Caught unguarded

[Purls of Wisdom]

I have recently been diagnosed. Type unconfirmed. It came as a shock to say the least. I did not know anything about it. Partly cos of needle phobia. Learning bit by bit but not enough. Being very hard on myself when it comes to meal times and more so too much information on the net and little support. Too early I have been told. I am acutely stuck with what to eat, how much a day and in week. I need urgent guidance before I starve myself to nothing. Please help.
Thanking you in advance.

 

[EmmaL76]

Hi, there are so many of us that can totally relate to how your feeling. I am at the absolute top end of being hard on myself and punishing myself for what I see as my failures. This resulted in chronic food restriction ( I was slim on diagnosis) and this has continued for 1.5 years. Result, depression, extreme weight loss no energy and living in a zombie like state. This is absolutely not the path you want to go down. Please hear me when I say starvation is not the answer. Also as your diagnosis is unclear you could potentially be masking the real issue by severe food restriction. I am in this position now, my diagnosis is still unconfirmed but I have terrible anxiety around eating. There are many sustainable ways to be diabetic and not starve and although I am not the best person to advise in this, I’m sure many will be along to help. Do you know what your hba1c was on diagnosis? And what the general feeling of your gp is regarding your type?

 

[Windy]

Hi, please don't starve yourself, you need to eat still. What sort of food do you eat normally? Are you looking to lose weight? Do you have any diet restrictions, like vegetarianism that you also need to think about? Dependant on what you want from your diet, make a plan.
There's book recommendations here, some of which are recipe books to give you meal ideas. Or on the main Diabetes UK site, there are recipes too.
My plan was to lose weight, so I eat 1500 calories a day so that I can do that. If you don't need to lose weight, then you'd need to find out what calories you need to eat each day to maintain your weight, but be mindful of foods that will put your blood glucose up. So I'd probably start by not eating biscuits/crisps/sweets/chocolate, or having them infrequently as a treat, and work from there. Think of the other things that you eat, ie eggs, meat, fish, vegetables etc and plan meals around them. There's lots of different diets that people eat, low carb, medium carb, veggie, vegan etc, you need to find out what works for you, there's no one right answer.
But please eat.
Sarah

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Purls of Wisdom 🙂 You mention a needle phobia - are you on any medication for the diabetes? Can you explain a little more about your diagnosis?

 

[Tdm]

Low carb veg to try...avocados, low carbs, high cals. Pak choi is low carb, as is rocket. Boiled eggs are a useful snack.Some soya sauages are low carb but check as some high. I snack on babybel for a no call boost and no suagar jelly is a bit of a treat..if you whisk melted no sugar jelly with double cream it makes a vey nice high cal desert though possibly not something that is healthy long term but good for morale. Its horrible at first but it does get better as you go up the learning curve...believe me, it does get better! The worst is waiting for diagnosis ...such releif when i realised it was 'only' type 1. Still haven't put the weiht back on despite trying so buying a new set of clothes now...diabetes made me slim wish it could make me young again too.
But remember, it gets easier

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Purls of Wisdom, welcome to the forum.

It’s natural to be concerned when first diagnosed, especially as you don’t know your type yet. I think I ate two tablespoons of porridge the first day I was diagnosed as I was scared senseless due to not having the right info and worried I’d implode!

Knowing what to eat and when is a process which we’ve all been through so please try not to be so hard on yourself as you’ll get there in time.

Could you tell us more about how you came to be diagnosed and is there any way you could give them a nudge to confirm your type?

It might help to have a look at the info on our main site such as ideas on what to eat which I found useful regardless of type.

Living with diabetes

We know that everyone’s experience of diabetes is different. Whether you’re living with diabetes or care for a loved one who does, we’re here for you. Our website is packed full of trusted information, developed by experts. From advice about treatments and what to eat, to practical guidance and...

www.diabetes.org.uk

We’re here to support you every step of the way so feel free to give us a call on 0345 123 2399 to talk through any concerns you may have and be sure to have a read through the forum for some insights and ask as many questions as needs be .

