Greetings from Liverpool

[Dave1967]

Hi everyone,

Just been diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2 (had better birthday presents), not sure where to start with all the information out there but my Practice Nurse recommended this site so here we are. I had a Hb1ac test which was 110 which am told is not great, oh and my bad Cholestrol is err bad but can't remember that number. Been given Metformin 3 times daily (phased) and nightly Statins, bloods to be re-done in 4 weeks. I do have a question, is weight loss normal? I have dropped from 17 stone to 13 stone in 8 months without trying. (not that am complaining) 🙂

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi everyone,

Just been diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2, not sure where to start with all the information out there but my Practice Nurse recommended this site. I had a Hb1ac test which was 110 which am told is not great, oh and my bad Cholestrol is err bad but can't remember that number. Been given Metformin 3 times daily (phased) and nightly Statins, bloods to be re-done in 4 weeks. I do have a question, is weight loss normal? I have dropped from 17 stone to 13 stone in 8 months without trying. (not that am complaining) 🙂

Hi Dave...the HbA1c result is not good...the 110 roughly converts to 12.12 in percentages...we should be aiming for BG levels between 4-7mmols before food...and no more than 8.5mmols after food...while high don't panic (figure of speech only)...many of us here have started with higher levels...but...with a change of diet & lifestyle have managed to reduce those levels... achieve good/reasonable management of our diabetes...the Metformin will help with your control but you still need to work on reducing carbohydrates...try to be more active (if able)... losing some weight (contrary to the popular conception not all type 2s are overweight/obese)...your weight loss...likely attributable to the diabetes...similar to my own before diagnosis...I'd been losing weight without trying...as my GP succinctly put it 'you've been peeing sugar'...hence the weight loss...have you been given much support...advice on diet/exercise...offered any education courses...it would help if you could tell us a little more about how you were diagnosed...by chance?...whether you are active...that would help members here offer the right support/advice...diabetes is a perfectly manageable condition...once you find the right routine...it does/can get better...have you been able to do any research...know much about type2...if you have any specific questions...anything at all...post them here...one of us will be able to help I'm sure...there is so much information available with diet/exercise...do I need to test my blood sugars...how to manage...it can be overwhelming...there's no need to rush...do things at your own pace...find a routine that's suitable for you long term...one that's sustainable...there are many experienced type 2s here who will be happy to give you the benefit of their experience...good luck...keep us updated...be good to hear your progress.

 

[Dave1967]

Hi Bubbsie,

Thank you for your response.. Not had a great deal of advice yet but was told by the nurse I will receive 2 appointments, 1 for a 2 hour education program at my local Walk In Centre & 1 for an eye test. Must admit have noticed deterioration in my short vision at various times of the day over the last month so went to Specsavers yesterday and now have 2 pairs of specs on order. With regards diagnosis I pretty much self diagnosed as I had most of the classic symptoms you all know. I went to Lloyds chemist for a free fasting test which came out at 16 so decided to register with a Medical Practice and get an appointment. Food wise I have 1 meal a day (don't eat Breakfast or Lunch but am told this is not good), don't eat snacks, drink lime soda's as constantly thirsty. Exercise 2 - 3 times a week (have a 6 year old daughter and 2 teenage boys who keep me active). My guilty pleasure is wine, I have 2 large glasses a day after work which is probably where a lot of the sugar comes from. Just ordered 'Gretchen Becker - Type 2 Diabetes The First Year' as have seen recommendations for it.

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi Bubbsie,

Thank you for your response.. Not had a great deal of advice yet but was told by the nurse I will receive 2 appointments, 1 for a 2 hour education program at my local Walk In Centre & 1 for an eye test. Must admit have noticed deterioration in my short vision at various times of the day over the last month so went to Specsavers yesterday and now have 2 pairs of specs on order. With regards diagnosis I pretty much self diagnosed as I had most of the classic symptoms you all know. I went to Lloyds chemist for a free fasting test which came out at 16 so decided to register with a Medical Practice and get an appointment. Food wise I have 1 meal a day (don't eat Breakfast or Lunch but am told this is not good), don't eat snacks, drink lime soda's as constantly thirsty. Exercise 2 - 3 times a week (have a 6 year old daughter and 2 teenage boys who keep me active). My guilty pleasure is wine, I have 2 large glasses a day after work which is probably where a lot of the sugar comes from. Just ordered 'Gretchen Becker - Type 2 Diabetes The First Year' as have seen recommendations for it.

Good to hear you have ordered the book...recommended it so many times...wish I had a share in the royalties...be a millionaire by now...it really does explain what managing diabetes is all about...takes away many of the myths we see in the media...puts it in plain language...rather than the archaic analogies we get on the 'education courses'...having said that it is a bit of a lottery in respect of which course you are given...some are better than others...probably by the time you go to the course you'll have a fair amount of information about managing your diabetes...so will be able to form your own opinion...a couple of points...may have been wiser to wait for new glasses...often when our blood sugars fluctuate our eye sight is affected...once we manage to lower/control them our eye sight does improve (it's all a real learning curve) and settle down...secondly many here have a glass of wine...with little or no effect...you just have to assess how it affects you...pretty much the same with food/exercise...one way to see how diet/exercise impacts on your blood sugar is to test your BG regularly...before and after food/drink...mainly type 2s not dependent on hypoglycaemic medications (insulin/Gliclacide) are advised by their GPS/DSNs not to test...advised there is no need...rely on the HbA2c test...various reasons are given...none of them factual...all about cost cutting...the book will take you through this...all about the politics of diabetes...no doubt something you will become familiar with as you gain more experience...like you I never ate breakfast...often relied on one meal a day (if that)...now I make sure I eat regularly...after a years abstinence I now have diet soda's (zero sugar)...swop/change my diet...testing my BGs gives me some freedom in that respect...I can tell if what I have eaten has raised my BG...or if I am able to tolerate it...any activity is always good...whether with the family...gym...or even a little walking...ironically since my diagnosis I have taken better care of myself than I have for years...lost weight...feel at the moment in reasonable control of my diabetes...we have to work at it...while the medication helps (to a point) largely management is about what we eat...drink...exercise...how we take care of ourselves...there is a lot to grasp...but...there does come a point where what we need to do to achieve good control becomes like second nature...at diagnosis my BG was 17.4...no HbA1c breakdown was given...in just over a year I have reduced that to an average of 5.8...reduced my metformin to 500mgs daily...possibly at my next review may stop meds altogether...again...take your time...don't rush...you'll get there...good luck.

 

[Maz2]

Welcome to the Forum Dave.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Hello and welcome 🙂