Another newbie, feeling lost

[Ayerbe59]

Hi everyone I have just been diagnosed and I am feeling lost... is that normal?

 

[Christy]

Totally! Many of us were diagnosed and left with no support. There's lots of advice here if you want it and lots of threads to read. Just post any questions. Welcome 🙂

 

[Ayerbe59]

Thanks, it just feels a little overwhelming, new diet, new this, new that...

 

[ColinUK]

I bet we all feel overwhelmed and lost when diagnosed, I know I was certainly knocked for six when I was told.

This forum helps with that as it’s full of real people with a variety of lived experiences of diabetes so between us we’re pretty good at answering questions and allaying concerns.

Perhaps you could tell us how you came to be diagnosed and any questions you have right now. Nothing is off limits and there’s no such thing as a stupid question either.

 

[zuludog]

Hello AYERBE59 and welcome to the Forum!

Yes, it's quite normal to feel lost, confused, overwhelmed, worried, and so on, but try not to be worried about being worried, that's perfectly normal in your circumstances

I know that's easier said than done, but take some comfort in the fact that you are by no means the only one

There is a lot of help & advice on this Forum. Have a look at -

Previous Threads in the Newbies, Food & Carbohydrates, and if necessary Weight Loss sections
Learning Zone - the red tab at the top of this page
Living With Diabetes section on the Home Page

Ask questions, don't be shy or embarrassed, nothing is too simple or silly
And tell us about yourself, how you came to be diagnosed, and so on
Definitely don't be frightened by any horror stories you might have heard - you can live well with the Dreaded D, but you will almost certainly need to change a few things, mostly your diet, but it's not impossible.
In fact many people take a diagnosis as the motivation to change & improve their diet, cut out processed & junk food, do more exercise, and all the healthy things we hear about, and feel better for it.

Chances are your diabetes has been building up for a while, with symptoms like feeling tired, weak, cold, & anxious; then the actual diagnosis is the final blow, but as you change a few things you will feel better - honest!

 

[Gwynn]

Yup I recognise that worried, frightened, confused, lost, abandoned feeling at diagnosis.

Why there is no immediate, reassuring, helpful support from the NHS at that crucial time I do not understand. It could really help and save so much stress and upset.

We all seem to have been there too. I certainly was but I found this forum immensely helpful, vital in fact. Without the great help and support here I would not have done well at all.

The good news is that the diabetes condition is manageble. Yes it will probably involve a few lifestyle changes and some focussed effort, but it is all good.

Many panic about not being able to eat anything ever again but quickly learn that actually diabetics can have great food, it just needs a bit more understanding and care.

So tell us about youself and ask any questions...any I notice you have not shown the type of diabetic you were diagnosed as. Do you know? The reason I ask is because the advice and help people can give here will depend on what type of diabetic you are.

And, welcome to the club no one wants to join 🙂

 

[Ayerbe59]

Thanks for the very encouraging messages. It's nice to have at least a feeling of belonging. I was diagnosed after a number of routine tests, starting from one related to high blood pressure. Guess that's how a lot of people get to. I then received a call from a receptionist saying that my GP wanted to see me to discuss the results as they were over the line, but the first phone appointment was 21 June. So I have been fishing for information since. I realised that I need to change my lifestyle though I have to say I am scratching my head on that point as my BMI is fine, don't smoke, drink very little and most of my food intake is based on fresh stuff with very very indulgences like a small square of dark choc now and then... I am reading I need to inform my employer, that I would need eye tests, feet tests and so on and so forth so there is loads to take in and I am confused and frankly in a bit of shock really.

 

[ColinUK]

Thanks for the very encouraging messages. It's nice to have at least a feeling of belonging. I was diagnosed after a number of routine tests, starting from one related to high blood pressure. Guess that's how a lot of people get to. I then received a call from a receptionist saying that my GP wanted to see me to discuss the results as they were over the line, but the first phone appointment was 21 June. So I have been fishing for information since. I realised that I need to change my lifestyle though I have to say I am scratching my head on that point as my BMI is fine, don't smoke, drink very little and most of my food intake is based on fresh stuff with very very indulgences like a small square of dark choc now and then... I am reading I need to inform my employer, that I would need eye tests, feet tests and so on and so forth so there is loads to take in and I am confused and frankly in a bit of shock really.

