Hello Confused Newbie here.....

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julesb67

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Type 2
Hi everyone, my name is Julie and I have type 2 diabetes :confused:

I have been diagnosed for about 3 years but up until now have not really had any problems, I have eaten fairly carefully and cut down on booze and walked more and that seemed to have done the trick with controlling my diabetes, but??. All of a sudden out of nowhere my readings have gone from 6.9 to 28.8+?.. I have now gone on to Metformine and have been on that a week. It seems to be ok and no side effects so all good but my bloods are still 18+ sometimes still 28+. Can anyone suggest a good place that explains how I handle eating and at what times of day I take readings and what I do if they are high?? Do I eat do I not eat should a run round the block or go to bed...?? I am extremely confused and would appreciate any advice, reading materials or common sense anyone could offer please 😱) Thank you in advance

Jules xx :(
 
Welcome Jules.

Changes in blood sugar levels don't come instantly when you start a new medication, particularly as you usually start on a low dose and build up gradually eg initially a week of 500mg with breakfast, then a week of 500mg with both breakfast and evening meal, then up to a maximum of 4 x 500mg tablets per day.

At this stage, readings are mainly to report back to whoever is prescribing the tablets so they can increase your doses to appropriate (for you) levels. Key times are fasting (on waking), before meals and 2 hours after meals.

While energetic exercise, such as running, is not a good idea with high blood sugar levels, regular (at least once a day) longer periods of lower intensity eg walking for at least 30mins are useful in regualting blood sugar levels. But, remember that you're in the very early stages of medication, so a few weeks of high levels are expected.

Jennifer's Advice is good - see http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php Also Maggie Davey's letter - see http://www.sequin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Downloads/openlet.pdf

Diabetes the first year by Gretchen Becker is recommended by many, includingthose beyond the first year after diagnosis - available from Amazon or local bookshops - see http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...p=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1841198048
 
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Welcome to the forums Jules 🙂

I assume you were on diet and exercise previously. If you were stable on diet and exercise and you haven?t suddenly put on weight then it sounds odd for you to just suddenly jump to 20+. With such high levels I?m surprised they didn?t put you onto a sulfonylurea. What have you hBA1c?s been like?

If you are normal/underweight it might actually suggest that you are not Type 2.

Metformin usually takes between 2 weeks and a month to start having an impact on blood glucose levels (based on experience and a few others on the board).
 
Hi Julie, welcome to the forum 🙂 I would agree with Mark, it does seem unusual to jump suddenly to the 20s and above if you have previously been well controlled without medication. How long have the high levels been going on and what sorts of levels were you getting before this?

The links Copepod suggested are excellent, plus there are many more you may find helpful in our Useful links thread.

I hope your levels stabilise at more normal numbers soon, let us know how you get on 🙂
 
Hi Jules. Welcome 🙂

Can't really add to what's been said, but if you're BGs don't come down steadily over the next few days/couple of weeks then you need to ask your doctor about an alternative approach.🙂

Rob
 
Hi Jules and welcome.

As the others have said keep talking to your team and make an appointment if levels don't start to improve. Can you test for ketones ?
 
Thank you

Hi all thank you very much for your help.

Copepod ? Thank you for your advice it is helpful to know people are out there that know what I am talking about!! It all seems very confusing at the moment I am trying to get my head round it all?. Up until now I?ve not had to worry about I?ve just thought oh yeah I?m diabetic? nothing to it really so this week has been a real shock! Also as well as all this I have had probs with my heart and have to have more test scans next week and crazy bouts of cramp for NO reason!! The only thing I can say is that we moved in the spring and I have spent most of my spare time (I work full time) decorating unpacking DIY?ing and the usual moving into a new home things. So my normal diet, routine of walking and going to Zumba classes has all ceased, we have been having more ?ready to kill you? meals and take always although less alcohol! Also had my sons wedding and my mother?s 80th surprise birthday party which I had to fit in to ?normal? life. So all settled in my new home and a new care regime at the docs and voila I?m in a right state! I am over weight (a lot) but have always been fit for a ?big? girl!!! But this is all scaring me to death to be honest! I just really need to read everything there is and get my head around it all 😱

Mark T my hBA1c?s were always around the 6.7 mark (April 2011) and October 2011 (9.5)?? I have no idea what that even means(?)

Northerner ? I haven?t been on medication before only just started a small dose of Metformine this week and I take one with breakfast and one with my dinner I think they are 500mg and diabetic sister said maybe increase them to 850mg?? I may be rambling I?m sorry I just feel like my head is like a bag of broken biscuits and I can?t understand anything :confused:

Hi to Robster and Margie thanks for your comments ? I have taken everything on board and am reading all the pages you have mentioned thank you ? I found the useful links right after I posted this morning so thank you all for your help so far

Jules xx 🙂
 
Hi Jules. Welcome to the forum. I have been on metfomin for several years now and I started on 500mg twice a day and built up to 1000mg twice a day and it took quite a while for my levels to stabilise. Just follow what your team advise and you'll get there.
 
Hi Jules,

The HbA1c is a measure of your average control over the past few weeks. For more details try clicking the HbA1c link at the top of the page.

It's possible that the stress from the move and all the other events in your life have conspired to send your levels up. You probably really want to avoid the takeaways and ready meals, since those are usually very heavy in carbohydrates even if (in the case of some ready meals) they are not calorie heavy.

Loosing even a little bit of your weight will help in lots of ways as well.
 
Thanks

Thanks everyone... Im looking forward to getting fitter and sorting these bloods out...

Have a great day xx🙂
 
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