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Straight on meds????

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T

tigerrunfree

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi all,
I saw the Diabetic nurse yesterday who confirmed I have Type 2. I was put straight onto Metformin and given basics for healthy diet etc.
Main question I have is that I have read about 'Hypos' - I wasn't supplied with anything to check my levels, just a blood test in 3 months. Left me feeling a bit nervous as I don't understand the levels etc. How will I know if the changes and meds are doing what they should be????
Took my first pill today and feel really tired and heavy eyed. Is this normal???
Many thanks
 
Hello @tigerrunfree welcome to the forum. I know being dx (diagnosed) with diabetes is pretty scary as well as a shock! Fortunately it’s a condition that with the right info and a bit if work that can be managed quite well. Some of us end up fitter than before we were dx 🙂.

A little more info would help us help you.
What medication are you on.
If you’re only on Metformin, it does not normally cause hypo’s
What was the results of your Hb1ac blood test, it’s given as a figure.

You may well have been told differently as some in the NHS are a bit b3hind the times , our main problem is that our body cannot handle carbohydrates very well especially the fast acting ones like potatoes esp mash, rice, pasta, bread esp white as well as things made with flour, fruit juice, cereals are often high carb and some fruit esp grapes and dried fruit. . I know this sounds awful and your now thinking what on earth can I eat, we are going to supprise you on what we get to eat and it’s tasty!

Just to give you some ideas , if you eat meat, meat is fine as are high meat content sausages and burgers, eggs, cheese, diet drinks, Sweeteners, veg that grows above ground , mushrooms, some nuts are lowish in carbohydrates some of us can eat a couple of small new potatoes and we find suitable substitutes for other things that we find we can’t tolerate to well.

Most of us on here believe that self testing our blood glucose levels to find out how the various carbohydrates affect our glucose levels is really the only way to help us get our diabetes under control and keep it there, sadly the nhs believes that unless we are on medications that can cause hypo’s, that all we need is the Hb1ac every so often, we beli3ve that this is a cost cutting measure that could cause problems for us and the NHS in the future.
So do ask for a glucose meter and test strips, if refused, often we’re told no it will only upset you or it’s not necessary etc etc, many here buy the SD Codefree meter as it has the cheapest testing strips we know of, all meters in the uk have to comply with certain standards , it’s test strips are around £8 for 50 where high street brands are £15 to £30
Its available directly from Homehealth
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
Or Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-G...fm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003

We use the mmol measurement in the uk and you’re entitled to claim VAT relief
You will also need to buy more testing strips and a few lancets as they only provide 10 in the starter packs

Have a read of Test review adjust by Alan S
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

We have a lot more useful info in, Useful links for people new to diabetes which is at the top of the Newbies say hello here forum, just scroll down to the T2 section.

Ask as many questions as you need to , we’ll do do our best to help
 
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Thank you replying. It is quite daunting as they do not really tell you much at the GP's. Re diet - I was told to have 50% potato/pasta etc, 25% meat and 25% vegetables. Didn't really mention anything further. Think bread can be quite bad, but I don't eat a lot anyway - potatoes/crisps are my downfall at present :( There was no mention of things like chocolate, sweets, ice cream etc. I do have a bit of a sweet tooth unfortunately!!
As with yourself I am also on Ramipril (BP), Simvastatin (cholesterol), Thryoxine (Underactive thyroid) and Omeprazol. Am hoping meds will not be too bad with stomach etc as already suffer from acid reflux (hoping to get resolved and off meds).
Once again, thank you for your help.
 
tigerrunfree said:
I wasn't supplied with anything to check my levels, just a blood test in 3 months. ... How will I know if the changes and meds are doing what they should be????
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tigerrunfree said:
It is quite daunting as they do not really tell you much at the GP's
Click to expand...
You don't know. This reflects my experience. I'd suggest getting a meter & strips yourself if you have to and can afford it. This will allow you to see what is going on.
I think people should press medical people for information.
 
Ralph-YK said:
You don't know. This reflects my experience. I'd suggest getting a meter & strips yourself if you have to and can afford it. This will allow you to see what is going on.
I think people should press medical people for information.
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I think when we're newly diagnosed Ralph, we're thrown in at the deep end. Certainly not enough information given out by GPs. So we are left to fend for ourselves to a great extent. Thank goodness for forums such as this where we can at least get the facts and experiences of those who have to deal with diabetes first hand.
 
