Diagnosed T2 one week ago

[Tinx]

Hello and welcome Catlady
Excellent advice from Windy and others. We all felt pretty devastated when first diagnosed but have learned a new way of living.
I suggest you educate yourself by working through the Learning Zone (orange tab above) one module a day so you can take it all in. If Metformin does not settle down, I suggest you ask for the slow release version, which is kinder on the inner workings. The best way to take them is in the middle of a meal so they are surrounded by food in your tummy.
My next suggestion is to keep a food diary alongside your glucose monitoring, so you can see what foods spike your glucose level. There are free apps online and others. I use NutraCheck which is £7.99 a month, less than a cup of cafe coffee a week. It was the first thing I did on diagnosis.
The foods to cut down on are all carbs, not just sugar, and others have mentioned looking for alternatives. Everyone is different so it is trial and error what suits you best. I experimented between 50gm and 130gm a day, settling on 90gm. Some are very sensitive so go much lower, but it is suggested to be below 130gm.
I don't know how active you are, but exercise is also important. I went from nothing to 3 x Aquafit classes a week and that has worked wonders for my wellbeing and waistline! But even a short walk each day will help. My 80+ year old neighbour goes out for a cycle a couple of times a week, and an 80+ year old friend will do 25 lengths of her local pool twice a week as well. Age is no barrier and water supports all those creaking joints.
Now you are in the system you will be referred for annual eye and foot testing, plus regular blood tests including cholesterol, liver and kidney functions and your HbA1c. You will also have your weight and blood pressure checked. But with things as they are at present, it may take time, so best to help yourself as much as possible.
My forum name also refers cats, and I'm known locally as Catwoman! Best wishes

Thank you Felinia, that’s a lot of useful information. I know Nutracheck having used it in the past and they are a very good organisation. I thought there might be something to help with carb monitoring on this site rather than paying elsewhere but I may not have come across it yet.

Exercise wise I prefer a walk to the gym and I like swimming but haven’t used a pool in ages thanks to covid.
Nice to meet a fellow cat lady!

 

[Leadinglights]

Urine dip sticks are not the usual way of monitoring your glucose levels after food. It would not be until your blood glucose levels were above 10mmol/l that it would show in urine. The aim for testing the effect of food/meals on your blood glucose would be not to be above 8mmol/l 2 hours after your meal. To be at a level that would show on a dip stick would not be doing you much good in the long run.
So really a blood glucose monitor would be much more appropriate.

 

[Tinx]

When I did a MYDESMOND face to face course several years ago they handed out a pot of urine test strips to everybody and told people to check using those, needless to say I bought a blood glucose monitor.

Do they both give the same results and if so, which is a good one to buy?

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you Felinia, that’s a lot of useful information. I know Nutracheck having used it in the past and they are a very good organisation. I thought there might be something to help with carb monitoring on this site rather than paying elsewhere but I may not have come across it yet.

Exercise wise I prefer a walk to the gym and I like swimming but haven’t used a pool in ages thanks to covid.
Nice to meet a fellow cat lady!

If you don't want to be paying then arm yourself with Carbs and Cals book (about £10) or do internet search for Total Carbs of X and a notebook and pencil for a low tech option.

 

[Tinx]

Ah, thought it might be something like that.

They are something rarely mentioned on the forum because as a general thing, nobody uses them! This lack of general experience makes it hard to make sensible comments on the number you have found. In any case, as far as I know, they tell you how much sugar is in your urine, not in your bloodstream and again from my limited knowledge you will get glucose in your urine when the glucose level on your blood is much higher than desirable and the kidneys have started start to work overtime to try and get rid of it. I have no real idea if you can relate the two but I doubt you can.

When most of us talk about glucose readings we are talking about glucose in the blood. This is obtained by pricking your finger with a lancet and transferring a drop of blood onto a test strip which has been inserted into a reader. This gives you a direct reading of blood glucose and is far, far better when it comes to checking the effect of food stuffs on blood glucose as well as giving you a general idea about whether your blood glucose is high. So, with an HbA1c of 89 you would expect to see readings on a blood glucose meter in the teens; highish teens after you have eaten and lowish teens a couple of hours after. Thats where mine were. These days they are in the range 5 to 10 and mostly nearer 5 than 10 and my HbA1c is around 40.

Did you get the test strips from your GP? If so you might try and talk him/her into giving you a proper test meter. They are not obliged to, but some see the sense in prescribing one.

