Diagnosed approximately five weeks ago...struggling...

[Bubbsie]

Hi Bubbsie
I still find it difficult to say I am diabetic and I'm a couple of years in, sounds weird but saying that feels like I'm saying its a part of me and I still feel like it's something that happened to me rather than something I am. It takes a while, and everyone deals with things differently. The shock of it all is much worse than the reality though I think. Give yourself time to adjust its a rollercoaster at first, then soon it's just a waltzer, and before you know it it's a gentle seesaw (honest 🙂).

Yes took me a while to say 'I am diabetic' for the first time...of course so far it has just been to family & friends...and the other doctors I see ( other health issues)...was reasonably philosophical when first told...didn't realise quite what diabetes was...then a couple of weeks in I came down with a bump...slowly finding a balance...and feeling more positive...the response I have had from my posts here is encouraging...thank you so much...

 

[Bubbsie]

Thank you...yes I have a lot going on at the moment...as someone who rarely went to their GP been difficult to have so much happen at once...surgery appointments...hospital...clinics...eye screening and so on...I have a glucose meter arriving today so will be able to start testing...and such a relief to finally 'speak' to others who know exactly what you are going through...

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi Bubbsie, welcome to the forum.... Sorry to hear about the DX

As far as what to eat, if to cut or reduce the carbs, things like Bread, pasta, rice, cereals & startchy vegetables like potatoes.... In fact if it's "green" & grown above ground then it's good. Avoid processed foods (particularly diet foods) as these all have hidden carbs.

Please think positively, have a positive attitude, easy for me to say but I have been there (struggling) so you are not alone, in fact this whole community is about shared experiences; we help & encourage eachother.on a daily basis.

To be frank Martin...never been good with vegetables...particularly the green ones...so have bought a Nutribullet and I am slowly introducing vegetables to my diet albeit by blitzing them...figure it may not be ideal but better than nothing ( I hope)...certainly feeling more positive...

 

[Bloden]

To be frank Martin...never been good with vegetables...particularly the green ones...so have bought a Nutribullet and I am slowly introducing vegetables to my diet albeit by blitzing them...figure it may not be ideal but better than nothing ( I hope)...certainly feeling more positive...

Good for you, Bubbsie! Sounds like you've grabbed the bull by the horns.😛 And you're right, baby steps are the way forward...😉

 

[Bubbsie]

Good for you, Bubbsie! Sounds like you've grabbed the bull by the horns.😛 And you're right, baby steps are the way forward...😉

Bloden thank you... but I think may be you are giving me too much credit...not sure I have grabbed the bull by the horns yet...think I may still be in my ' Honeymoon Phase' if there is such a thing with Diabetes...hoping my enthusiasm and resolve lasts...can't believe tried curly kale for the first time...yuk...but got it down...into celery and apple at the moment...then next spinach...need to do it...eating so little now thanks to the Metformin...and so need to lose the weight...

 

[Mini-Vicki]

Bloden thank you... but I think may be you are giving me too much credit...not sure I have grabbed the bull by the horns yet...think I may still be in my ' Honeymoon Phase' if there is such a thing with Diabetes...hoping my enthusiasm and resolve lasts...can't believe tried curly kale for the first time...yuk...but got it down...into celery and apple at the moment...then next spinach...need to do it...eating so little now thanks to the Metformin...and so need to lose the weight...

Ooooh kale is one of my favourite things I put it in a large saucepan with some butter and salt and let it cook down - delicious!
As for spinach, I'm not so keen, so I tend to microwave it, it shrinks down so much, so you can eat almost a whole bag of the stuff in a couple of bites. Or cook it down in a fryin pan and add eggs to make a spinach & feta omlette 🙂

 

[Bubbsie]

Ooooh kale is one of my favourite things I put it in a large saucepan with some butter and salt and let it cook down - delicious!
As for spinach, I'm not so keen, so I tend to microwave it, it shrinks down so much, so you can eat almost a whole bag of the stuff in a couple of bites. Or cook it down in a fryin pan and add eggs to make a spinach & feta omlette 🙂

Solid advice Mini-Vicki...however as ashamed as I am to admit it...never eaten 'my greens'...salad...or good veggies before... was strictly a 'roast potatoes' and white bread kind of girl...only way I can tolerate them greens and good things is blitzing them in the Nutribullet...amazed I am even doing that...

 

[Bubbsie]

Solid advice Mini-Vicki...however as ashamed as I am to admit it...never eaten 'my greens'...salad...or good veggies before... was strictly a 'roast potatoes' and white bread kind of girl...only way I can tolerate them greens and good things is blitzing them in the Nutribullet...amazed I am even doing that...

...although might try the spinach and feta omelette...love cheese...

 

[Mini-Vicki]

Solid advice Mini-Vicki...however as ashamed as I am to admit it...never eaten 'my greens'...salad...or good veggies before... was strictly a 'roast potatoes' and white bread kind of girl...only way I can tolerate them greens and good things is blitzing them in the Nutribullet...amazed I am even doing that...

My husband isn't that keen on greens, so I buy frozen, chopped spinach, and I tend to put a few of portions into meals. This works well with stew/casserole/curry type dishes, and you can't really taste it.
Feta and spinach omlette is one of my favourite things, also a spinach/mushroom/mozzarella omlette...
I really need to go and make my breakfast

 

[PinkGrapefruit]

Yes took me a while to say 'I am diabetic' for the first time...of course so far it has just been to family & friends...and the other doctors I see ( other health issues)...was reasonably philosophical when first told...didn't realise quite what diabetes was...then a couple of weeks in I came down with a bump...slowly finding a balance...and feeling more positive...the response I have had from my posts here is encouraging...thank you so much...

