Hello - another newbie here

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MargB

MargB

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Got the results of the latest blood test yesterday and told I am diabetic. Assume it is type 2 as I am in my late 50s. Have an appointment to see the doc towards the end of March so looking for information myself.

The nurse who took the bloods said if my level was over 7 then I would be put on medication, if it was between 6 and 7 they would discuss it.

All a bit bewildering at the moment, I don't know what I can and can't eat, don't really know what to expect but think I may get some ideas from reading the forum.
 
hi margB welcome to the forum ...yes its totally bewildering when you get diagnosed and then left for the next appointment before discussing it with DSN. I am T2 aswell please dont panic read some of the threads you'll get good advice as well and remember post your questions none are regarded as silly here xx
 
Welcome to the forum. I've not on been here long but everyone has been lovely so far 🙂 :D
 
Thank you.

One immediate question, does everyone have a support team or it is a postcode lottery?

No idea what is needed, reading other posts my level seems to be the just over normal so maybe a better question would be, does everyone need a support team?
 
Hi Marg and welcome to the forum, we all have diffirent levels of care/support in here ranging from some with none at all to some that have the DSN on call so to speak.Id certainly say we ALL need a support team sometimes our family and freinds bless them just dont cut it , whether you get it or not well thats a diffirent matter.
 
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Hi Marg, welcome to the forum.
 
MargB said:
Got the results of the latest blood test yesterday and told I am diabetic. Assume it is type 2 as I am in my late 50s. Have an appointment to see the doc towards the end of March so looking for information myself.

The nurse who took the bloods said if my level was over 7 then I would be put on medication, if it was between 6 and 7 they would discuss it.

.
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Hi there,
you shouldn't be put on meds straight away - you are supposed to be given a trial period on diet and exercise ( of 3 to 6 months) so that you come to appreciate the necessity for lifestyle changes.
To find out what kind of diet would be good read Wallycorker's thread in the Food section and Maggie Davey's Open Letter to Newly dxed Type 2s in the LINKS section.
Exercise - a general figure often given is a two mile walk a day or equivalent, with some light muscle building as well.
 
MargB said:
Got the results of the latest blood test yesterday and told I am diabetic. Assume it is type 2 as I am in my late 50s. Have an appointment to see the doc towards the end of March so looking for information myself.

The nurse who took the bloods said if my level was over 7 then I would be put on medication, if it was between 6 and 7 they would discuss it.

All a bit bewildering at the moment, I don't know what I can and can't eat, don't really know what to expect but think I may get some ideas from reading the forum.
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Welcome to the boards Marg. I agree with Peter C on this one - even though I was only 6.1 at my last check doc wanted to put me on meds - I said no. 6.1 is acceptable and I would prefer to stay diet and exercise controlled for as long as I can - and my diagnosis was about 18 months ago.
 
The nurse made a point of saying when she was taking the last blood sample that they don't like to delay starting medication as they used to do in the old days. The way she said it, it made sense but someone else is saying that I should try and control it by diet and only go on meds if that doesn't work.

I struggle with diets because I have stomach ulcers and now a bowel disorder - it is amazing how quickly my digestive system lets me know it isn't happy!

My appointment with the doctor is not until the end of this month and I have been losing weight for a few weeks so will see how things are. I feel I don't have any real symptoms, I am not unwell or anything - this is a result of a regular blood test.

This forum is good because it is giving me questions to ask when I do go for my appointment. Before, I didn't have a clue but now I can say I feel fine etc.
 
i was put on the standard meds straight away DX 7.9 ( i think) then they reduced them cos quote DSN " i was doing too well" Ive found a good balance 1 x 500mg metaformin but thats just me ...some people say such a low dose is regarded as ineffective ..but it works for me ..find what works for you xxx ask questions test and you'll get in control of your own diabetes xx
 
MargB said:
The nurse made a point of saying when she was taking the last blood sample that they don't like to delay starting medication as they used to do in the old days. The way she said it, it made sense but someone else is saying that I should try and control it by diet and only go on meds if that doesn't work.
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NICE Guidelines ( what they are all supposed to be following) state that a trial of D&E must come first.
Last year there was a big report on it and the Diabetes UK Conference in Glasgow went big on it .... medication is given far too soon in many cases ... there must be a trial of D&E to get the idea of lifestyle changes ( diet and exercise) into the heads of T2s, they can't just pop the pills and think that is it .
Here's the report from a year ago ...directly contradicts what your Nurse is saying ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7930007.stm
 
MargB said:
The nurse made a point of saying when she was taking the last blood sample that they don't like to delay starting medication as they used to do in the old days. The way she said it, it made sense but someone else is saying that I should try and control it by diet and only go on meds if that doesn't work.

I struggle with diets because I have stomach ulcers and now a bowel disorder - it is amazing how quickly my digestive system lets me know it isn't happy!

My appointment with the doctor is not until the end of this month and I have been losing weight for a few weeks so will see how things are. I feel I don't have any real symptoms, I am not unwell or anything - this is a result of a regular blood test.

