Hello from a newly diagnosed Type 2

[Deb_l]

Hi

I was diagnosed about three weeks ago now after visiting my GP for a persistent upset stomach and a very conscientious doctor deciding I needed further investigations and blood tests.

I had to wait a little while for the blood test results but as soon as they arrived, my GP and diabetes nurse swung into action immediately and wanted to see me straight away. My HbA1c was 96, hence the urgency!!

The Type 2 diagnosis has come as a shock but not a surprise. I have put on an enormous amount of weight in the last four years. Covid didn't help but it's not an excuse. I ignored lots of diabetes symptoms for a long time as well, putting a lot of them down to menopause. Let's face it, I was in total denial of my eating habits and ignoring all warning signs.

Things however need to change now. My GP practice has been amazing and swung into action like an elite SAS division, with no judgement, just a plan for the future. Loads of information, a finger prick testing kit (sorry, I don't know the posh name for that), referral to support groups, referral to diabetic eye screening and monthly follow-ups with the GP or nurse.

I haven't been given the option of just diet control as my levels are too high and have been prescribed Sitagliptin, which I believe is gliclazide drug. I'll be honest, all this is confusing. I just knew I couldn't take Metformin as one of the side effects is an upset stomach and I'm already in enough trouble with that

I have been advised to test three times a day and get to know what foods I can tolerate and what's best to avoid altogether. I 'came out' to my friends on Facebook a couple of nights ago and the response has been brilliant. I've been sent loads of information from friends and colleagues about foods to avoid and food alternatives like bean and pea pasta for example.

I'm still slightly in shock but feeling more positive now. I have no choice but to change my poor relationship with food but there's every incentive to do it. The main reason I stopped smoking many years ago was a fear of macular degeneration and going blind. Well, if I don't get my diabetes under control, that fear could become a reality.

I'll stop waffling on now - I can talk for England!!

Hopefully chat soon

Deb

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Deb_l 🙂 Your GP does indeed seem very switched on and you’ve got some good advice there, as well as a blood glucose meter so you can keep an eye on things at home.

The good news is that you have weight to lose so hopefully losing that weight should make a big difference to your HbA1C. I’m Type 1 not Type 2 so know very little about your medication. However there are lots of friendly Type 2s here so do ask anything you want.

 

[Leadinglights]

My goodness you are lucky to have such a brilliant GP, the medication you have been prescribed encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin so hopefully that will help you. One of the problems with people who are Type 2 diabetic is what is referred to as insulin resistance so although they produce enough insulin or even too much the body cannot use it efficiently which is why metformin is often prescribed as it helps with that.
Many do find a low carb approach is successful in losing weight and reducing blood glucose but with the medication you are taking you have to be careful of going too low carb as it has the risk of low blood glucose (hypos) however you have your blood glucose monitor to keep a check on that. Low carb is suggested as being no more than 130g per day total carbs not just 'sugar'.
Finding what foods and meals you can tolerate is often done by testing before you eat and after 2 hours aiming at no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase and as your levels start to come down then no more than 8-8.5 mmol/l 2 hrs post meal. Hopefully you have been prescribed enough test strips to enable you to do that whilst you find some meals which are 'safe'.
This link may help you with some meal ideas https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/.
The book or app Carbs and Cals is a useful resource as it gives carb value of various portion sizes of a whole range of foods.
Keeping a food diary of everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the carbs will help you see where your big hitters are and what things you could substitute for lower carb alternatives.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Deb_l

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but good to hear that your surgery are looking after you well.

And great to hear that you’ve been given a BG meter to keep an eye on things.

As you are on Sitagliptin / Januvia (which is a GPP-4 inhibitor rather than gliclazide) works by increasing your insulin production - so you’d need to be cautious with any carb-reduction you consider trying and take things gradually, in careful steps 🙂

 

[Deb_l]

Hi

Thank you for your replies, they are very helpful. I’ve been advised at the moment to test my glucose before meals only but was wondering about post-meals and how long to leave it after I had eaten.

My GP checked up on me this week to make sure my levels weren’t going too low on the medication and was happy things were going in the right direction (consistently under 10 now).

There’s so much to learn and absorb but I’ll get there eventually.

Thank you

Deb

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi

Thank you for your replies, they are very helpful. I’ve been advised at the moment to test my glucose before meals only but was wondering about post-meals and how long to leave it after I had eaten.

My GP checked up on me this week to make sure my levels weren’t going too low on the medication and was happy things were going in the right direction (consistently under 10 now).

There’s so much to learn and absorb but I’ll get there eventually.

Thank you

Deb

As mentioned above.
Finding what foods and meals you can tolerate is often done by testing before you eat and after 2 hours aiming at no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase and as your levels start to come down then no more than 8-8.5 mmol/l 2 hrs post meal. Hopefully you have been prescribed enough test strips to enable you to do that whilst you find some meals which are 'safe'.