 

[Purls of Wisdom]

Hi, there are so many of us that can totally relate to how your feeling. I am at the absolute top end of being hard on myself and punishing myself for what I see as my failures. This resulted in chronic food restriction ( I was slim on diagnosis) and this has continued for 1.5 years. Result, depression, extreme weight loss no energy and living in a zombie like state. This is absolutely not the path you want to go down. Please hear me when I say starvation is not the answer. Also as your diagnosis is unclear you could potentially be masking the real issue by severe food restriction. I am in this position now, my diagnosis is still unconfirmed but I have terrible anxiety around eating. There are many sustainable ways to be diabetic and not starve and although I am not the best person to advise in this, I’m sure many will be along to help. Do you know what your hba1c was on diagnosis? And what the general feeling of your gp is regarding your type?

Thank you reaching out. I only got diagnosed on 11th April. Rushed to the Hospital. Spent 9 days there. Upon admission my sugar levels were over 30. Ketones were borderline 1.3 and HbA1c of 99. First it was thought to be Type 1. I was suggested insulin. That was my major undoing. I have never been too heavy for my age and height. Lost more weight now. My summery from the hospital is suggesting that it is most likely to be type 2 or LADA. Type 1.5? Not confirmed yet. No idea regarding BP or cholesterol. I test 4 times a day and take NoveRapid x3 and Lantas before bed. Gliclazide 2x2 daily. Could not tolerate Metformin so stopped by the consultant. Coming back to food, I have been given too many mixed messages. I can eat brown bread. Then I can't eat brown bread. Only Bran or Oats for breakfast. Eggs? High in cholesterol. Small clementines? Too sweet. Do not be eat Almonds, too fatty. Go easy on tomatoes. No pasta. Only brown. Less potatoes. Milk and cheese? Can not eat bananas everyday. Must be small. 2 rich tea everyday are too many. I am allowed digestives. Portion control. Only eat half of what I used to. Being vegetarian, there is not much left which I can eat guilt free. When feel hungry, one must eat, I was told. But eat what and how much? I have already come to my tethers end. Worried, hungry, confused and angry at myself. All I want for some one is to guide me, which item I can eat and how many times a week. Such as 3 eggs, 3 small bananas a week. How many apples or tomatoes? Can I finish my meal with a piece of fruit? 2 slices of whole meal bread a day. Can I eat rice krispies or Corn flakes or pop corn? Blue or green cap milk. I hardly take any as it is. A dash in my tea and little amount in cereal. Salt or butter? How to count carbs and calorie control? The list is endless.
I also suffer from depression and anxiety and am on meds for life. Battled Breast cancer in 2016. I am originally an Indian female with strong will power, principled and aim for perfection, not a positive trait to have, I hasten to add. I cook and prefer to eat home cooked meals. So, I know there are choices out there as long as I ve the knowledge and understanding.
I am sure you can understand my desperation, confusion and frustration. I am so grateful that I ve found this platform. Thanks. Stay safe and healthy!

 

[Purls of Wisdom]

Hi Purls of Wisdom, welcome to the forum.

It’s natural to be concerned when first diagnosed, especially as you don’t know your type yet. I think I ate two tablespoons of porridge the first day I was diagnosed as I was scared senseless due to not having the right info and worried I’d implode!

Knowing what to eat and when is a process which we’ve all been through so please try not to be so hard on yourself as you’ll get there in time.

Could you tell us more about how you came to be diagnosed and is there any way you could give them a nudge to confirm your type?

It might help to have a look at the info on our main site such as ideas on what to eat which I found useful regardless of type.

Living with diabetes

We know that everyone’s experience of diabetes is different. Whether you’re living with diabetes or care for a loved one who does, we’re here for you. Our website is packed full of trusted information, developed by experts. From advice about treatments and what to eat, to practical guidance and...

www.diabetes.org.uk

We’re here to support you every step of the way so feel free to give us a call on 0345 123 2399 to talk through any concerns you may have and be sure to have a read through the forum for some insights and ask as many questions as needs be .

Thanks. This forum is something I needed badly. I know now that I have support of real people who are either in the same boat as myself or been thru it. Thanking you all with much appreciation.