This forum is good because it is giving me questions to ask when I do go for my appointment. Before, I didn't have a clue but now I can say I feel fine etc.
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Hi margB,

Personally, I'd try to keep away from medications if it is possible for you to do that. It is my personal experience that diet is very powerful in dealing with Type 2 diabetes. Cutting back on the starchy carbohydrates - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, pizza and such like - usually leads to a big reduction in blood glucose levels - and quickly too.

You'll find details via this link of what I have learnt to eat to normalise my blood glucose levels:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=6435

Hope that you will find it of interest and that it might give you a few ideas of the best way forward for yourself.

Good luck and best wishes - John
 
yep i know peter...but tbh its what is happening now thats important to me .. but for a few years before dx they kept saying do this do that ...diet diet diet but until i was dx i didnt take it that seriously ...so that worked for me ...then we balanced it out ..and im happy but AWARE !
ive said before Peter, i suspect that ive been the same since i was about 16 when i was first tested for D i remember now they tested my urine! but as the goal posts for dx are moved more and more... my diabetes was recognised ...and as the goal post move more people will get dx ...find out what is good for you by learning xx and starting to feel well again xx
 
HI Wally - I have read your thread and it sounds great but is totally opposite to everything else I am reading. Part of the confusion.

My bowels need a lot of fibre otherwise I suffer and I don't like suffering. Weight has piled on over the last couple of years because I have been eating foods that don't hurt - unfortunately they tend to be the stodgy stuff. Also, taking more and more meds for other things there is an attitidue of what the heck! Every now and then I wise up and recognise I am hurting myself by being a coach potato as well as missing out on life.

This diagnosis is a new factor and when I read up on this site and others that I found when googling I was almost relieved to see there would be a support team. But now I am wondering if I am going to be offered the chance of such a team or if it is just going to be the practice nurse lecturing me. Problem with that is I don't like her much, think she is a faffer.

Time will tell. She told me if my results were raised again then I did not need to see the doctor, she would put me straight on meds but when I phoned for my results, the receptionist said I could see any of the doctors or the nurse so I plumped for one of the docs.
 
Diabetes doc wanted my on meds straight away cant remember hba1c but bg was 18. Got my fasting bg down to about 5.5 within about a month (heavy exercising and dieting). Have been diet controlled for three years now.

Control has been slipping over the last year - but when I asked if I needed to go on drugs he said no and figures now coming back under control.
 
Welcome Marg(b) - you are in good company.

First of all - it is not the end of the world! When you read through this forum you will see that there are many opinions from many people and that can be confusing. There are also different approaches depending where you are (both medically and geographically).

I am 64, male and been type 2 for 10 years. Recently I have had trouble with a rising blood glucose level - mid 30s - not good. This is now under control with a revised diet (much less carbs) and Metformin.

I live in North Ayrshire and come under NHS Scotland (Devolved issue). As I have a few other health issues (RA, Prostate) I had already established my own personal 'support group' at my GP. Through my GP I get free prescriptions, free Blood Glucose testing kit complete with Lancets and test strips on repeat prescription. I get invited to the GP/Nurse for 3 month blood tests (Hbc1a - looks at glucose levels over the last 3 months), personal access to a Registered Dietician Nurse, free annual podiatry check-up and free annual eye check (Retinography). I understand that in some areas you have to pay for (some of) these services - but you will need them.

It is a fact that 95% of diabetic people are - in effect - self monitoring/regulating. My advice - as a lay person - is simple. Seek out the GP, Nurse, dietician/specialist who you feel you can work with - and do just that. Work with them, encourage them to help you understand the condition. The more you understand, the better you can control, the better you feel. Do not be fobbed of by anyone. If you can find another diabetic in your area - find out who they recommend. From personal experience - show a health professional that you are serious and they will willingly work with you..

Continually refer to this site - and be aware that there is another site with a very similar name. That site is a commercial venture (with an agenda).

This Diabetes.org.uk site is a charity and, in my case, is recommended by ALL diabetic professionals I have spoken with in NHS Scotland.

Finally, you will have good days and you will have bad days. When I have a bad day I usually visit this site. Today is no exception; bad Rheumatoid Arthritis day, no walks with the dogs, a wee bit 'down' - and the 2 'stickie buns' I had for lunch - naughty but nice!:D

Best Regards
Brian
 
Thanks Brian, that is a lovely post and has helped me a lot.
 
A question: some people in their signature put their cholesterol level or which statin they are on.

This might be really thick but what is the connection?
 
MargB said:
A question: some people in their signature put their cholesterol level or which statin they are on.

This might be really thick but what is the connection?
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Statins are primarily used to decrease cholesterol production by the liver and so bring levels down. The current recommendation is that diabetics have a total cholesterol level of 4.0 or below.🙂
 
Thanks Northerner. So a diabetic needs a lower level than is normally classed as OK?

Pretty sure my last cholesterol reading was about 4.6 and the doc said that was fine. It has been fairly static for a couple of years.

Mmmmm, lot to all this, isn't there!
 
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