Just starting my journey with diabetes.

[AdrianB]

Hi,
It was just recently (18th Dec) confirmed that I have diabetes. I had 2 separate blood tests 2 weeks apart and the reading was 72 & 73, not entirely sure what this means although the Dr/Nurse did explain it to me along with giving me plenty of other info but I guess it was a bit of information overload.
A little bit about me, Early 50s and very overweight, not particularly active although I walk the dog and occasionally do a long walk 5 or 6 miles. Not the healthiest eater, I like big portions will eat a mix of home prepared food, to processed meals to the Fri/Sat/Sun takeaways. breakfast consisted of toast or 2 croissants followed by sandwiches for lunch and then dinner. I would often have a bar of chocolate and occasionally a bag of Haribo (when opened I will consume the lot in 20mins)
I also like a drink I will have a couple of pints every lunch time at work, and then drink 2 or 3 cans of beer most evenings at home and even more at the weekend.

So where do I go from here?
I haven't been prescribed medication and I have to go for another blood test end of March. I am guessing a decision will be made then if they think I should take any medication?
What I have done so far which was as a result of having a over 40s health check (end Nov) that has since diagnosed my diabetes is to make some lifestyle changes.
1. Stopped drinking at home.
2. Stopped my daily visits to the pub, but not giving up beer.
3. Changed my diet. Croissants are out and Porridge is in! and looking at healthier options.
4. Upped my exercise, I'm not ready for jogging but 3 or 4 mile brisk walks are in, in addition my daily commute involved a mile and a half bus journey to the train station, I now walk this.

I have lost probably 10 to 12lbs since the beginning of Dec and far from being down about my diagnosis, I am rather relieved I took the decision to have my health check.

Thanks

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi & welcome Adrian.

Those 72 & 73 numbers will be your "HbA1c", which is a test used to estimate your average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. I found this pic very helpful for getting my head around the numbers:



The top numbers are HbA1c levels. At 72-73 you're in the yellow-ish bit and the general goal is to get it down into the green, say 48 or lower.

It sounds like you're doing good things - getting some exercise, losing some weight, watching what you eat - and if you just keep up with that there's every chance your next HbA1c in March will be lower.

If you're still above 48 or whatever, they'll probably want to put you on the normal first-line T2D med, Metformin. A minority of people suffer gastro side-effects from this, but if you can tolerate it, Metformin is a triffic med with all sorts of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It works by lowering your insulin resistance and decreasing the amount of glucose you produce. It's direct impact is fairly modest - very variable but on average reduces HbA1c levels by maybe 10+ points - but it enhances all of the eating/exercise/weight-loss changes you make.

After weight loss, the biggest improvement would probably come from changing your diet, particularly in terms of carbohydrates. Everybody reacts differently to different carbs - eg I'm very sensitive to bread and grains but I can eat large quantities of fruit without any probs, but that's just me. If you really want to get a handle on this you need to get a blood glucose meter and experiment on yourself, testing before and after eating to work what different types of carb do to you.

But at the same time, T2D ups your heart and stroke risk, and the best eating strategy also pays attention to CV risks. Getting a handle on it all requires a bit of focus and research, unfortunately. On the other hand, you've got plenty of time to work things out and the steps you're taking all sound really good & likely to get you off to an excellent start.

 

[AdrianB]

Hi Eddy and Mikele,
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond, I really appreciate it.

Eddy, thanks for the chart very useful in giving me some understanding on where I am.

Mikele, Yes the nurse told me to look after my feet and I have an appointment with a podiatry clinic next week. So hoping to get some decent advice from there also.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome to the forum Adrian from a fellow T2.
As a diabetic it's carbohydrates we've to manages. It's not food that raises out BG levels. It's carbohydrates: pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, breakfast ceriel. We can have some. How much, which and what with is the question. Self testing is recomended. This will tell you what affect any food has on your levels, as well as any changes you make.

