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Hello my name is Val

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V

ValE

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Type 2
Hello my name is Val
This is my first message hope you can help. I was diagnosed Type 2 18 months ago and despite the fact I know and understand I have found it very difficult to accept. I feel disappointed with myself. I have always had a sweet tooth but I seriously feel like a sugar addict. I started off with good intentions joined the gym lost weight now I feel like I'm back at square one!
 
ValE said:
Hello my name is Val
This is my first message hope you can help. I was diagnosed Type 2 18 months ago and despite the fact I know and understand I have found it very difficult to accept. I feel disappointed with myself. I have always had a sweet tooth but I seriously feel like a sugar addict. I started off with good intentions joined the gym lost weight now I feel like I'm back at square one!
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Hi ValE, welcome to the forum 🙂 Don't worry - it's not unusual to start off with lots of good intentions and then lose momentum after a while - happens to the best of us! 🙄 I'm glad you have joined, because hopefully we will be able to help you to get back to doing well and feeling healthier and happier about things 🙂

How did your diagnosis come about, and are you on any medication for your diabetes? What are your levels like - do you test at home to try and determine your tolerances for different things? I'd suggest starting afresh and putting the past behind you. Have a read of Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter and get yourself a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker 🙂 If you're not testing, ask your GP or nurse for a prescription for strips and a meter. To find out how testing can help, read Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S - we all can have quite different tolerances for the same things (thought to be something to do with our individual gut bacteria), so it's important to know your own personal reactions to things. If you need to pay for strips yourself, it's well worth doing whilst you establish what items you are fine with, and what you might need to reduce or remove from your diet. The cheapest option we have come across is the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50.

Regular exercise will also really help to make you more sensitive to the insulin your body is producing, so find something you enjoy, set yourself a goal, and put the plan into action 🙂 Regarding sweet things, I'd recommend dark chocolate - the darker the better (although the darkest I like is 85% cocoa content). This has relatively less sugar than ordinary chocolate, and a couple of squares can satisfy the craving without having too much impact on your levels. A lot of people also like sugar free jellies 🙂 If you have a browse of our Food and Recipes section, there are lots of inventive recipes there that can give you lower-carb versions of many favourites.

Please let us know if you have any questions and we will be very happy to help 🙂
 
Hi ValE and welcome to the gang. As you can see, we're a friendly bunch so any questions, or if you just want a rant, then fire away and we'll help wherever we can.
 
Hi ValE, welcome to forum
 
Hi ValE, welcome to the forum🙂 it's a terrible shock isn't it? I'm still in denial myself, continued pigging out for an entire year after blanking my diagnosis. Glad you joined, you'll be okay once you get all the info and stuff from the veterans here, they've saved me! I was on a hiding to nothing...
 
Hi ValE and welcome. It's relatively easy to know what to do but actually doing it isn't always easy. I started well but set myself too high goals. Once you find what works for you and is doable you'll feel much happier. Always lots of help on here!
 
Welcome
 
Thank you everyone for your warm welcome
I am not on any medication at the moment and I had been thinking about testing, I'll ask my GP about a monitor and strips. What do you suggest in terms of times for testing plan?
 
Hello ValE and welcome to the forum. There are brilliant people on here who will help you as they have done with me. It is an awful thing to accept isn't it? You have made an important decision already and that is to get back on track, so do feel good about that, You also know that you can do it as you have already shown. Nobody says it is easy and it is little baby steps that mount up to getting control. Do you keep a food diary? This would be helpful when you start to test as it gives you and idea of how your body reacts to different foods and we are all individuals and react in different ways, for example oats are a no no for me but others tolerate them well. Ask lot of questions and set yourself achievable goals. Good luck, remember that you can and then you will do it 🙂
 
Welcome Val. It is awful to be diagnosed and it is understandable that you find it difficult. I was diagnosed last year with pre-diabetes which came "out of the blue" and that was bad enough.
 
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