Guilty and ashamed

[SueMck]

Hello
I’ve just been diagnosed through blood tests. I’m assuming Type 2. I haven’t seen the diabetes nurse yet or been given any advice, but I’d like to get cracking on dealing with it. It’s a huge wake up call and not surprising considering I am overweight and 60. Did others feel ashamed and guilty? I feel as if people will hear the news and say “ah well, you could see that coming”.

 

[Jules1717]

Hi. I was diagnosed type 2 abt Feb after feeling I possibly was because of how sleepy I was after eating. My Diab nurse at the drs sent me on an online 6 week course abt how to manage yr diabetes and why it happens. It's by xperthealth and was excellent. You realise it's not necessarily yr fault but helps you manage it.
The main advice from them and more than likely everyone here is to reduce yr carbs / day. Learn to count them using whatever way ( app/ etc) you choose. It helps enormously.

 

[Abida DUK]

Hi Sue, a warm welcome to the forum.

You're certainly not alone in how you're feeling - coping with a recent diabetes diagnosis can be difficult for many people, and it's great that you've reached out on the forum as we've got a very supportive and knowledgeable community who have been in your shoes.

You are also more than welcome to speak to one of our trained counsellors on the Helpline, by calling 0345 123 2399 Mon-Fri between 9am and 6pm. They can give you information about your condition, take time to talk things through, and explore how you’re feeling. Take care

 

[Reptile]

I know the feelings well. I was diagnosed several years ago and did really well on diet and metformine for a while. During lockdown, things got out of hand and my blood glucose skyrocketed. I hit an all time low and felt very embarassed asking for help. A year of strict dieting (for me, low carb high fat ) combined with 2 days out of 10 intermittent fasting and my blood glucose is doing well and my meds have been reduced. Also lost loads of weight. The supportive, non-judgemental attitudes of the good people of this forum helped a great deal. There are also some people here with considerable knowledge who have helped enormously.


Welcome to the group, feel free to ask questions and prepare to receive solid help and advice. Nobody here dressed in judicial silk...

 

[JanetT]

Hello
I’ve just been diagnosed through blood tests. I’m assuming Type 2. I haven’t seen the diabetes nurse yet or been given any advice, but I’d like to get cracking on dealing with it. It’s a huge wake up call and not surprising considering I am overweight and 60. Did others feel ashamed and guilty? I feel as if people will hear the news and say “ah well, you could see that coming”.

Hi there!
I know exactly what you mean! I'm 72. I was diagnosed in May type 2 through a regular 5 year health check. Diabetes is rife in my family - Dad had it, brother has it grandad etc. Yet I still didn't get by BS checked regularly so yes really beat myself up. It was a huge wake up call as my Hba1c was 103 - that's really high. Like you I decided straightaway to do something. I signed up for the Fast 800 diet which i've nearly finished ( i did my own recipes though based on theirs) I've lost about 8kg. Blood pressure is now in the green Zone Hba1c dropped to 63. I was started on Metformin 2 a day, now down to one and hoping to lose that one later in the year. I've now signed up for low carb programme https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/ which aimed at type 2 diabetics - would recommend this. I have so much more energy and feel a different person - you can do this!

 

[SueMck]

Hi there!
I know exactly what you mean! I'm 72. I was diagnosed in May type 2 through a regular 5 year health check. Diabetes is rife in my family - Dad had it, brother has it grandad etc. Yet I still didn't get by BS checked regularly so yes really beat myself up. It was a huge wake up call as my Hba1c was 103 - that's really high. Like you I decided straightaway to do something. I signed up for the Fast 800 diet which i've nearly finished ( i did my own recipes though based on theirs) I've lost about 8kg. Blood pressure is now in the green Zone Hba1c dropped to 63. I was started on Metformin 2 a day, now down to one and hoping to lose that one later in the year. I've now signed up for low carb programme https://www.lowcarbprogram.com/ which aimed at type 2 diabetics - would recommend this. I have so much more energy and feel a different person - you can do this!

