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Diagnosed Type 2

L

LeighB

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Morning

I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 a few days ago. I've joined the forum to learn more, and gather as much information as I can, to help me not only deal with the news but to learn to live with it.
 
Hi @LeighB and welcome to the forum.
In order for us to help you, could you tell us a little more about yourself.

A good starting point is what your HBA1c score was when you were diagnosed, this will indicate what you may need to do in order to get your diabetes under control.

Generally speaking, weight, diet and exercise are the 3 things to consider, there may be others.

May I point you in the direction of the learning zone at the top of the page as a good place to learn more and get a better understanding of diabetes in general, then ask as many questions as you wish and members will be only too pleased to offer help, advice and support, based on there own experiences and what has worked for them

Alan 😉
 
Good morning @LeighB and welcome to the forum. It is quite normal to feel overwhelmed and experience a range of emotions when you get your diagnosis. Firstly don't panic. You can make lifestyle changes that will help you manage your diabetes going forward.

Depending on your hbA1c results you may need medication as well. Generally speaking most T2s on this forum have found reducing their carbohydrate intake and losing weight, especially round their tummy area, if they need to helps bring their blood glucose levels down. Increasing your exercise as much as you are able is also good.

I found the help, support and advice from forum members invaluable when I joined last year as a newly diagnosed diabetic.
There is lots of information here. As we are all individual what works for some is less effective for others. Read through the posts and try different strategies to find what works for you.
 
@LeighB welcome to the forum. Was the diagnosis after one or two blood tests? I asked for a test last year first result was 69 and second three weeks later was 64. By end of year it was 44 but I was on medication. I joined here after my first appointment with the Diabetes nurse but wish I'd joined after my first test. I wasangry upset and bewildered but things do improve. If you are overweight or if you have fat roundyour middle moving more and losing weight is good idea. I've lost 2 and half stone.
This site is great.
This website is also good as on left hand side it has links to various websites including Freshwell and Caldesi. Don't panic. Take it steadily better for mental and physical health.

newforestpcn.co.uk

Diabetes & Metabolic Health | New Forest PCN

newforestpcn.co.uk newforestpcn.co.uk
 
Hi @LeighB and a very warm welcome from me 🙂 . I'm glad you decided to join us where you'll find lots of help and support. It can be so overwhelming when you're first diagnosed but it does get better with time.
 
Welcome to the forum @LeighB

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad you’ve found us 🙂

Have you only had your diagnosis notification? Or have you had an appointment with your diabetes nurse to suggest a starting point? And whether you are being recommended any meds to help you kick-start things?
 
Hi, thank you for the warm welcome. I went for a health assessment at Bupa, and ended up in the A&E because of chest pains and high blood sugar. I thought it was anxiety. My blood sugar was 16. I've been put on Metformin, once a day. The Dr at the A&E gave me a brief explanation about diabetes. I had an appointment with our local GP the next day, who did not offer any further information. Basically gave me a script for Metformin as per A&E instructions and that was it. I have no idea what the 16 result means. I'm trying to figure it all out through through Google.
 
Alan44 said:
Hi @LeighB and welcome to the forum.
In order for us to help you, could you tell us a little more about yourself.

A good starting point is what your HBA1c score was when you were diagnosed, this will indicate what you may need to do in order to get your diabetes under control.

Generally speaking, weight, diet and exercise are the 3 things to consider, there may be others.

May I point you in the direction of the learning zone at the top of the page as a good place to learn more and get a better understanding of diabetes in general, then ask as many questions as you wish and members will be only too pleased to offer help, advice and support, based on there own experiences and what has worked for them

Alan 😉
Click to expand...
Thanks, Alan.
 
