Newly diagnosed and getting informed

[tinylily]

Hi, I was diagnosed about a week ago. Some debate over whether type 1 or 2 due to the amount of weight loss and a few other things that are apparently more usual with type 1, but given my age (mid forties), lifestyle (sedentary) and weight (lots) my GP is treating it as type 2 and looking for other issues. I think he's probably right.

It's been quite a shock, I've gone straight into medication as my blood sugar is apparently too high for just diet and exercise. Given he only had ten minutes for me I didn't get much info so I'm waiting to see a diabetes specialist nurse (no idea when) and reading everything I can.

I feel like I have a million questions so hopefully this forum will be a good place to find some!

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Good that they haven't just assumed Type 2 without considering a possible Type 1 option particularly with a sudden and high HbA1c and weight loss. I was a bit overweight and whilst I had an active lifestyle, I was a sugar addict, so Type 2 was assumed but my nurse always had a question mark about possible Type 1 and turned out she was right. It takes time and testing to get some clarity, but the important thing is that your health care professionals keep an open mind.

Do you know what your HbA1c result was.... this is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and will usually be a number in excess of 47 but can be up into 3 figures if things have gone seriously awry. If you don't know it, ask the nurse when you see her or if you have online access, check that out. Knowledge is power with diabetes so learn all you can and don't be fobbed off with vague descriptives like high or normal or OK but ask for actual numbers so that you can understand where you are with this and how you are progressing.

Please fire away with your "million questions" and we will do our best to answer them..... may take us a while but we will try. 😉

 

[tinylily]

Thanks Barbara. I don't know my number yet but I'll be phoning the surgery tomorrow to try and get it. I am a person who likes to know stuff I did see my finger prick test before they sent me off for the HbA1c and as far as I recall that was 17.9.

I'm going to get a testing kit at the weekend too because I need to start to learn how my blood sugar works with my diet. I have been unbelievably good in the last week (for me!) but I'm well aware that I need to form habits to make this work. Reading currently suggests that monitoring equipment isn't routinely prescribed for type 2, is that right?

I have a busy and stressful job too, and my work-life balance in the last three years has been nearly non existent so I need to make a lot more time for me and my healthcare and general lifestyle. I have a big list of symptoms that have crept up on me over the last six months to a year and I'm busy trying to figure out which are related to gastrology problems (which I also have), which are diabetes related and which are as yet undiagnosed. So it's a really strange start to the year.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I'm going to get a testing kit at the weekend too because I need to start to learn how my blood sugar works with my diet.

There are two which people recommend (they have fairly cheap test strips) given in this handy list of links: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/board...for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/#post-938458

Reading currently suggests that monitoring equipment isn't routinely prescribed for type 2, is that right?

That's usually the case, yes. Though if they decide you're type 1 then you will be prescribed test strips and things.

 

[Leadinglights]

Unless you are quite lucky and have a forward thinking diabetic nurse then it is unlikely to get a monitor and strips on prescription so many self fund and there are a couple of monitors with the cheapest strips available on line, The GlucoNavii or Spirit TEE are ones that people find OK and are far cheaper than those sold by pharmacies.
I have posted this link https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ a few times to new people as I found it very helpful and by following those principals reduced my HbA1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months. I found the low carb approach very easy and is now my new way of eating.
For example for dinner I had a half rack barbeque ribs, salad with mayo half bread roll and some Kvarg desert with some mixed seeds.

What might be suitable for you will depend on what medication you have been prescribed and your eventual diagnosis.

 

[tinylily]

Unless you are quite lucky and have a forward thinking diabetic nurse then it is unlikely to get a monitor and strips on prescription so many self fund and there are a couple of monitors with the cheapest strips available on line, The GlucoNavii or Spirit TEE are ones that people find OK and are far cheaper than those sold by pharmacies.
I have posted this link https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ a few times to new people as I found it very helpful and by following those principals reduced my HbA1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months. I found the low carb approach very easy and is now my new way of eating.
For example for dinner I had a half rack barbeque ribs, salad with mayo half bread roll and some Kvarg desert with some mixed seeds.

I think this might be one of the hardest parts for me - bread and potatoes are well up on my list of favourite things!

 

[Leadinglights]

I think this might be one of the hardest parts for me - bread and potatoes are well up on my list of favourite things!

There are a few lower carb breads at the supermarket and although I used to have quite a lot of potatoes especially as I grew them myself, I found acceptable substitutes like butternut squash or celeriac. But making sure I only had 1 carby veg at any one meal so if I have a small potato I wouldn't have peas or broad beans but have green veg.
If there are things you really like then the only way to see if you can tolerate them is by testing their affect on your blood glucose by testing before you eat and after 2 hours, if the increase is less than 3mmol/l then it should be Ok for you. otherwise give it a miss or reduce the portion. You will soon find you do not miss those high carb foods.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @tinylily

Which medication(s) have you been given?

Be aware that some advice about following a low carb menu may not be so suitable, or may need to be treated with caution, if you are taking glucose-lowering medication to avoid the potential risk of glucose levels going too low.

Whatever medication you need to take should balance with the food you are eating - and reducing elevated glucose levels gradually is kinder on the fine blood vessels in the eyes, and your nerve endings. 🙂

 

[tinylily]

Welcome to the forum @tinylily

Which medication(s) have you been given?

Be aware that some advice about following a low carb menu may not be so suitable, or may need to be treated with caution, if you are taking glucose-lowering medication to avoid the potential risk of glucose levels going too low.

Whatever medication you need to take should balance with the food you are eating - and reducing elevated glucose levels gradually is kinder on the fine blood vessels in the eyes, and your nerve endings. 🙂

I'm on metformin and dapagliflozin. I think when I get to see the diabetes nurse they'll be recommending weekly injections as well.

I'm not going madly low carb, I'm just trying to have a little less and watch portion sizes for now and controlling calories.

 

[Leadinglights]

I'm on metformin and dapagliflozin. I think when I get to see the diabetes nurse they'll be recommending weekly injections as well.

I'm not going madly low carb, I'm just trying to have a little less and watch portion sizes for now and controlling calories.

It might be worth you keeping a food diary of everything you are eating and drinking with an estimate of the amount of carbs for the portions you are having as that would provide some evidence of how you are modifying your diet.
It would also help you see how near you are to the suggested 'no more than 130g total carbs per day' .
The 2 meds work in different ways, Metformin helps the body use the insulin it produces more effectively and prevents the liver releasing glucose whereas the dapagliflozin encourages the kidneys to excrete excess glucose via urine so important to drink plenty otherwise you can become dehydrated 3 litres a day is recommended I believe. Of course that results in frequent loo visits.
Some people can get thrush or UTIs so be aware of that.