• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Any advice please

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
suzanna valentine said:
Hi Bubbsie,

I already test my own blood each day. It averages at around 16 when i wake up before breakfast and around 18-24 after a meal. I don't know a lot about diabetes. I should because i should have researched it all myself. I see a diabetic nurse once a year and have no other information or advice given to me. I know i should eat low carbs i think and eat as little processed food as possible. I haven't touched pure white sugar for a long time and use canderell in coffee and always drink zero drinks. I'm now on 2000mg metformin and the sitagliptin.

I know i shouldn't eat potatoes or white rice or pasta. Yet those are the three main items in most meals so i'm not sure what i'm supposed to eat really. I don't have a lot of money at the moment and have a uni student son living with me so basically buy for him and eat what he eats. I have done some tests over the last few days but not really sure when to do them. The test results i've had recently are:

Sun 25th 2 hours after lunch 24.01
Sun 25th before dinner 11.1
Sun 25th 3.5 hours after dinner 16.9
Mon 26th before breakfast 16.8
Tues 27th before breakfast 16.4
Wed 28th before breakfast 18.8

That's pretty much an average day for me in the last 6 months.

I'm very grateful for the help
Click to expand...
Suzanne I know you have a lot of difficulties at the moment...a lot to contend with...I believe it is important you know what your diabetes is...before you can manage it effectively...essentially what we need to avoid are carbohydrates...which are not just found in the obvious enemies like potatoes...white rice & pasta...many vegetables & fruit are carb high...bread is another...I would highly recommend you try to read a book I used to help me understand my diabetes...Type 2 Diabetes The First Year by Gretchen Becker herself a type 2 diabetic she takes you through her first year month by month...explains what diabetes is...who is likely to get it...why...the importance of choosing the right foods...the relevance of testing our blood...it is such an easy read...I'm convinced it would help you immensely...okay...testing your blood is essential (my opinion)...it will demonstrate what effect the food you are eating has on your blood sugars...so test on waking...this will give you a starting point for the day...test before each meal...then two hours after...this will show whether your BG has risen above an acceptable level...we should aim for no more than 2-3 mmols rise after eating...food is very much an individual matter for us...what suits me may not suit you...I eat bananas...they have little effect on me...yet others find they raise (spike) their levels...that is the benefit of testing...if you have a rise of less than 2-3mmols then what you have eaten is suitable...if it rises more...then it's not suitable...it really is a matter of experimenting with different foods...I still have some potatoes...new potatoes...just a couple...I eat bread...not white bread I use high protein bread lower in carbs than many others...the list is endless...some vegetables need to be avoided if they are starchy...some fruits have a high sugar content...low fat foods can be very high in sugars & other additives to make them more palatable...I avoid those...please do try to get a copy of the book I've recommended...it will take you through all this...give you a real insight into your diabetes & how to manage/control it...ask whatever you need to...others will be along to advise...offer support...you can improve your levels...it can initially be hard work...but does get to a point where what you do can/will become like second nature.
 
Hello Suzanna, welcome to the forum. 🙂

I am very sorry for your loss and considering this I think you're coping very well. I don't know whether I'd hold up so well. I eat like you anyway and have no excuse whatsoever. Take it one day at a time and follow the advice given on here.
 
suzanna valentine said:
Thanks Bubbsie. I'll take a look now and see if I can find it in ebook format. xx
Click to expand...
Good Suzanna...it really is such a great read for any diabetic wanting to understand & manage their condition...hopefully it will put things in perspective with your diabetes at least...then hopefully you can concentrate on your other health issues...as @Ditto says one day at a time...you will get there.
 
Last edited:
suzanna valentine said:
Thanks Ditto. I will follow advice given xx
Click to expand...
Not without checking it out first though! These are just people's opinions and experience over time and a lot of us are newbies too. I was in denial a year. I already knew quite a bit about D from being an Atkins fan for years. Also my sister has had it a long time, not that she does anything about it, she ignores it to her detriment.

If I was really giving advice I'd say don't touch statins or betablockers with a bargepole, but that's just me. I never read the leaflet when they gave me betablockers decades ago, what's the point of giving a drug for a bad chest when in the end the drug itself gives you heart failure? I should sue! This is just my opinion though - imho - in my honest opinion, I need to put that on all my posts. 😉
 
suzanna valentine said:
Have just got back. The test said something about HB being 88. No idea what that means. He said two years ago it was 44 and a few months ago it was 79 and now up to 88. On top of the 2000 metformin he's added something called Sitagliptin. No idea what that is. He's also added a beta blocker to the ramipril and amlodipine i take for high blood pressure. he said to carry on with the escitalopram for a couple more weeks and i have a thyroid yearly check in 2 weeks as well. All these problems sound so depressing. So now every day i take, metformin, Sitagliptin, Ramipril, Levothyroxine, Amlodipine, Atenolol, Avarstatin and Citalopram. No wonder i feel ill. Is it safe to have such a mix of tablets every day?

I'm sorry to have rambled on. I've become very scared about my health. I'm 56 and if i'm like this already what chance do i have of a long life to old age :(
Click to expand...

Hi Suzanna - hopefully with the change in meds and some changes to your diet you will see that number come down. My last test I was 99, my doc changed me to 2000 metformin and Sitagliptin, and I changed my diet, my daily fasting figures have gone from double figures to single in a few weeks. I am also on a Ramipril, Avarstatin and Citalopram, so understand the concerns about taking so many different meds. I am 54 so not much difference in age either.

Good luck and remember we are all her to support you.
 