Thank you, that is very inspiring. It’s not a thing in my family, so I thought I might get away with it. Mine has been a life of excess, I’m now ready to face up to things and enjoy the rest of it. I am getting married in September, so there’s lots of incentive!
my Hba1c is 70 and I weigh 16 stone. I’ve started a healthy eating, low carb regime and more exercise. Let’s see how I do.

 

[JimG]

I did not feel guilty when first diagnosed around 2009 when I was in my late 50's. If you read up, it seems that diabetes is not just caused by poor diet etc. "They" do not know definitively what causes diabetes. Poor diet can contribute but is not the sole cause. In my case, my mum and her brother and sister (my uncle and aunt) both had diabetes in later life and maybe genetics played a part, though I did stop the regular cans of fizzy drinks. What caused me anguish was when I picked up my first prescription and thought, "This is a life sentence". I soon came to terms with the change in lifestyle and the need for medication but I don't let diabetes rule my life. I am not "a diabetic", I am person who has diabetes.

 

[Vonny]

Hi @SueMck and I know just how you feel. I know that although diabetes runs in my family, I certainly gave it a huge helping hand thanks to the huge helpings of carbs I'd been scoffing over the last few years! Congratulations on deciding to get started asap.
Like @JimG I too quickly came to terms with the change in lifestyle and eating. I no longer miss starchy carbs and walk between 5 and 9 miles per day. I'm fitter than I've been for the last couple of decades and have had to have an entire new wardrobe. I just took it one day at a time because the thought of losing 5 stone was too much to get my head round, so I set small achievable goals and it has just become my way of life now.
Very best of luck to you

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

Thank you, that is very inspiring. It’s not a thing in my family, so I thought I might get away with it. Mine has been a life of excess, I’m now ready to face up to things and enjoy the rest of it. I am getting married in September, so there’s lots of incentive!
my Hba1c is 70 and I weigh 16 stone. I’ve started a healthy eating, low carb regime and more exercise. Let’s see how I do.

good luck! stick with low carb, (no beige food) and do it gradually as you begin. Try the Freshwell app to see what you can swap out. I am also getting married at some point and need to not look like an old fat version of me, but the healthiest version of me lol!

I use the free version of myfitnesspal app to log foods. It's ok.

 

[Drummer]

I was encouraged to regard myself as a very bad diabetic when told of the diagnosis - but I had been saying how ill carb heavy foods made me feel for almost half a century, and been derided, ridiculed, called deluded, untruthful non compliant - so these days I point that out as soon as any HCP starts to accuse me of having brought on the diabetes myself.
From the moment of revelation I have refused to take the standard advice of eating high carb food in some quantity, and - surprise surprise, my diabetes went into remission within a few weeks.
For some it is so very simple - I liken it to turning off the tap when the sink is overflowing, obvious when you think about it.

 

[Portugal1000]

Definitely embarrassed about my diagnosis which I only saw in NHS app yesterday 53mmol/mol). Text from doctor this morning confirming this and also that she will get their diabetes nurse to call me. At least I can tell her I have done research and made a start in my new healthy lifestyle already. I had actually joined weight watchers last week and had lost 4.5lb so on the right track I guess. But I’m so disappointed in myself. There’s no excuse for me and I haven’t even told my husband and I’m not sure I will just yet as we were both already on a diet ( he only has 2 stone to lose and not diabetic). Glad I found this forum yesterday, already a big motivation.

 

[Leadinglights]

Definitely embarrassed about my diagnosis which I only saw in NHS app yesterday 53mmol/mol). Text from doctor this morning confirming this and also that she will get their diabetes nurse to call me. At least I can tell her I have done research and made a start in my new healthy lifestyle already. I had actually joined weight watchers last week and had lost 4.5lb so on the right track I guess. But I’m so disappointed in myself. There’s no excuse for me and I haven’t even told my husband and I’m not sure I will just yet as we were both already on a diet ( he only has 2 stone to lose and not diabetic). Glad I found this forum yesterday, already a big motivation.

My other half really got on board with my chosen low carb approach and also lost some weight which he wanted to do, he does have a few extras but we have the same meals.
I followed the principals in this link. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/