Test giving 72/73: that could be a HbA1c. This is an average over 8-12 weeks. Blood is taken from the arm and goes off to a lab, and you get the results later. There can be in either of two scales. The newer one has ranges:
30(?) - 41 is "normal"
42 - 47 is called pre diabetic
48 and above gets you a diagnosis of diabetes (even if you go below 48, you are still diabetic).
People on this forum have been diagnosed with a HbA1c from 48 upto 100 and above.
We still get people using the old scale (using smaller numbers), which can be confusing. 48 = 6.5 in the old scale. Although these look like the numbers from self testing, it's not the same thing.

Self testing (finger prick, drop of blood on a trip, results right away) tells you what your level is at the moment, and will change throughout the day, day to day, and after eating.

 

[AdrianB]

Thanks Ralph, there wasn't any mention of the self testing when I saw the nurse after being told I had diabetes. No mention that I should or that I shouldn't.
I will discuss with the Dr/Nurse on my next appointment.

 

[Ralph-YK]

They tend not to mention self testing, and dismiss it when a patient brings it up. Some HCP support the idea of self testing, I've not had much dealings with those though.

 

[trophywench]

Adrian - not all T2s will get blood sugar meters and strips prescribed - the strips are the expensive bit, not the little machines themselves. They definitely are really useful and helpful in order to see what if anything a person might need to change. Before you see your doc/nurse again have a read of this - http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html - then when doc/nurse asks why you think you need one - tell them what the blog says about it AND that it's highly recommended by everyone on the Diabetes UK forum.

Alan Shanleys helpful instructions absolutely are the right way to go - otherwise testing is a complete waste of time, effort and money whoever foots the bill and whatever 'Type' of diabetes we happen to have. In the past - shedloads of T2s have simply tested but done absolutely nothing with the results of them, for the simple reason that equally shedloads of GP surgeries haven't bothered to tell them what they ought to be doing with them - the 'review and adjust' bit. Failing them prescribing it, we can recommend a meter which has the cheapest strips, should you need to fund it yourself. Just say and someone will tell you which one, it's available online somewhere.

 

[Drummer]

Porridge is not a low carb option - it is a grain, and just as likely to up your blood glucose as wheat or rice.

 

[AdrianB]

Porridge is not a low carb option - it is a grain, and just as likely to up your blood glucose as wheat or rice.

Then why does this site say that porridge is fine?
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...iabetes/healthy-swaps/healthy-swaps-breakfast

I know you shouldn't believe everything you read in th papers but...
https://www.express.co.uk/life-styl...ype-2-symptoms-high-blood-sugar-diet-porridge

 

[Robin]

Then why does this site say that porridge is fine?
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...iabetes/healthy-swaps/healthy-swaps-breakfast

I know you shouldn't believe everything you read in th papers but...
https://www.express.co.uk/life-styl...ype-2-symptoms-high-blood-sugar-diet-porridge

A lot of people are fine with porridge, especially if it’s made from the thick cut less processed oats, not the Readybrek sort. Others find it's as bad for their blood sugar levels as more processed carbs. You can only experiment and see if it works for you. ( this is where home testing comes in handy, whatever the medics say about not doing it!)

 

[AdrianB]

A lot of people are fine with porridge, especially if it’s made from the thick cut less processed oats, not the Readybrek sort. Others find it's as bad for their blood sugar levels as more processed carbs. You can only experiment and see if it works for you. ( this is where home testing comes in handy, whatever the medics say about not doing it!)

Thankyou, one size really doesn't fit all!