 

[Deb_l]

As mentioned above.
Finding what foods and meals you can tolerate is often done by testing before you eat and after 2 hours aiming at no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase and as your levels start to come down then no more than 8-8.5 mmol/l 2 hrs post meal. Hopefully you have been prescribed enough test strips to enable you to do that whilst you find some meals which are 'safe'.

Yes, I have tonnes of test strips and they are also now on repeat prescription. I have a pre-paid certificate so it’s not a worry getting more

I had mashed potatoes this week and my sugar had increased significantly afterwards so that’s one food to avoid or a much smaller amount.

Thanks

Deb

 

[Leadinglights]

Yes, I have tonnes of test strips and they are also now on repeat prescription. I have a pre-paid certificate so it’s not a worry getting more

I had mashed potatoes this week and my sugar had increased significantly afterwards so that’s one food to avoid or a much smaller amount.

Thanks

Deb

You will use lots to start with until you establish some safe meals and then you can reduce the testing to something new. Keeping a food diary alongside your readings will be really useful for both you and your diabetic nurse.
Look for the increase before to 2 hours post meal and aim at less than 3mmol/l and you will gradually reduce your overall levels.
Mashed potato is known for having a greater effect than boiled new potatoes.

 

[goodybags]

Yes, I have tonnes of test strips and they are also now on repeat prescription. I have a pre-paid certificate so it’s not a worry getting more

I had mashed potatoes this week and my sugar had increased significantly afterwards so that’s one food to avoid or a much smaller amount.

Thanks

Deb

HI @Deb_l
Welcome to the forum,
Just looking through your post and you said you were on a PrePaid prescription
got me thinking, as shortly after I was was diagnosed as T2

I was on a medical exception for prescriptions and have been since.

so if you check might be able to switch from a pre paid to medical excemption

Good to see your GP has provided a monitor and put the testing strips on your repeat, as testing regularly really helped me understand what I can and shouldn’t eat,
although I do still sometimes treat myself and eat the kind of things I really shouldn’t.

 

[Drummer]

Yes, I have tonnes of test strips and they are also now on repeat prescription. I have a pre-paid certificate so it’s not a worry getting more

I had mashed potatoes this week and my sugar had increased significantly afterwards so that’s one food to avoid or a much smaller amount.

Thanks

Deb

You can probably get a refund on the prepayment certificate as you are now exempt from all prescription charges. I think you need to get your GP to sign the paperwork for he exemption 'ticket'.
My Hba1c was 91 at diagnosis, but I got no diet advice at all, so I went back to the 50 gm a day max which I did on Atkins. I was no longer diabetic in 80 days, in normal numbers, just, at 6 months.
You being on the glucose lowering medication probably prevents such a reduction, but at least you have a meter provided, I had to buy my own, but it should soon become clear what you can eat. To keep yourself safe be sure to always have treatment for hypos on hand.
I was given Metformin and Atorvastatin at diagnosis - that did not end well and after 5 weeks I threw them in the bin, being at my wits end with the side effects. At least I am totally confident that I can cope on just diet control.

 

[Deb_l]

That’s very interesting about the prescription exemption. No-one has mentioned this to me, except on here. I only bought a 12 month certificate a couple of weeks ago as I already have 2 prescriptions for migraines and I figured with the diabetes medication, testing strips and microlet needles, it would work out cheaper.

I will have a chat with my GP practice, thank you.

 

[Drummer]

That’s very interesting about the prescription exemption. No-one has mentioned this to me, except on here. I only bought a 12 month certificate a couple of weeks ago as I already have 2 prescriptions for migraines and I figured with the diabetes medication, testing strips and microlet needles, it would work out cheaper.

I will have a chat with my GP practice, thank you.

As you have medication for diabetes all your prescriptions should be free - it ought to have been pointed out by someone in the chain - often the pharmacy will point it out when collecting an obvious diabetes medication.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

That’s very interesting about the prescription exemption. No-one has mentioned this to me, except on here. I only bought a 12 month certificate a couple of weeks ago as I already have 2 prescriptions for migraines and I figured with the diabetes medication, testing strips and microlet needles, it would work out cheaper.

I will have a chat with my GP practice, thank you.

Have a look at

Can I claim a refund of my Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) if I have an exemption certificate? · Customer Self-Service

Your GP's surgery will fill in the form and sort out the exemption for you, but you probably need to ask them.

Mine was very helpful, and yours sounds just as good.
They organised an NHS dietician, (we worked together on a low fat diet), and continuing care involving various support groups, access to an NHS gym, and targeted weight loss.
It all worked very well I'm pleased to say.
5 stone weight loss, and reversed my diabetes at the end with the Newcastle Diet.