Type 2 diabetes is a very simple problem - the inability to cope with carbohydrate foods in the amounts normal in modern diets.
Hba1c was 91 and now it is 41 simply by cutting out the high carb foods.
It is not as expensive a way of eating as some suppose, as I am not buying the expensive cuts of meat, I get chicken thighs not fillets, for instance.
 
Drummer said:
Type 2 diabetes is a very simple problem - the inability to cope with carbohydrate foods in the amounts normal in modern diets.
Hba1c was 91 and now it is 41 simply by cutting out the high carb foods.
It is not as expensive a way of eating as some suppose, as I am not buying the expensive cuts of meat, I get chicken thighs not fillets, for instance.
Click to expand...
For you Drummer diabetes may be 'a very simple matter'...but not for everyone ( I include myself in that) ...it is clear from Suzanna's post she has difficulty...is struggling at the moment...has asked for help & advice...is dealing with other health issues...in additional to a devastating personal trauma...all of which you seem to have ignored...this post is about her needing some understanding...a little compassion...some support...how on earth did you miss that?
 
Coming on and saying it's so easy peasy for you is great for you drummer but it's clear Suzanne is finding it far from that. Let's remember this is a support forum after all.anywaus Suzanna im so sorry it's has been a truly awful time for you it must of been a tremendous strain. I can understand the food thing I use food as a comfort when I'm depressed and then my diabetes goes up the wall and it's a vicious circle. I can't offer any other words accept I'm happy you have found us on this forum we are here for you xx
 
Drummer said:
Type 2 diabetes is a very simple problem - the inability to cope with carbohydrate foods in the amounts normal in modern diets.
Hba1c was 91 and now it is 41 simply by cutting out the high carb foods.
It is not as expensive a way of eating as some suppose, as I am not buying the expensive cuts of meat, I get chicken thighs not fillets, for instance.
Click to expand...
It is not always about cutting out all carbs for everyone. I eat small amounts without raising my numbers we are all different. D is certainly not easy for me. I am pleased you have not found it difficult and have found what works for you but not everybody does. I have days when I could quite happily go to a shop and sit in the chocolate isle and stuff myself stupid, I don't obviously, but do struggle with family occasions when I know there will be cake etc.
 
I can't see any advice to cut out all carb anywhere - far better to do the obvious thing, stop eating high carb foods. There are loads of other things you can eat - vegetables full of micronutrients, berries are usually low enough to have as a dessert, and there is always something to eat - I eat some carbs, and I do raise my numbers, but I started out keeping my numbers under eight two hours after starting to eat.
Sticking to the same foods my numbers dropped week by week, watching out for the amount of carbs in foods, I ate mainly things which are ten percent carbs or less. It has made me feel twenty years younger already.

I was totally shocked by how well it worked. I am under seven after meals now. No pasta, no rice or potatoes, no bread other than the Protein rolls from Lidl - but lots of fresh salad and other veges. Cauliflower rice is great, and getting a 'madeleine' for finely slicing things such as fennel - drop it into iced water for half a minute then drain and dry off - low carb meals are so good that quite a few 'normal' people find they prefer them, but it is a matter of taking control and sorting out the shopping list to ensure that there are good choices made.
The 81 percent cocoa chocolate from Lidl seems to be fine - I have small amounts, and don't eat more than one bar in a week - there is no need to deny yourself chocolate in moderation, surely?

By stopping the carb laden meals there is a really good chance that diabetes will go into reverse, and quite quickly too. I can only tell you what I did and how well it has worked.

My grandmother always used to say that two ounces of help was far better than a pound of sympathy, any day of the week.
 
Ditto said:
Not without checking it out first though! These are just people's opinions and experience over time and a lot of us are newbies too. I was in denial a year. I already knew quite a bit about D from being an Atkins fan for years. Also my sister has had it a long time, not that she does anything about it, she ignores it to her detriment.

If I was really giving advice I'd say don't touch statins or betablockers with a bargepole, but that's just me. I never read the leaflet when they gave me betablockers decades ago, what's the point of giving a drug for a bad chest when in the end the drug itself gives you heart failure? I should sue! This is just my opinion though - imho - in my honest opinion, I need to put that on all my posts. 😉
Click to expand...

I've been on statins for a long time and the beta blockers i was on for a long time a few years ago and have been put back on them due to an anxiety disorder i have developed and high blood pressure. I've never had any problem with either . Beta blockers are used to treat heart failure and other problems they don't cause it I don't think.
 
Grannylorraine said:
Hi Suzanna - hopefully with the change in meds and some changes to your diet you will see that number come down. My last test I was 99, my doc changed me to 2000 metformin and Sitagliptin, and I changed my diet, my daily fasting figures have gone from double figures to single in a few weeks. I am also on a Ramipril, Avarstatin and Citalopram, so understand the concerns about taking so many different meds. I am 54 so not much difference in age either.

Good luck and remember we are all her to support you.
Click to expand...

Our meds are really similar so i'm hoping i get good results like you Lorraine. Thank you for your help x
 
suzanna valentine said:
I've been on statins for a long time and the beta blockers i was on for a long time a few years ago and have been put back on them due to an anxiety disorder i have developed and high blood pressure. I've never had any problem with either . Beta blockers are used to treat heart failure and other problems they don't cause it I don't think.
Click to expand...
I've got heart failure now but originally took betablockers for chest pain and anxiety. The leaflet when I read it said long term use caused heart failure. :( I was already on Valium, that would have been enough for anxiety I think. My friend took betablockers, exact same ones as mine, because she lost her Mum. I saw her balloon, she put on stones, her legs went like sausages. She said I'm getting off these asap and did. You're supposed to come off them under medical supervision though and not too fast.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top