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Hello I’ve just joined
- Thread starter Wren2
- Start date
- Status
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum
Perhaps you would like to say a bit more about your diagnosis, did you have symptoms or was it picked up from a routine blood test. Did they tell you what your HbA1C is as that will indicate how much work you will have to do. I assume the medication is metformin as that is usually the first one prescribed but also dietary changes will be important and will have the most impact. Do you have weight to lose?
Sorry for all the questions but it helps people give appropriate comments.
You are lucky to get on a course so quickly as many people wait months.
Have a look at this link as it has good explanation and some do's and don'ts as well as some menu ideas. It may also help you with any questions for your course team.
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Perhaps you would like to say a bit more about your diagnosis, did you have symptoms or was it picked up from a routine blood test. Did they tell you what your HbA1C is as that will indicate how much work you will have to do. I assume the medication is metformin as that is usually the first one prescribed but also dietary changes will be important and will have the most impact. Do you have weight to lose?
Sorry for all the questions but it helps people give appropriate comments.
You are lucky to get on a course so quickly as many people wait months.
Have a look at this link as it has good explanation and some do's and don'ts as well as some menu ideas. It may also help you with any questions for your course team.
Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Wren2
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I phoned the gp as I was going to the toilet so much but thought it was menopausal. But when bloods came back it wasn’t . The only reading she gave me was 55. It was hard to take it all in as it was over the phone. I started metformin today. Thank you for the link.Welcome to the forum
Perhaps you would like to say a bit more about your diagnosis, did you have symptoms or was it picked up from a routine blood test. Did they tell you what your HbA1C is as that will indicate how much work you will have to do. I assume the medication is metformin as that is usually the first one prescribed but also dietary changes will be important and will have the most impact. Do you have weight to lose?
Sorry for all the questions but it helps people give appropriate comments.
You are lucky to get on a course so quickly as many people wait months.
Have a look at this link as it has good explanation and some do's and don'ts as well as some menu ideas. It may also help you with any questions for your course team.
Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home
Maria DUK
Supporter Care Advisor
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hello @Wren2 ! Welcome to the forum. Feeling shocked is completely normal, sounds like it was a lot for you to take in, especially over the phone! How are you feeling now? It's also so great to hear that you're going to courses to learn more about diabetes, I'm sure the courses will be helpful - what are the courses about specifically?
Wren2
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi, still in shock and trying to get my head around what I can eat. Started metformin this morning and after 5 hrs it’s side effects have kicked in and the bathroom seems my place to be for the last hour. .
The course is by DESMOND Diabetes team Coventry and Rugby GP Alliance. It’s over 2 evenings 6-9pm.
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
55 is probably your hba1c or 3 month average.
To put this into context, 41 and below is non diabetic, and 48+ is diabetic. The highest a1cs we tend to commonly see people newly diagnosed with is 100-110 ish. So at 55 you’re definitely diabetic but not by a long way, and with a few changes you should easily be able to bring it down
Wren2
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Thank you for the reassurance.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I did the DESMOND course but it was on line and you worked through the basis modules and then additional ones were released week by week so a bit slow. It did rather push a low fat and moderate carbs which for me seemed counter intuitive as it is carbs that convert to glucose so I choose to go a low carb approach and followed the principals in this link. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ It may also help you to have questions for the course team.
You obviously have to go with what suits you as an individual as everybody is different in how they tolerate carbs.
It is disappointing that with an HbA1C of 55mmol/mol that you were not given an opportunity for 3 months to make some lifestyle changes before being prescribed metformin.
Some people do suffer side effects but it can settle down and taking mid meal helps, if not then slow release if really needed can be tolerated better. Your GP was a bit hasty with his prescription pad.
LydiaDustbin
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- At risk of diabetes
I agree with Leadinglights, 55 is a bit low to immediately be put on Metformin. I was diagnosed T2 diabetic in December 2022 with an HbA1c of 50. My GP said we wouldn't do anything for now but to test again in a month's time & we'll decide then. I immediately went on a low calorie (no more than 800cals a day) low carb (no more than 50g a day) diet, lost a few pounds and my retest in January 2023 was down to 46 so I was reclassified as pre-diabetic. Nothing needed to be done except to continue to lose weight and retest later (I can't remember if he said in 6 months or a year), so I have and am now 20lbs & 2 dress sizes down. I got myself a blood glucose monitor which shows me which foods spike my blood glucose and are therefore to be avoided, and downloaded the MySugr app for my phone to record the data. The MySugr app has an estimated HbA1c level which it adjusts as more data is entered, and it says my current estimated level is 38.2 although I won't know for sure until my next blood test, but I'm anticipating the figure to not be far off.
I can't help thinking it would've been better for your GP to suggest weight loss and exercise as a first option, rather than throwing meds at it, especially as 55 is not that high.
I can't help thinking it would've been better for your GP to suggest weight loss and exercise as a first option, rather than throwing meds at it, especially as 55 is not that high.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Absolutely agree about the monitor but it can also be useful in telling you what you can have as well as what you shouldn't have.
I had not had baked beans for a long time but just fancied some for lunch, so half a tin, a 330g one, on toast with grated cheese and half an apple and my 2hr post meal test was 6.5mmol/l.
I had not had baked beans for a long time but just fancied some for lunch, so half a tin, a 330g one, on toast with grated cheese and half an apple and my 2hr post meal test was 6.5mmol/l.
lizzieK
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- At risk of diabetes
@Wren2 - Good that you have joined here….this site is a lifeline I think. There are so many people with advice, help and support. I was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic with quite a high number, and immediately went into panic mode. There was no need. I now count my carbs and eat plenty of veggies and recommended fruits. I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday and he was delighted with the progress I am making. You will soon be into the swing of things….so stick with this site, and good luck!
Autumn_Leaf94
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- At risk of diabetes
hello what course are you booked on 🙂
Autumn_Leaf94
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- At risk of diabetes
I was diagnosed with pre diabetes about 3 months ago and I started a healthier you programme in my area yesterday... Looking forward to making lifestyle changes 🙂
Wren2
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
DESMOND , I think it’s must be about healthy eating. It’s 6 hours over 2 evenings.
Wren2
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Thank you.
Autumn_Leaf94
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- At risk of diabetes
oh fair enough, my programme is over a course of 9 months 🙂
Wren2
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Thank you for reassurance. I got a blood test in 3 months. I will have a look at the app you mentioned too.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Wren2
Hope you find it helpful and informative. Many members have fond it very useful over the years, but others haven’t liked it so much, so it might depend on who is leading / facilitating the course?
Diabetes can feel overwhelming to begin with, so be kind to yourself, and give yourself time to adjust. Diabetes is potentially a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. Hopefully as things have been caught quite early, you should be able to make a positive impact to your results with some fairly modest changes?
Hope you find it helpful and informative. Many members have fond it very useful over the years, but others haven’t liked it so much, so it might depend on who is leading / facilitating the course?
Diabetes can feel overwhelming to begin with, so be kind to yourself, and give yourself time to adjust. Diabetes is potentially a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. Hopefully as things have been caught quite early, you should be able to make a positive impact to your results with some fairly modest changes?
Wren2
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I agree it’s very overwhelming and not knowing what is ok to eat .
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, nuts, vegetables and salads, fruit like berries are all good to have with very small portions of high carb foods like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits as well as cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice.
You will get the hang of it and find substitutes for the high carb foods which are just as tasty.
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