Type 2 Newbie

[Marianne Heighes]

Hi, I'm new with Type 2 diabetes and take Metformin to help. I can't seem to get my head around that I have diabetes, and I am sabotaging each day by eating anything I want. I see to have stuck my head in the sand and am scared about what I'm doing to my body. I need help , advice and motivation to start actually taking this serious x

 

[Docb]

Hi @Marianne Heighes and welcome to the forum. You are not alone in struggling to get your head around diabetes when first diagnosed. I hope we can help you with that and give you some pointers to help you find a way forward.

Can you tell us how you came to be diagnosed? Diagnosis is normally based on something called a HbA1c test. Do you know what your result was because that is a good place to start from.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Marianne Heighes

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis but I am pleased that you have found the forum.
It takes some time to get your head round things, and to understand the impact of what we each do.
Having a greater understanding of Diabetes can help people to make appropriate decisions. There is a lot of information in the Learning Zone (an orange tab at the top or listed in the menu on a phone), which may well then lead to more questions, but just ask. No one will mind.

Diabetes is about how our body manages what we eat. Some people find it useful to start by keeping an honest record of what you eat each day. You can then start to make some changes to help bring your glucose levels back in range, by making Swaps to lower carb options, reducing portion sizes and changing your level of activity.

Take thugs a step at a time and ask any questions that arise.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Marianne Heighes, sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

You certainly aren’t alone. Diabetes is generally a slow moving foe, and some people’s diagnosis comes more or less out of the blue, with few if any symptoms preceding it to suggest the seriousness of the situation - plus the reputation of diabetes can be of a condition that isn’t too much to worry about - just take the tablets and carry on… But diabetes can be extremely serious, and can lead to devastating life-changing complications.

The fact that you say you are scared about what you are doing to your body is a very positive sign that you understand this. So congratulate yourself. You are aware of the dangers, and you know that it is within your power to substantially reduce your risks of long-term complications.

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy.

As I read on a US blogger’s site some years ago, of the big challenges with diabetes self management is that the biggest ‘reward’ for your careful actions is that nothing happens. Which is not very motivating! But often we don’t realise how weary, worn down and lethargic we have been feeling if things have come on gradually. Erratic and elevated blood glucose levels can be exhausting and are linked with low mood, so motivation can be even harder to find.

However, making a few positive changes, and reducing your glucose variation can give you more energy, a clearer mind, and a brighter outlook. Many forum members who focus on reducing BGs by reducing/moderating their carb intake find that excess weight sort of naturally falls away, which can be a huge added bonus. Plus the regular checks you get after a diagnosis with diabetes mean that any potential problems may be spotted earlier, and can be sorted out sooner.

Good luck, and let us know how things go 🙂

 

[Marianne Heighes]

Thanks for your replies. I was pre diabetic during lockdown, just had a blood test for something else and it was picked up. My hba1c was 48 in lockdown and went to 68 with the next 6 months. I was stupid and could have done something about it then, but I didn't. So have been on Metformin ever since. I know what I have to do to get this moving in the right direction, but I start each day well and then by the evening I'm eating anything sweet I can get my hands on. I am also a vegetarian that doesn't particularly like vegetables, will only eat a few also dislike fake meats. I'm thinking of starting to eat meat as this would be easier to keep carbs down and eat a more keto friendly diet. So many things I'm trying to think of and deciding the best way to manage this, that I'm spending too much time sat thinking instead of getting on with it x

 

[ianf0ster]

The daily 'rewards' that I could see for my actions (in cutting down on carbohydrates) was the on target Blood Glucose readings from my BG meter.
The next one was the shock on the nurses face when my next HbA1C was down in the pre-diabetic zone. She said that in her experience Type 2's don't manage to do that - even with medication.

 

[ianf0ster]

................................................ I am also a vegetarian that doesn't particularly like vegetables, will only eat a few also dislike fake meats. I'm thinking of starting to eat meat as this would be easier to keep carbs down and eat a more keto friendly diet. So many things I'm trying to think of and deciding the best way to manage this, that I'm spending too much time sat thinking instead of getting on with it x

You don't have to eat meat. Do you like eggs, cheese, fish, nuts?
It's terrible to go through life eating things you don't like. Search out low carb foods that you do like and build your meals around them.

