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Hello - I have needed help for some time

T

Trish Graham

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Pronouns
She/Her
Needed help and I have found it difficult to be able to get help. I would like a monitor so as the day progresses I can find out where I am going wrong. I have not been able to get one from my Doctors despite asking quite a few times - now I am on medication which I am not very happy about I feel that I need help with my diet and this would be the best way forward. I had not understood how much I have been effected by type 2 and wished I had more help and that things had been explained better to me. Has anyone else had the same problems and is their hope?
I am new to this site I joined Diabetes UK last December, I had tried to contact my local group but no one got back to me and last week I went on the website to find that no one is available for the next 2 months?
 
Welcome @Trish Graham 🙂 You could look at the Learning Zone (orange tab at the top of this page). By ‘monitor’, do you mean a glucose meter? If so, most Type 2s who have one buy it themselves. It’s a very useful tool but you’d be unlikely to get one free as they’re only given to people on specific meds like insulin, etc, that can cause hypos.
 
Hi @trish welcome to the forum, ask ANYTHING you want to know there’s so many of us on here that have probably been through what your going through and hopefully it will all make sense soon, it can be all a bit overwhelming and confusing when people are first diagnosed, I know I’ve been there

as @Inka has just posted have a look in the learning zone you might find some good advice in there

also may I recommend you have a look at the fresh-well program for advice on a healthy Diabetic friendly diet here https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/ not something I really used or followed myself but many have got good ideas of food choices through it

we say here on this friendly forum, there’s no such thing as a silly question, so anytime pop along and have a look / ask

Must dash now out to work in a minute
TC
 
Sorry to hear that you haven't had the help you were expecting but the good news is that you've come to a place where you can get all the help and advice you need, and it's from people living with diabetes day-in, day-out.

Could you share some details, eg how long have you been T2, what meds have you been prescribed, what your HbA1c history is and what your diet is like? Also, is there anything in particular that you're struggling with?

Welcome to the Forum.
 
@Trish Graham welcome to the forum. How long since you were diagnosed? I was diagnosed last July having asked to be tested having thought my annual blood test for my blood pressure was being tested. I was bewildered and grief struck. My best friend's husband has had type 2 for 25 years but none of my family or other friends are diabetic. I googled groups in my area but they are for children or type 1. This is not the same countrywide. However this group is great support. I've not seen a Doctor about my Diabetes. My hcp gave me a machine that he had got for free from a rep 2 months after my second blood test. You are better looking for the recommended machines on the forum as one I have has more expensive test strips. The monitors are comparatively cheap you want one with the cheapest strips. I tested new food I ate.i started testing this week having not tested for a couple of months. It important to have a reason to test eg trying a new food or feeling unwell. Don't stress about it. I am your age group and as I hadn't been tested for more than ten years I didn't get the nudge of prediabetes. My lower reading was 64. Coincidentally I have an appointment at the surgery just after 9 so may add something later.
 
hi and welcome to the forum to the forum ,you might be able to go on a desmond course for diabetes its free through your gp , i went on it and it helped anyway you have to ask to go on it and the gp will refer you .Me personally don't qualify for a meter so i self fund one it gives me peace of mind that i know what my sugar levels are at any given time , the learning zone is a good place to start as is the new ppl say hello thread up above theres good helpfull tips on there too anyway welcome aboard and good luck on your own journey hope you find some usefull info too help you manage
 
Hi @Trish Graham welcome from me also. This is the place that has helped me most with my diabetes journey since diagnosis in October 2024.
In terms of support, as other have said the Learning Zone, asking questions in the forums and the general information from past posts all help. The other thing I found really helpful was to sit down and document all the questions I had about my diabetes before taking them to a meeting with my diabetes nurse to get her help in answering them. When first diagnosed I think the shock and bewilderment that results can really make it difficult to think what to ask and take in what we are told which is why I think having a clear set of questions and actually writing down the answers can help.
Like most people I bought a finger prick monitor online and used it a lot when first diagnosed. It took a big drop in my weight to trigger getting one of the practice along with test strips on prescription. I still tend to use my own these days but occasionally get the ketone test strips for the other one as there are still concerns around my carb consumption that means my ketones may be going to high.
Good luck with your journey and remember there is no such thing as a stupid question.
 
I can't really add to the posts already made but welcome from me also and investing in a glucose monitor and doing some testing of your meals would enable you to find what is ok and what is not, but also foods you may have rejected may be fine. It gives you control over managing your condition.
 
