Newly diagnosed type 2

[Nicola16]

Hi all

I haven't posted for a while but I used to find the forum so helpful I've come back as I've now been given a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and could do with some help.

Some background, had no idea diabetes could be lurking as I had no symptoms, got pregnant, at 12 weeks my husband and I got told I had sugar in my pee so had the GTT test, as there was no indication of issues before I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes and as a result changed my diet, was on 2g metformin and a long and short acting insulin. I then had gall stones and pancreatitis whilst pregnant so had an extremely low fat and low carb diet. Went on to have a beautiful little girl, had my gall bladder out a couple months later.

Before my op HBa1C was 36, then after 42 but my GP felt whilst they were good the fact it had increased, had such a good diet (I lost 4 stone whilst pregnant) and the fact I had pancreatitis it didn't really give an accurate impression of what was going on. So we agreed I'd have 'normal' diet where it was fairly balanced but no low carbing and we agreed to review HBa1C in 6 months. 3 months later I felt that my sugars where high (I'd got to know the feeling whilst pregnant) so asked my GP to do the check early, which they did and that brings me to today! My HBa1C was 52 yesterday so he had put me on a 1g of metformin a day and I will be seeing the diabetic nurse for guidance referral for annual eye check etc soon.

So after the lengthy background - sorry about that - I wanted to rejoin the forum as although I understand how to look for carbs where they may be hiding etc I haven't managed them without insulin so was looking for some guidance on how people keep an eye on sugars without testing, what you eat (I want to lose weight still as I put a stone and a half back on after eating again) and I also struggle with too many eggs as they give me a bad tummy if I have more than a couple in a week and any other advice you have.

Again sorry for the long post and thank you for any advice.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome back.
I found for me testing helps decide what suits me and what does not.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Nicola, Welcome back but sorry you need to join us again. TBH it's hard/if not impossible without a glucose monitor. As you already know Diabetes is very individual in what foods spike us.
If you want to test, do see if they will provide you with a meter and strips, some practices are more aware that testing helps our control. If they won't, they often give silly reasons, like the Hb1ac is all that's needed, it will upset you etc.
Many here have decided to self fund their own meter, the cheapest one we know of is the SD Codefree meter from Amazon or directly from Homehealth
Strips are around £7 for 50 , high street brands can be as much as £25
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ing_wp_cron=1493369000.1807930469512939453125

 

[Nicola16]

Welcome back.
I found for me testing helps decide what suits me and what does not.

Thank you, do you have to buy your meter etc?

 

[Nicola16]

Hi Nicola, Welcome back but sorry you need to join us again. TBH it's hard/if not impossible without a glucose monitor. As you already know Diabetes is very individual in what foods spike us.
If you want to test, do see if they will provide you with a meter and strips, some practices are more aware that testing helps our control. If they won't, they often give silly reasons, like the Hb1ac is all that's needed, it will upset you etc.
Many here have decided to self fund their own meter, the cheapest one we know of is the SD Codefree meter from Amazon or directly from Homehealth
Strips are around £7 for 50 , high street brands can be as much as £25
https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ing_wp_cron=1493369000.1807930469512939453125

I will ask when I see the nurse, my GP has always been great so hopefully they will see the benefit. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Stitch147]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[Nicola16]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Thanks Stitch! Hope you're ok.

 

[RobK]

Hi Nicola and welcome.

 

[Dollypolly]

Welcome back
Hopefully your gp and nurse are on board for you to have a monitor and strips as most T2 are not rountinely offered them.

 

[Nicola16]

Hi Nicola and welcome.

Thanks RobK, any ideas for meals, breakfast in particular. Thanks again!

 

[Nicola16]

Welcome back
Hopefully your gp and nurse are on board for you to have a monitor and strips as most T2 are not rountinely offered them.

Thanks Dollypolly, I'll speak to them. I can't see why they don't do this routinely - surely it would cost less in the long term if people were managing and monitoring their sugars?!?

 

[Dollypolly]

Sadly the NHS are on a saving money stint when in the long term they'd be cheaper giving out monitors now so we can reduce our glucose so we don't get complications later on.

 

[RobK]

Thanks RobK, any ideas for meals, breakfast in particular. Thanks again!

I see you struggle with eggs which is what I tend to have some mornings normally as an omlette, Often have a bacon sandwich with 2 slices of Bergen Linseed bread or a Lidl high protein roll. Also have whole grain Cheerios cereal sometimes which seems to be ok on my levels.

Most important thing is to test though as everyone is different and really its the only way to find what spikes your blood.

I'm sure others will have more suggestions as well and good luck with getting things sorted.

 

[Dollypolly]

If you do get a monitor test test and test at every meal before and 2 hours after.
I couldnt eat cereals of any kind they spike me as does porridge and weetabix but as Robin says we are all different.
So what spikes one doesn't another.

Good luck now.

 

[Nicola16]

I see you struggle with eggs which is what I tend to have some mornings normally as an omlette, Often have a bacon sandwich with 2 slices of Bergen Linseed bread or a Lidl high protein roll. Also have whole grain Cheerios cereal sometimes which seems to be ok on my levels.

Most important thing is to test though as everyone is different and really its the only way to find what spikes your blood.

I'm sure others will have more suggestions as well and good luck with getting things sorted.

Thank you, every bit of advice helps.

 

[Hazel]

You are half way there as you had diabetes when pregnant - sorry though your levels are up.

Is it just Metformin you are on now?

Good luck to you

 

[Nicola16]

If you do get a monitor test test and test at every meal before and 2 hours after.
I couldnt eat cereals of any kind they spike me as does porridge and weetabix but as Robin says we are all different.
So what spikes one doesn't another.

Good luck now.

I'll wait and see if the surgery will let me have one bit of not I'll buy one, I want to manage things and stay healthy! Thanks again

 

[Nicola16]

You are half way there as you had diabetes when pregnant - sorry though your levels are up.

Is it just Metformin you are on now?

Good luck to you

Hi Hazel, thank you, it was a shock when I was pregnant but I've had some time to process so this 'diagnosis' doesn't feel as bad as I already had some basic knowledge. It's the readjust now from balancing carbs and insulin to carbs and metformin!

Yes I've been put on 1g a day. I did ask if I could do it with more exercise (I'm rubbish at it although running around with a 7 month old keeps me on the move!) and low carbing again. Dr said let's get it under control then review, I would be keen to try no medication though.

As I understand it I'm fairly young (am 35) for type 2 and therefore more likely to need more medication later on so wanted to really try just diet now.

 

[Hazel]

You'll be fine cutting down on carbs - I have lost over 6 stone with Slimming World. I have porridge and potatoes with my evening meal. Lots of protein, veg and fruit and my last Hba1c was 37 (5.5%).

You'll be fine

 

[RobK]

I'll wait and see if the surgery will let me have one bit of not I'll buy one, I want to manage things and stay healthy! Thanks again

If you do decide to buy one the most popular is the SD Code Free monitor.