Newbie from Edinburgh says hi

[RuthB]

hi everyone. I have just joined the forums here on Diabetes UK and thought I would say hi. I am 40 years old, very overweight, and was diagnosed with type 2 last year, 2 days before my birthday! Have spent a lot of time blaming myself for the condition - I also have PCOS and Sleep Aponea and have just been diagnosed with urticaria as well! So I have an awesome body I am trying to get to grips with everything and learn more about my condition - and I would love to reverse it one day as well. Not sure if I have the discipline to do that but I really hope I can. i would also love to stop blaming myself for having type 2. One day!

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Hi @RuthB

Welcome to the forum, lovely to have you join us.

Diabetes is not your fault and even if you don't really believe that at the moment, hang around here long enough and you soon will. In fact you won't just believe it, you will actively know you are not to blame.
PCOS and sleep aponea both increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes, so you can blame them for a start.

Do you take any medication for your diabetes?

Do you test your bgl at home? If you don't that can be the game changer for most people as you can really see how each thing you eat/do effects your levels so you learn what to avoid and what works for you. If you do test, then when do you test and what do you do in response to the results?

There are plenty of people on the forum who really know how you feel and have been where you are, so I'm sure you'll get loads of support and advice. 🙂

 

[RuthB]

Hi @LucyDUK - I have just been reading some threads and it certainly does seem like the best place for me to come to! Wish I had come here earlier!

I think I blame myself because, despite knowing PCOS and Sleep Aponea both increase risk of type 2, I still did nothing about my weight other than put more on. I am currently on metformin, and also blood pressure pills as that is slightly high. I also have a blood sugar tester at home, and I tend to do an overnight fast test first thing in the morning, then get really down over the results (currently around 10-11). Try to make changes, and I know what I need to do, but I have just posted on another thread that I have a bad sugar addiction to a particular drink which really doesn't help. I live on my own so lockdown has been tough in many ways (though reading other people's experiences, I know I am very lucky to be able to work from home) I am my own worst enemy! But I hope that joining on here will be the first step to getting better control on this.
Thank you 🙂

 

[Drummer]

If you can reduce your intake of carbohydrate then you should see an improvement, though you might need to stop the blood pressure pills if you start to go dizzy on standing up.
I went back to normal in 6 months eating a low carb diet.
You might find it more effective to use the tester before and after eating. The fasting level is often the last thing to be affected, and there is little you can do to change it, but by testing just before a meal and then 2 hours later you can see how the food affected you. Usually an increase of two whole numbers is considered an OK result.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum RuthB. 🙂 You only have a certain amount of time I believe to reverse your Type 2, it doesn't work for long termers or so I've read. I hope you can do it.

 

[RuthB]

If you can reduce your intake of carbohydrate then you should see an improvement, though you might need to stop the blood pressure pills if you start to go dizzy on standing up.
I went back to normal in 6 months eating a low carb diet.
You might find it more effective to use the tester before and after eating. The fasting level is often the last thing to be affected, and there is little you can do to change it, but by testing just before a meal and then 2 hours later you can see how the food affected you. Usually an increase of two whole numbers is considered an OK result.

Thanks for that @Drummer - I hadn't even thought about needing to stop the blood pressure pills! A good point. And I will start testing it before and 2 hours after a meal. I think I was so fixated on the morning fasting one I hadn't even thought of anything else! Thank you

 

[RuthB]

Hello and welcome to the forum RuthB. 🙂 You only have a certain amount of time I believe to reverse your Type 2, it doesn't work for long termers or so I've read. I hope you can do it.

Thank you @Ditto ! I am keeping my fingers crossed. Have you read Prof Roy Taylor's book on life without diabetes? In his studies at Newcastle uni he had some people who had had diabetes for 10 years+ and managed to reverse it which was encouraging to read! Though I don't know how their diabetes was beforehand. But I know that if I don't do something about this soon then I never will.

 

[trophywench]

The Newcastle diet is restrictive; it works best for those who manage to lose a significant amount of weight; it is important to note before you start that it is not going to keep the diabetes in remission unless the person has changed the way they eat, keeps both the weight off and their increased activity level, long term.

 

[Vonny]

Hi RuthB, it's so easy to blame yourself, I do it all the time! I was only diagnosed with type 2 in April, so I'm very new to all this but this forum has so many hints and tips that I'm learning fast.
It's so hard to make a start dieting when you have a lot to lose and I started by thinking just one day at a time. The first day with no refined carbs was a nightmare, the second a bad dream, the third not so bad and by the end of the week I was getting used to it, and wasn't even feeling as hungry as I previously did. 3 months in and it's just normal now, as is the daily walking I do. I've lost 1.5 stone but still have nearly 2.5 to go.
I used to suffer from sleep apnoea if I accidentally rolled onto my back, but this has become much rarer with the weight loss. My partner appreciates my less frequent snoring as well
Good luck with it all x

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @RuthB. Really glad that you have found us.

