Newbie T2

[MissPretzel]

I was diagnosed over the past couple of weeks. My mother passed away following complications from her diabetes 10 years ago and so this has hit me hard emotionally.
I am overweight, but thought I was looking after myself and eating quite healthily. I have had depression for a couple of years, so that hasn't helped with my weight gain.
It has been very difficult to tell some of my family about my diagnosis, and I feel ashamed, especially to have it at 39 years old. I feel like I am being judged by some of my family, and have upset & stressed others.

My first questions are:
What was the first/ most important thing you did on diagnosis?
I am lactose intolerant, does anyone know if there is any problem with soya/ almond milks? I have already switched to unsweetened, but are there any other issues?
Are there any useful apps/ online resources you use for monitoring or managing your diabetes?

Thanks all

 

[Drummer]

I went to the butcher and ordered a whole hogget - a well grown lamb - the meat is not so fatty as younger animals.
As lactose is a sugar you are better off avoiding it anyway - just watch that you don't get sweetened 'milks' by mistake some of the packaging is very misleading. Watch out for such things as no added sugars, when the ingredients contain sugar naturally. Watch out for Elmlea cream substitute - it is not cream and not at all what you should be eating.
Avoid all things low fat, as they often have added carbs.
I started off low carbing long ago and carried a small notebook with the carb content of foods and sample shopping lists for a long time. You don't need anything very complicated and if in doubt stick to minimally processed foods as fresh as possible.

 

[Wirrallass]

Hello MissPretzel and a warm welcome to our supportive and friendly forum. By coming here you have taken the first step to accepting your diabetes. Well done. I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your mother and understand fully how her passing has affected you. You mustn't feel ashamed about your dx (diagnosis) or about telling your relatives that you have Diabetes. It is a condition that is easily manageable provided you follow the right diet (low in carborhydrates) and exercise regime ie walking swimming cycling badminton etc if you are able to.

To help you manage your diabetes I can highly recommend a book entitled the CARB & CALORIE COUNTER which you will find enormously helpful. It has over 1700 coloured photographs of a wide range of popular food & drink items. The carborhydrate ~calorie ~ protein ~ saturated fat ~ and fibre values are clearly displayed in coloured-coded circles below each photo. This highly visual approach makes it incredibly quick & easy to see the nutrient content of the food and drink you consume. The book is also the perfect support tool for weight management ~ portion control ~ and general healthy eating and can be purchased from Amazon £10.49.

Tap or click to expand.

Also, in the first thread of 'Newbies say hello here you will find *Useful links for people new to diabetes* one link in particular is:-

Type 2 Diabetes : The First Year by Gretchen Becker which is a must to read. Following her diagnosis in 1996 Gretchen self educated herself on Type2 diabetes. There is a lot more information that we can advise you on ~ and threads about meal plans / recipes ~ & weight loss challenges but I didn't want to overwhelm you more than you are at the moment.

Do please stay in touch and if you want/need to ask questions then feel free and we'll do our best to help you ~ there are many experienced and knowledgeable people here ~ and remember you are not alone with your diabetes as we will accompany you on your diabetes journey. Take care & good luck x
WL

..................................
Dx Type2 April 2016
Diet & exercise only

 

[scousebird]

Hello

 

[robert@fm]

I would just like to add, ignore the sensationalist tabloid rubbish; your getting D is not due to anything you did wrong, especially as you inherited it (as I did). For most people, T2 starts at birth, and is due to the body not being able to use insulin efficiently; so the liver copes with all the excess glucose in the blood by turning it into fat, until finally this coping strategy becomes inadequate and the BG level rises sufficiently to allow a positive diagnosis to be made; this typically takes about 40 years. (I was 44 at diagnosis.)

 

[Stitch147]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[Zillah]

I would just like to add, ignore the sensationalist tabloid rubbish; your getting D is not due to anything you did wrong, especially as you inherited it (as I did). For most people, T2 starts at birth, and is due to the body not being able to use insulin efficiently; so the liver copes with all the excess glucose in the blood by turning it into fat, until finally this coping strategy becomes inadequate and the BG level rises sufficiently to allow a positive diagnosis to be made; this typically takes about 40 years. (I was 44 at diagnosis.)

Welcome 🙂 Unfortunately there are a lot of ignorant people out there who don't realise they are ignorant, I was 47 and also inherited it and I was extremely fit and healthy. The best thing you can do is ask questions of people on here- but remember that everyone's body is different. This has been an absolute eye opener and lifeline to me and I only joined a few weeks ago even though was diagnosed over two years ago. You will find 'your way' to manage it don't worry. x

 

[MissPretzel]

Thank you everyone - I think I just had a low moment last night, but this all makes me feel much better.

 

[zuludog]

Hello MissPretzel and welcome!

