Hi everyone
I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and prescribed Metformin (Glucophage)
I have already been advised to try Indian Gooseberry, Alma Powder, to take walks, first thing, to bring the sugar level down, and a few other bits & bobs, but I thought I would register here, as well to hopefully get some advice as the forum was recommended.
Hopefully, I can provide some help as well
Hi Rachel, welcome to the forum
🙂 How did your diagnosis come about?
There are a lot of things bandied around that are supposed to help with bringing blood sugars under control for Type 2, but unfortunately most of them will have only a minor impact, if anything at all. The key to getting good control of your levels is in understanding how your food choices affect your blood sugars. The chief element that will raise levels is the amount, and often the type, of carbohydrates you consume and how well your body's systems can tolerate them. How can you know how you are being affected? Many healthcare professionals will say that you don't need to test, but it is the most reliable way of establishing your own tolerances. I'd suggest having a read of
Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S to understand how testing can help. I'd also recommend reading
Jennifer's Advice and
Maggie Davey's letter, and getting a copy of the excellent
Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker - these will all help you gain a better understanding of diabetes and all have been a great help to many of our members here over the years
🙂
If you don't have a blood glucose meter, then the cheapest option we have come across is the
SD Codefree Meter which has
test strips at around £8 for 50 (test strips can cost up to £30 for 50 in High St pharmacies
😱).
I'd also recommend starting a food diary so you can assess your carb consumption (note down the amount, in grams, in everything you eat and drink each day for a week or two). Using this diary you can them look for areas where you might reduce or replace things to improve your blood sugar control
🙂
One of the few things mentioned in your list that really does help is regular exercise - a good brisk walk, particularly after eating makes your body more sensitive to the insulin it is producing, which helps it to reduce levels
🙂
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns! There are lots of friendly, knowledgeable people here who understand what you are going through at the moment, and you'll rarely - if ever - be short of an answer
🙂
Diabetes is a serious condition, but it can be controlled well with the right knowledge and a bit of spadework, and can lead to people feeling happier and healthier than they have for some time
🙂