One reminder I like is the ‘Diabetes has no memory’. Each day is a new day and a new start.
As you say you know what you need to do, and I hope that you can latch onto some of the ideas that you have been given. Certainly a lot of people on here have found that testing before and after each meal helps them to start to understand what impact the amount of carbs they are eating is having. Once you know that it is easier to make decisions about swaps in your diet and/or increasing the level of activity you do.

Keep in touch and keep asking questions. No one minds.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @RuthB

I was diagnosed just before my birthday too! (a few years ago now though)

All the best people are

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I hadn't even thought about needing to stop the blood pressure pills!

Please don’t stop any prescribed medication without discussing it with your GP first!

 

[zuludog]

Hello RUTHB and welcome to the forum!
Here are a few comments for you -

It's very easy to slip into self pity and blaming yourself and saying 'if only...' --

If only I'd smiled at that girl, and said 'Hi' then perhaps.......
If only I hadn't had those nineteen double vodkas.....
If only I hadn't taken that bend at 90mph.....
And so on, and so on

Unfortunately that way lies madness; you can't turn the clock back, so dredge up a bit of that ancient hippy zen, even if you're not an ancient hippy, and remember the cliche 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life'.

There is a lot of advice on diabetes -
The Learning Zone and help boxes on the Home Page
Previous Threads, especially Newbies, Food & Carbs, and Weight Loss
YouTube videos, though as with anything on YT you have to take the videos with a bit of caution

Reversing Diabetes is popular at the moment and has caught the imagination, with books by Drs Roy Taylor, David Cavan, and Michael Mosely, and YT videos
My own opinion is that they are a bit ambitious, and people should get the basics right with a less severe regime first; though good luck to anyone who can manage it

In some ways, you are in a good position to deal with diabetes and Lockdown
I. too , live on my own, though I am retired
You have the run of a kitchen, and can prepare & cook whatever you like whenever you like, and don't need to do different food for anyone else
There is a load of information available on diet & food, but it's not much use if you don't use it
I've seen your Thread about the chocolate drink, and the amount of sugar involved is absolutely overwhelming
Yes, make the changes to your food & diet, but you need to stop drinking the chocolate drink most of all

Here are some of the indoor hobbies & activities that I & friends, male & female, do, and have carried on or have taken up during Lockdown -

Making model planes
Knife making
Leatherwork
Sculpture
Painting
Learning Spanish
Wood carving
Making fancy greetings cards & calendars
Sorting out all my sewing stuff and doing some bigger items
Quilt making
I'm in The Backpackers Club; many people have been mending, overhauling, and reproofing their gear
Sorting & clearing out a lifetimes accumulation of family & household stuff, and decorating the place from top to bottom
Sorting out all their fishing tackle
Improving my cookery and trying new recipes

There must be something you can do to take your mind off sitting around and drinking sugary drinks?

A couple of friends have said that Lockdown is an opportunity to do something they've always fancied, and are determined to have something to show for this enforced isolation, otherwise we'll look back and wish we had that time again

Nothing in the body acts in isolation, and anything to do with blood, heart, weight etc. are all rolled up together
You will probably find that as you reduce your sugar intake and get more exercise things like weight, blood pressure, cholesterol also improve, and your requirements for medication will go down, and you will start to feel better and more lively

In fact many people who have been diagnosed with diabetes take the opportunity to make changes to their diet, exercise, booze, fags, cut out junk food, and all the rest of the healthy living thing - it all has a sort of combined effect, on both the mind & body
As an incidental, although things like olive oil and some fresh veg can be a bit pricey, most people find they save money by not buying lots of junk food
I've seen this comment - 'I'm healthier since I've had diabetes than I ever was before'.

Finally, you could join Diabetes UK
They have an introductory pack, a magazine, and can give you more and better advice on your particular situation
Also useful if you live on your own is to call their advice line and actually speak to someone

 

[RuthB]

The Newcastle diet is restrictive; it works best for those who manage to lose a significant amount of weight; it is important to note before you start that it is not going to keep the diabetes in remission unless the person has changed the way they eat, keeps both the weight off and their increased activity level, long term.

I am hoping to retrain myself about eating better afterwards - if I manage to stick to it! As you say, it is restrictive. I will see how I go. I need to lose a signficant amount of weight but not sure if this is the way for me to go - but nothing ventured!

