Hi all, I was diagnosed type 2 over two years ago, but am new to the forum. Decided to register as I’m finding it all a bit tough going at present. I was diagnosed with an initial HbA1c of 100+, managed to bring it down to 49 within a year, through diet and exercise, and got an updated level of 60 in January. Have completely changed my lifestyle and my diet and put diabetes at the centre of everything I do. Finding it quite tough at the moment, seem to spend half my life hungry, worrying about what I’ve eaten or walking after eating! I walk three times a day, usually around 9-10 thousand steps a day and completely cut out evening carbs recently. Seems that whenever I take my foot off the gas, finger-prick results will spike. Had a random, completely unprecedented 18 yesterday and punished myself by walking 10,000 steps in 2 hours! Not on any diabetes meds, but am starting to wonder whether taking Metformin might help to take the pressure off.
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Hello from another forum newbie...
- Thread starter JayN
- Start date
- Status
Cherrelle DUK
Much missed Online Community Coordinator
Hi JayN, just popping in to say welcome!
It can be really tough to find the balance but you certainly don't need to be going hungry. We've got some really good food based threads on here so do have a look to get an idea what an average food day looks like for the community.
It sounds as though you've done really well in general so it might just be worth having a chat with your GP about what you can do to get back on track.
It can be really tough to find the balance but you certainly don't need to be going hungry. We've got some really good food based threads on here so do have a look to get an idea what an average food day looks like for the community.
It sounds as though you've done really well in general so it might just be worth having a chat with your GP about what you can do to get back on track.
Thanks for the welcome messages and kind words. I've only just skimmed the surface of the forum, so will definitely take a deep dive into some of the food/carbs threads to get an insight into average food days.
I cut out evening meal carbs a few months back, but started reintroducing them in small amounts, four days out of seven, just before Christmas on the advice of my diabetic nurse, who wasn't happy about me being hungry at bedtime - maybe this is what has lead to the January HbA1c increase?
An average day's food for me would be: porridge with a tsp of honey for breakfast; sandwich with two slices of wholemeal bread and a simple filling (cheese, ham, low-fat soft cheese etc.) for lunch; wide-range of healthy protein and veg combinations for dinner, sometimes with a small amount of carbs, sometimes without.
Should have probably mentioned that my clinical situation is complicated slightly by the fact that I take steroids and I am aware that there is some opinion out there that one of them (hydrocortisone/cortisol) can impact BG levels in a negative way.
Still so much to discover!
I cut out evening meal carbs a few months back, but started reintroducing them in small amounts, four days out of seven, just before Christmas on the advice of my diabetic nurse, who wasn't happy about me being hungry at bedtime - maybe this is what has lead to the January HbA1c increase?
An average day's food for me would be: porridge with a tsp of honey for breakfast; sandwich with two slices of wholemeal bread and a simple filling (cheese, ham, low-fat soft cheese etc.) for lunch; wide-range of healthy protein and veg combinations for dinner, sometimes with a small amount of carbs, sometimes without.
Should have probably mentioned that my clinical situation is complicated slightly by the fact that I take steroids and I am aware that there is some opinion out there that one of them (hydrocortisone/cortisol) can impact BG levels in a negative way.
Still so much to discover!
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I have accepted that my ability to deal with carbs means that I have a limit of 40 gm a day and I avoid high starch and sugar options, so nothing with more than 10 % carbs - but that means normal blood glucose and my Hba1c is at the top end of normal (It should be lower according to the tables, but it isn't) but I feel well and don't act my age (almost 70) so that will do for me.
That is what works for me, I am never hungry and never in the least concerned.
Are you sure that the choices you have made are right for you?
With, I suspect, the steroid putting a spanner in the works on top of everything else, I mean. Your meter is indicating a problem - my GP was very scathing about my reading of 17.1 at diagnosis.
That is what works for me, I am never hungry and never in the least concerned.
Are you sure that the choices you have made are right for you?
