1 Month In

[Ginger_Monkey]

I was diagnosed with T2 a month ago.
My HbA1c was a quite horrific 119 so, understandably, I wasn’t feeling very well at the time! I had infections where you don’t want infections, eye-sight deterioration, muscle cramps, constant thirst, up 3 times a night - ticking every single box.
It’s hilarious to think I had so many symptoms without realising what it was.
It’s been a shock to me obviously, but also all those that know me. I’m known to be quite sporty, I comfortably did RideLondon 100mile bike ride in May and am a regular runner. I’m nearly 50, my BMI is ‘overweight’ rather than ‘obese’ but always has been because of the amount of sport I’ve done and muscle mass accounting for some of that weight.
I have no family medical history to draw on but I do feel a bit ‘unlucky’ to be now living with T2. My blood pressure is a little high, but all my other tests came back ‘normal’.

My GP has built me up to 2000mg of Metformin and, thankfully, my stomach has been ok. I’ve also been reading Roy Taylor and that has been revelatory in understanding T2 and what to do about it. Because I exercise, it wouldn’t be realistic to be at 800 calories but I’ve been recording my food and drink in MyFitnessPal and have been keeping to around 1200-1500 calories a day. It’s tricky with teenage kids at home but no crisps, biscuit, cake, chocolate or sweets have been consumed.

So far, I’ve lost about 4kg. My (admittedly cheap) BG home test record 6.1mmol this morning - down from 16.9mmol a month ago but I don’t trust it and just have to be patient and wait for my next proper blood test in a months time.

Apart from the bleadingly obvious motivations, I have a couple of other things to keep me focussed. I’m off on holiday to ‘celebrate’ my 50th and want to be able to sensibly enjoy that. More critically, I’m overdue an operation that I currently can’t have because of my results.

I’m expecting miracles. I’m down on myself if the scales aren’t reducing on a daily basis and am boring people with the subject that has taken over my life

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum
Although you have obviously cut out those high carb food you are foucusing on calories which for some people can work but being mindful of your carbohydrate intake is another way which you may want to consider. As you have family then this link may be useful as it is based on real food which may be easier having that to consider. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Most home blood glucose monitors are reasonably accurate as they have to conform to certain standards but that does allow for variation so people are better to look at trend rather than absolute numbers and pretty well disregard the decimal point.
Many find it a useful tool to test their tolerance to meals by testing before they eat and after 2 hours where an increase of no more that 2-3mmol/l would indicate the meal was OK. As your levels come down then you can be aiming at 4-7mmol/l fasting/morning and before meals and no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours post meal.

 

[childofthesea43]

I was diagnosed with T2 a month ago.
My HbA1c was a quite horrific 119 so, understandably, I wasn’t feeling very well at the time! I had infections where you don’t want infections, eye-sight deterioration, muscle cramps, constant thirst, up 3 times a night - ticking every single box.
It’s hilarious to think I had so many symptoms without realising what it was.
It’s been a shock to me obviously, but also all those that know me. I’m known to be quite sporty, I comfortably did RideLondon 100mile bike ride in May and am a regular runner. I’m nearly 50, my BMI is ‘overweight’ rather than ‘obese’ but always has been because of the amount of sport I’ve done and muscle mass accounting for some of that weight.
I have no family medical history to draw on but I do feel a bit ‘unlucky’ to be now living with T2. My blood pressure is a little high, but all my other tests came back ‘normal’.

My GP has built me up to 2000mg of Metformin and, thankfully, my stomach has been ok. I’ve also been reading Roy Taylor and that has been revelatory in understanding T2 and what to do about it. Because I exercise, it wouldn’t be realistic to be at 800 calories but I’ve been recording my food and drink in MyFitnessPal and have been keeping to around 1200-1500 calories a day. It’s tricky with teenage kids at home but no crisps, biscuit, cake, chocolate or sweets have been consumed.

So far, I’ve lost about 4kg. My (admittedly cheap) BG home test record 6.1mmol this morning - down from 16.9mmol a month ago but I don’t trust it and just have to be patient and wait for my next proper blood test in a months time.

Apart from the bleadingly obvious motivations, I have a couple of other things to keep me focussed. I’m off on holiday to ‘celebrate’ my 50th and want to be able to sensibly enjoy that. More critically, I’m overdue an operation that I currently can’t have because of my results.

I’m expecting miracles. I’m down on myself if the scales aren’t reducing on a daily basis and am boring people with the subject that has taken over my life

I simply followed Roy Taylor’s advice to clear excess hepatic and pancreatic fat and thereby got my A1c down from 74 to 42 in a few months. Reducing carbs is likely to be helpful but it’s not the primary issue - clearing that fat away is what matters, which ever way you do it . You’ll have noticed that Taylor barely mentions carbs beyond noting it can assist weight loss. Taylor’s research was/is supported by DUK as can be clearly discerned via the main menu but rarely gets a mention in the forums’ initial responses to T2 newbies, which is bizarre. Follow the science and trust the science.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome the forum @Ginger_Monkey

Sounds like you are off to a very positive start, and have lots of powerful motivators to keep you pressing forwards.

Congrats on the reduction in your waking BG levels. Which meter did you opt for? Of other forum members use the same one perhaps it will reassure you?

Try not to be too disheartened about your weight loss so far. It’s early days, and slow and steady can be a better and more sustainable approach. Hopefully you’ll find a way of eating that gets you to your target weight, and helps clear any build-up of visceral fat.

Keep going!

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Ginger_Monkey

Well done on making such a positive start. Small consistent steps seem to be the secret that many on here find useful so don’t be put off if the weight doesn’t always decrease in a daily basis.

Testing before each meal and two hours after, along with a record of the amount of carbs you ate can give you a measure of how your body copes with the glucose that comes from any carbs we eat. This can help you to make decisions about any changes that might help further reduce your HbA1c.

Kepp in touch and fire away with any questions that arise. Nothing is considered silly on here.