You raise a number of specific points:

What’s your BMI?
What do you do for work?
Why do you think you need to notify your employer?

Eye tests and foot tests are really rather routine and nothing to fret about. They’re roughly once a year.

What’s your average day look like regarding food?

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks for the very encouraging messages. It's nice to have at least a feeling of belonging. I was diagnosed after a number of routine tests, starting from one related to high blood pressure. Guess that's how a lot of people get to. I then received a call from a receptionist saying that my GP wanted to see me to discuss the results as they were over the line, but the first phone appointment was 21 June. So I have been fishing for information since. I realised that I need to change my lifestyle though I have to say I am scratching my head on that point as my BMI is fine, don't smoke, drink very little and most of my food intake is based on fresh stuff with very very indulgences like a small square of dark choc now and then... I am reading I need to inform my employer, that I would need eye tests, feet tests and so on and so forth so there is loads to take in and I am confused and frankly in a bit of shock really.

Welcome. Even though your appointment is not until June, it would be useful if you were able to ask what your HbA1C test result is, that is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and will be a number 48mmol/mol and over, 42-47 mmol/mol would be 'at risk' or prediabetes. Knowing what it is will enable you to know how much work you will need to do to lower your level. This could be from cutting a few things out and reducing portion size of the higher carb components of your meals to more substantial changes.
There is often a mis apprehension that foods that are promoted as healthy may not be so for Type 2 diabetics.

 

[Ayerbe59]

I think that test was 50. My BMI is 24.6 I am an IT consultant (loads of stress...). Avg day breakfast one spoon of sugar free muesly, some oat milk, a freshly squeezed orange juice, a small espresso and occasionally half a slice of brown bread and butter. A banana or a fruit mid morning. Lunch on the go, a salad, or a wrap, then a cup of tea and maybe whatever there is but a small one, more often than not a fruit bar. Then dinner which I cook for the family, for the most part using the four ingredients book by that famous chef... I try avoiding pasta but do cook once a week no more than 80g for me, a yoghurt or a fruit, repeat...

 

[janw]

Hi. If you are currently taking steroid meds, or even using a steroid inhaler, they WILL send you BG readings up. I am on my last day of a course of steroids, took them late yesterday and had a waking BG in the 9s, whereas it will normally be +/- the 6 mmol range. I never use my steroid inhaler (Clenil) until after I've taken my morning BG, so that I keep my readings "clean" - the taking of steroids should not affect your HbA1C blood tests as that covers the previous 3 months and, as far as I know, steroids do not contain carbs .
Please remember when you are going to reduce your carb intake do this SLOWLY - one meal at a time (i.e. start with dinner or lunch or breakfast) - otherwise you can cause other issues by going too fast.
I'm on diet only, due my next HbA1C next Monday ready to see my DN next month - fingers crossed for a lower result 🙂
Yes, it is confusing, upsetting, frustrating, but it is a path each of us walk on our own, but together - there's always someone who can help, advise or point you in the right direction - this site has helped me enormously since I joined last year - it is my go-to place for sure.
One day at a time, one step at a time, together.

 

[Leadinglights]

I think that test was 50. My BMI is 24.6 I am an IT consultant (loads of stress...). Avg day breakfast one spoon of sugar free muesly, some oat milk, a freshly squeezed orange juice, a small espresso and occasionally half a slice of brown bread and butter. A banana or a fruit mid morning. Lunch on the go, a salad, or a wrap, then a cup of tea and maybe whatever there is but a small one, more often than not a fruit bar. Then dinner which I cook for the family, for the most part using the four ingredients book by that famous chef... I try avoiding pasta but do cook once a week no more than 80g for me, a yoghurt or a fruit, repeat...