Takes time to get a proper perspective on things and I hope that helps with getting your head round the numbers and what they mean. Take it a step at a time and just keep on asking questions.

Thank you that’s very helpful. If I can’t get a meter on prescription then I’ll look into buying one. If you have any ideas which are best I’d be glad to know.

 

[Leadinglights]

Do they both give the same results and if so, which is a good one to buy?

Dip sticks do not measure the same thing as from a blood sample.
The GlucoNavil is a inexpensive relable monitor with the cheapest test strips as it will be those you will use lots of to start with. You get a few strips and lancets in the kit but you should buy extra at the start. You can get from Amazon or Home Health website. You do not need to pay VAT.

 

[Windy]

Thank you, Sarah.

It is the urine test strips I’m using (picture posted) but not for fasting as nurse said to use them two hours after eating. I’m also working on the weight loss as I was doing before diagnosis so I think I wasn’t expecting to find I am diabetic.

Have you done the course? Was it helpful?

I'm a newish diabetic, I've never seen urine test strips. I did the DESMOND course (two days ago, as it happens), and we didn't get given any test strips there.
Bits of the course were helpful, in particular about foot care, which I didn't know about. I told them how I like to dry my feet with the hairdryer, and that's not a good idea apparently! We also went over cholesterol levels and mine weren't even on the chart that they showed as the scale didn't go that far.
The eatwell guide I was a bit dubious about, but didn't stick my oar in about how much carbohydrate was meant to make up my plate. I used to love carbs, but like a break up from a bad relationship, I don't want them in my life at the moment.

I'd recommend going, but I trust the "lived experience" of the people on the forum who've managed to get their diabetes controlled over the lovely trainers who told me it was ok to eat bread etc. as I can't see how eating something that my body can't process very well is a good idea.

Also, I bought "Pocket Carbs and Cals", and track my meals on a spreadsheet, along with my blood sugar levels - bought a Gluco Navii and got the practice nurse to do the first test with me as I'm a wimp. Since then, I'm fine with using it. Thought the finger pricking would be nasty, but I can't tell which finger I've done ten minutes later.
I've lost 9Kg (approx 18Lbs) so far, getting diagnosed has concentrated my mind on getting it done. Still another 30Kg to go, but I can do it if I keep going.

 

[Alan S]

Hello everyone

I am 63 and was diagnosed with diabetes a week ago. I’m guessing it’s Type 2 as nobody has said differently. Apparently the blood test flagged it up and a urine test for protein and ketones confirmed it. All I know is that I’d had months of an exceptionally dry mouth, plus other very uncomfortable symptoms.

snip.

I feel like I’m wandering round in the dark with this. There aren’t any of the courses running apart from virtually and I’m waiting to hear. I wouldn’t mind knowing if I should limit just sugar or all carbs and by how much.

I wrote this to help you begin: Getting Started. I know you will have lots of questions after you read that and the pages it links to. Come back and ask them all.

 

[Drummer]

I was given dip sticks at the 'education' course I did - i did use them as instructed, never got any reaction as I went low carb from the moment of diagnosis.
I have a Spirit Healthcare Tee 2 + blood glucose tester which usually shows 6 or 7 mmol/l after meals.

 

[Felinia]

Thank you Felinia, that’s a lot of useful information. I know Nutracheck having used it in the past and they are a very good organisation. I thought there might be something to help with carb monitoring on this site rather than paying elsewhere but I may not have come across it yet.

Exercise wise I prefer a walk to the gym and I like swimming but haven’t used a pool in ages thanks to covid.
Nice to meet a fellow cat lady!

I went back to the pool after reading that the WHO said chlorine rendered COVID inert. But I must admit with this current spike many people are staying away, including me, and 2 of the pools have cancelled their classes. Back to the home exercise bike!

 

[JackyAM]

I am type 2, on metformin. I asked my diabetic nurse if I could have a meter and she told me they are only given out to people who are type 1 or type 2 on certain medications that may cause a spike - ie not metformin.
I was not offered urine strips as an alternative.

 

[rebrascora]

I am type 2, on metformin. I asked my diabetic nurse if I could have a meter and she told me they are only given out to people who are type 1 or type 2 on certain medications that may cause a spike - ie not metformin.
I was not offered urine strips as an alternative.

