Hello. Happy to be here….I think!

[Ukkate1]

Hi. My name is Kate and I was diagnosed with Type 2 a month ago. I am confused and overwhelmed and would welcome support.
My doctor prescribed Metformin and referred me to the practice nurse. She was nice, but vague and recommended a balanced diet, whatever that means. My HB1 ( or whatever ) is 56 so doesn’t sound not too bad.
I started the meds but had awful cramps, nausea and diarrhoea. Phoned the nurse who prescribed slow release. They are like horse pills and as I also have a swallowing issue, they stick in my oesophagus. After three choking episodes, I phoned the pharmacist to ask can I cut in half? Definitely No. Phoned the nurse who said, don’t worry, cut them in half!
I am tempted not to take anything, just try and improve my diet. Since I live alone and am retired, my previous menu consists mostly of sandwiches, snacks, primarily biscuits and crisps , with a bit of chocolate in front of the tv and eating out with friends! After years bringing up a family and cooking tons of dinners for hungry teens, I enjoyed grazing on whatever I fancy! So quite a change coming! Can’t say I relish the thought of salads and cabbage, but I don’t want to be blind and on dialysis either!
There seems to be a lot of experience and goodwill here and the forum has already told more than my GP practice .
Any words o& wisdom will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Kate

 

[Gwynn]

HbA1c 56 is not too far into the diabetic range so it is possible that diet and lifestyle changes could sort out the higher blood glucose and bring your HbA1c level down.

If you can reduce your carbohydrate input (not just sugars) and exercise then that will help.

I am surprised that they have shoved you onto medication and not suggested diet and exercise first. Maybe there are other medical factors that they are taking account of. Maybe discus the diet/exercise/no medication route with your diabetic nurse when you see them.

A boring highly restricted diet is not necessarily your future. Sure there will ne changes and new discoveries...all good

So start out by reading lots here. Decide what strategy (?) You want to adopt. Learn about all foods you eat. Substitute foods to get lower carbs, but enjoy your changes.

Many have found that keeping a food diary and getting (and using) a blood glucose monitor have really helped. I am sure others will be along shortly to explain these things.

This new journey could be your gateway to a fitter, healthier, happier life, but it does take some determined sustained effort but the rewards are definitely worth it.

Let us know what you decide to do and how you get on.

 

[Deb_l]

I'm only recently diagnosed as well (Jan 2023) and like you, did feel overwhelmed at first. My GP practice have been brilliant and very supportive but I have also found this forum to be a HUGE help with a wealth of experience and advice, so keep logging in.

I have found monitoring my blood glucose levels really helps and also keeping a food diary so I can see where the 'spikes' are. I have found out that I definitely cannot tolerate potatoes at all, carrots are OK but not brilliant but just this last couple of days, I have discovered pasta isn't raising my BG level at all, which I'm finding a bit bizarre.

I've opted for the low carb approach and don't feel like I'm missing out on anything food wise despite the fact my diet was very poor before.

 

[Ukkate1]

I'm only recently diagnosed as well (Jan 2023) and like you, did feel overwhelmed at first. My GP practice have been brilliant and very supportive but I have also found this forum to be a HUGE help with a wealth of experience and advice, so keep logging in.

I have found monitoring my blood glucose levels really helps and also keeping a food diary so I can see where the 'spikes' are. I have found out that I definitely cannot tolerate potatoes at all, carrots are OK but not brilliant but just this last couple of days, I have discovered pasta isn't raising my BG level at all, which I'm finding a bit bizarre.

I've opted for the low carb approach and don't feel like I'm missing out on anything food wise despite the fact my diet was very poor before.

Thanks Gwynn and Deb. The practice nurse said not to bother with a glucose monitor, just get a blood test in 3 months. She told me pricking you finger isn’t necessary and no longer advised these days unless you take insulin. Don’t know whether to get myself one anyway?
I’ve been for a brisk walk and shopped on the way home for some healthy foods, so I’ve made a start. I think I’ll hold off from the meds for now and see how it goes.
I feel better already, after venting on here. Thank you all

 

[ianf0ster]

Thanks Gwynn and Deb. The practice nurse said not to bother with a glucose monitor, just get a blood test in 3 months. She told me pricking you finger isn’t necessary and no longer advised these days unless you take insulin. Don’t know whether to get myself one anyway?
I’ve been for a brisk walk and shopped on the way home for some healthy foods, so I’ve made a start. I think I’ll hold off from the meds for now and see how it goes.
I feel better already, after venting on here. Thank you all

Hi Kate.
Unless you decide to try the very low calorie diet (800 calories). Then the only other main approach we use is Low or very Low Carbohydrates and for this a Blood Glucose meter such as a SD Gluco Navii or a Spirit TEE2+ is invaluable because we use it to test every meal (no more than a spike of 2 mmol between just before the meal to 2hrs after first bite of the meal). Keeping track of those readings together with what we ate helps us learn which food is OK for our particular Type 2 body (we all respond differently to different carbohydrates).
The easiest meal to get sorted is breakfast - eggs are great, but meat, fish or cheese is also OK for most.
Once you can accurately predict the BG spike from a meal and avoid the 'bad' meals, you can stop testing if you are having that meal e.g. a breakfast of boiled eggs (no toast) and tea or coffee with no sugar (not fruit juice) then we can stop continuously testing for that meal and just check occasionally in case something has changed.

