Head out of the sand...

[R2T2]

Hi all,

I was newly diagnosed as T2 two weeks ago and had my hba1c results back yesterday... a sobering 105.

Truth be told I hadn't felt well for a while but covid and lockdown got in the way of actually getting to the doctor until push came to shove. Too many symptoms to ignore any longer has brought about the inevitable diagnosis.

I haven’t been what I'd call fit for 10 years or so and my lifestyle and food choices are poor to say the least. I now find myself at 46, taking blood pressure tablets, metformin and now statins having never had the cloud of any medical conditions over me.

I'm confused and even more stressed than usual now. What does it mean for the here and now? can my symptoms be managed adequately? what's the long term prognosis?

I've a follow up appointment with the practice nurse in two weeks time when I hope to get some clarity but in the mean time what should I be doing? I've not been advised to monitor my blood sugar level, I've taken some basic steps to change my diet and lifestyle but pretty much lost after that.

I'm very data driven and need to have a deep understanding of whatever I'm doing. This will be the key for me I think.

Thanks for reading...

Matt

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum, I hope you will find the help you need as there is very much lots you can do to address as you say a very sobering high HbA1C. The medication you have been prescribed will help the body use the insulin it is producing more effectively but dietary changes are even more powerful.
The advice not to monitor your blood glucose is often given but that really is like someone driving their car without a speedometer therefore many self-fund a glucose monitor as that gives them the tools to manage their condition better. Inexpensive monitors can be bought on -line the GlucoNavii or TEE 2 being ones with the cheapest strips.
The data it gives you can then be used to test your tolerance to meals by testing before you eat and after 2 hours when an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l means your meal is OK. You can also check progress day to day or week to week hoping for a downward trend.

Many find a low carbohydrate approach successful, and this link may help with pointing you in the right direction. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
However, some go down a low calorie or 'shakes' based regime to give them a kick start. But whatever you choose has to be enjoyable and sustainable for the long term.
Reducing your blood glucose will almost certainly improve your symptoms and reduce the possibility of long-term complications so yes now is the time to take action.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

So pleased you have found the forum as it really can be helpful to get advice from people who are or have been in the same situation. It is also very motivating to read of other people's successes and the forum is full of such stories.

Yes 105 is high and needs action but hopefully, by bringing it slowly down, most, if not all of the symptoms could disappear and then it will just be a question of managing your BG levels at or near the normal range to keep them from reoccurring.
The bigger concern with diabetes is the risk of long term complications when it is poorly managed rather than the immediate symptoms at diagnosis. Which symptoms have you been experiencing?

There are two main schools of thought with dietary measures for Type 2 diabetes....
1. The VERY LOW CALORIE approach usually the Newcastle or Fast 800 diet which involves a period of 8-12 weeks on just 800 CALORIES a day to help your body burn off visceral fat (particularly around the liver and pancreas) and hopefully push your diabetes into remission. This is often via meal replacement shakes but it is important to maintain the weight loss in order to maintain the diabetes remission. Some people do this by eating normally afterwards and then going back to the 800CAL diet intermittently if/when they see the weight going back on.

2. Changing to a LOW CARBOHYDRATE way of eating. This is more a change for life and can be very enjoyable once you get your head around it but when you have spent all your life piling high carb foods onto your plate it does take some readjustment in your approach to food. Following a LOW CARBOHYDRATE way of eating usually also leads to weight loss and when the desired weight is achieved then it is stabilized by adding more fat into the diet. I am a normal BMI and now follow a LOW CARB HIGHER FAT way of eating and whilst contrary to NHS guidance, I am far healthier now than I was before and fitter and less joint pain and my skin better and most surprisingly, my cholesterol levels are doing the opposite of what we have been led to believe. ie they are reducing, despite eating plenty of cheese and fatty meat and eggs and double cream in my coffee every morning which is my daily luxury. 😎

Some people do a combination of both approaches but it is really a question of finding what works for you as an individual with your lifestyle and your diabetes.

 

[Gwynn]

@R2T2 Data driven? Well, so am I.

There is absolutely no way I could manage my diabetes without data. Blood glucose, body health, food, nutrients, etc. And to get to, record and learn I started writing an App which even now I am adding to. It has proved essential and kept me focussed. But I wrote it in Excel VBA. Excellent language but guaranteed would not work on another version of excel.

So I learned all I could from the internet. Recorded all that I could every day. Learned new stuff every day.

I also discovered that the graphs that the App produces are very helpful when discussing things with the nurses and doctors.

But.. I started knowing nothing and progressed from there...still progressing. Good luck and let us know how you are doing and how you are doing it

 

[harbottle]

Similar weight to me when I was diagnosed (Hba1c of 83) and by going low carb and low calorie I lost 3 stone in three months and got my hba1c into non-diabetic numbers. So it can be done. I didn't do any testing during that period at all, just concentrated on changing my lifestyle.

- no more rice, sweets, pasta, junk and potato (Ok, I occasionally did have some potato)
- walking every day (Now sometimes running)
- not much alcohol

Food was mainly 'protein' (Fish or chicken) with some essential oils (Olive) and vegetables.
Breakfast mainly eggs or yoghurt with berries.

 

[Drummer]

These days I can do the eye roll when being given advice on diet, and then I smile and say 'Dr Atkins was right all along you know' - and I plan to go on eating low carb.
I really enjoy the stir fries, the salads and the vege medley meals and from time to time I have various berries, but the mainstay of my menu is protein and fats. Works for me, very well indeed.