Diagnosed last week - feeling devastated

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Pinhead

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Diagnosed with Type 2 just under a week ago. HBA1C was 58. Put on metformin.

I shouldn't be surprised even though I had no symptoms - I have a parent with Type 2 and you could describe my eating habits over the past 5 years as 'kamikaze' to say the least. Still, I'm bereft. Food has been my priority, my comfort and my passion, and I keep waking up in a panic thinking about all the things I'll never be able to eat again.

I haven't heard from the diabetes clinic yet and am overwhelmed.

I've been having a tough time medically over the past few years and this is the last thing I need. How can I stop being so angry and seeing this as the end of the world?
 
Hi Pinhead,

Welcome to the Forumn, the advice I was given by my Diabetes Specialist Nurse back in 2015 when I was diagnosed was eat in moderation and as such I have not dropped any food, I just eat smaller portions.

I have been on Metformin since then and continue to live life, just listen to the advice of your Diabetes Nurse, available on Diabetes UK Website and this forumn and manage condition, whilst living life.
 
Pinhead said:
Diagnosed with Type 2 just under a week ago. HBA1C was 58. Put on metformin.

I shouldn't be surprised even though I had no symptoms - I have a parent with Type 2 and you could describe my eating habits over the past 5 years as 'kamikaze' to say the least. Still, I'm bereft. Food has been my priority, my comfort and my passion, and I keep waking up in a panic thinking about all the things I'll never be able to eat again.

I haven't heard from the diabetes clinic yet and am overwhelmed.

I've been having a tough time medically over the past few years and this is the last thing I need. How can I stop being so angry and seeing this as the end of the world?
Click to expand...
A diagnosis can come as a shock but it sometimes can explain symptoms you have been having so is actually a relief to find out what it is and that it is a condition that is perfectly manageable with some dietary changes. The stress over your other medical conditions can cause blood glucose to increase but where you are is not desperately high, many start in triple figures so you are actually not far into the diabetes zone.
Many find that a low carbohydrate approach is successful and this link may give you some ideas for modifying your diet as well as some explanation about the condition.
It is better to think of all the foods you can have rather than dwelling on those that it is unwise to have or can have but need to watch your portion size. Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, nuts, vegetables, salads, fruit like berries are all good foods to base you meals on with small portions of high carb foods.
Low carb does not mean NO carbs. it is suggested no more than 130g carbs per day is a good starting point. The metformin will help your body use the insulin it produces more effectively but diet will have the most impact.
 
Tim Aylesbury said:
Hi Pinhead,

Welcome to the Forumn, the advice I was given by my Diabetes Specialist Nurse back in 2015 when I was diagnosed was eat in moderation and as such I have not dropped any food, I just eat smaller portions.

I have been on Metformin since then and continue to live life, just listen to the advice of your Diabetes Nurse, available on Diabetes UK Website and this forumn and manage condition, whilst living life.
Click to expand...
Thanks Tim - did you have weight to lose as part of your plan, and were you able to do so by reducing portion size alone?
 
Hi Pinhead, welcome to the forum.

I can empathise with feeling as though it's the end of the world as food is such a huge part of my culture. Thankfully, it isn't the end of the world and your numbers are low enough to turn things around with consistent modifications.

Many have used their diagnosis as an opportunity to explore new ways of doing things so increasing foods that you like that aren't as high in carbs, learning to cook your fav meals using slightly different ingredients and increasing daily activity.

We've got a new remission section which may be helpful for some ideas of how others have been able to reduce their numbers.

Do feel free to let us know if we can help in any way.
 
Many people in this forum and thousand worldwide have used a Low Carb way of eating put Type 2 diabetes into remission starting from an HbA1C near or in the 100's, so to do it from a staring level of 52 is relatively simple for most.
 
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