A big Hello to all

[Dannyboy]

Hello to all from a very confused man,perhaps some nice person could advise me,i was diagnosed two weeks ago with type 2 diabetes,a very big shock,did not expect that,anyway,ive been trying to get my head around it all.The nurse in the doctors told me to keep the sugar blood levels around 3.5 to 5.5 pre-meal and less than 8 2hrs after meal.Is this correct at 3.5 as I am worried that is to low.They have given me 90 mg of Gliclazide to take evey day.I am having a lot of problems getting even close to these numbers at the moment.I have cut down on all the bad foods,do the tablets take a long while to work or should I ask for something stronger.What is the level which is to low.Any advice would be a big help,as the doctor,says he has put my name down for some sort of clinic,but I have to wait for them to get in touch.
many thanks regards dan....................

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi Dan, welcome to the group....

A lot to take in in a short time but you have come to the right place... For the most part we are not medical experts but we do live with D on a daily basis & are learning to live with it.

First thing to get BG under control is to cut or reduce carb sources like Bread, Pasta, Rice, Cereals & starchy vegetables.... Instead replacing them with green leafy vegetables. This should help to get BG under control. There should be no more than a 2-3mmol rise in BG 2 hours after eating irrespective of your starting BG. As your average BG comes down (with control) then you will achieve the results that your Dr. suggests, don't worry too much at what your level is at the moment, this is a gradual process over time.

I noticed that you are on Gliclazide, this drug works by stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin, but not in a controlled way😱 I have had some awful hypos while on a similar drug & they are not easy to get rid of. Moral of the story is that BG is on the low side be careful. A more common initial treatment is to place D's on Metformin which works to slow the glucose production by the liver.

What are your numbers typically? What is your typical diet?

 

[Owen]

Below 4 is hypoglycaemic, so bad advice or misunderstood

 

[Dannyboy]

Hi thankyou for your reply Martin,most helpful.Yesterday Sunday,upon waking level was 7.7,after lunch 2hrs after,6.1 and then 2hrs after dinner 8.2,now today before lunch I had 4.7 which seems a bit low.Last week I was hitting 11.6 regularly,so its a bit all over the place.I have cut down on the carbs considerably.Just a bit worried as I am 6ft 7" and did weigh 18.5 stone.That has come down a lot,as the weight seems to be falling off me now,i hope this slows down.
many thanks regards dan.............

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.
If you drive you should also test before driving and if on a long journey every 2 hours.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Dannyboy Welcome.
The 3.5 Is definitely too low, maybe you mis heard ? The 4.7 is fine.
When did you start losing weight. , I mean was it before diagnosis.

 

[Dannyboy]

Hi yes,about 2 months before diagnosis,the nurse actually wrote on a post it note 3.5 to 5.5 for me,so it looks like she has given me the wrong info (a bit worrying),I will start testing before driving from now on
many thanks dan................

 

[stephknits]

I think advice varies. At guys in London they didn't class anything as hypo unless 3.5 or below, but I get both figures at my clinic at home. You will need to be 5 to drive 🙂

 

[Ljc]

Hi yes,about 2 months before diagnosis,the nurse actually wrote on a post it note 3.5 to 5.5 for me,so it looks like she has given me the wrong info (a bit worrying),I will start testing before driving from now on
many thanks dan................

Hi , yes ignore the 3.5 bit , non Diabetics may go low like that with no problems but it's not suitable for us,
I'm Hoping @Northerner or another T1 will be along soon re your weight loss
Here are the Dvla rules about driving and testing ,
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Life-with-diabetes/Driving/

 

[Robin]

I think part of the problem determining how low is safe, is that glucose meters are not completely accurate. At the lower end, I think they have to be within 10%, and 15% at higher levels. So if your meter read 3.5, you may well be 10% lower than that, which is getting into dangerous territory.

 

[trophywench]

Well hopefully - on the assumption the doc didn't say he was referring you to the Diabetes clinic (cos I expect you'd have remembered that) - perhaps he said 'Endocrinology' clinic instead? Which actually is the same thing, cos all D consultants are actually Endocrinologists, but have specialised in D.

I think Nursie Nightshade was telling you NON diabetic levels there - which actually would be totally brilliant LOL However - unlikely after a week!

I hesitate to suggest this but it sounds rather like A LOT of Gliclazide to start anyone off on immediately on diagnosis and I'm a bit bepuzzled by that - yes it's done the trick since you started at higher levels - but once your body gets more used to running at more 'non-D' levels again, ie quite soon - I see the danger of your plummeting far TOO low myself. But I dunno what to suggest to tide you over till you get to see somebody a lot more expert about such things - I'd suggest trying to get an urgent appointment with your GP - but in truth I don't know how likely that might be in your locale as they're rare as hen's teeth near me.

Any chance you can ring and ask what clinic you've been referred to and then ringing the relevant clinic and asking how long it's likely to take and saying you could do with some urgent advice? It at least needs running past someone with a clue!

 

[Martin Canty]

Hmmmm, looks like your numbers are looking pretty good for just being 2 weeks in..... You will have a lot to learn about what food you can tolerate & what you can't/ A good strategy would be to find a meal that works for your numbers & have that as a regular part of your weekly meal plan & experiment on "new" meals on other days. If you read a lot of posts you will find that many of us don't fear the fat so as for controlling weight loss you can add a little fat to the diet..... Just good ones.... http://intality.com/cook-good-fats/

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum Dannyboy, I'm not long diagnosed myself. Still in total denial really.

Don't panic, this is the place to be for info and you'll soon get the hang of it. I'm learning something everyday.

Thanks for the driving link Ljc, I must nag my sister. She drives all over and has had a heart attack and yet never measures her BG.

 

[grovesy]

Hello and welcome to the forum Dannyboy, I'm not long diagnosed myself. Still in total denial really.

Don't panic, this is the place to be for info and you'll soon get the hang of it. I'm learning something everyday.

Thanks for the driving link Ljc, I must nag my sister. She drives all over and has had a heart attack and yet never measures her BG.

If she is not on drugs that can cause hypos then it is not necessary.

 

[Ditto]

If she is not on drugs that can cause hypos then it is not necessary.

My sister's on injected insulin. I don't know anything about it though. I hope I never ever get to that stage.

 

[grovesy]

Well she should be testing then if on Insulin.

 

[Ditto]

I've just told her. I'm sure it went in one ear and out the other. 🙄

 

[Ralph-YK]

Hello and welcome from a fellow T2. I'm on metformin tablets only.
A couple of months ago we had a Dr at a diabetic suport group. They said a hypo was 4 and below.

 

[Radders]

I've just told her. I'm sure it went in one ear and out the other. 🙄

Maybe if you point out that she could be effectively "driving while under the influence" and have her driving licence revoked?

 

[Ditto]

Maybe if you point out that she could be effectively "driving while under the influence" and have her driving licence revoked?

Gracious, I will tell her for sure then. 😱

Apologies Dan, for hijacking your post.