Hello! New here and recent diagnosis.

[freddy_261]

Hello all,
I'm 55 and 11/12ths. I was diagnosed as type 2 in early summer last year (HbA1c of 70). It all happened by accident.

I didn't feel unwell or have any symptoms - I went to visit my Sister and got talking about our health (she has a couple of issues); she mentioned that she'd just been given a blood pressure monitor. "Ooooh, can I have a go?!"..... A very high reading followed. A quick dash to the pharmacy for a 'proper' reading, who then sent me immediately to the GP.

A blood test was requested and a week later I was called up by the receptionist and told I have type 2 diabetes and to make an appointment with the diabetic nurse at the GP practice. To say I was shocked is a bit of an understatement.

I popped in to see the nurse who told me to stop eating sugar and cakes. Told the nurse that I don't eat either as I'm a savory fan. She said to keep sugars down, but dairy is okay - I asked about cheese and was told yes, this is fine. She prescribed 1000mg Metformin to be taken 2x per day and sent me on my way - no leaflets, reading material or pointers to further information or advice. That was the last contact I had with the practice.

I don't know whether it is me having missed something but I'm a bit confused about the whole thing!

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum
At least she was partially right in saying stop eating cakes and things with sugar but I'm afraid it is a bit more than that as it is all carbohydrates which convert to glucose so foods like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits, fruit juice which are the big hitters and need to be reduced or cut out.
Basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, vegetables, salads and fruit like berries with only small portions of those high carb foods.
Have a look at this link for some good explanation and some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
It is a low carb approach which many find successful at reducing blood glucose and losing weight if you need to, low carb is not NO carb. The suggested amount of carbs as a good starting point is no more than 130g per day.
Depending on what your HbA1C is that will indicate how much work you will need to do.
You should also have your feet checked and an eye screening as well as an another blood test in 3 months to check whether your medication and dietary changes are working.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @freddy_261

Gosh, what a whirlwind you’ve been having!

Sorry to hear you’ve not seemed to have very much information and support from your surgery so far

If you would like to build on the information you’ve picked up so far, you might want to register for an account with the Learning Zone (the orange tab in the main menu) which is packed full of informative bite-sized modules.

Alternatively, for a more personal take, members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter to the Newly Diagnosed which is one woman’s account of how she began to understand her diabetes, and some things she’d like to have been able to tell herself in the early days.

 

[freddy_261]

Hello both - many thanks for your welcome and helpful replies. I will have a look at the links you mentioned and, if it's okay, pop back with some questions.

🙂

 

[PerSpinasAdAstra]

Hi Freddy,

I know the feeling - my own GP was not exactly forthcoming with guidance on diet etc.

The following links may be helpful as a starting point. From these page you can download all the information booklets produced by Diabetes UK and Diabetes Ireland, the Irish diabetes charity. I found the Irish booklets (which I encountered first as I'm in Ireland) and their free online 'Diabetes Smart' course a great help when I was first diagnosed. Note that these were produced for an Irish audience and so specifics about how the Irish health system handles diabetes care for example will not apply to you if you're in the UK. Most of the content is universal though.

You will encounter a very wide range of attitudes online toward diet in particular as regards Type 2 diabetes. I found it helpful to start with good information booklets so that you have something to compare advice provided online with. It's a complex thing and will take considerable time to navigate.

Best of luck

Booklets & Leaflets

shop.diabetes.org.uk

Patient Booklets - Diabetes Ireland

Diabetes Ireland is the only national charity in Ireland dedicated to helping people with diabetes. We achieve this by providing support, education and motivation to everyone affected by diabetes. We also raises public awareness of diabetes and its symptoms and fund research into finding a cure...

www.diabetes.ie

 

[freddy_261]

Hi Freddy,

I know the feeling - my own GP was not exactly forthcoming with guidance on diet etc.

The following links may be helpful as a starting point. From these page you can download all the information booklets produced by Diabetes UK and Diabetes Ireland, the Irish diabetes charity. I found the Irish booklets (which I encountered first as I'm in Ireland) and their free online 'Diabetes Smart' course a great help when I was first diagnosed. Note that these were produced for an Irish audience and so specifics about how the Irish health system handles diabetes care for example will not apply to you if you're in the UK. Most of the content is universal though.

You will encounter a very wide range of attitudes online toward diet in particular as regards Type 2 diabetes. I found it helpful to start with good information booklets so that you have something to compare advice provided online with. It's a complex thing and will take considerable time to navigate.

Best of luck

Booklets & Leaflets

shop.diabetes.org.uk

Patient Booklets - Diabetes Ireland

Diabetes Ireland is the only national charity in Ireland dedicated to helping people with diabetes. We achieve this by providing support, education and motivation to everyone affected by diabetes. We also raises public awareness of diabetes and its symptoms and fund research into finding a cure...

www.diabetes.ie

Many thanks for this!

As a bit of a foodie, the diagnosis came as a massive shock. Although I am now learning that I don't have to avoid all carbs, all of the time (😉)

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello both - many thanks for your welcome and helpful replies. I will have a look at the links you mentioned and, if it's okay, pop back with some questions.

🙂

Hope you find them helpful @freddy_261

And ask as many questions as you like! We have literally centuries of lived diabetes experience on the forum that clearly shows two things… one is that diabetes is very individual, and there’s no one simple ‘answer’ that’s right for everyone; and the other is that there’s no such thing as a silly question, and that nothing is ‘too obvious’ to be asked.