 

[AdeV]

Hi Adrian, from another Adrian 🙂

There's not much more I can add from what's already been said; except to emphasise it really really is worth getting a Blood Glucose meter (CodeFree, about £25 from Amazon, strips are between £6-8 for a tub of 50 depending on how many you buy at a time & if you want them next day or not; other suppliers are available). Test before eating, 1hr and 2hrs afterwards (+3 and 4 hours if you have a pizza... the spike comes later with pizza), it'll give you a good indication of what your food/beer is doing to your body. I wouldn't bother waiting for the nurse/doctor's input; the NHS is still very patchy in terms of Diabetic assistance - e.g. I've had no followup since my initial diagnosis in March last year, other than an eye check and a foot check. I haven't got a clue what my HbA1C reading was back then (I vaguely recall it being in the 60s or maybe 70s, but on the other hand I could be imagining that). Hopefully your DN is a bit more on the ball than mine.

Regarding food: I've found that cutting all carbs is what I need to do, although I can tolerate wholemeal bread in small quantities (still see a spike, but not into double-digits). Porridge spikes me badly, which is very upsetting, on the other hand a full English fried breakfast doesn't! I didn't drink much before my diagnosis, so I guess I'm lucky in that regard, I did smoke though & that was painful to give up. Still haven't fully managed it...

FWIW, I was 44 when diagnosed, obese by NHS measure (~135kg). I'm now less than 110kg & still falling and my blood numbers are way better than they were. This thing CAN be controlled, especially if you've not got some of the hair-raising other medical conditions you'll see some people have to contend with. I almost feel guilty for being too healthy!

Good luck!

 

[SB2015]

Then why does this site say that porridge is fine?
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...iabetes/healthy-swaps/healthy-swaps-breakfast

I know you shouldn't believe everything you read in th papers but...
https://www.express.co.uk/life-styl...ype-2-symptoms-high-blood-sugar-diet-porridge

Hi Adrian, and welcome to the forum.

As you are beginning to realise, one answer does not fit all. Like others I thought porridge was ‘good for me’ and had carried on eating that until I saw what it did to my BG levels. I switched to one I make from quinoa flakes in place of the oats, and that gives me a gentle blip after breakfast rather than a massive spike. I have learnt what works for me by monitoring my levels and adjusting my diet as necessary. I am now very versed in carbs, but know very little about calories or anything else.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Then why does this site say that porridge is fine?
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...iabetes/healthy-swaps/healthy-swaps-breakfast

I know you shouldn't believe everything you read in th papers but...
https://www.express.co.uk/life-styl...ype-2-symptoms-high-blood-sugar-diet-porridge

Hi

welcome to the forum.
As you can see the odd few don't get on well with porridge, but many of us do.
It's also worth checking what type of diabetes that whoever answering your post has, (in the box under there name, as we often have different diabetes that affects how we process food as well)
For me, it was losing weight that did the trick, so counting calories was vital.
Sounds like you are off to a good start.

 

[AdrianB]

Hi Adrian, from another Adrian 🙂

There's not much more I can add from what's already been said; except to emphasise it really really is worth getting a Blood Glucose meter (CodeFree, about £25 from Amazon, strips are between £6-8 for a tub of 50 depending on how many you buy at a time & if you want them next day or not; other suppliers are available). Test before eating, 1hr and 2hrs afterwards (+3 and 4 hours if you have a pizza... the spike comes later with pizza), it'll give you a good indication of what your food/beer is doing to your body. I wouldn't bother waiting for the nurse/doctor's input; the NHS is still very patchy in terms of Diabetic assistance - e.g. I've had no followup since my initial diagnosis in March last year, other than an eye check and a foot check. I haven't got a clue what my HbA1C reading was back then (I vaguely recall it being in the 60s or maybe 70s, but on the other hand I could be imagining that). Hopefully your DN is a bit more on the ball than mine.

Regarding food: I've found that cutting all carbs is what I need to do, although I can tolerate wholemeal bread in small quantities (still see a spike, but not into double-digits). Porridge spikes me badly, which is very upsetting, on the other hand a full English fried breakfast doesn't! I didn't drink much before my diagnosis, so I guess I'm lucky in that regard, I did smoke though & that was painful to give up. Still haven't fully managed it...

