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Hi all! Any advice on managing T2 and working continental shifts

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Fraggl3

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Hi! I've recently been diagnosed 2 weeks ago and taking metformin SR. Just gone to a 2nd tablet and starting again to upset stomach again (after taking previous the standard metformin).
I work a continental shift pattern which means my shifts change from day shifts to nights with 3 days (from nights) to 2 (from days). Doing 12 hr shifts.
To be honest I feel I'm awash with the diagnosis and pointed to Diabetes Uk and that's as far as I am.
My first night shift effectively means I'm awake nearly 24hrs and extra meals to cope with the extra awake time. I don't know if it was tiredness or condition but felt rubbish! The next few nights were ok
My next HbA1c test is next Friday with a NHS check the following Tuesday and possibly an appointment the the Diabetic nurse the week after.
 
Hi @Fraggl3 and welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear you are having upset stomach even with the slow release Metformin, unfortunately it is not uncommon.
I am not on any diabetes medication so can't offer much in that respect, others on the forum well be in a better position to offer some help and advice.

What was your hba1c when diagnosed ?

Alan 😉
 
An HbA1c of 117 is high but not off the scale, we have seen many higher.
I'm pleased that you have been directed to this site as it full of good information and members who have lived with diabetes for many years.
Many have also put their diabetes into remission with Diet, Weight management and Exercise.
I am assuming you were diagnosed T2 (you don't say) ?

A good place to start is to have a look in the learning zone (top of the page) as this will give you heaps of information and help you understand diabetes better.
 
Yeah T2! We had a NHS nurse come into where I work and did NHS health checks and picked up me as having highblood glucose! It's lucky she did as no problems obvious to me though me burying my head in denial when wife says been drinking too much and frequently toilet trips!
Made a few lifestyle changes and removed the energy drinks on my night shifts!
I supposed you hear about the bad things with diabetes and is scary to me! Especially as my mother and sister are diabetic too and my mum suffers hypos (sometimes knowing too much is worse)
 
Lifestyle changes are a good thing on so many levels.
Since being diagnosed (T2) I changed a lot of the rubbish I ate, increased my exercise levels and lost nearly 3st in weight.
My hba1c came down from 51 to 46, not great, but not in the diabetic range, I feel healthier and my wife says I look better, my BMI is now 22.
I still need to be careful and maintain a low carb diet, I've just bought a treadmill (should arrive in the next few days) for when the weather is to horrible to go for a decent walk.
 
@Fraggl3. As you probably realise, priority no 1 is to deal with your diet.

Here are two links with great advice to get your blood glucose down in short order:
With your shift patterns meal timing is an issue. You may be able to use it to advantage if you have some weight to lose. That's priority no 2, the next step.

Good luck
 
Fraggl3 said:
I work a continental shift pattern which means my shifts change from day shifts to nights with 3 days (from nights) to 2 (from days). Doing 12 hr shifts.
Click to expand...
I can’t imagine why this would be a problem with type 2 diabetes on slow release metformin. Could you give any more details about the type of work based advice you need?
 
Hi @Fraggl3 welcome to the forums, the Metformin problem is not one I suffered from so cannot comment on that. However, I did do a quick check online and you might find the following link helpful in understanding how to manage your condition:
Impact of Shift Work on Diabetes
Using diet and other lifestyle changes may potentially help you to reduce your current blood glucose levels (BG) but the big problem will be finding a routine that works for you across the two shift types that you work particularly with regards to regular exercise and finding a workable sleep pattern that supports you circadian rhythms. Others on here may be able to help with this issue.
 
I work in a dairy and this requires me to be active throughout the day or night which is 6 till 6! This week I have Tuesday- Thursday (6am till 6pm) and Sat-Monday (6pm-6am)! It's a fast paced environment packing milkshakes into cartons using filler machines! I don't really have a standard week it's a 4 week rota of 4nights, 3days, 3 nights and 4 days with 7 days off on the 4th week
 
My main concern is the day of my first night shift is 1. I can be up over 24hrs on the first day and 2. I could be eating up to 5 times a day with trying to get meds in my system.
 
Hi @Fraggl3
welcome to the forum, and the club they say none of us wanted to join

on a positive at least your in a physically active job, which will most likely help
Your job certainly sounds full on

it’s great that the nurse who came in, did the lifestyle (including your Blood Glucose checks)
also that you have found this fabulous forum so early on after your diagnosis

what kind of meals are you currently eating
I was slightly surprised by your comment just now, about eating five meals a day
 
goodybags said:
Hi @Fraggl3
welcome to the forum, and the club they say none of us wanted to join

on a positive at least your in a physically active job, which will most likely help
Your job certainly sounds full on

it’s great that the nurse who came in, did the lifestyle (including your Blood Glucose checks)
also that you have found this fabulous forum so early on after your diagnosis

what kind of meals are you currently eating
I was slightly surprised by your comment just now, about eating five meals a day
Click to expand...
It's the transition from day into night and being an active job only because i will wake in the morning and work through the time I would of been sleeping and go bed after the shift in the morning! It's very hands on job and big machines to work on and around
 
Fraggl3 said:
My main concern is the day of my first night shift is 1. I can be up over 24hrs on the first day and 2. I could be eating up to 5 times a day with trying to get meds in my system.
Click to expand...
It doesn’t matter how often you eat it’s what you eat that matters. You’re only on slow release metformin which can be taken all together once per 24 hours though so you shouldn’t need to eat 5 times a day for medication unless you’re on other meds too. Just eat whenever you would normally eat in your shifts
 
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