A bit irritated to say the least. Hubby had stroke 16 mths ago. Today we were told he is diabetic type 2 due to a test hbac...is it. ...scored 85......wasn't asked to fast etc pre blood test. Irritated because they said he has been down as diabetic for 16 mths. ....confused as told only borderline. So we did not know this vital piece of info. Questions do the tabs help......how much carbs can you have in one day......he eats lots of bread. Any advice direction pointers etc greatly appreciated.
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Any advice
- Thread starter Marie145
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SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Marie and welcome
I am sorry to hear about you husband's diagnosis. All carbohydrates that anyone eats will be converted to glucose in our bodies. There is not an answer about how much carbs you can eat, but the more you eat the more work your pancreas has to do.
I am no expert on T2 and I am sure that others will be along soon to help.
I am sorry to hear about you husband's diagnosis. All carbohydrates that anyone eats will be converted to glucose in our bodies. There is not an answer about how much carbs you can eat, but the more you eat the more work your pancreas has to do.
I am no expert on T2 and I am sure that others will be along soon to help.
Thanks sb2015. I've been trying to tell him that things he likes are all full if carbs. ...bread, potatoes, SUGAR IN his tea, cereal etc. Wondering if table somewhere of carbs values. Told him bread is two pieces a day...lol. doc not much help ......especially since he asked how are you getting on with diabetes meds.......I was in shock......asked what diabetes meds....etc. does it affect holiday and car insurance.....
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Marie...the HbA1c blood test will give his average blood glucose levels over the last two to three months...so whether he fasted or not won't make any difference to the result...disappointing and infuriating you weren't given the diagnosis 18 months...perhaps you should raise with the GP and practice manager...what tablets is he taking...more often than not Type 2's are given Metformin...they do help but some who take them can suffer from side effects that include diarrhoea...gastric upset and flatulence...once your body gets used to them the symptoms are likely to subside...if not you can ask your doctor for the extended release form which is often kinder on your system...basically carbs are the enemy to us diabetics...food such as white bread...rice...pasta...some fruits those that are high in sugar...avoid processed foods or make sure you read the labels carefully to see how many carbs it contains...I used a book called Type Two Diabetes The First Year by Gretchen Becker...available from Amazon...so informative...takes you through her first year as a type 2 diabetic year by year...there will be plenty of advice from members on the forum...ask as many questions as you need to...nothing is consider too trivial...is your husband testing his blood glucose...did the GP supply any advice on testing...or the meter itself...testing is a great way of keeping an eye on your BG...and will show you how the food your husband is eating affects his BG levels.
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Carbs and Cals will give you a comprehensive breakdown of how many carbs and calories are in most foods ...portion size etc.
Thanks bubbsie i will order that book. Hubby never been given tabs. First time today.....we are so confused as takes so many others for life after stroke. Doc gave no advice.....except......we will book you for foot exam and c I in a month. By time I got home I had a thousand questions and rang practise for a rant.....said want to speak to someone as this level of basic care....they have failed.......how when they see him do much they failed to inform us. .....how. ....no mention if self testing......no mention if anything.....grrr
Just ordered on amazon. Where is the carbs call breakdown.....in the book?
grovesy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome.
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Carbs and Cals will give you the breakdown of the number of carbs & calories in set portions of food...weight etc...yes all in the book.
Robin
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I think there might be some confusion here. The Gretchen Becker is one book, the book called 'Carbs and Cals' is another.
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Sadly Marie its been like that for many of us here...I had little or no advice from my GP initially...for the first 5/6 weeks wandered around aimlessly with no idea what to do...just take the pills...and told I could book onto an educational course...then found the forum...read the Gretchen Becker Book and started educating myself...had several issues with my GP...despite bringing my blood sugars down below the first target he set me tried to increase my medication...wrote to him...and since then had several discussions with him...now I have his attention...it was hard work...it will get better Marie...as for testing they rarely give meters to type 2's unless you are using insulin...I self fund mine...no support from GP or surgery...this forum...testing and reading have helped me reduce my BG from 17.4% at diagnosis to an average of 6.5%...think I would make an appointment to see the practice manager...and put your concerns to them.
Grogg1
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Difficult time for you having to deal with diabetes following a stroke. However once your hubby gets his blood sugars down he will hopefully have improved health.
His hba1c is not impossibly high but testing his blood sugar a few times a day will give him focus on reducing it by seeing how different foods affect him.
I'm sure someone will come along with links for buying a cheap meter and strips . This is the meter on Amazon but not sure if it's the cheapest place. You will need extra strips and lancets (the strips are a use once product the lancets urmh most people change annually - I joke but not every time). Ideally you test on waking to get your fasting level then if you have breakfast soonish then 2 hours after breakfast. Test again before lunch/dinner and 2 hours after eating then finally before retiring. It sounds a lot but it does help in the early days as if you reduce carbs you will see your levels dropping. You can youtube how to test - basics warm, clean hands. Side of finger wait a couple of seconds then a little squeeze to get pinhead of blood to test.
At my first (and only to date) appt. with Diabetic nurse told to aim for under 8 before eating and under 10 after eating. These were highish, realistic targets given my high hba1c. i.e. I had to get into single figures which I did within 2 weeks. The correct figures to aim for are 4-6 before eating and under 8.5 after eating.
