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I am feeling a little lost!

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
J

Jason UK

New Member
Hello all,
My story: Last week I had 3 days in a row of feeling very thirsty and needing to frequently urinate so I managed to see my GP. A blood test showed a glucose level of 12.7 and my GP diagnosed type 2 diabetes. They gave me a prescription for 500mg of metformin per day and told me to book in with the local diabetes nurse.
The first appointment I can get with the nurse is 3 weeks away.
My unquenchable thirst has now diminished and so has the frequent urination, presumably due to the metformin but I am now left waiting and wondering what I should be doing. This website has provided a lot of information so thanks to all who contribute.
 
Welcome to the group, Jason....

Probably the first ting to do would be to cut or reduce carb sources such as Bread, Pasta, Rice, Cereals & starchy vegetables like potatoes, replacing them with green leafy vegetables instead.

Most members on this forum also advocate testing your BG, it's unlikely that you will be issued one so the best option is to self-fund, the SD Codefree from Amazon is the most affordable.
 
Thanks for the replies. My GP has just called to say that my 3 month average test has given a result of 71 which confirms diabetes. She has asked me to take 2x500mg metformin now but said there was no need for me to test my own blood glucose level.
Off to see what a level of 71 means and to look into purchasing a glucose meter.
 
Jason UK said:
Thanks for the replies. My GP has just called to say that my 3 month average test has given a result of 71 which confirms diabetes. She has asked me to take 2x500mg metformin now but said there was no need for me to test my own blood glucose level.
Off to see what a level of 71 means and to look into purchasing a glucose meter.
Click to expand...
Hi Jason, the 71 = about 8.6 on average over a 3 month period. So well and truly diabetic. Your best bet is to reduce the amount of carbs you eat and be aware of the type of carb as well.
A meter is a must for you though.
Were your symptoms sudden onset and are you carrying excess weight?
 
I have just purchased a meter so will be able to take monitor my own levels in a few days.
Yes I am overweight, have been for a few years after putting on weight following spinal surgery. Looks like I will definitely Isley have to lose the weight and get back to my pre op physique.
The symptoms came on very suddenly, 3 days last week of thirst and desire to urinate.
 
First test to do during the day is your FBG (Fasting Blood Glucose), take this when you wake up, sets a baseline for the day

Next, as you are learning what foods you can tolerate & what you can't:
  • Take a reading before eating
  • Take a reading 1 hour later
  • Take a reading 2 hours later
There should be no more than 2-3 mmol rise in BG, if more than that then consider removing that food from your menu (or reducing portion size). Once you have established a meal suits your D then no need to do more than occasionally test that meal again.
 
The reason GPs are against testing, if you're interested, is based on some old research that says that type 2 diabetics testing doesn't change their outcomes - however, what that doesn't take into account is that when GPs/Diabetic Nurses give you the test strips, they don't support you using them or even show you how to use them and what to do with the results. You'll find a lot of help with that here. You might find that they're also against the Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet too, and again, that's based on old out-of-date research, and they don't really know much about nutrition - it's not part of a GPs education. They believe that fat is bad for you - and that carbs - which make your diabetes a problem by turning into blood glucose - is good and you should eat quite a lot.
 
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Still in a bit of shock over the diagnosis but your advice is really helping me understand the condition and what I need to do about it.
 
Jason UK said:
helping me understand the condition and what I need to do about it.
Click to expand...
Look on YouTube for lectures by Tim Noakes, Stephen Phinney or Jason Fung..... You may want to go down the low carb route that CSD & I do but there is some excellent information about D & Blood Glucose control
 
Jason UK said:
Thanks for the replies. My GP has just called to say that my 3 month average test has given a result of 71 which confirms diabetes. She has asked me to take 2x500mg metformin now but said there was no need for me to test my own blood glucose level.
Off to see what a level of 71 means and to look into purchasing a glucose meter.
Click to expand...
Hi Jason...GP's...DSN's invariably advise/tell types 2's not to test their BG's...this infuriates me...I have been testing since being diagnosed seven months ago...best thing I could have done...second best thing is finding this forum...both invaluable learning resources...I would recommend testing to all diabetes...gives you information that will help you manage your diabetes...not sure if anyone has recommended the book Type 2 Diabetes The First Year by Gretchen Becker...it explains so much about how/why you are diabetic...what choices you need to make...and takes you though her first year as a type 2 diabetic month by month...good luck and look forward to hearing your progress...it is shocking at first...but it is also manageable.
 