 

[Leadinglights]

I can see your confusion about what to eat as there are many ways that people manage their diabetes and it is a matter of finding the way that suits you and that to a large extent depends on not just the diabetic type you are but what medications people take. This is why you will see a variety of different ways people manage their blood glucose levels.
In theory people who take insulin will have a different dietary regime they follow and even then it will depend on what their insulin regime is what they will need to do diet wise.
If they are adjusting their insulin dose to compensate for the amount of carbs they eat, in theory they can have a normal diet just like any non diabetic, however if they are told what dose of insulin to take then they would need to eat a fixed amount of carbs for that insulin.
There is a lot to learn and get your head around at the start.
The people who are Type 2 who are dietary managed with or without oral meds will often choose to go a low carb route which would mean they would not have potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, cereals, tropical fruits as well as cakes, biscuits, and sugary drinks. Many people adopt the principal of eating to their monitor as everybody is different and one size definitely does not fit all.
I hope this helps clarify the varied information you see.

 

[harbottle]

Eggs are OK - the liver won't make cholesterol if dietary cholesterol is consumed (Unless you have a condition that means it doesn't do this.)

 

[Leadinglights]

Hopefully some people who take insulin will be along to comment on your insulin regime and dispel some of the myths about what you can and can't have.
I assume you have a blood glucose monitor as you should be testing frequently to avoid hypos. you have not mentioned what levels to are getting.
Being vegetarian should present no problem, there are several people here who are.
It sounds as if you haven't been given much support for your diabetic clinic.
Often when people go onto insulin then they do not need to take the gliclazide as it can be counter productive but others may know more about that.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @Purls of Wisdom At least you are vegetarian rather than vegan - they really have a hard time cutting down on carbs.
Whether on Insulin and Glic or not you can eat as much cheese and as many eggs as you want (because you aren't trying to lose weight). Though I have never eaten more than 400gms of cheese in a day, or more than 7 eggs in a day.. Avocados and Olives are also great for getting more calories without adding carbs. Tree nuts are also OK (carb wise) for the majority of Type 2's , but cashews can be a problem for some (like me).

 

[Windy]

I'm also vegetarian. I have quorn (sausages/pieces/mince), seitan, tofu, TVP/soya, cheese, nuts and eggs for protein, and make veggie curries and chillis, eat roasted cauliflower and broccoli, hummus, omelettes, soup, guacamole, cauliflower cheese, spag bolognaise etc. There's a fair amount that you can have, I know there's loads of conflicting information, but you can find lots to eat. I hope you find a way through it all, it does get easier, honestly.

 

[Purls of Wisdom]

Hi Purls of Wisdom, welcome to the forum.

It’s natural to be concerned when first diagnosed, especially as you don’t know your type yet. I think I ate two tablespoons of porridge the first day I was diagnosed as I was scared senseless due to not having the right info and worried I’d implode!

Knowing what to eat and when is a process which we’ve all been through so please try not to be so hard on yourself as you’ll get there in time.

Could you tell us more about how you came to be diagnosed and is there any way you could give them a nudge to confirm your type?

It might help to have a look at the info on our main site such as ideas on what to eat which I found useful regardless of type.

Living with diabetes

We know that everyone’s experience of diabetes is different. Whether you’re living with diabetes or care for a loved one who does, we’re here for you. Our website is packed full of trusted information, developed by experts. From advice about treatments and what to eat, to practical guidance and...

www.diabetes.org.uk

We’re here to support you every step of the way so feel free to give us a call on 0345 123 2399 to talk through any concerns you may have and be sure to have a read through the forum for some insights and ask as many questions as needs be .

 

[Purls of Wisdom]

The Surgery explained that they won't get results for the test done at the hospital. I am positive that 4 vials of blood was taken so that GP can have most recent results.
Seriously speaking, I could do without this uncertainty. Thanking you. X

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The Surgery explained that they won't get results for the test done at the hospital. I am positive that 4 vials of blood was taken so that GP can have most recent results.
Seriously speaking, I could do without this uncertainty. Thanking you. X

Ah @Purls of Wisdom ! Sorry to hear what a confusing and frustrating time you have been having

Depending on which tests are being done (possibly for autoantibodies and cPeptide), not all labs carry them out, so your samples may have had to be sent away - which can mean the results take longer to get back unfortunately.