Sorry to hear you are feeling that you haven’t been supported as much as you’d have liked @Trish Graham , and that you’ve found it hard to get help. :(

The forum can be a great place to ask questions, share worries and concerns, and to get hints and tips from others facing the same challenges day-to-day.

There are two main approaches to diabetes management that are popular on the forum (with many variants among them).

One is to focus on weight loss, particularly weight around the abdomen which can indicate visceral fat built up around organs like the liver and pancreas, stopping them working properly. Weight loss can be achieved by any method, but a popular approach is the short term (12 week) Newcastle Diet / NHS Path To Remission programme which uses total meal replacement soups and shakes at just 800 calories a day to rapidly reduce weight. Many members using this approach find that glucose levels improve naturally as their weight reduces.

The other approach is to focus on blood glucose management with a lower carbohydrate way of eating (typically less than 130g of carbohydrates a day, but sometimes much lower). Reducing portions of all carbohydrates, not just the obvious sweet and sugary things, but significantly reducing bread, pasta, cereals, potatoes, grains, rice, baked goods, and many fruits. Many members using this approach find that weight reduces naturally as their glucose levels improve.

Of course there are some that use a combination approach too!

One of the things about diabetes is that it can be very individual. And the same approach may not appeal, or work as successfully for two different people - so it’s really a question of experimentation, and developing a ‘diabetes toolkit’ of strategies and approaches that work for you, and which you can sustain long-term
 
saffron15 said:
@Trish Graham welcome to the forum. How long since you were diagnosed? I was diagnosed last July having asked to be tested having thought my annual blood test for my blood pressure was being tested. I was bewildered and grief struck. My best friend's husband has had type 2 for 25 years but none of my family or other friends are diabetic. I googled groups in my area but they are for children or type 1. This is not the same countrywide. However this group is great support. I've not seen a Doctor about my Diabetes. My hcp gave me a machine that he had got for free from a rep 2 months after my second blood test. You are better looking for the recommended machines on the forum as one I have has more expensive test strips. The monitors are comparatively cheap you want one with the cheapest strips. I tested new food I ate.i started testing this week having not tested for a couple of months. It important to have a reason to test eg trying a new food or feeling unwell. Don't stress about it. I am your age group and as I hadn't been tested for more than ten years I didn't get the nudge of prediabetes. My lower reading was 64. Coincidentally I have an appointment at the surgery just after 9 so may add something later.
Click to expand...
Hello Saffron May I ask where you went to get advice and which are the generally considered to be good. I was hoping to test foods at each meal time to find out which were putting my blood sugars up? I have been very stressed as I am having a difficult time at the moment, but some days I am okay, I am better when I am busy, but I need to get this diet much better than it is at the moment. I would appreciate if you did get back to me. Thanks
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sorry to hear you are feeling that you haven’t been supported as much as you’d have liked @Trish Graham , and that you’ve found it hard to get help. :(

The forum can be a great place to ask questions, share worries and concerns, and to get hints and tips from others facing the same challenges day-to-day.

There are two main approaches to diabetes management that are popular on the forum (with many variants among them).

One is to focus on weight loss, particularly weight around the abdomen which can indicate visceral fat built up around organs like the liver and pancreas, stopping them working properly. Weight loss can be achieved by any method, but a popular approach is the short term (12 week) Newcastle Diet / NHS Path To Remission programme which uses total meal replacement soups and shakes at just 800 calories a day to rapidly reduce weight. Many members using this approach find that glucose levels improve naturally as their weight reduces.

The other approach is to focus on blood glucose management with a lower carbohydrate way of eating (typically less than 130g of carbohydrates a day, but sometimes much lower). Reducing portions of all carbohydrates, not just the obvious sweet and sugary things, but significantly reducing bread, pasta, cereals, potatoes, grains, rice, baked goods, and many fruits. Many members using this approach find that weight reduces naturally as their glucose levels improve.

Of course there are some that use a combination approach too!

One of the things about diabetes is that it can be very individual. And the same approach may not appeal, or work as successfully for two different people - so it’s really a question of experimentation, and developing a ‘diabetes toolkit’ of strategies and approaches that work for you, and which you can sustain long-term
Click to expand...

