Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in early August 2022 and feeling totally overwhelmed

[DollysandNugsAuntieT]

Hi everyone,
I'm DollysandNugsAuntieT. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in early August last year and I feel like I'm not allowed to get used to my diagnosis as I've had family and friends (my best friend hasn't told me what to do), but my fiancé's twin sister asked me how my appointment with the practice nurse went yesterday as I had a double appointment with her as I was having an asthma and diabetes review and she'd asked me if I have stopped eating my snacks and chocolate. I have managed to cut them down, but not stop them fully as I've got another medical condition that makes it difficult for me to lose weight.

The practice nurse was really lovely and understanding (my fiancé's twin sister has got type 2 diabetes herself (apparently she's been told that it's in remission, but I've read somewhere that it's rare and hardly ever lasts) and she struggled with her diabetes herself as she had to find a way to cut down on chocolate and other snacks herself but she doesn't have the extra problem that I have of a medical condition that makes it difficult to lose weight.

I haven't shown her message to my fiance yet as he's asleep as he's got to be up for work early in the morning.

I haven't even replied to her message as 1 I only found it a few mins ago and also because it sounds like she's having a go at me with the way she's worded her message.

She's also got health problems as I think that she lost her weight to fast.

I am trying to lose weight, but it's hard because of the medical condition I have that makes it much more difficult for me to lose weight.

I'm just hoping that when I do show my fiance his twin sister's message he doesn't do his fave trick and instantly agrees with her as he knows I hate when he does that.

He really did my head when we lived in his home town as he would rather go and help his sisters and ignore me, but then I gave him a wake up call so to speak as I had to remind him that I was his partner and not his sisters as I was getting fed up of him "running off" to help his sisters (who all have partners one of which is a lazy so n so) instead of spending time with me and doing things with me.

I am fed up with trying to ask my mum and fiance for support by getting healthy food or at least cutting down on the fatty foods we eat.

We haven't got the space in the kitchen for me to put my own food in as all of the cupboards are full and the kitchen is really small.

Plus even if there was room everything would end up being put in there anyway.
I'm just waiting for someone from the diabetes education team to contact me so that they can explain what they do and then hopefully they will send me to the diabetes education course at my local hospital as its only 10-20 min walk from my home to the local hospital, but the other place where they hold it is too far away from where I live for me to get to.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I wouldn't say I'm in remission, neither do I diet control.
I reversed it with weight loss, on an NHS low fat diet, and the 800 calorie shake based Newcastle Diet, so, yes, it's possible.

 

[DollysandNugsAuntieT]

I'm thinking of doing some research into diets and diet plans, but the thing I struggle with is my chocolate. I can give crisps as I sometimes get really bored of eating them.
I am also struggling with not eating white bread, pasta and other things like that as my fiance makes really nice homemade mashed potatoes. All he puts in it is a small amount of butter to soften the potatoes to make them easier to mash and that's it.
Also I love gravy., but we don't buy it as often as we used to and we try to get the reduced salt ones as my mum has high blood pressure.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I'm thinking of doing some research into diets and diet plans, but the thing I struggle with is my chocolate. I can give crisps as I sometimes get really bored of eating them.
I am also struggling with not eating white bread, pasta and other things like that as my fiance makes really nice homemade mashed potatoes. All he puts in it is a small amount of butter to soften the potatoes to make them easier to mash and that's it.
Also I love gravy., but we don't buy it as often as we used to and we try to get the reduced salt ones as my mum has high blood pressure.

I found the Newcastle diet severed my relationship with food, so it was actually easier at the end of the diet.

 

[Drummer]

I'm thinking of doing some research into diets and diet plans, but the thing I struggle with is my chocolate. I can give crisps as I sometimes get really bored of eating them.
I am also struggling with not eating white bread, pasta and other things like that as my fiance makes really nice homemade mashed potatoes. All he puts in it is a small amount of butter to soften the potatoes to make them easier to mash and that's it.
Also I love gravy., but we don't buy it as often as we used to and we try to get the reduced salt ones as my mum has high blood pressure.

Chocolate is absolutely fine, it is the huge amounts of added sugar which cause the problems, so it you have high cocoa bars and just small amounts then chocolate is fine.
Quite a few people seem to find no problem in getting back into normal, or close to normal numbers, it is the low carb diet which seems to give consistent results, though the Newcastle diet seems to work every time it is repeated to lose weight.
I find that I can put on weight very easily if I eat the wrong things - I always could, so I went low carb from the moment I was diagnosed, and that fixed it.
I use swede rather than potatoes for mash and bubble and squeak, quite a bit of cauliflower - rough chopped after steaming it is good with curries, I don't use it myself but there is pasta made from peas which is low carb.
You don't have to worry about the fat in food. When eating low carb energy comes from the protein and natural fats, the essential foodstuffs. You might have to add salt if you eliminate processed foods, to stop cramps, but it can lower high blood pressure to be eating stirfries, mushrooms, berries, salads and stews. I found that my appetite reduced a lot when I cut out carbs, my weight had dropped a lot and my shape changed, but there is always something you can eat when low carbing so it you do ever feel the need, eggs, cheese, full fat yoghurt, fish, seafood or any meat are just fine.
I drink my coffee with cream.
Low calorie never worked for me, I just turned grey and fainting but in my younger days I had to be careful as I could drop half a stone in 3 days on Atkins Induction.

