First Appt Diabetes Clinic 5 Dec

[pippaandben]

I obviously have loads of questions but do not want to overburden them on my first visit - or should I not worry about this. I have been monitoring levels twice daily for 5 weeks now since being on 2x1000 Metformin and 1x35mg Diamicron and they have come down from 19-20 fasting to 9-10 and before bed levels of 18-22 to12-14. But with the odd high spike of 17 which I put down to stress.
Any advice on specific questions would be helpful.
I would like to go on a DESMOND course if this would help.
Currently my optician is monitoring my sight changes every 2 weeks as when I saw her first I had been on Diamicron only 4 days and did not need glasses for driiving or distance at all. That only lasted 2 weeks as my levels came down and I know that me next check will show my reading distance has now deteriorated.
Is this of interest to the clinic or should I not mention it? My one concern is of course that my sight will keep deteriorating until my levels are in balance but I don't know how long this will take. And I cannot afford new glasses every couple of months!
Any feedback gratefully received - at least I am not panicking so much as a month ago thanks to everyone's support and the access to other threads which are all so informative.

THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE.

 

[Northerner]

I'll leave it to the Type 2s to suggest questions you might want to ask, but would assure you about your eyesight - it should return to its pre-diagnosis capability in a few weeks - mine took about 6 weeks in total I think, although I don't drive so it wasn't a huge problem for me. I still wear the same reading glasses I got two years before diagnosis and it's now 3 years after, so for me my eyesight hasn't been affected apart from those few weeks. Certainly, don't buy glasses because it would be a waste of money.

It sounds like you have done really well getting your levels down - well done! 🙂

 

[mcdonagh47]

I'll leave it to the Type 2s to suggest questions you might want to ask, but would assure you about your eyesight - it should return to its pre-diagnosis capability in a few weeks - mine took about 6 weeks in total I think, although I don't drive so it wasn't a huge problem for me. I still wear the same reading glasses I got two years before diagnosis and it's now 3 years after, so for me my eyesight hasn't been affected apart from those few weeks. Certainly, don't buy glasses because it would be a waste of money.

It sounds like you have done really well getting your levels down - well done! 🙂

Hi there,
good to see you are making progress. But do you only test morning and evening ?
The general recommendations for bgs are something like under 6 fasting, between 4 and 7 pre-meal and under 8 two hours after a meal.
To get to grips with what is going on you should look at Alan S's "Test, Review, Adjust" advice in the Stickies section of the Newbies thread if you have not already done so.
DESMOND is a short introduction and based, from what we hear, on the standard mantras chanted about T2. Far better would be to go on an X-Pert Patient Diabetes Type 2 course if you can find one in your area.
And dont forget its about Carbohydrates (bread,pasta, rice, cereals,potatoes) you need to test portion sizes of those. "Eat to your meter" is a slogan adopted by many T2s with good control.
Diet-wise its the low GI, Mediterranean style diet we are best following.

 

[Caroline]

Ask as many questions as you like. I did the Xpert diabetes course and found it very informative. If you get offered a DESMOND course take. Some people find it quite helpful, others not so, but you do get to meet other people with diabetes.

Please feel free to ask as many questions as you like, it is the best way to get answers. While our diabetes adventures are all different there are also a lot of good ideas on these boards.

 

[imtrying]

Good luck at your appointment....and never be afraid of asking questions - this is your health you're talking about, and you are in charge of managing it, so you should be as equipped (with knowledge etc) as you can be.

Unfortunately with the lovely D, no-one is going to do it for you!

 

[susie28]

I went on a Desmond course and found it very helpful, they also gave us leaflets to take home, it helped me understand about fats and Carbs.