• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Hello from newly diagnosed type 2

S

sevilla77

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Pronouns
She/Her
Hi all, I'm 47 years old and I've just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after a HbA1c level of 96 mmol. In Jan it was 46 so seems to have risen a fair bit. My BMI is 25.8. I had gestational diabetes with both my kids so I suspect it has something to do with that. The doctor has prescribed Metformin but I'd really like to avoid medication if possible, so having read Roy Taylor's book I'm keen to try the 3 step diet. Obviously Christmas isn't the easiest time to embark on this so I'm currently cutting down on carbs and plan to start properly in the New Year. I'm trying to get approval from my doctor but it's pretty impossible to speak to her at the moment! Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
sevilla77 said:
Hi all, I'm 47 years old and I've just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after a HbA1c level of 96 mmol. In Jan it was 46 so seems to have risen a fair bit. My BMI is 25.8. I had gestational diabetes with both my kids so I suspect it has something to do with that. The doctor has prescribed Metformin but I'd really like to avoid medication if possible, so having read Roy Taylor's book I'm keen to try the 3 step diet. Obviously Christmas isn't the easiest time to embark on this so I'm currently cutting down on carbs and plan to start properly in the New Year. I'm trying to get approval from my doctor but it's pretty impossible to speak to her at the moment! Thanks in advance for any advice!
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum, With an HbA1C that you have which is very high then your GP is just following the NICE guidelines in prescribing metformin but in any case you will need to make dietary changes and they may feel with the high HbA1C you may still need the medication even with the 3 step program. It is aimed at the need to lose weight which doesn't particularly apply to you but could be of benefit anyway if you want to.
I am wondering what changed in those months to increase your HbA1Cso significantly so it may be worth considering that you may be LADA which is a maturity onset Type 1.
A link you could look at for a low carb approach is the Freshwell program https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Reducing carbs usually results in weight loss so if that is not needed than increasing protein and healthy fats will help with that.
 
Hi @sevilla77 Welcome to the forum, a place of lots of good advice. I tried to go the no medication route but was eventually pushed into it. My HbA1c was 86 on my second test back in September. I moved to a low carb diet but whenever I go and see the nurse, my BG is always above 8. When I do it at home it is rarely above 8. Down to timing I suppose.
Although I have started the Metformin I am not willing to go above 1 tablet (500mg) a day so have stuck to that since I started taking them last month. My next blood test is early in the new year and I am hoping with the diet changes and the additional exercise, that my level has come down.
One of the websites recommended on the forum to me is LowCarbFreshwells which has been good. Another is the SugarFreeLondoner who has a whole load of great recipes including quite a few for the special treat fans. Worth a look to make sure you don't miss out on Christmas.
 
Thank you both, very much appreciate you taking the time to reply and offer advice! I will definitely check out those websites, and that's interesting to hear re LADA, I will ask my doctor about that. I was wondering about getting a home glucose testing kit to keep an eye on my blood sugars as I reduce the carbs, do a lot of people on here do that?
 
sevilla77 said:
Thank you both, very much appreciate you taking the time to reply and offer advice! I will definitely check out those websites, and that's interesting to hear re LADA, I will ask my doctor about that. I was wondering about getting a home glucose testing kit to keep an eye on my blood sugars as I reduce the carbs, do a lot of people on here do that?
Click to expand...
Absolutely, a vital tool in giving you control over managing your condition.
Inexpensive ones are available on line (cheaper than the pharmacy) GlucoNavii, TEE2 or contour blue are ones with the cheaper test strips
 
sevilla77 said:
Ordering one now! How many times a day is it advisable to test? Thank you!
Click to expand...
Testing needs to be for a purpose to help you make decisions about your meals otherwise it is a waste of time.
Many people test in the morning /fasting to check progress day to day, week to week etc.
Then testing before you eat and after 2 hours will indicate that the carbs in the meal have been tolerated if the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l and once levels come down no more than 8-8.5mmol/l after 2 hours.
You would be aiming at 4-7 fasting and before meals, you probably won't see that yet with an HbA1C as high as yours but you will get there.
 
sevilla77 said:
Thank you both, very much appreciate you taking the time to reply and offer advice! I will definitely check out those websites, and that's interesting to hear re LADA, I will ask my doctor about that. I was wondering about getting a home glucose testing kit to keep an eye on my blood sugars as I reduce the carbs, do a lot of people on here do that?
Click to expand...
At diagnosis my HbA1c was 91 eight years ago now, and went down to 41 in 6 months by eating a low carb diet avoiding high carb foods rather than trying to cope with small amounts of them.
I used a blood glucose tester and found that once I was seeing under 8mmol/l at the 2 hour after starting to eat test the numbers continued to go down though I was still eating the same.
 
Drummer said:
At diagnosis my HbA1c was 91 eight years ago now, and went down to 41 in 6 months by eating a low carb diet avoiding high carb foods rather than trying to cope with small amounts of them.
I used a blood glucose tester and found that once I was seeing under 8mmol/l at the 2 hour after starting to eat test the numbers continued to go down though I was still eating the same.
Click to expand...
That's very encouraging to hear!
 
