Hello. I received the news today that I have diabetes.. I have had pre diabetes for years but today at the age of 44 I have got it.. I am mortified, confused, scared.. what is going to happen to me. How did I get my life style choices wrong.. I havent stopped crying.. what is going to happen now.. any help greatly appreciated..
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- Thread starter Nattz
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @Nattz 🙂
There are lots of Type 2s here who can help and support you. What was your HbA1C? The first thing I’d do is see where I am now. Write down a current normal day’s food for you and then see where you can make improvements. Think about how much you exercise too. Even walking can help.
There are lots of Type 2s here who can help and support you. What was your HbA1C? The first thing I’d do is see where I am now. Write down a current normal day’s food for you and then see where you can make improvements. Think about how much you exercise too. Even walking can help.
Toucan
Forum Host
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello @Nattz
So good that you have joined the forum, there is plenty of help and support here.
I can still remember that big shock of first diagnosis, it really knocked me off my feet, and there is a lot of confusing information about what to do, but there are good solutions and outcomes. So please try not to despair.
We are all different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ and you need to find what right for you.
There are 3 main things to consider:
Firstly, healthy eating, and the right solution for you to lower your blood sugars, and if you are overweight, loosing weight will help a lot. Secondly increasing exercise, and thirdly medication if prescribed by your GP.
You will find lots of information on the various threads in the forum. There is a section at the top of this section with some useful links and in the orange tab 'Learning Zone' and to see what someone else did have a look at Maggie Davey's letter
So good that you have joined the forum, there is plenty of help and support here.
I can still remember that big shock of first diagnosis, it really knocked me off my feet, and there is a lot of confusing information about what to do, but there are good solutions and outcomes. So please try not to despair.
We are all different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ and you need to find what right for you.
There are 3 main things to consider:
Firstly, healthy eating, and the right solution for you to lower your blood sugars, and if you are overweight, loosing weight will help a lot. Secondly increasing exercise, and thirdly medication if prescribed by your GP.
You will find lots of information on the various threads in the forum. There is a section at the top of this section with some useful links and in the orange tab 'Learning Zone' and to see what someone else did have a look at Maggie Davey's letter
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Nattz
Sorry that you have crossed the threshold from ‘at risk of diabetes’ to a formal diagnosis. It is common to feel overwhelmed and shaken by a diagnosis with a long-term condition, but take heart - diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy.
In fact, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier lifestyle and a more active life. Some find that making changes to improve their BG results after food leads to natural weight loss as a happy by-product and people can feel more energised and lively than they have in years. Sometimes it’s hard to recognise how lethargic and exhausted you have been feeling when it creeps up on you gradually.
Don’t dwell on regret and guilt. You can’t change the past, and you can’t alter the advice you were given and how you implemented it. What matters is what you do now. It’s perfectly possible to live a long, healthy, happy live with diabetes - it just takes a few tweaks and changes. Plus you’ll be getting regular checks, so any potential issues will be spotted sooner.
When it comes to managing your diabetes, it’s best to make changes to your menu and activity levels gradually - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels, and changing things more gently will give your body time to adapt.
One of the biggest questions when newly diagnosed is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will be wanting to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to various foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself. For this, many forum members rely of a blood glucose meter, which you can buy yourself if your GP doesn’t offer you one (or even discourages you from using). You can check immediately before, and again 2hrs after eating a meal to see how your BG levels were affected. Then either eat that meal with confidence in the future, or make some tweaks to reduce or change the carbs in it and try again.
If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework. If you need to self fund your BG meter, the most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 - which both have test strips at around £8 for 50.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Sorry that you have crossed the threshold from ‘at risk of diabetes’ to a formal diagnosis. It is common to feel overwhelmed and shaken by a diagnosis with a long-term condition, but take heart - diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy.
In fact, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier lifestyle and a more active life. Some find that making changes to improve their BG results after food leads to natural weight loss as a happy by-product and people can feel more energised and lively than they have in years. Sometimes it’s hard to recognise how lethargic and exhausted you have been feeling when it creeps up on you gradually.
Don’t dwell on regret and guilt. You can’t change the past, and you can’t alter the advice you were given and how you implemented it. What matters is what you do now. It’s perfectly possible to live a long, healthy, happy live with diabetes - it just takes a few tweaks and changes. Plus you’ll be getting regular checks, so any potential issues will be spotted sooner.
When it comes to managing your diabetes, it’s best to make changes to your menu and activity levels gradually - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels, and changing things more gently will give your body time to adapt.
One of the biggest questions when newly diagnosed is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will be wanting to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to various foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself. For this, many forum members rely of a blood glucose meter, which you can buy yourself if your GP doesn’t offer you one (or even discourages you from using). You can check immediately before, and again 2hrs after eating a meal to see how your BG levels were affected. Then either eat that meal with confidence in the future, or make some tweaks to reduce or change the carbs in it and try again.
If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework. If you need to self fund your BG meter, the most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 - which both have test strips at around £8 for 50.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
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