LeighB said:
Hi, thank you for the warm welcome. I went for a health assessment at Bupa, and ended up in the A&E because of chest pains and high blood sugar. I thought it was anxiety. My blood sugar was 16. I've been put on Metformin, once a day. The Dr at the A&E gave me a brief explanation about diabetes. I had an appointment with our local GP the next day, who did not offer any further information. Basically gave me a script for Metformin as per A&E instructions and that was it. I have no idea what the 16 result means. I'm trying to figure it all out through through Google.
Click to expand...
OMG that is not good support from your GP, the test they would have done in the hospital was most likely a finger prick test which would have told them your blood glucose at that moment in time, the result of that would I guess have been 16mmol/l which is indeed something to be concerned about but that should be confirmed by a HbA1C blood test which is used for diagnosis where a result over 47mmol/mol would give you a diagnosis of diabetes as it is an average of blood glucose over the previous 3 months and therefore is not as influenced by the immediate effects of what you have just eaten, stress, infection etc.
Google can give some very conflicting information so I would not rely on everything you read there.
Metformin is a medication which helps the body use the insulin it produces more effectively and reduces the release of glucose by the liver but without dietary changes it is unlikely to be particularly effective.
This link has good reliable information and some ideas for those dietary changes as well as some menu plans. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
However you should ask your GP for an HbA1C test to confirm diagnosis and give you a starting point, it will be from a blood sample taken from your arm and sent to the lab.
What were the units attached to the result of 16, just to clarify.
 
I would be wary of information from Google and social media in general. There are some nuggets of good information but it is swamped by dross pushed by people who have their own agenda or want to sell you something. A current scam is selling people a pulse oximeter by telling them it will give them blood glucose readings without needles. As @Alan44 suggested, the Learning Zone is a good place to start. Also raise any questions or worries on the forum. There are plenty of people who can share their experience and point you in the right direction for help.
 
Leadinglights said:
OMG that is not good support from your GP, the test they would have done in the hospital was most likely a finger prick test which would have told them your blood glucose at that moment in time, the result of that would I guess have been 16mmol/l which is indeed something to be concerned about but that should be confirmed by a HbA1C blood test which is used for diagnosis where a result over 47mmol/mol would give you a diagnosis of diabetes as it is an average of blood glucose over the previous 3 months and therefore is not as influenced by the immediate effects of what you have just eaten, stress, infection etc.
Google can give some very conflicting information so I would not rely on everything you read there.
Metformin is a medication which helps the body use the insulin it produces more effectively and reduces the release of glucose by the liver but without dietary changes it is unlikely to be particularly effective.
This link has good reliable information and some ideas for those dietary changes as well as some menu plans. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
However you should ask your GP for an HbA1C test to confirm diagnosis and give you a starting point, it will be from a blood sample taken from your arm and sent to the lab.
What were the units attached to the result of 16, just to clarify.
Click to expand...
I just read the notes from A&E and HbA1C was 106.
 
Similar numbers to mine - HbA1c 113 and initial fingerprick 20mmol/l, diagnosed 1 month ago today.

As people have said above, diet, medication and exercise are the three main things that can help reduce blood sugar. I'd also add that stress can raise blood sugars so that might be something to address if it's a factor for you.

It's a shock at first, and sometimes a struggle to change things, but this forum is full of helpful people and information and I've learned so much useful stuff in just a month that I'm confident I can manage this thing.

Best of luck, and remember no question is stupid.
 
LeighB said:
I just read the notes from A&E and HbA1C was 106.
Click to expand...
Mine was 104.

Assuming you have 'dietary' Type 2, as the vast majority do, you need to get your blood glucose levels down by changing your diet.

If you need some guidance, I'd suggest you first have a look at:
- Dr Unwin's diet sheet for a quick summary, it has worked for hundreds of his patients;
- Dr Kim Andrews' simple Meal Planner and Food Lists, as handy a checklist as you will find;
and then, if you need more, look through the Diabetes UK and Freshwell websites plus members' other recommendations.

Good luck
 
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debs248 said:
Similar numbers to mine - HbA1c 113 and initial fingerprick 20mmol/l, diagnosed 1 month ago today.

As people have said above, diet, medication and exercise are the three main things that can help reduce blood sugar. I'd also add that stress can raise blood sugars so that might be something to address if it's a factor for you.

It's a shock at first, and sometimes a struggle to change things, but this forum is full of helpful people and information and I've learned so much useful stuff in just a month that I'm confident I can manage this thing.

Best of luck, and remember no question is stupid.
Click to expand...
Thanks, much appreciated.
 