Urine strips will be of little help to you. Most Type 2s have to self fund if they want a BG meter but it is a very worthwhile investment for allowing you to take control of your diabetes management and enables you to see how your body responds to various foods/meals which then allows you to make informed decisions about what to eat to manage your diabetes well. Trying to manage your diabetes without one is like driving a car without a speedometer. You can do your best but still get a nasty surprise when a speeding fine lands on your doormat or you get a higher HbA1c result than you would like in 3/6months time when you get your next blood test...... or you can keep an eye on your levels day by day and meal by meal and adjust so that you keep within the limits and don't risk getting any nasty surprises.

 

[Windy]

I bought my own meter and test first thing in the morning, and before and then two hours after meals. However, if it's a meal I've had before (so I have mushroom and cheese omelette most days for breakfast, or home made soup for lunch), I don't test for that, as I've got a fair idea of what it's going to do to my BS levels. If I cook something new, I'll test still, and adjust either the recipe or portion size if I get a higher reading.
The nurse at my practice said they could have given me a BS meter, so it seems a bit random and inequitable if you can or can't have one on the NHS if you're a T2.

 

[Leadinglights]

I am type 2, on metformin. I asked my diabetic nurse if I could have a meter and she told me they are only given out to people who are type 1 or type 2 on certain medications that may cause a spike - ie not metformin.
I was not offered urine strips as an alternative.

Urine strips for glucose are not usually something given out now, the recent mention of them is not something people have even mentioned in all the time I have been looking at the forum.

 

[Leadinglights]

I bought my own meter and test first thing in the morning, and before and then two hours after meals. However, if it's a meal I've had before (so I have mushroom and cheese omelette most days for breakfast, or home made soup for lunch), I don't test for that, as I've got a fair idea of what it's going to do to my BS levels. If I cook something new, I'll test still, and adjust either the recipe or portion size if I get a higher reading.
The nurse at my practice said they could have given me a BS meter, so it seems a bit random and inequitable if you can or can't have one on the NHS if you're a T2.

It does seem to be pretty random, may depend on what budget the practice has for diabetic support, not that it should be.

 

[trophywench]

Testing urine for glucose is not a precise science since it doesn't distinguish whether the person has a normal renal threshhold or not. If you do have a normal renal threshhold, glucose spills over into your urine when your blood glucose reaches c. 11.0 - ie DOUBLE what it ought to be. If your renal thresshold happens to be more or less, your blood glucose could be anything.

Utterly useless in this day and age - and pretty useless in the first place really TBH. (how the hell are some of us still here.....)

 

[Alan S]

I am type 2, on metformin. I asked my diabetic nurse if I could have a meter and she told me they are only given out to people who are type 1 or type 2 on certain medications that may cause a spike - ie not metformin.
I was not offered urine strips as an alternative.

That is terrible advice. Are you able to change your doctor or nurse? Read this to see why: Test, Review, Adjust

How long ago were you diagnosed and has the advice you have received led to improvement?

 

[Tinx]

Urine strips for glucose are not usually something given out now, the recent mention of them is not something people have even mentioned in all the time I have been looking at the forum.

My T2 was diagnosed in Nov 2021 so not long ago. The nurse just said use them 2 hours after eating. I guess it depends on area?

Also, I had a text message from the surgery to book a blood test - 1st one since starting metformin. I asked what would happen and whether I should ring for the results. Receptionist just said if the nurse is concerned she’ll call you otherwise she won’t. Not helpful. My friend had a call from her pharmacy shortly after starting metformin to see how she was doing. I got nothing. Wouldn’t it be nice if care was consistent?

 

[Lucyr]

My T2 was diagnosed in Nov 2021 so not long ago. The nurse just said use them 2 hours after eating. I guess it depends on area?

Also, I had a text message from the surgery to book a blood test - 1st one since starting metformin. I asked what would happen and whether I should ring for the results. Receptionist just said if the nurse is concerned she’ll call you otherwise she won’t. Not helpful. My friend had a call from her pharmacy shortly after starting metformin to see how she was doing. I got nothing. Wouldn’t it be nice if care was consistent?

Do you have the nhs app with access set up to view your test results? Ask your surgery how to get access to your test results online if you don’t have it.

 

[Tinx]

Do you have the nhs app with access set up to view your test results? Ask your surgery how to get access to your test results online if you don’t have it.

That’s a whole other issue! I’ve been trying to get access now for the past month. I’ve had a lovely lady in admin trying to solve the problem as the surgery say they can see I have access but I don’t have it from my side. It’s been referred to some techy person in the company that runs their online access.