Sounds like you have been reading advice on a wide range of diabetes management strategies, hoping to find ‘the way’. It would be so much simpler if diabetes operated like this, but it is a frustratingly fickle character, and along with having all manner of types and subtypes, even two people with notionally the same diagnosis could have success (or less so) by following exactly the same diet sheet. Because they are different people, with different gut biomes, genetic make-up, predispositions, reactions to foods, not to mention tastes and preferences.

There isn’t one single approach that will work for everyone. But actually, what works for someone else isn’t all that important - what really matters is what works for YOU!

Think of your diabetes diagnosis as an ongoing adventure of personal discovery and experimentation. Your blood glucose meter is your compass, and other‘s suggestions (whether forum folks or medical professionals) are your guidebooks and tour guides.

In short… Since you have background and mealtime insulin, in theory you can eat absolutely any amount of anything you want (however healthy or unhealthy that may be). You simply need to find the correct balance of dose and timing to match the carbs/sugars in whatever it is, so that the speed of the digestion of the food matches the action of the insulin, and your BG levels stay in range.

But on your voyage of personal discovery you will find various ’neighbourhoods’ that you don’t get on with, and popular sights and ‘attractions’ that leave you cold. Some foods simply won’t behave nicely for you, or will produce erratic results such that any potential enjoyment they may have provided is ruined by the BG chaos that ensues - no matter hard you try. Other meals or foods will be a real challenge, but the view from the summit will be so breathtaking you will be prepared to put the effort in to get there.

”Can you eat that?“ I can’t tell you... But I know you can use your BG meter to find out 🙂

 

[Jacen017]

I have recently been diagnosed. Type unconfirmed. It came as a shock to say the least. I did not know anything about it. Partly cos of needle phobia. Learning bit by bit but not enough. Being very hard on myself when it comes to meal times and more so too much information on the net and little support. Too early I have been told. I am acutely stuck with what to eat, how much a day and in week. I need urgent guidance before I starve myself to nothing. Please help.
Thanking you in advance.

Hi Purls Of Wisdom,

I don't have much advice on the types of food to eat as I'm currently matching my insulin to my meals and managing to have a normal diet without to much difficulty but I totally remember that panic and constant hunger!

As others suggest, the best thing is to test your blood glucose levels before a meal and then again 2 hours after the first bite to see what sort of impact that meal has had on you and you can start to get an idea of what you can tolerate. If I remember correctly you're looking for a rise of no more than 2-3 mmol. (Someone please correct me if I'm giving the wrong advice)

What I can help you with is the Needle Phobia that you mentioned. I also suffer from Needle Phobia and that for me was the worst part of being diagnosed with diabetes.

It was taking me almost 2 hours to prick my finger or inject at first and then as soon as I had managed to do it I had to start trying again so I could get the blood to test again after 2 hours! I had several times where I would faint with the needle in my stomach😳🙄.

What I found helped me in the end was to take the needle out of the lancing device and prick myself manually - it's more painful but gives me a feeling of control that I couldn't get using the device as intended.

For injections - I found that bouncing the needle gently on the stomach whilst taking deep breaths would cause it to just slip in almost accidentally.

I've also now purchased a device called TickleFlex which is absolutely brilliant, you slip it over the tip of your insulin pen and it hides the needle. It has little rubber arms that tickle the skin and distract so you don't feel the needle going in and at the same time it gathers the skin up onto the needle. It fits fine over my Novorapid pen but does not fit on my Toujeo pen properly.

I hope you're doing ok, it does all start to get better even though it feels like it never will at the start.

 

[Purls of Wisdom]

Ah @Purls of Wisdom ! Sorry to hear what a confusing and frustrating time you have been having

Depending on which tests are being done (possibly for autoantibodies and cPeptide), not all labs carry them out, so your samples may have had to be sent away - which can mean the results take longer to get back unfortunately.

Sounds like you have been reading advice on a wide range of diabetes management strategies, hoping to find ‘the way’. It would be so much simpler if diabetes operated like this, but it is a frustratingly fickle character, and along with having all manner of types and subtypes, even two people with notionally the same diagnosis could have success (or less so) by following exactly the same diet sheet. Because they are different people, with different gut biomes, genetic make-up, predispositions, reactions to foods, not to mention tastes and preferences.