One of the biggest problems with diabetes is accepting it, and it looks like you've done that. That's half the battle, and after that everything falls into place, though it doesn't make it any easier
Here are a few comments

The current approach is not to sit back and let the doctor do all the work. Take an interest in it yourself; understanding, and managing & controlling it

No-one knows why, but depression is very common in diabetics. My doctor describes diabetes as 'very insidious' so you've probably had it for months or a couple of years before it was diagnosed, hence you background of depression

Join Diabetes UK. They have a good magazine; introductory information for newly diagnosed; and a helpline. Also enquire about a local group. Also they have events all over the country which get you meeting people and know that you are not alone

Have a look through previous posts on this forum, as many as you have the stamina for. You will learn about it and see that most of your questions have been answered before

Get books from your library. Some of them might be a bit dated, but they will all help you to understand it, get used to the jargon, and see different approaches

Ask your doctor or Diabetes Specialist Nurse for a referral to a dietician or nutritionist for advice on diet in general, and lactose. They will also know about a local group

Try to get some exercise. I don't like gyms or swimming, but I like hiking. It doesn't have to be serious hillwalking, try the Ramblers, or your local sports centre or health centre usually organises something easy. You won't necessarily need any heavy or expensive clothing, the current trend is for it to be more like casual or lighter stuff
This will help with weight and also get you out & about & meeting people, so helps with depression as well - another comment by my doctor is that it's possible to sweat and relax at the same time

 

[Beck S]

Welcome to the forum 🙂

I was diagnosed last year at 38, and it was a hell of a shock. My GP and Diabetes Unit at the hospital rushed me through the initial appointment to diagnosis and assessment in 24 hours, and luckily they were really positive for me.

First thing I did was to cut out all the sugar and carbs I could - stopped with the white, starchy carbs like potatoes, white bread, pasta, rice, and noodles, and went from there. I made a conscious decision to restrict my carbs to around 100g a day, which I've now moved to around 100-130g a day (I was only told by my DN to cut the carbs down to small portions with each meal, nothing specific) and that really worked for me. Then I spent time trying to get to grips with my medication and my testing. I've spent the last six months adjusting my diet, trying out foods that may be more beneficial to me, and am slowly realising that I don't need to change everything, just make some sensible adjustments and go from there. And I've been using the forum here to answer questions and find out things, been really useful! It's not necessarily something that you can get to grips with quickly, so if it takes time, just keep going!

I keep a food diary using the MyFitnessPal app, which is generally good but not perfect, but it helps me to easily see what I'm eating and how many carbs I'm eating each day. I've also been reading the Gretchen Becker book, and finding it really interesting.

Good luck 🙂

 

[JMyrtle]

Couple of other things to watch, coffee whitener like Coffeemate, its almost pure glucose and believe it or not pro biotic yogourt drinks.
I changed to Aldi last month and their own brand fruit one contains 12 g of sugar per daily bottle.
Again other prescription medicines, my bile duct was damaged during gall bladder surgery so I have to take a bile acid binder after food which tastes like "cat's water and wallpaper paste", to make it more palatable orange flavouring is added at 12g of sucrose per sachet, I take four a day!
By going on Google I found there is a lite version but my GP had not realised but has agreed to move me over.
Some tablets like some supermarket paracetamol are sugar coated as are cough sweets and mixtures like Night Nurse and Strepsils.

 

[Davein]

Couple of other things to watch, coffee whitener like Coffeemate, its almost pure glucose and believe it or not pro biotic yogourt drinks.
I changed to Aldi last month and their own brand fruit one contains 12 g of sugar per daily bottle.
Again other prescription medicines, my bile duct was damaged during gall bladder surgery so I have to take a bile acid binder after food which tastes like "cat's water and wallpaper paste", to make it more palatable orange flavouring is added at 12g of sucrose per sachet, I take four a day!
By going on Google I found there is a lite version but my GP had not realised but has agreed to move me over.
Some tablets like some supermarket paracetamol are sugar coated as are cough sweets and mixtures like Night Nurse and Strepsils.

I take up to ten prescribed tablets a day and none of them are coated (good) and I swallow them pretty quick as they all taste foul. Many things contain 'hidden' sugars' so it pays to be wary. On one of the many blood testing sessions I attended at the main hospital, you were given a number and had to wait your turn depending how early you got there. Two hours into the session and the nurse noticed that the lady in front of me was chewing gum. Although she had been waiting a couple of hours also and despite her protests, she was sent home without having the test (fasting) as the sugar in the gum would have skewed her results.
Just shows you how careful we should be.

 

[Katieb]

Welcome. I completely understand your feelings - I felt exactly the same on diagnosis 5 years ago. There are still some people who don’t know (though my closest friends and family do). I also got very upset. Then I found this forum and it has been a great support to me. Some great advice above, especially the links for newbies. Well done for joining and asking for help. Taking control is the very best way to progress, believe that you can and with some adjustments you will. Keep checking in, I promise it will help. Katie

 

[MissPretzel]

Thanks to you all.
I finally told my eldest brother today, who I thought would be the most judgemental tbh, but he was lovely. I realise I have lots of support, which has helped a lot.
I have cut down my carbs, tried to take control of my diet, and have ordered a few books. I am going to install myfitness pal too - I used it a few years ago, but think I need to get back to it.

 

[AdeleTurner72]

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad your brother was supportive. I can only second everything that everyone has already said. Good luck