LeighB said:
I just read the notes from A&E and HbA1C was 106.
Click to expand...
That is pretty high - but I started off with a HbA1c of 91 and my blood glucose level was 17.1 at diagnosis and was back to around normal in 6 months so it is - from my point of view, no big deal - assuming that you are an ordinary type 2 and not a more interesting case.
First DONT PANIC
Second Assess your intake of sugar and starch - the carbohydrates. These are what you are probably having problems with.
Third Consider getting a blood glucose tester. They are really useful to test how you deal with a meal or removing/including a particular food. Grains and beans seem to give different results for different people.
Fourth do not make huge changes straight away. I did but not everyone has my luck or my attitude (I am a bit of a pain particularly at 3am on a foul wet night when I can be insufferably cheerful) Changing to sugar free drinks, using cream in coffee, cutting out the carbs means that they should be replaced to some extent with the more nutritious food groups of proteins and fats. I did find that my need to eat reduced significantly. I ate at around 12 hour intervals for years. These days I often eat only once a day.
These days, over 8 years from diagnosis I don't eat grain, high starch veges or fruits - daily carbs are under 40 gm and mostly from salad and veges, with berries once in a while. I eat 'normal' meals - breakfast used to be a normal meal before Mr Kellogg came along. I have steak and mushrooms, chops and stirfry, even bacon and eggs or fish - last week I had duck stew a couple of times. I seem to be doing well on it.
 
debs248 said:
Similar numbers to mine - HbA1c 113 and initial fingerprick 20mmol/l, diagnosed 1 month ago today.

As people have said above, diet, medication and exercise are the three main things that can help reduce blood sugar. I'd also add that stress can raise blood sugars so that might be something to address if it's a factor for you.

It's a shock at first, and sometimes a struggle to change things, but this forum is full of helpful people and information and I've learned so much useful stuff in just a month that I'm confident I can manage this thing.

Best of luck, and remember no question is stupid.
Click to expand...
Pretty much where I started too, but it's still possible to turn things around if determined to do so.
 
JITR said:
Mine was 104.

Assuming you have 'dietary' Type 2, as the vast majority do, you need to get your blood glucose levels down by changing your diet.

If you need some guidance, I'd suggest you first have a look at:
- Dr Unwin's diet sheet for a quick summary, it has worked for hundreds of his patients;
- Dr Kim Andrews' simple Meal Planner and Food Lists, as handy a checklist as you will find;
and then, if you need more, look through the Diabetes UK and Freshwell websites plus members' other recommendations.

Good luck
Click to expand...

@LeighB
Just in case you didn't see the updated version of this with missing links added.
 
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LeighB said:
I just read the notes from A&E and HbA1C was 106.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying, that ties up with your finger prick of 16, just note the units are different HbA1C is in mmol/mol and finger pricks are mmol/l so don't confuse.
As said don't panic, read around the forum and the links and decide on a plan which is suitable for you and which you can stick to. Managing your blood glucose and reducing those numbers down is a marathon not a sprint so go steady in reducing carbohydrates over a few weeks to avoid issues with your eyes and nerves.
 
Leadinglights said:
... go steady in reducing carbohydrates over a few weeks to avoid issues with your eyes and nerves.
Click to expand...
@Leadinglights

That is a salutary warning. Do you say that on the basis of your experience and/or the following note on the Diabetes UK retinopathy page?

There is evidence to suggest that reducing blood sugar levels too quickly if they have been high for a long time may increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy. So it is important to work with your diabetes team to help you to reduce your blood sugar levels gradually over a few weeks or months.
See: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/looking-after-diabetes/complications/retinopathy

My GP said nothing about that when I told her about the VLCD I intended to follow. I had read Prof Roy Taylor's book and wanted to see if my FBG would come down from 17 mmol/L to around 6 mmol/L in 7 days. It did.

Thanks to Google AI, I have seen that studies indicate:

A rapid HbA1c reduction of more than 2% points within a period of 3 months is specifically noted in relation to worsening DR and TIND [Diabetic Retinopathy and Treatment Induced Neuropathy of Diabetes]

I have put worsening in bold as pre-existing DR is a stated risk factor. Early worsening (EWDR) in some cases is well documented.

@Leadinglights, would you agree everyone should have their eyes checked for signs of retinopathy before starting any ambitious glucose and/or weight reduction programme? Or, on the precautionary principle, does your advice apply even when there are no signs of retinopathy?

P.S. As it happened the retinal images taken at my annual visit the opticians showed no sign of retinopathy before or after diagnosis.
 
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