Cereal help!!

[Busdriver60]

So sorry to hear about you having such a tough time and I know that you have a very supportive other half and that is invaluable.
What about driving jobs but not involving carrying passengers so delivery jobs that your diabetes does not preclude you from.
Or as LL suggested working in a supermarket etc.As well as helping financially I feel the self esteem would be a big positive for yourself.

Thanks Wendal, Ive been proactive today! I went to town, to a local job club where i had my CV updated, then to a job agency to register myself for work, either for warehouse work or driving class 1 job (light van or 3 and half ton lorry)
Also, for JSA (Job seekers allowance) I have also been advised I'm entitled to Universal credit. Things are looking a little more hopeful now.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks Wendal, Ive been proactive today! I went to town, to a local job club where i had my CV updated, then to a job agency to register myself for work, either for warehouse work or driving class 1 job (light van or 3 and half ton lorry)
Also, for JSA (Job seekers allowance) I have also been advised I'm entitled to Universal credit. Things are looking a little more hopeful now.

I met someone today who was a coach driver and had a stroke a couple of years ago and lost his licence, he is diabetic (not sure if he takes insulin) but he said he had just got his licence back and was able to drive minibuses.

 

[Busdriver60]

The DVLA are very strict, if you have diabetes as a PCV driver, they revoke your licence, while they investigate and it could, depending on your case, withhold it for up to 6-12 months. If professional driving is your living, the condition turns your life upside down and its devastating as I found out.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I find Alpen very ‘dusty’ and powdery and I’m guessing it’s quite high GI.

I don’t know what they do to Alpen, but I also found it to be very ‘spiky’ among mueslis.

I don’t eat cereal more than once in a blue moon these days, but when I get the itch I tend to opt for one of the ones based on nuts and seeds, and have a bowl which is more Greek Yoghurt and mixed (thawed) frozen berries, with a half-or-less portion of granola or muesli for texture. That’s a pretty nice breakfast, though I find a single slice of seedy toast more filling/sustaining and more reliable. Hey Ho!

 

[Standup]

No, my old manager won't have me back for anything but driving. Driving is out of the question ATM. I've only done driving work since I left school, so don't really have other skills, although I'm willing to learn If it's not too late.

Companies are expected to make 'reasonable adjustments' for things like diabetes although that often depends on the size of the company. Do you have an HR department? Might be worth talking to them rather than your line manager who may only see you as causing him problems. You say you've only driven but you probably have a lot of knowledge around rotas or the admin involved in planning routes, loads etc which could be used.

Although I'm currently off sick recovering from surgery I've already started the conversation about what changes might be needed for when I return to work. I appreciate not all managers or companies are understanding though but your company may have various policies you can quote back at them.

 

[Busdriver60]

Companies are expected to make 'reasonable adjustments' for things like diabetes although that often depends on the size of the company. Do you have an HR department? Might be worth talking to them rather than your line manager who may only see you as causing him problems. You say you've only driven but you probably have a lot of knowledge around rotas or the admin involved in planning routes, loads etc which could be used.

Although I'm currently off sick recovering from surgery I've already started the conversation about what changes might be needed for when I return to work. I appreciate not all managers or companies are understanding though but your company may have various policies you can quote back at them.

Well, I fully appreciate what you say, but I have already decided I don't want to do coach or bus driving anymore although I would to continue driving a light van instead, delivering parcels or something of that nature. I have some job interviews lined up next week, so I think I be lucky. Thank you anyway.

 

[Busdriver60]

Good evening, everyone! It's been quite a while since I last posted, so apologies for that. I've been busy looking for another driving (Non PCV) job or warehouse work would suit me, I have some job interviews lined up for next week, so hopefully have some positive news. My care nurse has prescribed Glicizide to start taking, once tablet every morning, I think. I haven't actually collected them yet. I hope to collect them tomorrow. Can I ask, what is the purpose of Glicizide? What is its main job once taken? For the first time, I stopped having cereal for breakfast, instead I now have eggs that is, an omlette made with two eggs. Before eating it, I checked my BG level, which was 6.2, then after breakfast, it read 6.5. It peaked at 8.2 later this morning. After 12pm it came down again to 6.8. It's never been this low, in the mornings. My BG levels used to shoot up after breakfast over the six weeks, since my first diagnosis, but not anymore! so, I'm really quite pleased. I've also recorded it on my Libre app which is a big help too. Any thoughts??

 

[Leadinglights]

Good evening, everyone! It's been quite a while since I last posted, so apologies for that. I've been busy looking for another driving (Non PCV) job or warehouse work would suit me, I have some job interviews lined up for next week, so hopefully have some positive news. My care nurse has prescribed Glicizide to start taking, once tablet every morning, I think. I haven't actually collected them yet. I hope to collect them tomorrow. Can I ask, what is the purpose of Glicizide? What is its main job once taken? For the first time, I stopped having cereal for breakfast, instead I now have eggs that is, an omlette made with two eggs. Before eating it, I checked my BG level, which was 6.2, then after breakfast, it read 6.5. It peaked at 8.2 later this morning. After 12pm it came down again to 6.8. It's never been this low, in the mornings. My BG levels used to shoot up after breakfast over the six weeks, since my first diagnosis, but not anymore! so, I'm really quite pleased. I've also recorded it on my Libre app which is a big help too. Any thoughts??