 

[gll]

hey @DollysandNugsAuntieT

Firstly can I give you a huge hug and remind you that its not simple and straightforward for everyone to get on top of things immediately. Changing habits and coming to terms with things can take time. What is important is that you are willing and actually want to take charge and do what you can to help yourself. Many I know outside of the forums tend to just take a pill and don't give things a second thought.
Be a little kinder to yourself.

Did you have any bloods done for this appointment and have the hba1c blood test? (the one that gives you average sugars for the previous 3 months). One will have been done on diagnosis and probably a follow up one for this review?
If you know the numbers, pop them in as it often gives people an idea of where things are at so they can help guide you in the right direction.

You mention asthma. Can I ask if there are other issues going on too? You mention ones that impact the ability to loose weight. The conclusion I jump to there is steroids for asthma but I am speculating.
Other conditions and drugs can have effects on your blood sugars so it might be worth saying what you are on meds wise for both diabetes and other things.
Its not fun when things fight each other and you are sat there saying to yourself "why can't I do better?" when its not always the way you should feel. For me, half the time the appropriate question is "what is sabotaging things today aside from myself?"

 

[AndBreathe]

@DollysandNugsAuntieT , there’s a lot to get to grips with when diagnosed.

I was diagnosed in 2013, but didn't share the information too widely. Like some other things, everyone has an opinion and they're not always helpful.

For myself, I did a lot of reading of the good, the bad and ugly to help me decide on a way forward. I have never had a diabetes education course.

I think it’s probably a bit tricky for anyone to make suggestions for your way forward, as you mention other conditions, and sometimes those, or the treatments the person might be on can impact the way to go forward.

I have hypothyroidis which can certainly make it tricky to lose weight for some, but that was diagnosed after my diagnosis.

Personally, I chose to buy a blood testing meter and strips, so that I could understand what was going on with my blood sugars. That allowed me to discover which foods (and drinks) pushed my blood sugars higher than was healthy, so allowed me to cut out or down on the things that made a difference to ME.

 

[Leadinglights]

Now you have come onto the forum you will be bombarded with advice which can be very hard to sift through and find what might be the right approach for you. But unless your chosen way is enjoyable it will not be sustainable. What that way may depend on your medical conditions but there will be something that can work for you.
Some find a low carb approach successful in reducing blood glucose and losing weight. This link may give you some ideas as it is based on real food. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ Portion control is important. So if your fiance is making pasta then you can have less pasta and more sauce with extra veg.
Others find a low calorie or shakes-based regime will give them a kick start.
How much work you need to do will depend on what your HbA1C is, the higher it is the more changes to dietary regime will be needed.
Increasing exercise also helps if you can, brisk walking is good, it doesn't need to be going to the gym unless that is your thing.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @DollysandNugsAuntieT

It’s perfectly natural to feel a bit overwhelmed when you get a diabetes diagnosis - and many people get a very strong emotional reaction. So do be kind to yourself, and keep going with the positive changes you’ve already started making. Only you can know whether a gradual cutting back on snacking over a long period or a short sharp shock of stopping snacks entirely will be better for you. Your diabetes, your rules 🙂

One of the things about diabetes is that it is very individual and behaves quite differently for different people - so what matters is working out the approaches and strategies that work for you 🙂

 

[DollysandNugsAuntieT]

Ty @everydayupsanddowns

 

[DollysandNugsAuntieT]

Now you have come onto the forum you will be bombarded with advice which can be very hard to sift through and find what might be the right approach for you. But unless your chosen way is enjoyable it will not be sustainable. What that way may depend on your medical conditions but there will be something that can work for you.
Some find a low carb approach successful in reducing blood glucose and losing weight. This link may give you some ideas as it is based on real food. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ Portion control is important. So if your fiance is making pasta then you can have less pasta and more sauce with extra veg.
Others find a low calorie or shakes-based regime will give them a kick start.
How much work you need to do will depend on what your HbA1C is, the higher it is the more changes to dietary regime will be needed.
Increasing exercise also helps if you can, brisk walking is good, it doesn't need to be going to the gym unless that is your thing.

When I last had my Hba1c checked it was 78. It has gone up as the nurse said that it was 46 in March and 68 a few months later (I can't remember which month she said it was)

 

[MrPixels]

Hi everyone,
I'm DollysandNugsAuntieT. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in early August last year and I feel like I'm not allowed to get used to my diagnosis as I've had family and friends (my best friend hasn't told me what to do), but my fiancé's twin sister asked me how my appointment with the practice nurse went yesterday as I had a double appointment with her as I was having an asthma and diabetes review and she'd asked me if I have stopped eating my snacks and chocolate. I have managed to cut them down, but not stop them fully as I've got another medical condition that makes it difficult for me to lose weight.