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Hi Jason , Welcome. I'm glad you now have a meter, it really is the only way to discover what foods your body can't tolerate Very well. lots of professionals try to shove us all in the same size box and Diabetes doesn't work that way. I can eat porridge with hardly any affect on my BGs (blood glucose) others have to avoid it.
Over in the , Newbies introduce yourself forum , you will find a pinned link called, useful links for people with Diabetes. It has quite a bit of info for Diabetes of all types , links to books etc .

Keep asking questions, we'll do our best to help.
 
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Welcome Jason, I am also newly diagnosed. I have found this forum wonderful to get me through these first few days, and I had a regular liver appointment yesterday and he suggested cutting down on carbs as they contribute to T2 and Fatty Liver (which I have), I wish I had been given this advice a year ago when I first saw a doc for my fatty liver as I was told low fat with lots of carbs and all that has achieve is 1st weight loss and being diagnosed with T2. I must admit I am not looking forward to testing, but know I have to do it.

I hope you are starting to feel a less lost now.
 
ChrisSamsDad said:
The reason GPs are against testing, if you're interested, is based on some old research that says that type 2 diabetics testing doesn't change their outcomes - however, what that doesn't take into account is that when GPs/Diabetic Nurses give you the test strips, they don't support you using them or even show you how to use them and what to do with the results. You'll find a lot of help with that here. You might find that they're also against the Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet too, and again, that's based on old out-of-date research, and they don't really know much about nutrition - it's not part of a GPs education. They believe that fat is bad for you - and that carbs - which make your diabetes a problem by turning into blood glucose - is good and you should eat quite a lot.
Click to expand...
I didn't know that about Doctors, i must have a pretty enlightened one. He said straight away to cut the carbs, eat more fat & protein and get the Cholestorol down to sensible level.
 
ianbilly said:
I didn't know that about Doctors, i must have a pretty enlightened one. He said straight away to cut the carbs, eat more fat & protein and get the Cholestorol down to sensible level.
Click to expand...
It sounds as though he is very enlightened , which bodes well for you and other Ds under his care.
 
Grannylorraine said:
Welcome Jason, I am also newly diagnosed. I have found this forum wonderful to get me through these first few days, and I had a regular liver appointment yesterday and he suggested cutting down on carbs as they contribute to T2 and Fatty Liver (which I have), I wish I had been given this advice a year ago when I first saw a doc for my fatty liver as I was told low fat with lots of carbs and all that has achieve is 1st weight loss and being diagnosed with T2. I must admit I am not looking forward to testing, but know I have to do it.

I hope you are starting to feel a less lost now.
Click to expand...

Honestly testing your BGs is not that bad , if you're needle phobic the lancets needle is tiny and hidden inside the lancing devise and it retracts back into the lancing devise very quickly afterwards.
 
ianbilly said:
I didn't know that about Doctors, i must have a pretty enlightened one. He said straight away to cut the carbs, eat more fat & protein and get the Cholestorol down to sensible level.
Click to expand...

That's fantastic! From what I can tell from forums like this and some recent surveys, it's quite rare to find a doctor who's made the leap and is going against NHS guidelines. My diabetic nurse is coming around to LCHF after a number of patients have been on it and seen drastic reductions in their HbA1c, but I'm in to see her next week to discuss my 'high' cholesterol levels and why I'm not going to take statins (though my overall level is a bit high, most of the elevation is due to HDL cholesterol, and that's a positive thing). My actual doctor just says 'Hmm' and 'don't believe everything you read on the internet' - but she also keeps referring to my 'tummy'
 
I've got a similar problem @ChrisSamsDad. My doc suggested statins for me as the overall figure was high. I asked for the breakdown, & she said, "oh. That looks quite good. But your overall figure is high, so we should consider statins". My DSN said no statins, I am fine.
 
I was diagnosed by hba1c test end of Nov. but no one mentioned my cholesterol, would it have been tested at the same time? If I'm checked 3 months later should I ensure they check my cholesterol and if so when I get the result what figure (s) should I be looking for.
 
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