Hi Clairebear7919 Welcome to the club. I've read all the posts and you've been given excellent advice. I'd like to tell you how I tackled Type2 when I was diagnosed last August, to give you some tips I found worked for me.
But first a few questions.
1) You said overall your reading was 96 - was that your HbA1c? If it was, were you given medication like Meformin? If so, what dosage? I've not heard of anyone with a level that high who was not immediately put on Metformin etc and monitoring arranged. Type 2 diabetics don't get supplied with meters usually, but it is a good idea to get one as others have suggested.
2) You said your finger prick was 18, but how long was that after eating - it makes a difference as does what you ate?
This information helps members advise you.
3) Were you told about all the tests you should have done annually on automatic recall? These include eye scans for retinopathy, foot tests for nerve damage, blood tests for cholesterol levels and organ function. If you have not been advised about these tests, or they have not been booked or carried out, then please chase your GP surgery to get them organised.
4) Were you told that as a diagnosed diabetic you were entitled to free prescriptions (so don't get a pre-paid certificate or if you already have, find out about getting a refund)?
5) Were you told you are entitled to a free Training Course, which the GP has to make a referral for you? It will include dietary information. Again chase your GP to get one arranged, if it has not been.
I am very lucky to have such a good GP practise but the more I read on here, the more appalled I am that so many people are just told "you have Diabetes" and sent on their way with pills, left to struggle for weeks until the appointments eventually come through - or don't.
The tips/suggestions
a) Work your way through the Learning Zone for Type 2. It is absolutely invaluable. I did one or 2 sections a day, to give them a chance to sink in. One of the things it will give you is a list of the 15 (I think) annual tests you should have.
b) Exercise!!! You don't have to be a gym bunny if you don't want to, but there are plenty of classes out there. It could be something as simple as a walk each day, round the block at lunchtime, walk part of the way to work. For me it was the swimming pool. I've gone from couch sack of potatoes, to 4 Aquafit sessions a week, but I know of people who do an early morning swim, or lunchtime, or after work.
c) Drink lots of water - yes it does have consequences but is so good for you.
d) Monitoring You are aware about reducing carbs from others here - not just the usual suspects, but the hidden carbs. But carbs affect people differently, we are all unique and have to find what suits us best. I too was told not to monitor, to avoid becoming obsessive. But if you don't monitor, you can't work out what affects you. For example, potatoes and apples are lethal to me, but I can take the occasional slice of low carb bread, or a small portion of oats. Others will get totally different results. The advice I was given was to monitor on rising, then immediately for eating, then 2 hours after eating, then immediately before going to bed. Some even monitor in the middle of the night. I compared them to a food diary to see what I could eat, and what I was best to avoid. Once I was comfortable I stopped monitoring, except for new foods, and my sore fingers thanked me.
e) Eating plan. To keep control of my carb intake, I plan a day in advance, and record everything on a website which has thousands of foods, with their carbs, sugars, cals, protein, fat, sat fat, fibre and salt values. It takes just a few minutes, and you know what to get out of the freezer! It does require a little discipline to weigh everything, but I keep my digital scales on the kitchen worktop ready for meal preparation, and it quickly became 2nd nature. Guessing is fatal - a recent TV programme showed people massively overestimate a portion size, so take in far more carbs etc than they should! And don't forget to record everything - milk, snacks, the odd nibble - nothing is free
f) Carbs. DUK recommend less than 130gm carbs a day, but most of us go a lot lower. I experimented to find out what suited me and settled on 75gm +- 15gm a day. Less than that and I felt ill. But some manage happily on less, some need more.
g) Relax - you will soon learn to manage and what seems overwhelming at first becomes 2nd nature.
BUT 35 is young for Type 2 when you are not particularly overweight, so please make sure you do get your HbA1c redone within 3 months. It will also help your peace of mind if you know you are going in the right direction. I never assume no news is good news - these days you seem to have to chase for your test results. Best wishes