Can see this forum is going to be invaluable!! Will look into getting the strips and I hope they are not too expensive - not easy as a single parent and full time carer to my daughter :(

Thank you for your help so far xxx
 
Type 1 & T2 sometimes should be put in different illnesses. T1s can go hypo very easily. T2 on insulin can go hypo but it unusual for T2 to get that low. Till you know what your bg are doing it will be very hard. There are lots of posts about getting a test meter. Good luck tigerunfree
 
HOBIE said:
Type 1 & T2 sometimes should be put in different illnesses. T1s can go hypo very easily. T2 on insulin can go hypo but it unusual for T2 to get that low. Till you know what your bg are doing it will be very hard. There are lots of posts about getting a test meter. Good luck tigerunfree
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Thank you xx
 
tigerrunfree said:
Can see this forum is going to be invaluable!! Will look into getting the strips and I hope they are not too expensive - not easy as a single parent and full time carer to my daughter :(

Thank you for your help so far xxx
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@tigerrunfree . I’ve just read about the dietary advise you were given and am shocked but sadly not supprised.
Alan S, who I mentioned in my earlier post also has a thread about testing in a budget , I’ll look up the link and post it here
 
Welcome! Lots of good advice given already. Bet your head is reeling but "D" does become a diagnosis that you will cope with if - as you are doing - you are willing and able to take charge rather than rely on the GP for much input. Yep, self testing is the way to go (you soon get used to it), and my limited experience says that the NHS "healthy plate" notion of a suitable diet for diabetics is nonsense. Most of us limit intake of ALL carbs and you will be surprised at how quickly your BG levels drop if you can manage to do this. Good luck and keep posting!
 
tigerrunfree said:
Thank you replying. It is quite daunting as they do not really tell you much at the GP's. Re diet - I was told to have 50% potato/pasta etc, 25% meat and 25% vegetables. Didn't really mention anything further. Think bread can be quite bad, but I don't eat a lot anyway - potatoes/crisps are my downfall at present :( There was no mention of things like chocolate, sweets, ice cream etc. I do have a bit of a sweet tooth unfortunately!!
As with yourself I am also on Ramipril (BP), Simvastatin (cholesterol), Thryoxine (Underactive thyroid) and Omeprazol. Am hoping meds will not be too bad with stomach etc as already suffer from acid reflux (hoping to get resolved and off meds).
Once again, thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
50 percent pasta or potatoes - they should be ashamed of themselves.
Those are simply carbohydrate foods - no other nutrition in them pure carbs which are digested straight to become sugar in your blood.
You can eat proteins and fats with very little problem, but you can't cope with carbs at the rate 'modern' people are supposed to consume them - and there will be consequences.
You should find that a small amount of high cocoa chocolate is fine, a cup full of berries (not blueberries though) with double cream is good for a dessert - many diabetics find that they can cope with more carbs at one end of the day. For me it is the evening, for some it is first thing - which is why you need to test at first so you can sort out the way you work.
If you stay away from sugar, and to some extent sweeteners, then your need and liking for anything sweet could well vanish and you need to reduce sweetness - many recipes on the internet for low carb 'treats' as sickeningly sweet and I really need to be cautious about even half the sweetener in the recipe.
 
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Bit extreme isn't it. Plenty of vitamins and minerals in potatoes.
 
I would wholeheartedly agree with your last statement regarding sugar and especially the sweeteners. My partner still has sweeteners in tea and coffee and if she mixes up the cups and I accidently take a sip it makes me feel sick.
Thankfully we have not purchased any Tate and Lyle for over thirty years.
 
Matt Cycle said:
Bit extreme isn't it. Plenty of vitamins and minerals in potatoes.
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I have eaten potatoes all my life. Have been T1 for 52yrs this year. If you have a plate full not good but There are much worse foods 🙂
 
It’s easier to cope with potatoes if you have insulin covering for the carb content. Much less easy if you’re diet controlled only but I do still have a few new potatoes without spiking.
 
The ONLY way you’ll know how what you eat affect your blood sugar is to test before and about 2 hours after eating. There’s no doubt at all that simple sugars elevate blood sugar and there is a rapidly growing body of opinion that the NHS’s “Eat Healthy” advice is far too heavy in carbohydrates for anyone with T2D.
 
Thank you all for your responses. Very overwhelming when first starting out although I have gained to cut portion sizes and stay away from sugary foods (nightmare). Also cut down on my carbs - absolutely love potatoes and pasta :( and everything else that is bad for Type 2!!!!
Trying to stay positive and having a go.
Will be ten times happier when my eyes sort themselves out - they are driving me mad and headaches too!!!

Thank you again xxxx
 
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