 

[RuthB]

Hi RuthB, it's so easy to blame yourself, I do it all the time! I was only diagnosed with type 2 in April, so I'm very new to all this but this forum has so many hints and tips that I'm learning fast.
It's so hard to make a start dieting when you have a lot to lose and I started by thinking just one day at a time. The first day with no refined carbs was a nightmare, the second a bad dream, the third not so bad and by the end of the week I was getting used to it, and wasn't even feeling as hungry as I previously did. 3 months in and it's just normal now, as is the daily walking I do. I've lost 1.5 stone but still have nearly 2.5 to go.
I used to suffer from sleep apnoea if I accidentally rolled onto my back, but this has become much rarer with the weight loss. My partner appreciates my less frequent snoring as well
Good luck with it all x

This is so encouraging to hear - thank you @Vonny ! That's a great amount you have lost - good luck for the rest. I think that has been my problem, focusing on how much overall I want to lose, which is such a huge number that it almost feels too much. I will try and think one day at a time. 🙂

 

[RuthB]

Please don’t stop any prescribed medication without discussing it with your GP first!

Nope, definitely wouldn't!

 

[RuthB]

Hello RUTHB and welcome to the forum!
Here are a few comments for you -

It's very easy to slip into self pity and blaming yourself and saying 'if only...' --

If only I'd smiled at that girl, and said 'Hi' then perhaps.......
If only I hadn't had those nineteen double vodkas.....
If only I hadn't taken that bend at 90mph.....
And so on, and so on

Unfortunately that way lies madness; you can't turn the clock back, so dredge up a bit of that ancient hippy zen, even if you're not an ancient hippy, and remember the cliche 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life'.

There is a lot of advice on diabetes -
The Learning Zone and help boxes on the Home Page
Previous Threads, especially Newbies, Food & Carbs, and Weight Loss
YouTube videos, though as with anything on YT you have to take the videos with a bit of caution

Reversing Diabetes is popular at the moment and has caught the imagination, with books by Drs Roy Taylor, David Cavan, and Michael Mosely, and YT videos
My own opinion is that they are a bit ambitious, and people should get the basics right with a less severe regime first; though good luck to anyone who can manage it

In some ways, you are in a good position to deal with diabetes and Lockdown
I. too , live on my own, though I am retired
You have the run of a kitchen, and can prepare & cook whatever you like whenever you like, and don't need to do different food for anyone else
There is a load of information available on diet & food, but it's not much use if you don't use it
I've seen your Thread about the chocolate drink, and the amount of sugar involved is absolutely overwhelming
Yes, make the changes to your food & diet, but you need to stop drinking the chocolate drink most of all

Here are some of the indoor hobbies & activities that I & friends, male & female, do, and have carried on or have taken up during Lockdown -

Making model planes
Knife making
Leatherwork
Sculpture
Painting
Learning Spanish
Wood carving
Making fancy greetings cards & calendars
Sorting out all my sewing stuff and doing some bigger items
Quilt making
I'm in The Backpackers Club; many people have been mending, overhauling, and reproofing their gear
Sorting & clearing out a lifetimes accumulation of family & household stuff, and decorating the place from top to bottom
Sorting out all their fishing tackle
Improving my cookery and trying new recipes

There must be something you can do to take your mind off sitting around and drinking sugary drinks?

A couple of friends have said that Lockdown is an opportunity to do something they've always fancied, and are determined to have something to show for this enforced isolation, otherwise we'll look back and wish we had that time again

Nothing in the body acts in isolation, and anything to do with blood, heart, weight etc. are all rolled up together
You will probably find that as you reduce your sugar intake and get more exercise things like weight, blood pressure, cholesterol also improve, and your requirements for medication will go down, and you will start to feel better and more lively

In fact many people who have been diagnosed with diabetes take the opportunity to make changes to their diet, exercise, booze, fags, cut out junk food, and all the rest of the healthy living thing - it all has a sort of combined effect, on both the mind & body
As an incidental, although things like olive oil and some fresh veg can be a bit pricey, most people find they save money by not buying lots of junk food
I've seen this comment - 'I'm healthier since I've had diabetes than I ever was before'.

Finally, you could join Diabetes UK
They have an introductory pack, a magazine, and can give you more and better advice on your particular situation
Also useful if you live on your own is to call their advice line and actually speak to someone

Thank you @zuludog for that super useful post! You are right, the buzz word at the moment is about reversing diabetes - I have just been reading Tom Watson (ex MP)'s book about reversing his! Maybe I do need to lower my sights to start off with and get used to it all and, as you say, get the basics right. I am often very impatient which is not good - and why I think I have latched on to reversing it! But slowly slowy.
I am working fulltime, albeit from home, so I am kept busy enough.
I have joined diabetes but this is the first time I have come onto the forums. Wish I had done it sooner! Such useful information - and helpful lovely people like you. Thank you 🙂