Hello, just joined!

[dianamjs]

Hello,
Just joined this forum as I've been struggling w my Type 2 diabetes recently. I've had lots of conflicting advice over the last 20 years and my levels have gone up & down. About 4 years ago I went on a v low carb & keto diet and became not even pre- diabetic, so came off all meds. However this year, due to various reasons, I've really slipped with my diet and have been drinking a lot. In the last couple of weeks I've started to feel pins and needles in my feet and hands and am so worried I'm developing neuropathy. I've just had blood tests and booked a diabetes check up with the practice nurse in about 10 days. Just really worried what my levels will be. In the last couple of weeks I've really cut down on my drinking and gone back to low carbs. However I'm really worried I've left it too late & will have these symptoms for life. I would be so grateful for any advice or support. Thank you.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @dianamjs

Sorry to hear about the pins and needles you’ve been feeling.

It also sounds like you’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster over the years, with various phases on discovery, confusion, focus on diabetes, and then life getting in the way. You are not alone in this and it’s a familiar story for many of us who have been living with diabetes for some time.

Sounds like your body and BG levels responded well to a lower carb approach. You may find it’s not necessary to restrict yourself down to keto levels (which some find harder to maintain) and could do well with just a moderately low carb meal plan, somewhere around the 80-130g of carbs a day mark?

One thing which our nerve endings don’t seem to like too much is rapidly fluctuating BG levels. From reading others’ experiences over the years, swings from highs to lows and back again seem to trigger nerve pain/sensations.

So it may help you to try to reduce the ‘meal rise’ from your meals - BG levels will never be completely flat - but trying to reduce the variability after meals, and make the changes gentler and more undulating can help.

I’m sure some of our friendly and experienced T2s will be along soon to share their hints and suggestions 🙂

Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[dianamjs]

Welcome to the forum @dianamjs

Sorry to hear about the pins and needles you’ve been feeling.

It also sounds like you’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster over the years, with various phases on discovery, confusion, focus on diabetes, and then life getting in the way. You are not alone in this and it’s a familiar story for many of us who have been living with diabetes for some time.

Sounds like your body and BG levels responded well to a lower carb approach. You may find it’s not necessary to restrict yourself down to keto levels (which some find harder to maintain) and could do well with just a moderately low carb meal plan, somewhere around the 80-130g of carbs a day mark?

One thing which our nerve endings don’t seem to like too much is rapidly fluctuating BG levels. From reading others’ experiences over the years, swings from highs to lows and back again seem to trigger nerve pain/sensations.

So it may help you to try to reduce the ‘meal rise’ from your meals - BG levels will never be completely flat - but trying to reduce the variability after meals, and make the changes gentler and more undulating can help.

I’m sure some of our friendly and experienced T2s will be along soon to share their hints and suggestions 🙂

Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂

Many thanks for this and your support and very helpful advice. I agree, Keto is hard to maintain so will just try low carb for now and try and keep meal rises gentler!
Do you or anyone have any advice about a good glucose meter to use at home? Will keep in touch & let you know how I get on

 

[Drummer]

Many thanks for this and your support and very helpful advice. I agree, Keto is hard to maintain so will just try low carb for now and try and keep meal rises gentler!
Do you or anyone have any advice about a good glucose meter to use at home? Will keep in touch & let you know how I get on

I went directly to Spirit healthcare and ordered their Tee 2 + meter and strips. I needed to wait for an email from them to confirm that I was able to buy VAT free as a diagnosed type 2, but once I responded to that I could go to the website and order what I needed.
If you can find an old copy of Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution - probably around 20 years old now, I find mine useful for reference even now - there are some inaccuracies , but nothing is perfect. You might find that analysing your sources of carb will reveal where the easiest alterations can be made - I find that choosing low carb foods, 10% or under, means that it is actually quite difficult to overeat. Huge salads, fruit eaten with sugar free jelly and cream, stews with a bag of mixed veges chosen for its carb content (which can be very variable between different mixes and brands) all keep me low carb but never hungry.

 

[dianamjs]

I went directly to Spirit healthcare and ordered their Tee 2 + meter and strips. I needed to wait for an email from them to confirm that I was able to buy VAT free as a diagnosed type 2, but once I responded to that I could go to the website and order what I needed.
If you can find an old copy of Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution - probably around 20 years old now, I find mine useful for reference even now - there are some inaccuracies , but nothing is perfect. You might find that analysing your sources of carb will reveal where the easiest alterations can be made - I find that choosing low carb foods, 10% or under, means that it is actually quite difficult to overeat. Huge salads, fruit eaten with sugar free jelly and cream, stews with a bag of mixed veges chosen for its carb content (which can be very variable between different mixes and brands) all keep me low carb but never hungry.

Thank you so much for the advice. I will have a look at the website. I didn't realise you could buy it VAT free as a T2 diabetic.
I will have a look for the book you recommend and am determined to get myself back on track, tho am still worried about the pins and needles. Will wait & see what my blood tests show

 

[Leadinglights]

As you are new to the forum you may not have spotted this link yet for a low carb (no more than 130g g per day) approach which many have found successful. As low as keto is hard and low carb more sustainable. Some people do need to do that to stay off needing medication but everybody has to find a way that is enjoyable hence the Freshwell approach is very doable. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Do you or anyone have any advice about a good glucose meter to use at home? Will keep in touch & let you know how I get on

The Spirit Tee2 and Contour Blue are well liked here for offering good performance with affordable strips (some brands’ strips are 3x the price!)

 

[dianamjs]

As you are new to the forum you may not have spotted this link yet for a low carb (no more than 130g g per day) approach which many have found successful. As low as keto is hard and low carb more sustainable. Some people do need to do that to stay off needing medication but everybody has to find a way that is enjoyable hence the Freshwell approach is very doable. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

Thanks so much for this. I have downloaded the app and will definitely have a good look at this.

 

[dianamjs]

The Spirit Tee2 and Contour Blue are well liked here for offering good performance with affordable strips (some brands’ strips are 3x the price!)

Thank you