I have know that I am type 2, but I hadn't fully understood the full extent of what that means and now I am having to try and find out for myself, please tell me if I am wrong but I was looking for a better way of monitoring my blood and all I have is the basic blood sugar testing machine - I am a great one for making my home made soups and now doing my chia/oats with berries for breakfast, I think I need to work harder at lowering the carbohydrates, but it's counting the calories and getting portions size better, do you have anywhere that I can get some guides for that.

What is the combination approach?

Thanks
 
CoolShot44 said:
hi and welcome to the forum to the forum ,you might be able to go on a desmond course for diabetes its free through your gp , i went on it and it helped anyway you have to ask to go on it and the gp will refer you .Me personally don't qualify for a meter so i self fund one it gives me peace of mind that i know what my sugar levels are at any given time , the learning zone is a good place to start as is the new ppl say hello thread up above theres good helpfull tips on there too anyway welcome aboard and good luck on your own journey hope you find some usefull info too help you manage
Click to expand...
I am still waiting as I have been told they do an online course.
Thanks
 
A basic blood glucose meter will serve you well if you test wisely @Trish Graham Good times are before meals and 2hrs after the start time of that meal. You’ll soon see what dietary tweaks work for you.

There’s no one diet that suits everyone. People start from different situations - age, sex, etc - and have different needs, eg some might need to lose weight, others might not need to at all. Why not choose a way of eating that works for you as an individual and use your glucose meter to judge portion size and foods? That sounds simple but it’s effective.
 
There are some Meal Plans here, if you prefer having a framework:

Meal plans and diabetes

Eating nutritious, healthy and downright delicious food is that bit easier with our meal planners. We've created multiple different weekly meal plans to suit all types and tastes. They're nutritionally balanced, are calorie and carb counted, and can help if you want to lose weight. They also...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

And this is the link to the Learning Zone, where you can learn more about diabetes:

Landing Page | Diabetes UK Learning Zone

learningzone.diabetes.org.uk learningzone.diabetes.org.uk

.
 
@Trish Graham I am no expert. I went on a course last week having asked several times. It was an hour and a half but only had 7 participants and there was no interreaction. 5 miles from where I live they do Desmond courses which sound much better. I phoned the forum helpline the week before I was due to see a diabetes nurse. I joined the forum after I had seen the nurse. I found this nhs website really informative and under websites on left hand side are links to more info including the freshwell app which has excellent graphics.

https://newforestpcn.co.uk/network-services/diabetes-metabolic-health/

I am not naturally organised. Initially i made sure I had good choices in my fridge. I liked a thinly sliced smoked salmon with lemon and pepper from M and S I think it's about £5 for 4 slices i had a slice if I was peckish a couple with salad or eggs and sometimes an open sandwich ( one slice) with cream cheese. I also like a pouch of baby beetroot as a potential snack or warmed with a dollop of yoghurt as an extra veg or cold with salad. My main find from the forum was full fat Greek yoghurt with berries and nuts or seeds. It is my favourite breakfast but sometimes I swap thing around and have it for supper.
My surgery hasn't been great. I do feel at times I'm paddling to keep my head above water. I have lost 3 stone in a year which is a bonus and now go to an aquafit class which is a joy. But I have a seven week cold, a septic finger two cataract ops with steroids and am now on iron tablets for low iron. Still having had confirmation of my latest weight loss I'm drinking a flat white and eating a piece of ginger cake at my local cafe. Tonight I've got crab and salad. Pace yourself. Nothing is too bad look at portion size or replacement. No need to replace lancet on your machine. It should be fine for at least a year [ if not sharing]
Keep a food movement and motion diary for say next month to get an idea how you are doing. My hba1c has gone up having dropped one metformin but hopefully that will change
Do keep asking. People care and want to share their knowledge
 
Trish Graham said:
What is the combination approach?
Click to expand...
It combines low-ish carb meal plan with an awareness on calories to encourage both BG stability and steady weight reduction.

Some members who choose low carb more or less ignore calories. Others don’t lean so heavily into fats.
 
Trish Graham said:
I am still waiting as I have been told they do an online course.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Many find the book or app Carbs and Cals useful though some people don't like it. It gives both carbs and calories for various portion sizes for a whole range of foods and meals.
It can be too hard to take account of both but because it is the carbs which convert to glucose that is an important thing to take account of.
A suggested starting point for reducing carbs is no more than 130g per day though many find the amount they can tolerate per meal by testing their meals. It means more testing to start with but once you establish that a meal is OK then no real need to test again.
It can be a good plan to start testing breakfast as getting that right means you are starting the day with better blood glucose levels.
 
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