As you are taking insulin I'm not sure what the added benefit of gliclazide would be.
Gliclazide is a medication that is usually prescribed to encourage the pancreas to produce more insulin if it is able but if you are 3c then it may not be able to do that. If your pancreas still has some function it could help.
I would question the logic.
Other 3cs may have an opinion.

 

[Busdriver60]

As you are taking insulin I'm not sure what the added benefit of gliclazide would be.
Gliclazide is a medication that is usually prescribed to encourage the pancreas to produce more insulin if it is able but if you are 3c then it may not be able to do that. If your pancreas still has some function it could help.
I would question the logic.
Other 3cs may have an opinion.

I'm not entirely sure why, maybe I should ask the weekend care nurse before I start taking it?

 

[Drummer]

I'm not entirely sure why, maybe I should ask the weekend care nurse before I start taking it?

With Gliclazide you are going to be losing glucose from your blood so you need to test and even ensure your carb intake is spread through the day, plus doing low carb could lead to hypos

 

[Busdriver60]

Sorry for being ignorant about it, I'm not sure if I should be worried about it or not. Does it mean I would eat less while taking it?

 

[Leadinglights]

Sorry for being ignorant about it, I'm not sure if I should be worried about it or not. Does it mean I would eat less while taking it?

I am concerned you have been prescribed a medication without any proper guidance as to how it fits in with your current medication and diet.
The guidance for gliclazide is that you need to eat some carbs when taking it otherwise it has the potential to cause low blood glucose but how that fits in with the fact you take insulin I don't know.
It is usually something that would be prescribed for people with Type 2 when metformin was not tolerated or was not sufficiently effective and before insulin would be considered. However that is not your situation if 3c.
I think you need to be certain about what to do before taking it so ask whoever has prescribed it for advice.

 

[Busdriver60]

I am concerned you have been prescribed a medication without any proper guidance as to how it fits in with your current medication and diet.
The guidance for gliclazide is that you need to eat some carbs when taking it otherwise it has the potential to cause low blood glucose but how that fits in with the fact you take insulin I don't know.
It is usually something that would be prescribed for people with Type 2 when metformin was not tolerated or was not sufficiently effective and before insulin would be considered. However that is not your situation if 3c.
I think you need to be certain about what to do before taking it so ask whoever has prescribed it for advice.

I will definitely ring t the weekend care nurse and tell her I'm reluctant about taking it. I might even refuse it altogether. Thanks for your information, I'm very grateful.

 

[LUSTFORLIFE]

I joined this forum a few weeks ago, after being diagnosed with diabetes. I've started using my Freestyle Libre 2 yesterday and I'm learning to read my BG. This morning, after breakfast having eaten my favourite Alpen cereal, I was shocked to see a spike on my Libre (21.3).

View attachment 30501

The pack does say 'no added sugar' and my BG shot up!

I'm slim but I LOVE eating because I'm always hungry. I'm a sweet-toothed, especially chocolate.

But, can anyone please suggest the best cereal to eat without spiking?

Thank you

after many trial and errors of morning cereals, all my favourite ones, like alpen!, put my blood sugar up as much as yours, eventually I found a small bowl of all bran keeps me full and blood sugar very steady, unfortunately its the worlds most boring cereal, but better for bloods.

 

[Leadinglights]

after many trial and errors of morning cereals, all my favourite ones, like alpen!, put my blood sugar up as much as yours, eventually I found a small bowl of all bran keeps me full and blood sugar very steady, unfortunately its the worlds most boring cereal, but better for bloods.

I have tried the M & S grain free fruit and nut Granola which is £5 for 300g and only 8.2g carbs per 100g and it is very nice. This is a cheaper alternative to the Keto Hana granola which is 9g per 100g. They are not boring.

 

[Annette&Bert]

I will have a look for the M & S one.

 

[Annette&Bert]

Sorry for being ignorant about it, I'm not sure if I should be worried about it or not. Does it mean I would eat less while taking it?

I am concerned about you being prescribed Glicazide. Sorry if I'm wrong, but it doesn't seem to me that you have had your diabetes and the various medications explained to you. You need to have a serious talk with your diabetic nurse and ask questions.

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I will definitely ring t the weekend care nurse and tell her I'm reluctant about taking it. I might even refuse it altogether. Thanks for your information, I'm very grateful.

Getting clarification on why your GP has "imposed" this Glic on you seems a most sensible thing to do, initially.