There isn’t one single approach that will work for everyone. But actually, what works for someone else isn’t all that important - what really matters is what works for YOU!

Think of your diabetes diagnosis as an ongoing adventure of personal discovery and experimentation. Your blood glucose meter is your compass, and other‘s suggestions (whether forum folks or medical professionals) are your guidebooks and tour guides.

In short… Since you have background and mealtime insulin, in theory you can eat absolutely any amount of anything you want (however healthy or unhealthy that may be). You simply need to find the correct balance of dose and timing to match the carbs/sugars in whatever it is, so that the speed of the digestion of the food matches the action of the insulin, and your BG levels stay in range.

But on your voyage of personal discovery you will find various ’neighbourhoods’ that you don’t get on with, and popular sights and ‘attractions’ that leave you cold. Some foods simply won’t behave nicely for you, or will produce erratic results such that any potential enjoyment they may have provided is ruined by the BG chaos that ensues - no matter hard you try. Other meals or foods will be a real challenge, but the view from the summit will be so breathtaking you will be prepared to put the effort in to get there.

”Can you eat that?“ I can’t tell you... But I know you can use your BG meter to find out 🙂

How and where I can learn the correct balancing of dose and timing to match the carbs/sugars? Who is going to teach me? I won't ask when or how long cos I must learn to be patient and calm. Thanks.

 

[Purls of Wisdom]

Does that mean pricking my finger 4 times more?

Hi Purls Of Wisdom,

I don't have much advice on the types of food to eat as I'm currently matching my insulin to my meals and managing to have a normal diet without to much difficulty but I totally remember that panic and constant hunger!

As others suggest, the best thing is to test your blood glucose levels before a meal and then again 2 hours after the first bite to see what sort of impact that meal has had on you and you can start to get an idea of what you can tolerate. If I remember correctly you're looking for a rise of no more than 2-3 mmol. (Someone please correct me if I'm giving the wrong advice)

What I can help you with is the Needle Phobia that you mentioned. I also suffer from Needle Phobia and that for me was the worst part of being diagnosed with diabetes.

It was taking me almost 2 hours to prick my finger or inject at first and then as soon as I had managed to do it I had to start trying again so I could get the blood to test again after 2 hours! I had several times where I would faint with the needle in my stomach😳🙄.

What I found helped me in the end was to take the needle out of the lancing device and prick myself manually - it's more painful but gives me a feeling of control that I couldn't get using the device as intended.

For injections - I found that bouncing the needle gently on the stomach whilst taking deep breaths would cause it to just slip in almost accidentally.

I've also now purchased a device called TickleFlex which is absolutely brilliant, you slip it over the tip of your insulin pen and it hides the needle. It has little rubber arms that tickle the skin and distract so you don't feel the needle going in and at the same time it gathers the skin up onto the needle. It fits fine over my Novorapid pen but does not fit on my Toujeo pen properly.

I hope you're doing ok, it does all start to get better even though it feels like it never will at the start.

Does that mean I ve to prick my finger 4 times more daily?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

How and where I can learn the correct balancing of dose and timing to match the carbs/sugars? Who is going to teach me? I won't ask when or how long cos I must learn to be patient and calm. Thanks.

Some of that will depend on which type of diabetes you end up having, and whether you continue to use mealtime and background insulins (also known as basal:bolus or multiple daily injections).

For T1 and LADA/T1.5 there are online or in-person courses like DAFNE or Bertie (other local variants exist) which teach you about the interactions between insulin, carbs, alcohol, exercise, stress, temperature, illness and a host of other variables. And how to understand, interpret and use your BG meter results to help inform your decisions, doses and choices.

Essentially it’s an ongoing process of adjusting your background (basal) dose so that it just holds your BG levels steady when you don’t eat, then adjusting your insulin:carbohydrate ratio so that by calculating or estimating the amount of total carbohydrate in any meal or snack you can get an insulin dose that should match.

It sounds a lot more complex written down as a summary that it is in practice, and soon enough you’ll be able to guesstimate the carbs in any plate of food from 50 yards.

Good luck, and let us know how things go 🙂