With, I suspect, the steroid putting a spanner in the works on top of everything else, I mean. Your meter is indicating a problem - my GP was very scathing about my reading of 17.1 at diagnosis.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Should have probably mentioned that my clinical situation is complicated slightly by the fact that I take steroids and I am aware that there is some opinion out there that one of them (hydrocortisone/cortisol) can impact BG levels in a negative way.
Yes, you’re right @JayN Steroids can cause high blood sugar, both in people who already have diabetes and sometimes in those who don’t (sometimes enough so that steroid-induced diabetes occurs).
Yes, you’re right @JayN Steroids can cause high blood sugar, both in people who already have diabetes and sometimes in those who don’t (sometimes enough so that steroid-induced diabetes occurs).
If you have a BG meter I suggest you test before breakfast and then 2hrs after 1st bite. You are looking for a rise of less than 2.0 mmol/l and aiming to keep below a maximum reading (after food) of 8.0 to 8.5.
If as I suspect your BG is higher than this after breakfast, please re-consider the suitability of a heavy carb & sugar breakfast like porridge and honey. For most of us T2's the fact that it's whole grains only means it takes slightly longer to spike our BG than the same amount of a refined carb like white bread would do, Similarly Honey is just another sugar but with a few trace elements - so just as bas as the white granules for Blood Glucose.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
... and have a read of this for a good plan on test timing to gain maximum use and benefit from the meter results
Type 2 Diabetes - A Personal Journey: Test, Review, Adjust (loraldiabetes.blogspot.com)
Type 2 Diabetes - A Personal Journey: Test, Review, Adjust (loraldiabetes.blogspot.com)
Thanks all for the advice and input. This has been so interesting and such an eye-opener for me… I feel like I’ve stumbled into the den of the diabetes ninjas. So much amazing knowledge and expertise.
Regarding the steroids situation @Inka I am under the care of the diabetes and endocrine centre at Addenbrookes hospital and I actually had to raise the question about steroid-induced diabetes, which seemed like a novel concept to them and they weren’t able to offer any enlightenment. I have read bits and pieces online, but I have never had a definitive answer about the link between the two.
@ianf0ster I have a Tee2 meter, which I find can be quite sporadic in the range of results that it gives. Thanks for the advice to you and @trophywench about the whole test > review > adjust technique. This more scientific way of looking at it is so logical, but is a completely new approach for me. It sounds ridiculous, but I’ve haven’t given a huge amount of thought to tweaking meals in this way, my method has been to eat generally healthily meals and then ‘walk it off’ afterwards… time to get a bit more analytical! I feel like my horizons have been broadened more in the last couple of days than they have been in the last couple of years and I feel so much more positive and empowered already. Just talking about things and getting the input of experienced others has been a huge help.
Regarding the steroids situation @Inka I am under the care of the diabetes and endocrine centre at Addenbrookes hospital and I actually had to raise the question about steroid-induced diabetes, which seemed like a novel concept to them and they weren’t able to offer any enlightenment. I have read bits and pieces online, but I have never had a definitive answer about the link between the two.
@ianf0ster I have a Tee2 meter, which I find can be quite sporadic in the range of results that it gives. Thanks for the advice to you and @trophywench about the whole test > review > adjust technique. This more scientific way of looking at it is so logical, but is a completely new approach for me. It sounds ridiculous, but I’ve haven’t given a huge amount of thought to tweaking meals in this way, my method has been to eat generally healthily meals and then ‘walk it off’ afterwards… time to get a bit more analytical! I feel like my horizons have been broadened more in the last couple of days than they have been in the last couple of years and I feel so much more positive and empowered already. Just talking about things and getting the input of experienced others has been a huge help.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Good for you @JayN - we do try to present relevant info that actually assists people deal with their diabetes.
It's good to hear it's causing you to think in a different way.
(Kind-of like the upfront caveat they should put on all gadgets of every kind -
"If all else fails - read the instructions."
)
It's good to hear it's causing you to think in a different way.
(Kind-of like the upfront caveat they should put on all gadgets of every kind -
"If all else fails - read the instructions."
)- Status