I don't think you are going to need to do much tweaking but there are a few high carb foods which many people would not be able to tolerate without blood glucose increasing. Even sugarfree muesli will have quite a lot of carb and oat milk is also one of the higher carb non cows milks, orange juice is again high carb as is banana, so you are loading your body with carbs early in the day when people are often more sensitive to them.
To go with your cuppa, Nature valley protein bars or KIND or shop own are less than 10g carb per bar so probably less than your 'fruit bar'.
With an HbA1C of 50 you are just into the diabetic zone but still enough to take it seriously and reduce your carb intake.
People find it helpful to keep a food diary of everything you eat and drink and estimate the carbs, I think many people are surprised just how many carbs they are actually having. A low carb approach is one people find successful and that is less than 130g per day but many do go lower than that as being the amount they need to be at to keep blood glucose at a normal range.
Basing meals on protein, healthy fats, vegetables and salads and fruits like berries as being the lowest carb with only very small portions of high carb foods or use substitutions which are lower carb.
But as said better to reduce your carb intake slowly until you get to where you need to be.
In hindsight I reduced my carbs to 70g per day too quickly and had some eye issues, but reduced my HbA1C from 50 to 42 in 3 months.

 

[Ayerbe59]

That's really useful information thanks how do I find information on carb levels (no idea oat milk was high carb and was reading that bananas were supposed to people with diabetes, very confusing!)

 

[ColinUK]

All nutrition labels include carbs. Look at the TOTAL CARBS.

 

[Ayerbe59]

Also what about multivitamins and stuff like cod liver oil? Can i take that?

 

[Christy]

You might find the Carbs and Cals book useful 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks, it just feels a little overwhelming, new diet, new this, new that...

Welcome to the forum @Ayerbe59

That sense of being overwhelmed is quite common. Some people liken their diagnosis to a form of grieving, and recognise those feelings of anger, denial, bargaining, depression and acceptance which can come in stages, or all jumbled up together in more of a whirlwind.

Most vitamins and similar mainstream supplements would be fine if you feel they would be helpful and your Dr recommends them to you, but do be careful about herbal ‘remedies’ which are marketed to improve diabetes outcomes, as these are not recommeded by Diabetes UK. Ideally you should aim to get all the nutrients you need from a varied diet.

Herbal and food supplements

Many people rely on traditional herbal and complementary remedies, which are said to help with blood glucose control. These remedies can be homemade or bought from local shops, and while they may have benefits, they should not be a substitute for your medications.

www.diabetes.org.uk

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum @Ayerbe59

That sense of being overwhelmed is quite common. Some people liken their diagnosis to a form of grieving, and recognise those feelings of anger, denial, bargaining, depression and acceptance which can come in stages, or all jumbled up together in more of a whirlwind.

Most vitamins and similar mainstream supplements would be fine if you feel they would be helpful and your Dr recommends them to you, but do be careful about herbal ‘remedies’ which are marketed to improve diabetes outcomes, as these are not recommeded by Diabetes UK. Ideally you should aim to get all the nutrients you need from a varied diet.

Herbal and food supplements

Many people rely on traditional herbal and complementary remedies, which are said to help with blood glucose control. These remedies can be homemade or bought from local shops, and while they may have benefits, they should not be a substitute for your medications.

www.diabetes.org.uk

It is useful to know that link as there are often people asking about various 'miracle' remedies that purport to lower blood glucose.

 

[helli]

Welcome @Ayerbe59
I too work in IT and have never felt a need to tell my employer. I have mentioned it to a few colleagues but that is because I treat my diabetes with insulin so they are aware of hypos. But they have never needed to do anything.

With a healthy BMI, it maybe worthwhile discussing Type 1/LADA with your GP when you have your appointment. Unfortunately, it is often assumed that Type 1 is a childhood condition and something like 30% of adults diagnosed with Type 1 after a misdiagnosis of type 2. But more than half of people with Type 1 are diagnosed as adults.