 

[Leadinglights]

All good advice above. The whole point of slow release is that they do just that and by cuttting them in half you would compromise that and you might then get the same symptoms as the others caused.
Your HbA1C at 56 mmol/mol is not so high that some dietary changes won't be effective and many do find a low carbohydrate approach successful but that is definitely not NO carbs but more making the carbs worth it and are not 'empty' carbs like lots of sugary foods or the bland things that are meal fillers.
Have a look at this link for some ideas for making some changes. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
I certainly found a blood glucose monitor so useful as it enabled me to find what meals and foods I could tolerate by testing before eating and after 2 hours making sure the increase was less than 3mmol/l.
The book or app Carbs and Cals is a useful resource as it gives carb values of various portions of a whole range of foods and meals. There were some surprises and indicated that having some scales to weigh things was a good plan.

 

[Pollyanna]

The reason they tell you that re monitor is because they don't provide them unless on insulin.
My advice is do use one. I got my diabetes under control in 6 months but I wouldn't have been able to do so without a monitor and the support from here.
Check out the shop on this site ...they have them at a good price.
Hugs...it's a pain in bum but you will soon get used to being diabetic.
My advice is cut down carbs and go swimming/walking...that's what worked for me.

 

[Felinia]

Hi and welcome
When I was first diagnosed my HbA1c was 57 and I was not put on medication, just given 3 months to modify my lifestyle. I bought my HbA1c down to 48. I've been ill since, and am slowly bringing the HbA1c back down again, but that's another story.
Leadinglights always gives excellent advice. I tested myself daily for the first few weeks until I found out what foods spiked my blood glucose. Now I just test for new foods. One thing I did straight away was get an app to record my daily food and exercise plan. I enter it at the beginning of the day, so I know exactly what I'm having, and the cals and carbs for the day. I pay a small monthly fee for mine, but there are others available. I also keep digital scales and a clear bowl on the worktop, to measure my portions of most foods (except salads and above ground veggies). No guesstimating!!
I have chosen to go low carb - in my case I aim for around 75gm a day. However we are all different, and what suits one, may not suit another - it's a question of trial and error. I also have slim shakes instead of breakfast on the mornings I am going to exercise classes, as I can't exercise on a full tummy. My exercise is aquafit. It's great fun, sociable, and we are all ladies of a certain age, various shapes and sizes!
I've had great fun experimenting with foods, and make good use of my slow cooker for stews and soups. Many a strange concoction has emerged from the left overs in my fridge!! So it does not have to be boring, just mindful of the ingredients. Best wishes

 

[Leadinglights]

If you do decide to get a monitor than check out the cost of the test strips as that is the consumable part and they can very by 4x for different monitors. Those on line tend to be cheaper than from the pharmacy and you do not need to pay VAT so do shop around. The GlucoNavii or TEE2 are monitors with cheaper strips.

 

[Pollyanna]

I just ordered the cartridge type...I struggle with the strips
Have had to throw more out than use ....
My support nurse kindly gave me the contour next monitor when I was first diagnosed ...I'm hoping the cartridge type makes it easier.

 

[Lucyr]

You definitely can’t cut slow release metformin in half as it’s the coating that does the slow release part. Have you tried swallowing them in a spoon of yoghurt to help them down?

 

[Burylancs]

Thanks Gwynn and Deb. The practice nurse said not to bother with a glucose monitor, just get a blood test in 3 months. She told me pricking you finger isn’t necessary and no longer advised these days unless you take insulin. Don’t know whether to get myself one anyway?
I’ve been for a brisk walk and shopped on the way home for some healthy foods, so I’ve made a start. I think I’ll hold off from the meds for now and see how it goes.
I feel better already, after venting on here. Thank you all

Yes you need a meter to self test. The two mantra for gaining good control for newbies are Test
,Test Test' and 'Eat to your meter'. You need to know how each Carbohydrate affects you - bread, flour, spuds, rice , pasta and what PORTION size of them you can eat relatively safely. Try find the post Test Review, Adjust by the ozzie guru Alan S. Unlucky that you've been fobbed off with the Practice Nurse but that's standard practice for T2s now. T2s are generally not allowed to see an Endocrinologist., Diabetologist, Diabetic Specialist Nurse or in other words anyone who knows what they're talking about. Your nurse is wrong of course meters are not confined to folks on insulin, T2s on Medication likely to cause hypos ( such as Gliclazide) are also eligible for meters.

 

[42istheanswer]

Hi, my HbA1c when I was diagnosed was 54 and I brought it down to 39 in 5 months (they were a bit late requesting my bloods to be repeated!) by cutting down on carbs and on calories (the latter being to lose weight). My practice nurse wanted me to try medication, so it isn't that unusual to have that suggested/pushed when your HbA1c is in the 50s, but in general you are advised to change dietary lifestyle even with medication.