FWIW, I was 44 when diagnosed, obese by NHS measure (~135kg). I'm now less than 110kg & still falling and my blood numbers are way better than they were. This thing CAN be controlled, especially if you've not got some of the hair-raising other medical conditions you'll see some people have to contend with. I almost feel guilty for being too healthy!

Good luck!

Thanks Ade, I'm starting to understand that some foods that are promoted as good and healthy may not be as good and healthy for me now.
Weight in KGs? I'm far too old for that nonesense. lol🙂 Stones and pounds is my thing.
I have been as high as 18st over the last year, usually around 17st 10, I am now under 17st only a 1/4lb under but still I am pleased to be moving in the right direction. Also like to say well done you for losing a good amount of weight.
It certainly seems like getting a testing kit is the right thing to do so will look into this more.

 

[AdrianB]

Thanks SB2015 & travellor,

 

[Jojo catwoman]

Hi AdrianB

I have found this all very interesting. I was diagnosed as type 2 back in June. I have made radical changes to my diet. I don't drink alcohol, except for 2 glasses of wine this Xmas. I was told the 'worst' alcoholic drinks for diabetics were lager, beer and cider. I have lost some weight but I can't walk far at present, due to a leg injury.
It is all very difficult to take in. As people have said it's generally the carbs we have to watch. I eat very little bread and potatoes, no rice or pasta. You will find what works for you.
I was issued with a testing kit, but don't do it all the time as it can make you overly concerned.
Best wishes to you.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Then why does this site say that porridge is fine?
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...iabetes/healthy-swaps/healthy-swaps-breakfast

That would be Diabetes UK. Us forum members are nothing to do with them 😉.
Unfortuneately, some of the advice out there ignores the need to manage diabetes. Instead they do generally healthy eating, which just doesn't cut it for many. Or it's about fats & sugars for weight management.
Also, the Eat Well Plate/Guide takes no account of the need to control our BG.

The question of porridge, and it being OK for some and not others, illustrates the benifits of self testing. You're able to see what it does for you.

 

[trophywench]

That would be Diabetes UK. Us forum members are nothing to do with them 😉..

Well some of us are and have been members of that charity since 1972. Plus - who do you think organises and pays for the running costs of this forum? - it's Diabetes UK and that's no secret whatsoever.

However it is true that these facts do NOT mean we are only allowed to trot out 'the party line' - in fact the organisation are always interested in hearing alternative views - for starters should there be some popular diabetes myth gaining ground - eg years ago that cinnamon cured Type 2 or much more recently that all T2s without exception brought it on themselves blah blah - they can do their best to scotch the irresponsible reporting and inserting the true facts. They have some input into how the Government engages with diabetes - whether it's how schools respond to children with diabetes or what the NHS get up to for us all. From their donations and membership income they fund all sorts of research projects on our behalf too.

I've no idea whether they monitor other UK diabetes forums or not but they certainly do this one - and there's a permanent ongoing thread on here where if you want to ask DUK something or query anything they publish - you can - AND they will reply.

 

[Drummer]

I am perhaps a bit too firmly 'Atkins' - where you cut out all the likely suspects from the start, see the results and only then begin to reintroduce foods a little at a time to see how you cope.
My GP is not at all interested in my progress, but I am going to make an effort to lose weight, now that the diabetes is well and truly on the back foot, to try to reverse back to my proper weight.
What worked for me was going back to the 50 gm of carb a day, all from low carb foods which I flourished on for so long.
My plan is to go for 40 gm of carbs a day, and make more effort at various possible options rather than accepting that not putting on weight is a good thing. I have decided to try to get bloodtests on my birthday in April, including the thyroid one which seems to have been ignored for a while now.
There has been a lot of hoo haa about preventative medicine recently - so a once a year check surely can't be a problem if it shows that I am doing well and can be left to my own devices for another year, rather than pestered and called in to be put on medication for problems I do not have.