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Just diagnosed

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kateth45

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi everyone, - I've just recently been diagnosed (13th Nov) and know nothing! - I am currently waiting on an appointment with the diabetic clinic and not sure what to expect. My HBA1c is 61 - don't know what that means either. So I don't know how long I have to wait to see someone, and in the meantime, I don't know what to do while I wait. - I'm not sure of the foods I should/shouldn't be eating or much else to be honest. My doctor says she wants to treat me with diet & exercise, and review me in 3 months and suggesed the Mediterranean diet I just wish I had my appointment, so I would know more. Sorry if I'm rambling a bit, but- just so worried at the minute.
 
Welcome Kate.... Sorry to hear about the DX but you have joined a good support group.....

I think your Dr. gave you sound advice regarding the Mediterranean Diet, myself I follow that but in a modified form; I cut most carb sources such as bread, pasta, rice, cereals & starchy vegetables... Instead replacing them with green leafy vegetables.
 
Welcome Kateth45. Carbs do the damage. If you know more we could advise better. Good luck 🙂
 
Hi & welcome!

61 isn't so bad - check out this pic:

upload_2018-12-4_7-48-3.png

You're in the greeny-yellow bit, and the general target is to get it below 48, further down into the green. Many of us don;t get diagnosed until we're up in the oranges & reds, so you're off to a head start 🙂

Everybody's different, but I'd guess you've got a good chance of getting below 48 with diet/exercise.

Good luck!
 
Thank you for your replies - and yes Eddy - my doctor wants to try the diet and exercise route, and hopes to get me down to the 47/48 mark. Thank you so much for the diagram Eddy - that has made me feel a little less worried and scared! I will update as soon as I know more. Thanks again everyone.
 
I have got down to the top edge of normal just on diet, and I started off with Hba1c of 91, so it can be done, though I tell myself (and others) that I am lucky to be able to do so.
 
Thank you for your replies - and yes Eddy - my doctor wants to try the diet and exercise route, and hopes to get me down to the 47/48 mark. Thank you so much for the diagram Eddy - that has made me feel a little less worried and scared! I will update as soon as I know more. Thanks again everyone.
Welcome Kateth
Many are diagnosed with T2 when things have gone a lot further, as you can see from the replies above.
With T2 your body is not making enough insulin or not able to use the insulin that you are making. The insulin is needed to deal with the glucose in you blood, which comes from your liver and from the carbohydrates that you eat.

You could get a head start on your forthcoming appointment by starting to find out how many carbs you eat in any day. This will make you aware of the amounts (by weighing and reading the info on packaging) and the different foods that contain carbs. Contrary to the press it is not just sugar. As well as the more obvious sources such as biscuits, sweets and cakes, Carbs are in pasta, potatoes, rice fruit and also to a lesser degree in vegetables. As a T1 I necessarily have to know how much carbs I am eating at each meal so that I can work out how much insulin I need. We chose to fix a target to aim for at each meal. We don’t always stick to it, but found that with smaller plates we were able to reduce the amount to a good level and still feel well fed.
 
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