I do eat salads quite a bit (though not as much in the winter as when it was warmer) and I make a lot of soups and stews with plenty of vegetables and not so much of the higher carb ingredients. I also do still have some treats like chocolate, but I do that more rarely and measure out a portion then put the rest away before eating, so I don't eat too much of those foods. If you find that self control of putting away (and not getting more out) hard then just buying a mini bar occasionally may help.

I mostly have eggs for breakfast (often with veg/ham/cheese in frittatas/crustless quiche) so my body doesn't have to deal with too many carbs early in the day, when often insulin resistance can be higher.

 

[Ukkate1]

You definitely can’t cut slow release metformin in half as it’s the coating that does the slow release part. Have you tried swallowing them in a spoon of yoghurt to help them down?

I have tried three times to swallow them. I had Accalasia some years ago and had surgery on my oesophogus. It was largely successful, but there are foods that cause problems , so I avoid steaks and denser foods, which will stick for hours when they don’t go down. Very uncomfortable!
I manage other meds with no trouble ,but these are just too big!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you are having such trouble with the size of the SR tabs @Ukkate1

Sounds like it should something you could discuss with your nurse, but it’s a little less than reassuring to have been recommended to cut the tabs in half when as @Lucyr says, it’s the coating that makes them slow release!

Some people find that stomach discomfort from standard release disappears after a few weeks, and can be helped by taking the tabs with a substantial (but not very carby) meal. Also increasing the dose gradually seems to help some people.

Alternatively you might decide to try to make more significant menu changes and setting yourself a lower total daily carb target to see if the metformin is still recommended for you?

 

[Leadinglights]

I have heard that metformin is available as a liquid but is expensive which is why it is rarely prescribed. You could ask if that might be available to you.

 

[Ukkate1]

I have heard that metformin is available as a liquid but is expensive which is why it is rarely prescribed. You could ask if that might be available to you.

Thanks Leadinglights. The pharmacist told me it is available, but the side effects would be the same. I had awful nausea, cramps and diarrhoea. That’s why i wanted to try the slow release.

 

[Pollyanna]

I'm only recently diagnosed as well (Jan 2023) and like you, did feel overwhelmed at first. My GP practice have been brilliant and very supportive but I have also found this forum to be a HUGE help with a wealth of experience and advice, so keep logging in.

I have found monitoring my blood glucose levels really helps and also keeping a food diary so I can see where the 'spikes' are. I have found out that I definitely cannot tolerate potatoes at all, carrots are OK but not brilliant but just this last couple of days, I have discovered pasta isn't raising my BG level at all, which I'm finding a bit bizarre.

I've opted for the low carb approach and don't feel like I'm missing out on anything food wise despite the fact my diet was very poor before.

Try sweet potatoes, celeriac and Jerusalem artichokes instead of potatoes.
I prepare them the night before so they can !eech overnight as I have potassium problems due to diabetic damage to kidneys.
Best wishes

 

[Jenny65]

Hi

I bought a meter when I was diagnosed 7 months ago with an HbA1c of 80, I tracked my food intake on nutracheck, 1200 cal and 130g carbs a day, walked and danced and reduced it to 40 without meds, you are startng at a much lower point so it is really possible with diet alone to reduce it. I still have some carbs, porridge for breakfast and the odd potatoe but keep to 130g or less a day. Someone on here recommended a glucose meter which was invaluable at the beginning and I tracked it on Mysugar app, I could see my favourite fruit was causing me to spike, so no longer have bananas, but have cherries are my new favourite and love them with greek yoghurt. Before my diagnosis I loved sandwiches, sausage rolls, potatoes, pasta etc.., but now I know longer crave them and feel in control again. I stopped using my meter when I worked out what I could eat and what may cause me a spike.

This site has a recipe thread which I found useful, still do, The support on here is amazing. Good Luck xx

 

[Ukkate1]

Hi

I bought a meter when I was diagnosed 7 months ago with an HbA1c of 80, I tracked my food intake on nutracheck, 1200 cal and 130g carbs a day, walked and danced and reduced it to 40 without meds, you are startng at a much lower point so it is really possible with diet alone to reduce it. I still have some carbs, porridge for breakfast and the odd potatoe but keep to 130g or less a day. Someone on here recommended a glucose meter which was invaluable at the beginning and I tracked it on Mysugar app, I could see my favourite fruit was causing me to spike, so no longer have bananas, but have cherries are my new favourite and love them with greek yoghurt. Before my diagnosis I loved sandwiches, sausage rolls, potatoes, pasta etc.., but now I know longer crave them and feel in control again. I stopped using my meter when I worked out what I could eat and what may cause me a spike.

This site has a recipe thread which I found useful, still do, The support on here is amazing. Good Luck xx

Thanks Jenny. This sounds very helpful. I already use the Nutracheck app to count calories,so I will watch the carbs also. Your story is inspiring and I look forward to the day when I don’t crave sandwiches,cakes and crisps!
I have decided to avoid the meds route for now and review in three months. Thanks so much for your advice and support xx