Hello everyone

[Pfe10]

I was told by my doctor in a phone consultation about eight weeks ago that I have type 2 diabetes, he put me on 500mg Metformin which I was told to take twice a day and that’s all the information I have received is this normal as it’s left me feeling a bit bewildered and not sure what I should do next?

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Pfe10 🙂 Sadly, they does sound pretty normal. Many Type 2s here have felt a little abandoned by their doctor. What was your HbA1C at diagnosis? Have you made any changes to your diet since you were diagnosed?

 

[Pfe10]

Welcome @Pfe10 🙂 Sadly, they does sound pretty normal. Many Type 2s here have felt a little abandoned by their doctor. What was your HbA1C at diagnosis? Have you made any changes to your diet since you were diagnosed?

Hi, Thank you for your reply, I believe my HbA1c was 62 but not sure, As for changes yes I’ve gone on a low card diet and reduced my red wine intake to half a bottle a week.

 

[ColinUK]

Speak to your gp surgery and ask when you’re getting an appointment with the diabetes nurse.

 

[Inka]

Hi, Thank you for your reply, I believe my HbA1c was 62 but not sure, As for changes yes I’ve gone on a low card diet and reduced my red wine intake to half a bottle a week.

Sounds a very good start @Pfe10 62 does sound like an HbA1C result. That’s firmly in the diabetes zone but not awfully high so your changes should pay off over time.

 

[Inka]

Here are some basic links about Type 2. You could have a browse through:

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/board...for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/#post-938458

If that link hasn’t taken you to exactly the right place, click on Type 2 in the list in the first post on that thread.

 

[Pfe10]

Speak to your gp surgery and ask when you’re getting an appointment with the diabetes nurse.

Thanks for replying, I’m hoping the doctor is going to call me today as I requested in a online message and I will ask about seeing the nurse. Cheers

 

[Pfe10]

Here are some basic links about Type 2. You could have a browse through:

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/board...for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/#post-938458

If that link hasn’t taken you to exactly the right place, click on Type 2 in the list in the first post on that thread.

Thank for your help it’s much appreciated.

 

[mage 1]

Yes I would agree with Colin ring your surgery and asked to talk to the diabetic nurse or doctor I started with a HBA1C of 118 after eight weeks I have my second HBA1C and it had come down to 58 asked for a consultation with the doctor to review my tabletsShe took me off one of my blood pressure tablets and gliclazide so then I was left on just one metformin morning and night .I should’ve had another HPA1C But left it to me to order my paperwork and unfortunately I ordered a glucose test which came back at 6.2 that’s what you get when you let a Newby order paperwork . Dr was happy with that and reduce my Metformin to one a day slow release for three months and then wrote on my repeat prescription in big letters HBA1C but as Colin said you must be the driving force ring your doctor your nurse and find out when you’re next appointment is.

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Pfe10 and welcome to the forum. There is a great deal of help and experience available here, and many of us have been on the 'diabetes' journey and found good solutions, so please keep browsing around and ask any questions.
The help you will get from the NHS is variable, especially at present.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/15-healthcare-essentials
This is a useful list of annual tests and checks you should get at some point following a diabetes diagnosis

Another source of information is the 'learning Zone (orange tab at the top of this page,
Best Wishes and it sounds as if you are already on track for a good outcome.

 

[mage 1]

Sorry I’m a bit slow typing Best of luck please let us know how you get on

 

[Pfe10]

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

 

[Pfe10]

Hi, I’ve just spoken to a medical professional at the local surgery and was advised to keep taking the tablets and to keep my first three month diabetes appointment in four weeks time. I told him that I have a muzzy feeling in my head almost all the time, he thought this was probably due to me being on a low carb diet and that I should increase my carb intake when feeling like this.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi, I’ve just spoken to a medical professional at the local surgery and was advised to keep taking the tablets and to keep my first three month diabetes appointment in four weeks time. I told him that I have a muzzy feeling in my head almost all the time, he thought this was probably due to me being on a low carb diet and that I should increase my carb intake when feeling like this.

Good to hear you have had some contact from the surgery.

How low carb are you going? If you are aiming for ketosis, some people seem to get a sort of “low carb flu” as their body adapts to burning fat for energy rather than carbs, but you’d have to be very low carb for that.

The other possibility is that it is simply your BG levels responding positively to your carb reductions. As your levels reduce towards a more healthy range, having been running quite a bit higher for a while, your internal ‘glucose thermostat’ can go on the fritz, and begins to fire low glucose warning signs simply because your BG is lower than it has been for a while. If that!s the case, these false hypos should reduce over time as your body resets itself.

 

[Drummer]

Hi, I’ve just spoken to a medical professional at the local surgery and was advised to keep taking the tablets and to keep my first three month diabetes appointment in four weeks time. I told him that I have a muzzy feeling in my head almost all the time, he thought this was probably due to me being on a low carb diet and that I should increase my carb intake when feeling like this.

I've always felt sharper when eating low carb - never muzzy.
How low are you setting your daily intake of carbs?

 

[Pfe10]

Hi, I’ve not set my daily carb intake as I wouldn’t know what to set it at, I’ve stopped eating potatoes white rice pasta crisps and bread, I’ve replaced them with sweet potato quinoa couscous low carb pasta and low carb wraps.
If it is my BG levels responding positively to the reduction of carbs that’s good news and thanks for telling me about the false hypos as I had not heard of them before.

 

[Pfe10]

I've always felt sharper when eating low carb - never muzzy.
How low are you setting your daily intake of carbs?

Hi, I’m definitely not feeling sharper eating low carb, but I am losing weight over 30lbs so far.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi, I’ve not set my daily carb intake as I wouldn’t know what to set it at, I’ve stopped eating potatoes white rice pasta crisps and bread, I’ve replaced them with sweet potato quinoa couscous low carb pasta and low carb wraps.
If it is my BG levels responding positively to the reduction of carbs that’s good news and thanks for telling me about the false hypos as I had not heard of them before.

The replacements you have made although lower carb are not particularly low carb so you probably still need to watch your portion size. So your muzzy head could be because your levels are still too high.
If you haven't already got one a blood glucose monitor would help you determine which foods you can tolerate.

 

[Pfe10]

The replacements you have made although lower carb are not particularly low carb so you probably still need to watch your portion size. So your muzzy head could be because your levels are still too high.
If you haven't already got one a blood glucose monitor would help you determine which foods you can tolerate.

Thanks for your advice I’ve just ordered a glucose monitor and I will keep an eye on my portion size.

 

[Drummer]

Hi, I’ve not set my daily carb intake as I wouldn’t know what to set it at, I’ve stopped eating potatoes white rice pasta crisps and bread, I’ve replaced them with sweet potato quinoa couscous low carb pasta and low carb wraps.
If it is my BG levels responding positively to the reduction of carbs that’s good news and thanks for telling me about the false hypos as I had not heard of them before.

I'd not eat any of those replacement foods - sweet potato is higher carb than ordinary, of the rest - just empty carbs, in my opinion - though I can make some very low carb wraps using the same recipe as the cheese waffles I have from time to time.
Early on, returning to normal numbers is probably a good aim (though not too abruptly if you have previously been rather high) once you are seeing and feeling things get back to normal, checking your response to various foods is easy.
I use chopped cauliflower rather than rice in a curry - mashed or boiled swede rather than potatoes and can keep in normal ranges. After a few years I can now eat carby foods and not see high numbers on the BG meter, just on the scales next morning.