately (for Type 2's), Fats have no effect on Blood Glucose (and don't even make us fat like carbohydrates do, and Protein has only a small delayed effect on Blood Glucose. Out of the 3 macro nutrients (Carbs, Proteins and Fats) the only one we can live without is carbohydrates.
Step 1: As a Type 2 your GP is extremely unlikely to provide a Blood Glucose Meter and test strips on prescription. Those on Insulin or glic do get them because those medications can cause dangerous ultra low Blood Glucose situations called 'hypos'. So get yourself a BG meter.
These are the most popular ones in both the 2 main UK based Diabetes Forums:
SD Gluco Navii
Spirit Healthcare TEE2
They are similar prices and the test strips cost around £8 per pot of 50. Since you will be testing most meals initially, you will almost certainly need 3 pots (150 test strips) to start with.
Step 2. Test just before each meal and then 2hrs after 1st bite. The increase from the meal (at that point) should be less than 2.0 mmol. Also if possible the after meal readings should be no more than 8.0mmol. Don't concern yourself with readings at other times.
Step 3. Adjust your portion sizes of the higher carbohydrate food items based upon the BG spikes you see in your testing. Or make substitutions to lower carbohydrate foods.
Cereals are carbohydrates, so make a poor choice for breakfast. Eggs (without bread/toast) have only minute traces, the same with hard cheeses, meat or fish. Of all the fruits, berries have lower/lowest carbohydrates and tropical fruits (banana, mango, pineapple, grape, orange) have the highest. Thus almost all of us are OK with a handful of berries with some full fat greek style yogurt either as a breakfast or as a desert, you might try adding some seeds to that .
Yes, testing of your own (we are all different) body's reaction to the carbohydrates in our food, is the key step toward getting Type 2 diabetes. It's the carbohydrates we eat (all of then except for fiber) which convert to glucose and if more than we can handle cause our Type 2 Diabetes. And when I say all I mean all - even so called healthy ones like fruits and whole grains - even oats. Fortunately (for Type 2's), Fats have no effect on Blood Glucose (and don't even make us fat like carbohydrates do, and Protein has only a small delayed effect on Blood Glucose. Out of the 3 macro nutrients (Carbs, Proteins and Fats) the only one we can live without is carbohydrates.
Step 1: As a Type 2 your GP is extremely unlikely to provide a Blood Glucose Meter and test strips on prescription. Those on Insulin or glic do get them because those medications can cause dangerous ultra low Blood Glucose situations called 'hypos'. So get yourself a BG meter.
These are the most popular ones in both the 2 main UK based Diabetes Forums:
SD Gluco Navii
Spirit Healthcare TEE2
They are similar prices and the test strips cost around £8 per pot of 50. Since you will be testing most meals initially, you will almost certainly need 3 pots (150 test strips) to start with.
Step 2. Test just before each meal and then 2hrs after 1st bite. The increase from the meal (at that point) should be less than 2.0 mmol. Also if possible the after meal readings should be no more than 8.0mmol. Don't concern yourself with readings at other times.
Step 3. Adjust your portion sizes of the higher carbohydrate food items based upon the BG spikes you see in your testing. Or make substitutions to lower carbohydrate foods.
Cereals are carbohydrates, so make a poor choice for breakfast. Eggs (without bread/toast) have only minute traces, the same with hard cheeses, meat or fish. Of all the fruits, berries have lower/lowest carbohydrates and tropical fruits (banana, mango, pineapple, grape, orange) have the highest. Thus almost all of us are OK with a handful of berries with some full fat greek style yogurt either as a breakfast or as a desert, you might try adding some seeds to that .
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @Albeth, I am glad that you have found us.
You have already been given very useful information from @ianf0ster and @Leadinglights .
Many on here find that testing at home enables them to know what is going on day by day and so helps them to make decisions about swaps they can make to reduce carbs, and to see the impact of changes in levels of activity.
For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes . Members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points.
There is also a lot of information in the Learning Zone (an orange tab at the top of this page, or in you menu (…) if on a phone) which is specific to T2.
Take some time to look around the forum and do a bit of reading. This is a manageable condition and there is plenty of experience to tap into on here.
You have already been given very useful information from @ianf0ster and @Leadinglights .
Many on here find that testing at home enables them to know what is going on day by day and so helps them to make decisions about swaps they can make to reduce carbs, and to see the impact of changes in levels of activity.
For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes . Members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points.
There is also a lot of information in the Learning Zone (an orange tab at the top of this page, or in you menu (…) if on a phone) which is specific to T2.
Take some time to look around the forum and do a bit of reading. This is a manageable condition and there is plenty of experience to tap into on here.
- Status