If he likes bread try Burgen from Tesco. Lower carb and generally tolerated well. I discovered on Saturday a jacket potato smothered in butter (fat helps when eaten with carbs not sure why) and a whole bottle of red wine meant my reading 2 hours after food was 5.4 - wine should be on prescription!
What medication has your hubby been given, is it metformin.
His hba1c is not impossibly high but testing his blood sugar a few times a day will give him focus on reducing it by seeing how different foods affect him.
I'm sure someone will come along with links for buying a cheap meter and strips . This is the meter on Amazon but not sure if it's the cheapest place. You will need extra strips and lancets (the strips are a use once product the lancets urmh most people change annually - I joke but not every time). Ideally you test on waking to get your fasting level then if you have breakfast soonish then 2 hours after breakfast. Test again before lunch/dinner and 2 hours after eating then finally before retiring. It sounds a lot but it does help in the early days as if you reduce carbs you will see your levels dropping. You can youtube how to test - basics warm, clean hands. Side of finger wait a couple of seconds then a little squeeze to get pinhead of blood to test.
At my first (and only to date) appt. with Diabetic nurse told to aim for under 8 before eating and under 10 after eating. These were highish, realistic targets given my high hba1c. i.e. I had to get into single figures which I did within 2 weeks. The correct figures to aim for are 4-6 before eating and under 8.5 after eating.
If he likes bread try Burgen from Tesco. Lower carb and generally tolerated well. I discovered on Saturday a jacket potato smothered in butter (fat helps when eaten with carbs not sure why) and a whole bottle of red wine meant my reading 2 hours after food was 5.4 - wine should be on prescription!
What medication has your hubby been given, is it metformin.
Hi @Marie145 ! It sounds like you've had pretty poor advice and support from your GP/NHS so far, though this is sadly far from uncommon. Carbs and Cals is a good book to guide you (it's also available as an app). Another book that I found excellent is Reverse Your Diabetes by Dr David Cavan, it explains diabetes, the role of testing and the role of diet as well as much else.
From what you've said your husband's diet isn't at all good - it's very high in carbohydrates (they become glucose when digested) and refined sugars are really a no no.
My GP when I was diagnosed suggested I look at Diabetes (dot) co (dot) uk, as well as this site, DCUK has a vast amount of information about all aspects of diabetes. (I haven't given the propper URL as it might be deleted)
From what you've said your husband's diet isn't at all good - it's very high in carbohydrates (they become glucose when digested) and refined sugars are really a no no.
My GP when I was diagnosed suggested I look at Diabetes (dot) co (dot) uk, as well as this site, DCUK has a vast amount of information about all aspects of diabetes. (I haven't given the propper URL as it might be deleted)
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john pardo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello and welcome
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Hi Marie. I am sorry to hear about your husbands dx (diagnosis) I am afraid many of us receive little or poor info., but not to be told is absolutely shocking. It might take a while for it to sink in with your hubby ,hopefully not too long , I'm guessing he is scared as I know you definitely are.
For a sweetener in tea ,coffee etc I use Silverspoon granulated sweetener
I'm told It's not suitable for cooking , but in hot drinks I find it tastes exactly the same as sugar. Splenda is pretty good too but I do notice a very slight difference to sugar.
When your husbands ready he should find lots of reading I'm giving a link for helpful. I know you will for sure 🙂.
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/
Scroll down to the T2 section.
For future reference you'll find this in the pinned section called useful links for newly diagnosed in the newbies say hello forum .
Keep on asking us questions
For a sweetener in tea ,coffee etc I use Silverspoon granulated sweetener
I'm told It's not suitable for cooking , but in hot drinks I find it tastes exactly the same as sugar. Splenda is pretty good too but I do notice a very slight difference to sugar.
When your husbands ready he should find lots of reading I'm giving a link for helpful. I know you will for sure 🙂.
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/
Scroll down to the T2 section.
For future reference you'll find this in the pinned section called useful links for newly diagnosed in the newbies say hello forum .
Keep on asking us questions
Lilian
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Sorry to hear about your husband's stroke. It is hard enough looking after oneself but twice as hard looking after someone else. Just one thing nobody has yet mentioned, do it slowly. Wean him off the sugar in his tea and other things that have sugar, so his taste starts to change for sweet things. Then gradually lower things like bread. If he is hungry you can add a bit more natural fats. A piece of steamed fish with a nice creamy parsley sauce. Also it is not good to go from high blood sugar levels straight to low ones, as the body has to get use to it gradually to avoid damage to the eyes.
Yes it is metoformin...so gone from no diet control, no advice...to take these with everything else u take three times a day. He is not happy and refusing to take them now without proper advice. I have bought the Bergen bread too.
Since we found out you wouldnt beleive ho whis bread consumption has dropped. Damn doc when i said he east a lot of bread....quote....look at his sugar...i said that is NOT the main focus of his diet it is Carbs from Bread.....Since he has reduced bread....I have a back log of bread in the store.....makes me realise how much he has been eating of the stuff. He is following me and what I eat now. However I eat loads of fruit.
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