The practice nurse was really lovely and understanding (my fiancé's twin sister has got type 2 diabetes herself (apparently she's been told that it's in remission, but I've read somewhere that it's rare and hardly ever lasts) and she struggled with her diabetes herself as she had to find a way to cut down on chocolate and other snacks herself but she doesn't have the extra problem that I have of a medical condition that makes it difficult to lose weight.

I haven't shown her message to my fiance yet as he's asleep as he's got to be up for work early in the morning.

I haven't even replied to her message as 1 I only found it a few mins ago and also because it sounds like she's having a go at me with the way she's worded her message.

She's also got health problems as I think that she lost her weight to fast.

I am trying to lose weight, but it's hard because of the medical condition I have that makes it much more difficult for me to lose weight.

I'm just hoping that when I do show my fiance his twin sister's message he doesn't do his fave trick and instantly agrees with her as he knows I hate when he does that.

He really did my head when we lived in his home town as he would rather go and help his sisters and ignore me, but then I gave him a wake up call so to speak as I had to remind him that I was his partner and not his sisters as I was getting fed up of him "running off" to help his sisters (who all have partners one of which is a lazy so n so) instead of spending time with me and doing things with me.

I am fed up with trying to ask my mum and fiance for support by getting healthy food or at least cutting down on the fatty foods we eat.

We haven't got the space in the kitchen for me to put my own food in as all of the cupboards are full and the kitchen is really small.

Plus even if there was room everything would end up being put in there anyway.
I'm just waiting for someone from the diabetes education team to contact me so that they can explain what they do and then hopefully they will send me to the diabetes education course at my local hospital as its only 10-20 min walk from my home to the local hospital, but the other place where they hold it is too far away from where I live for me to get to.

Can totally empathised with the feeling of being overwhelmed. My diagnosis came on the back of a few other health issues in the space of a month. Got some good advice here and am on the journey to getting my BS levels down and hopefully shed a few kilos of weight.

 

[DollysandNugsAuntieT]

Chocolate is absolutely fine, it is the huge amounts of added sugar which cause the problems, so it you have high cocoa bars and just small amounts then chocolate is fine.
Quite a few people seem to find no problem in getting back into normal, or close to normal numbers, it is the low carb diet which seems to give consistent results, though the Newcastle diet seems to work every time it is repeated to lose weight.
I find that I can put on weight very easily if I eat the wrong things - I always could, so I went low carb from the moment I was diagnosed, and that fixed it.
I use swede rather than potatoes for mash and bubble and squeak, quite a bit of cauliflower - rough chopped after steaming it is good with curries, I don't use it myself but there is pasta made from peas which is low carb.
You don't have to worry about the fat in food. When eating low carb energy comes from the protein and natural fats, the essential foodstuffs. You might have to add salt if you eliminate processed foods, to stop cramps, but it can lower high blood pressure to be eating stirfries, mushrooms, berries, salads and stews. I found that my appetite reduced a lot when I cut out carbs, my weight had dropped a lot and my shape changed, but there is always something you can eat when low carbing so it you do ever feel the need, eggs, cheese, full fat yoghurt, fish, seafood or any meat are just fine.
I drink my coffee with cream.
Low calorie never worked for me, I just turned grey and fainting but in my younger days I had to be careful as I could drop half a stone in 3 days on Atkins Induction.

I only like carrots, cabbage and sweetcorn. I eat chocolate, but not as much or as often as I used to as I mostly eat it when I fancy some like my fiance does. I eat crisps and other snack foods the same way now.
Me n my fiance like the lidl cappuccinos, but we buy the low sugar ones now, but we add a bit of extra coffee to our cappuccinos as they're not strong enough for us. I only add between a quarter or half a teaspoon full to mine as I don't like very strong coffee, but my fiancé has a teaspoon full in his as he loves his coffee strong. I don't mind strong tea though.

 

[Leadinglights]

I only like carrots, cabbage and sweetcorn. I eat chocolate, but not as much or as often as I used to as I mostly eat it when I fancy some like my fiance does. I eat crisps and other snack foods the same way now.
Me n my fiance like the lidl cappuccinos, but we buy the low sugar ones now, but we add a bit of extra coffee to our cappuccinos as they're not strong enough for us. I only add between a quarter or half a teaspoon full to mine as I don't like very strong coffee, but my fiancé has a teaspoon full in his as he loves his coffee strong. I don't mind strong tea though.

Your HbA1C is quite high at 78mmol/mol so you might want to thing of substituting some of your high carb snacks like the crisps for something lower carb, like nuts or some of the protein nut and chocolate bars like the Nature valley or shop own as they are less than 10g carb per bar. The dark chocolate bars from places like Aldi or Lidl are OK but should still be regarded as treats.
We have a DolceGusto coffee machine and the flat white or Cafe au Lait are only 4ish gram carb per cup.
Trying other vegetables by incorporating them into chillis, curries, casseroles etc or try raw rather than cooked.

 

[DollysandNugsAuntieT]

I don't like other veg or spicy foods.
I rarely eat crisps now though.