I suggest you don't refuse it outright, but if you have not yet collected the Glic from the Pharmacy don't collect it for now. Then if the Surgery either decides to cancel the prescription the Pharmacy is able to bring it back onto their shelves with no financial loss to them or the NHS. Once it's been in your hands it can be returned to the Pharmacy for disposal but may not be issued to another patient and becomes a loss to the NHS.

Your circumstances are a bit different; potentially T3c as a result of damage to your panc'y and subsequent diabetes - but waiting for someone to verify you are to be classified with a T3c diagnosis. Currently on basal insulin (lantus) once daily. Libre 2 now available to you on prescription. All that makes you look like T3c is medically accepted by your Surgery.

However you are eating as if T2 for the most part, ie avoiding high carb items and now actively experimenting with "swops" eg omelette for cereal at breakfast and monitoring from your Libre 2 daily graphs - which is great. If a few days with low carb breakfasts confirms your swop is a good result, you could then consider targeting appropriate swops for lunches but doing this in baby steps is eminently sensible! The important thing is to be sure that your Surgery understands the changes you are making as part of your BG management - so they make whatever assessments well informed about how you are getting on. Plus changes you make need to be sustainable by you for the longer term, otherwise you are in danger of being adrift in no man's land if you can't sustain this adjusted lifestyle.

PS: No offence meant by reference to baby steps. You have this permanent medical diagnosis of Diabetes for the rest of your life (assuming there is no miraculous cure found for people with panc'y damage). There is everything to lose in rushing to somehow quickly resolve this and masses to gain by exploring steadily what your body will allow you to get away with from lowish carb eating and a basal insulin, supoorted by CGM. Currently you have overcome your fears about a daily injection and well done for that. So this is a bit like "eating an elephant" best tackled "one bite at a time". Along the way you need stability from your BG to allow the job hunting to be turned into proper employment, that isn't put at risk from new Medical complications. Good luck.

 

[rebrascora]

I think the issue with Gliclazide is that it is a Type 2 medication. It encourages or pushes the pancreas to produce more insulin. If it is unable to do that because it is damaged by disease or surgery or trauma, then the medication will not be effective or may put the failing pancreas under sufficient pressure that it fails quicker. Your nurse or GP has likely prescribed this medication because you are considered by them to be Type 2 and they probably have little or no understanding or Type 1 or Type 3c diabetes.
I was started on Gliclazide when I was first diagnosed and assumed Type 2 and it had no appreciable effect on me although lowering my carb intake like you are doing, did work initially as I didn't need my pancreas to release significant amounts of insulin to deal with carbs in my food and it was still able to trickle out enough to cover my basal needs ie. the steady trickle of glucose from my liver, for a while. You are already using basal insulin cover this function, so it may be that your remaining healthy beta cells are having a bit of a breather, particularly now you are eating lower carb, so they may be able to respond to the Gliclazide short term, but in the longer term almost certainly not and you will most likely eventually need a fast acting insulin for your meals, even if you are able to eat very low carb long term. Most likely if the Glic has any effect, it will put more strain on your remaining beta cells and they will fail more quickly and you will see your levels start to rise again. You have a means to monitor your levels very closely with the Libre and you are already on basal insulin so this reduces the possibility of you having a DKA (Diabetic KetoAcidosis) event so I think the only issue with Glic is that it will likely bring about the demise of your remaining beta cells more quickly. This can be a good thing and a bad thing in my opinion. The good thing is that you need a fast acting insulin sooner rather than later and be able to eat more normally rather than low carb but of course it is more injections and you have to learn how to carb count and adjust those doses for the food you eat and the timing of those in injections, which is doable but it is more complicated until you get used to it.... much like learning to drive a car from scratch.... gradually you do things on autopilot but initially you have to think about every single little task and what order to do them in.
I don't necessarily see the Gliclazide as a risk because you have CGM to monitor your levels in the unlikely event that your beta cells do manage to throw out enough insulin to cause a potential hypo, so as long as you are prepared for that risk you should be fine and if it does work a bit then you would be able to eat a few more carbs at least short term. I think the damage to your pancreas is almost certainly progressive from the point of view of its ability to perform these functions so you will most likely need both insulins eventually so I am not sure there is anything much to lose by giving it a go, particularly if you don't want to continue whittling your carbs down to a very low level with all your meals, but my gut feeling is that it is a short term stop gap treatment that may not be effective at all or may work a little bit for a period of time.....

Just my thoughts having used Gliclazide myself in a similar situation in that my insulin production was failing.... albeit that, unlike you, I didn't have any injected insulin when I was taking it, so my remaining beta cells were already at max capacity trying to cope with liver output and an increasingly very low carb diet.

 

[Judithdalston]

Thanks for your information, would it be ok for type 3c? Would Holland and Barrett be the best to buy diabetic cereal and chocolate? Or somewhere else they are quite expensive.

As a type 3c I eat Lidl’s posh 85% dark chocolate, you’ll find most brands give c.5.5-6 units of carb for two squares… to me in depends on personal taste which you prefer , and cost!