I feel ashamed when I tell people I am diabetic. I feel like their reaction is because I am overweight and it is all my own fault. (BMI 27). Maybe it is, I loved crisps and bread, and biscuits. Then I get the 'do exercise and eat kale' lecture. I'm one month in and last week for my birthday I got diet books and reverse diabetes books. It's all quite hard to take.

 

[Mini-Vicki]

I feel ashamed when I tell people I am diabetic. I feel like their reaction is because I am overweight and it is all my own fault. (BMI 27). Maybe it is, I loved crisps and bread, and biscuits. Then I get the 'do exercise and eat kale' lecture. I'm one month in and last week for my birthday I got diet books and reverse diabetes books. It's all quite hard to take.

Whilst being overweight can contribute to insulin resistance, it is now believed there is also a genetic component to T2.
You have no need to be ashamed of having this illness.
The birthday books sound like people are trying to help, and they care about you, but I completely understand being overwhelmed by things too.
There is a lot of misunderstanding about diabetes, which is not helped by the media, and people will often say things they think are helpful, but are often incorrect, and sometimes a bit hurtful, but I do think people are usually trying to help - in their own way!
Again, please don't be ashamed, you have recognised your illness, and you are making positive changes, that's pretty awesome 🙂

 

[Bubbsie]

I feel ashamed when I tell people I am diabetic. I feel like their reaction is because I am overweight and it is all my own fault. (BMI 27). Maybe it is, I loved crisps and bread, and biscuits. Then I get the 'do exercise and eat kale' lecture. I'm one month in and last week for my birthday I got diet books and reverse diabetes books. It's all quite hard to take.

I am reading a great book...called 'The First Year Type 2 Diabetes'...by Gretchen Becker...she is diabetic T2...would be ideal for you...as for the diet books wouldn't bother with them...take advice from those who are managing to control their diabetes...nothing to be ashamed of...I just found it hard because I hadn't fully understood what diabetes was or accepted it...starting to read about it...I want to understand it...and I want to manage it...so concentrate on that...not the negative comments or attitude...try the book...it's so informative...good luck and hold that head up high...

 

[Owen]

I feel ashamed when I tell people I am diabetic. I feel like their reaction is because I am overweight and it is all my own fault. (BMI 27). Maybe it is, I loved crisps and bread, and biscuits. Then I get the 'do exercise and eat kale' lecture. I'm one month in and last week for my birthday I got diet books and reverse diabetes books. It's all quite hard to take.

Like many things in life, you cannot precisely say why you got diabetes. Don't get hung up on what other people think. You are the only important part of the equation.
It does not matter what label is attached, it is important how you deal with it.
Don't feel pressured to make all the changes at once. Make small continuous changes and b before you know it, life will improve.

 

[Bloden]

Bloden thank you... but I think may be you are giving me too much credit...not sure I have grabbed the bull by the horns yet...think I may still be in my ' Honeymoon Phase' if there is such a thing with Diabetes...hoping my enthusiasm and resolve lasts...can't believe tried curly kale for the first time...yuk...but got it down...into celery and apple at the moment...then next spinach...need to do it...eating so little now thanks to the Metformin...and so need to lose the weight...

Give yourself credit where it's due! It sounds to me like you've got the diabetes bull in a headlock.😱🙂 I like the way you're taking baby steps - it makes sense really. Buy a packet of spinach and try it in different combinations until the packet's finished and decide if it's a keeper.😛 Kale - ugh! I love my veg, but kale is NOT one of my favs, too bitter. There are plenty more good-for-you greens out there...I find if I'm really hungry something like ratatouille really fills me up. 🙄
As for enthusiasm and resolve, you can make them last by reminding yourself why you're making these small changes. I do it because I want to be well (and see my nieces and nephews as adults, and keep living my Spanish adventure, and...and...the list is endless!). Sorry for the essay.🙄🙂

 

[Bloden]

I feel ashamed when I tell people I am diabetic. I feel like their reaction is because I am overweight and it is all my own fault. (BMI 27). Maybe it is, I loved crisps and bread, and biscuits. Then I get the 'do exercise and eat kale' lecture. I'm one month in and last week for my birthday I got diet books and reverse diabetes books. It's all quite hard to take.

Aw, PG, you don't have to be ashamed! Just take your time. It IS hard at first but luckily you found this forum and you've got some of the books, so you should be proud of the steps you've already taken. 🙂

 

[Bubbsie]

Give yourself credit where it's due! It sounds to me like you've got the diabetes bull in a headlock.😱🙂 I like the way you're taking baby steps - it makes sense really. Buy a packet of spinach and try it in different combinations until the packet's finished and decide if it's a keeper.😛 Kale - ugh! I love my veg, but kale is NOT one of my favs, too bitter. There are plenty more good-for-you greens out there...I find if I'm really hungry something like ratatouille really fills me up. 🙄
As for enthusiasm and resolve, you can make them last by reminding yourself why you're making these small changes. I do it because I want to be well (and see my nieces and nephews as adults, and keep living my Spanish adventure, and...and...the list is endless!). Sorry for the essay.🙄🙂

Hi Bloden...currently into celery and apples in the blitzer...about to try spinach... on my list...hate veg...never eaten salad...will be trying most things I've avoided for years...will have to be in my Nutribullet...may give up on the kale...it's just too green for me...and I enjoyed the 'essay' it all helps...still feeling positive...blood sugar 7.4 on waking...so that felt good...and had pate last night without any obvious ill effects...and out in the garden using up some of that energy while it lasts...

 

[Owen]

Yogurt, diced apple, 20g of Lizzies low sugar granola and cinnamon.

Tastes like apple crumble. Yoghurt, slows down the carbs. Do not even need a main.

 

[Bloden]

That's it! I'm getting a Nutribullet!! 😛