beverleysgot2
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello I'm Beverley and I live in Kent I'm new here and newly diagnosed type 2
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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.
Hello im new here
- Thread starter beverleysgot2
- Start date
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janw
Much Missed Member.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome from a "last year" newbie.
How did you come to get tested for diabetes and do you know what your Hba1c reading was? Are you on any meds or trying diet and lifestyle changes? Do you have a Blood Glucose (BG) meter - if you don't have one then it is highly recommended from fellow T2s as it is a HUGE help when finding out which foods we can tolerate and which give us spikes, it is the way to get your Hba1c numbers down. Sadly most T2s have to self fund - we get told we can't have one, don't need one, they cause more trouble than they are worth - basically it is more to do with their funding! If you do get one, then the GlucoNavii is currently the cheapest at £9.99 for the starter kit (make sure to click "I am diabetic" so as not to pay the VAT) on Amazon or the HomeHealth website - you will need to order extra lancets and test strips at the same time, the starter kit only comes with 10 a-piece, which will be used up in no time.
I won't go on too much, but I presume you have been told to lower your carbs slowly - too fast can cause other issues - so just concentrate on one meal at a time until you have some ideas to use, then move on to the next. Bread, pasta, rice, cereals, cakes, crisps, potatoes, veggies that grow under the ground, most fruit except berries, are all higher carb foods. Eggs, meats, chicken and fish are mostly 0 carbs, plus enjoy cheese and 100% nut butters for their protein and fats, and go for full fat yoghurts and cream etc as they are lower or zero carbs.
Okay will stop here as I don't want to overload you - but feel free to ask for help, advice or ask any questions at all, someone will always respond. We were all new and we walk the path together in our own way - we are all individuals and diabetes affects each of us differently too - but we can be here for each other. There is so much experience and knowledge on here, from those that live it, it has been a huge help to me and I hope you will find the same help and friendship that I have.
How did you come to get tested for diabetes and do you know what your Hba1c reading was? Are you on any meds or trying diet and lifestyle changes? Do you have a Blood Glucose (BG) meter - if you don't have one then it is highly recommended from fellow T2s as it is a HUGE help when finding out which foods we can tolerate and which give us spikes, it is the way to get your Hba1c numbers down. Sadly most T2s have to self fund - we get told we can't have one, don't need one, they cause more trouble than they are worth - basically it is more to do with their funding! If you do get one, then the GlucoNavii is currently the cheapest at £9.99 for the starter kit (make sure to click "I am diabetic" so as not to pay the VAT) on Amazon or the HomeHealth website - you will need to order extra lancets and test strips at the same time, the starter kit only comes with 10 a-piece, which will be used up in no time.
I won't go on too much, but I presume you have been told to lower your carbs slowly - too fast can cause other issues - so just concentrate on one meal at a time until you have some ideas to use, then move on to the next. Bread, pasta, rice, cereals, cakes, crisps, potatoes, veggies that grow under the ground, most fruit except berries, are all higher carb foods. Eggs, meats, chicken and fish are mostly 0 carbs, plus enjoy cheese and 100% nut butters for their protein and fats, and go for full fat yoghurts and cream etc as they are lower or zero carbs.
Okay will stop here as I don't want to overload you - but feel free to ask for help, advice or ask any questions at all, someone will always respond. We were all new and we walk the path together in our own way - we are all individuals and diabetes affects each of us differently too - but we can be here for each other. There is so much experience and knowledge on here, from those that live it, it has been a huge help to me and I hope you will find the same help and friendship that I have.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @beverleysgot2
How did your diagnosis come about? And how recently were you given the news? Is there a history of diabetes in your family, or has this come out of the blue?
If you are eager for information, you might like to register for the Learning Zone, which has lots of helpful and informative modules that you can work through (there’s a link in the main menu above).
Additionally, members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which you can work through gradually and will give you a solid starting point.
One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
Many new members find it can be really helpful to keep a brutally honest food diary for a week or two. Noting down everything you eat and drink. Along with a decent estimate the amount of carbohydrate in the different meals and snacks. It doesn’t have to be gram-perfect, the nearest 5-10g is fine. This might sound like a bit of a faff, and will involve quite a lot of packet-squnting, but it will give you an idea of the main sources of carbs in your menu, and the sneaky corners where they can lurk.
It is carbohydrate in all its forms (not just sugars) which will have the biggest effect on your blood glucose levels, so getting a feel for where they are found, and which meals are your ‘big hitters’ can give you a good starting point to consider moderating your carb-intake. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid all carbs entirely - which wouldn’t really be possible - it’s more about balancing your carb intake (types, portion sizes, time of day) with your individual body’s ability to cope.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on!
How did your diagnosis come about? And how recently were you given the news? Is there a history of diabetes in your family, or has this come out of the blue?
If you are eager for information, you might like to register for the Learning Zone, which has lots of helpful and informative modules that you can work through (there’s a link in the main menu above).
Additionally, members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which you can work through gradually and will give you a solid starting point.
One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
Many new members find it can be really helpful to keep a brutally honest food diary for a week or two. Noting down everything you eat and drink. Along with a decent estimate the amount of carbohydrate in the different meals and snacks. It doesn’t have to be gram-perfect, the nearest 5-10g is fine. This might sound like a bit of a faff, and will involve quite a lot of packet-squnting, but it will give you an idea of the main sources of carbs in your menu, and the sneaky corners where they can lurk.
It is carbohydrate in all its forms (not just sugars) which will have the biggest effect on your blood glucose levels, so getting a feel for where they are found, and which meals are your ‘big hitters’ can give you a good starting point to consider moderating your carb-intake. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid all carbs entirely - which wouldn’t really be possible - it’s more about balancing your carb intake (types, portion sizes, time of day) with your individual body’s ability to cope.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on!
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Somebody posted this a little while ago. You may find it useful.
Kent and Medway CCG, in partnership with Paula Carr Diabetes Trust, are currently offering free access to the myDiabetes app for people living with Type 2 Diabetes in Kent. This would give them access to expert advice, structured education, nutritional guidance, exercise programs and much more.”
The self-referral form is here https://mymhealth.com/resources/kent
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