 

[rebrascora]

Because diabetes is kind of invisible or largely symptomless for many people, it is easy to ignore it or think that you are getting away with it. Also, carbs can become quite addictive so your body gets a Blood Glucose high after eating them, especially with diabetes when you levels have been higher than normal and then levels start to drop as your body tries to do it's job and remove that glucose but because your system has got used to those higher levels, it thinks you are starving and so you get cravings to eat more. It is a vicious cycle. The thing that helped me was to find low carb foods that I could eat when I got the cravings.... a bit like free foods on a diet, but these were mostly high calorie foods like cheese and boiled eggs with full fat mayonnaise and veggie sticks with real sour cream and chive dip (not the Doritos stuff in a jar) and a spoonful or two of peanut butter or a tub of olives, nuts or some pickles or a packet of pork scratchings. You might not like these things but there will be other low carb, higher fat/protein foods that will do it for you. Once my body got used to a low carb way of eating and my BG levels came down and stabilized, the cravings stopped and it has been bliss not to have to battle them. I am no longer temped by sweets or chocolate or bread or cakes, even when people are eating them in front of me or offer me them and that has been quite a revelation. I have little luxuries, like cream in my morning coffee (cream has less carbs than milk) and a nice chunk of cheese with a glass of red wine most evenings and it is hard to feel deprived or badly done to.
The other thing which @ianf0ster mentioned is testing your blood to see what those high carb foods are doing to you. That can be a real eye opener and helps to discourage you from indulging when you can actually see the result (I hit 27 😱 one night after eating a bag of salt and vinegar Jacobs crackers.... never again!!) as well as motivating when you eat the right things and see your levels start to reduce. Home testing is an invaluable tool in helping you to tailor your diet to your individual tastes as well as your individual body's inability to metabolize carbs. Finding meals that work for you and you enjoy is key to success. I have found that is has been quite an adventure to try new foods and different ways of cooking and I feel so much healthier and in control of my eating now, which is a big bonus as well as having much more stable BG levels.

If you are interested in buying a BG meter kit and starting home testing, do ask for advice and recommendations because we can give a lot of input on that in terms of reliability and economy of use and strategy of testing.

 

[Marianne Heighes]

You don't have to eat meat. Do you like eggs, cheese, fish, nuts?
It's terrible to go through life eating things you don't like. Search out low carb foods that you do like and build your meals around them

 

[Marianne Heighes]

Thanks for this, I have forgotten everything I like and just focused on the unhealthy things I like. I have popped to the supermarket now and got some eggs and even though I'm veggie I do eat some fish, so also got some cod and mackeral, I'm lucky as I don't like batter so happy with plain fish. I have purchased a couple of cookbooks from Amazon for cooking with beans again I like most beans. I'm a stay at home mum and I cook meals for my husband and daughter and forget about me ......... So will just have a cheese sandwich. I think I need to realise that I need looking after too and not just my family

 

[ianf0ster]

That's a good start.
It is the same for everybody that what we eat and how much of it is a balancing act.
Even as diabetics I feel it's possible for almost all of us to enjoy our food.

 

[Kopiert]

The next one was the shock on the nurses face when my next HbA1C was down in the pre-diabetic zone. She said that in her experience Type 2's don't manage to do that - even with medication.

That statement itself is frightening. She should really come onto this and other boards to find out the reality - the fact that she has never seen it says an awful lot as to why she should not be talking to diabetics. /end of rant!

 

[rebrascora]

That statement itself is frightening. She should really come onto this and other boards to find out the reality - the fact that she has never seen it says an awful lot as to why she should not be talking to diabetics. /end of rant!