Leadinglights said:
Testing needs to be for a purpose to help you make decisions about your meals otherwise it is a waste of time.
Many people test in the morning /fasting to check progress day to day, week to week etc.
Then testing before you eat and after 2 hours will indicate that the carbs in the meal have been tolerated if the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l and once levels come down no more than 8-8.5mmol/l after 2 hours.
You would be aiming at 4-7 fasting and before meals, you probably won't see that yet with an HbA1C as high as yours but you will get there.
Click to expand...
That's very helpful to know, thank you. I've just downloaded the Freshwell app which looks brilliant, so straightforward and informative.
 
Welcome to the forum @sevilla77

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis :(

We’ve a few people who found Roy Taylor’s work helpful, including @JITR I think, and also @Kreator with the 800 calorie Newcastle Diet.

Give yourself a little kindness over Christmas, and permission to be human, but also keeping yourself safe and not going overboard <3
 
Welcome to the forum. There's a lot of really good advice from some of the longer term members here. I found the amount of information quite daunting at first but people have been really helpful and friendly.

I was diagnosed over the summer and was given a finger prick test kit and it was useful at first to see the impact of my diet changes and the medication (metformin) in bringing my blood sugar back to a more healthy level. The doctors advised to check when I first got up in the morning and then at one or two random points each day related to meals either before or after them but only one per day. I plan to use the kit more after Christmas to look at how I react to certain foods.

I'm looking at what I'll be doing for my first Christmas knowing I have diabetes, I can't deny that sweet things are going to be tough but I'm happy to avoid parsnips and if I'm only having one roast potato then I figure I can chose the best one that's crispy and firm and I'm the only one in the family who likes sprouts so I won't starve. Cholesterol may be more of a problem as our fridge seems to be half full of cheese and pigs-in-blankets!
 
Mark72 said:
Welcome to the forum. There's a lot of really good advice from some of the longer term members here. I found the amount of information quite daunting at first but people have been really helpful and friendly.

I was diagnosed over the summer and was given a finger prick test kit and it was useful at first to see the impact of my diet changes and the medication (metformin) in bringing my blood sugar back to a more healthy level. The doctors advised to check when I first got up in the morning and then at one or two random points each day related to meals either before or after them but only one per day. I plan to use the kit more after Christmas to look at how I react to certain foods.

I'm looking at what I'll be doing for my first Christmas knowing I have diabetes, I can't deny that sweet things are going to be tough but I'm happy to avoid parsnips and if I'm only having one roast potato then I figure I can chose the best one that's crispy and firm and I'm the only one in the family who likes sprouts so I won't starve. Cholesterol may be more of a problem as our fridge seems to be half full of cheese and pigs-in-blankets!
Click to expand...
People can find cholesterol actually improves when they follow low carb even though they are eating full fat dairy and healthy fats as some can help reduce the bad cholesterol and improve the good.
 
Leadinglights said:
People can find cholesterol actually improves when they follow low carb even though they are eating full fat dairy and healthy fats as some can help reduce the bad cholesterol and improve the good.
Click to expand...
Yes, mine came down quite well despite a weakness for cheese, I've not been as strict with red or processed meat or getting my oily fish each week since my last check though so I might need to take more action after the next one. New Year's resolution, more of the homemade smoked mackerel pate :(
 
Hi all, since I first posted I've been following a low carb, low sugar programme and am delighted to share that I've just had the results of my latest Hba1c and it's come down to 41! It was 96 when I was diagnosed in Nov so I'm really chuffed.

I used Freshwell plus some recipes from the low carb programme offered by the NHS. To begin with I found it a bit tricky, as I'm also a vegetarian, but am now enjoying the new range of meals. I've got into a routine of making a batch of soup and almond rolls on a Sunday, swapping pasta for courgetti and eating an egg based meal once a day. Breakfast is full fat yoghurt with berries, nuts and seeds. I've lost 10lb and my BMI is now 22.

A massive thank you for all the advice on this brilliant forum, it was incredibly helpful. Now I just have to maintain it!
 
That's amazing news @sevilla77 , you should definitely be chuffed! Glad to hear you've found a new 'go-to' for your meals and seem to be enjoying it! Always nice to hear the positive stories, so keep us posted! <3
 
Great HbA1c results. Give yourself a pat on the back for all your hard work @sevilla77
Looks like you have fully embraced the lifestyle changes so hopefully you won't find maintaining it too onerous.
Keep us updated on your progress. Always nice to hear good news :D
 
Wow! What a fantastic result! Many congratulations and thanks for posting. I am sure your amazing progress especially in such a relatively short space of time will be very inspiring for others who are just starting out on their journey. Also great to hear that you are into a good routine with your new way of eating and finding it enjoyable. Well Done!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top