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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Newbie
- Thread starter Paget
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I am 61 never taken any medication for any thing. Just changed doctors and have been told I have type 2 diabetes. I have been on one slow release metformin in the morning which I have to increase to two next week. I have high readings all the time. I have tried eating no carbs today and still have a reading of 11. What am I doing wrong?
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Paget you can eat carbs but you just need to limit the amount...there are so many other foods that you can also eat...why not have a look in the 'What have you eaten today' thread for ideas...were you told much about your diabetes?...you do need to eat...otherwise your blood sugars are likely to rise if your body thinks it's being starved...did your surgery offer you an education course...or an appointment with a diabetes specialist nurse if they have one...since you've only just been diagnosed you need to give yourself some leeway...some time to let that diagnosis settle in...look at how you want to manage your diabetes...I eat a balanced diet...I won't/don't starve myself...just take your time...don't rush...you need to find a routine that is sustainable long term...do you have any other support you could call on...any specific questions ask them here...I'm sure one of us will have some advice...or suggestions...don't panic there's no need...T2 is a perfectly manageable condition once you have the right information/guidance.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Eating fewer carbs is a very effective way to lower your blood glucose, but it might take a little while to lower the stores of glucose you have around your body. That assumes that type 2 is the correct diagnosis of course.
Most people can manage some carbs - particularly those from low carb foods - for me under 10 percent carbs is a good guide. I started off at 50 gm of carbs a day maximum but have now lowered it to try to lose more fat.
I do, from time to time exceed that limit and have small amounts of such things as 85 percent cocoa chocolate but it is not a daily thing.
I eat meat, fish and shellfish, eggs and cheese, put cream in my coffee and have full fat yogurt, I make huge salads, roast veges with the meat, have omelettes or bacon and eggs. The fat replaces the carbs as an energy source.
Most people can manage some carbs - particularly those from low carb foods - for me under 10 percent carbs is a good guide. I started off at 50 gm of carbs a day maximum but have now lowered it to try to lose more fat.
I do, from time to time exceed that limit and have small amounts of such things as 85 percent cocoa chocolate but it is not a daily thing.
I eat meat, fish and shellfish, eggs and cheese, put cream in my coffee and have full fat yogurt, I make huge salads, roast veges with the meat, have omelettes or bacon and eggs. The fat replaces the carbs as an energy source.
Thank you for that I just cannot understand why the level has not dropped in the morning before food, I have read so much conflicting advice I saw a diabetes nurse at my surgery. The metformin made me ill and I work full time and care for my 94 year old diabetic mother, I just did not have any symptoms whatsoever. Does it take along time to get levels down?
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Paget it would be a great idea for you to read Type 2 Diabetes The First year by Gretchen Becker...she is type 2 diabetic herself &b writes about her first year after diagnosis month by month...she explains how/why diabetes develops...how beat to manage it...what benefits we get from testing our BG's...I would say it's the best book I have read on type2...many things can raise our BG's...too many carbs...stress or anxiety...and when we are unwell our blood sugars are likely to rise...it is difficult to grasp all those points so early in your diagnosis...give yourself some time...often our waking BG's are the last to go down...try to get a copy of the book it's well written & an easy read....you can preview it on Amazon before deciding whether to buy it...or borrow it from your library...if the Metformin you have is the standard one you can ask for the extended release Metformin...it is gentler on the system...the standard one is the first port of call with our health care teams...it's cheaper...but if you are on the standard one ask your GP or DSN for the extended release version.
Thank you I will try that. I am not over weight and my blood pressure is fine slightly raised cholesterol so I guess my once per week fish and chip lunch and one piece of cake are now out of the window. Life used to be so simple. I am a widow so just cook for me usually healthily Plenty of veg and fruit one sandwich every day brown bread. Not sure where to make the changes.
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Many of us here had similar problems paget...mine settled down after a couple of weeks so it might be worth your while trying them for a little longer...the Metformin won't lower your blood sugar on it's own paget...it works by reducing the amount of sugar your liver releases into your blood... it also makes your body respond better to insulin...which is the hormone that controls the level of sugar in your blood...so see if you can persevere with it...combine that with reducing your carbs...and possibly a little more activity if you are able...all that will help to lower your BG's....if the 'tummy trouble' does continue on the Metformin then you'd need to speak to your GP...the book will help you such a lot...it's so informative...written from the perspective of a type 2 diabetic...it was a great help to me.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
No probs with the fish or indeed the fat both it and the chips were cooked in - cos it's mostly drained off and it's only once a week - trouble is all with the spuds and the batter!
As a type 1 and not particularly low carbing - and fish and chips is occasional rather than weekly for us anyway - I can cater with the spuds parts of it quite well, with insulin. Oh but the batter! - nightmare to calculate and dose for, so forget it. No idea whatsoever how a T2 might cope.
As a type 1 and not particularly low carbing - and fish and chips is occasional rather than weekly for us anyway - I can cater with the spuds parts of it quite well, with insulin. Oh but the batter! - nightmare to calculate and dose for, so forget it. No idea whatsoever how a T2 might cope.
Grannylorraine
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- She/Her
Welcome to the forum
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
The vege is OK as long as it is not high carb, the fruit is OK as long as it is low carb - the fruits called 'something'berry are usually fine, though not blueberry as they are the highest, the sandwich could be problematic if it is not a low carb bread, and even then some people find that they can't cope with such a carb dense food, brown bread is not low carb.What we are told is healthy is the same sort of diet as used for fattening livestock so you might want to reconsider.....
Jeandp
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
As Drummer has pointed out, both fruit and bread of any colour can be high carb. Most people can tolerate Burgen bread, if you have an Asda near you they have it for only £1 at the moment. And fruit, apart from berries are very high in sugar. Could you have a greek yogurt with a few raspberries for dessert?
That is 2 changes you can make straight away.
That is 2 changes you can make straight away.
Mark Parrott
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
We grin & bear it, Jen.
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Paget many of us here still have the occasional 'treat' and overall it makes no real difference to our overall management...diabetes does sound complicated when you first confront it...confusing...maddening...it does get better honestly...the advice we get from our health care professionals can be confusing...sometimes conflicting...if you need any specific advice I'm sure one of us here will be able to assist...once you've done a little research...understand the condition a little more it won't seem so daunting...most of us here have had the same start...ironically since my diagnosis I have never taken better care of myself...it does have it's positive points...keep us updated...good luck.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
LOL Mark - I think as far as I'm concerned being an occasional 'naughty' treat, is best for me, they've never been a thing I'm that enthusiastic about, I'd rather have breadcrumbed flatfish - sole or plaice - than cod or haddock.
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