I think the problem is that the nurse sees a lot of people who just don't want to engage with their diagnosis, because changing their lifestyle is too much like hard work. Most people who frequent this forum (probably all of them) are self motivated to improve things and do whatever they can to help themselves, but I am not sure we are representative of the whole population by any means.
I think it may be quite depressing for the nurses trying to motivate people who are not interested or engaged and just want to take some tablets to fix it, which of course we know won't, without other changes. Of course, if people were given better dietary advice and support in the first place and told quite clearly that the tablets alone won't sort them out, it might help, but then many health care professionals have no idea of the power of a low carb or a very calorie restricted diet.

I have to say I was really annoyed this morning to see an item on my feed where Diabetes UK had been promoting a healthy diet for diabetics on GMB and the emphasis was still on including starchy carbs in the diet with every meal, but choosing low GI options. Really frustrated me and makes me reluctant to want to donate to them when their advice is at odds with the experience of myself and other people here on the forum.
I really appreciate that DUK host this forum because I would have been lost without it, but I really feel their dietary advice is still too closely tied to the long standing NHS advice and that both need a radical shake up.

 

[Leadinglights]

I think the problem is that the nurse sees a lot of people who just don't want to engage with their diagnosis, because changing their lifestyle is too much like hard work. Most people who frequent this forum (probably all of them) are self motivated to improve things and do whatever they can to help themselves, but I am not sure we are representative of the whole population by any means.
I think it may be quite depressing for the nurses trying to motivate people who are not interested or engaged and just want to take some tablets to fix it, which of course we know won't, without other changes. Of course, if people were given better dietary advice and support in the first place and told quite clearly that the tablets alone won't sort them out, it might help, but then many health care professionals have no idea of the power of a low carb or a very calorie restricted diet.

I have to say I was really annoyed this morning to see an item on my feed where Diabetes UK had been promoting a healthy diet for diabetics on GMB and the emphasis was still on including starchy carbs in the diet with every meal, but choosing low GI options. Really frustrated me and makes me reluctant to want to donate to them when their advice is at odds with the experience of myself and other people here on the forum.
I really appreciate that DUK host this forum because I would have been lost without it, but I really feel their dietary advice is still too closely tied to the long standing NHS advice and that both need a radical shake up.

I have to agree with you that many people are not prepared to engage with making life style changes and seem to put up a wall of negativity to the concept. They also think the information that is given by their surgery is gospel even though it may not be the best and somewhat outdated by newer thinking and evidence. People engaging with the various forums are the ones with at least some motivation to try to address the issues and hopefully avoid some serious consequences of doing nothing.
You become very conscious of the quantity of 'junk' food many people have in their shopping trolley, I know they are probably not diabetic but could well be heading that way.

 

[Drummer]

@Marianne Heighes As you have eggs, try bubble and squeak with mashed swede instead of potato.
I beat in an egg or eggs, then either add leftover chopped veges and mix them in before cooking or heat it up plain than put cheese on top before putting it under the grill.
If using cold mashed swede it can take some time to heat up and for the egg to set it, but it is well worth it.
I use a fairly large frying pan, add light olive oil and spread it out fairly thinly then wait impatiently for it to become warm inside and slightly crispy on the bottom on top of the cooker whilst I heat up the electric grill.

 

[ColinUK]

I don’t think it’s uncommon to have a period of denial post diagnosis. However I’ll challenge your assertion that you’ve stuck your head in the sand by pointing out that you’ve sought this forum out and joined up and then have posted something.
That’s not typical head in the sand behaviour to me and I’d actually congratulate you on taking the first steps to engage with your diabetes and to learn.

 

[goodybags]

Hi, I'm new with Type 2 diabetes and take Metformin to help. I can't seem to get my head around that I have diabetes, and I am sabotaging each day by eating anything I want. I see to have stuck my head in the sand and am scared about what I'm doing to my body. I need help , advice and motivation to start actually taking this serious x

Hello @Marianne Heighes
well done on finding the forum not to long after your diagnosis, sounds like you’ve already made a great start,
a lower carb Keto friendly diet definitely seems the best way to manage our blood sugars (and weight as many of us T2 were overweigh)
self help with the support of others on this great forum has helped me and many others to help ourselves.