Hello , thank you for having me i am a newbie and wanted to day hello

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Hello I am new to this , I am type 2 diabetes . I have been extremely tired and my results came back as 68 I'm not sure what all these numbers mean but he said it was high , sl I'm trying to get a handle kn this and seeing other people's coping around all this and vaw and where they started after Beening diagnosed , kind regards
 
Hello and welcome to the forum! Have you been given any medication for your diabetes or will you be diet controlled? Good to hear that you're trying to get a handle on your diabetes and the support on the forum will definitely help you! Remember no question is a silly question so ask away 🙂
 
Hello and welcome. We are a friendly bunch and happy to help with any questions you have.
Your HbA1c is 68 which is quite high, but many have been diagnosed with a much higher result and have successfully reduced it.
I expect you have been medication, which initially is usually Metformin, starting at 500gm a day, building up to 2000gm over a number of weeks. This medication can have side effects (tummy disruption!!) which should settle after a few weeks. If they don't you can ask for the slow release version, particularly if it is affecting your work.
Medication is only part of the story, as it is highly recommended you make lifestyle changes to your eating and exercise habits, plus weight loss if you are overweight. If you look at the Learning Zone - orange tab at the top of the page - this goes into more details.
One dietary change, which many people find helpful, is to reduce your total daily carbs, slowly (too quick can affect the eyes), to less than 130gm a day. I carb count regular food, but others try various other means, like the Keto eating plan, shake based 800 cals a day, 16/8 hours (only eating in an 8 hour window), 5/2 (fasting under 800 cals for 2 days).
Carbs turn into sugars in the body, so it is not just sugar to reduce. This means rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, cereals, processed food, tropical fruit and the usual suspects - cake, biscuits, sweets, pastries, sugary drinks. I suggest you keep a food diary of everything you consume - food, drinks, snacks. Some do it with pen and paper, some have spreadsheets, and some, like me, use an app (cuts out the hard work!). I keep digital scales, a clear glass bowl and plate on my kitchen top so I weigh everything (even now). Only takes a few seconds and no guesstimating and a method of portion control.
Everyone's body is different so it is very much trial and error what works for you. You won't have been given a blood glucose monitor (Type 2 rarely are) but they can be purchased online and I'm sure someone will suggest a suitable one. Testing should be on waking, immediately before eating, 2 hours after first bite. You are aiming towards a starting level of around 4.5 mmol/l - 7mmol/l to a maximum of 8.5mmol/l, with a rise of around 2mmol/l. If you compare your rises with your food diary you will soon work out what affects you and what doesn't. If you don't test, you won't know! I did this religiously at first but 4 years in, I just test for new foods.
Exercise is important - it could just be increasing your walking, cycling, swimming, exercise classes - whatever suits you and your medical needs. I do aquafit 2/3 times a week
I suggest you look at the posts from Leadinglights as they always give excellent advice to new Type 2 diabetics and suggest a dietary website. Also have a look at the Forum Food/carb queries and recipes for ideas from Type 2 posters.
No question is silly as we have all been where you are, and asked them!
 
Welcome to the forum @Large 🙂

The 68 you mention is likely to be your HbA1c - 68mmol/mol

People are considered at risk of diabetes if their HbA1c falls between 42-47, and above 48 puts them in diabetes territory, so you are comfortably over the line, but we’ve had several members who have started with an HbA1c over 100, and who have successfully been able to get their numbers down into the recommended range, so don’t despair!

An HbA1c is a check which gives an indication of general glucose levels over the preceding 3-4 months by examining changes in red blood cells (which last that long before being recycled by the body).

Your surgery may want to check after 3-6 months to see how things are changing.

Let us know how you get on 🙂
 
Felinia said:
Hello and welcome. We are a friendly bunch and happy to help with any questions you have.
Your HbA1c is 68 which is quite high, but many have been diagnosed with a much higher result and have successfully reduced it.
I expect you have been medication, which initially is usually Metformin, starting at 500gm a day, building up to 2000gm over a number of weeks. This medication can have side effects (tummy disruption!!) which should settle after a few weeks. If they don't you can ask for the slow release version, particularly if it is affecting your work.
Medication is only part of the story, as it is highly recommended you make lifestyle changes to your eating and exercise habits, plus weight loss if you are overweight. If you look at the Learning Zone - orange tab at the top of the page - this goes into more details.
One dietary change, which many people find helpful, is to reduce your total daily carbs, slowly (too quick can affect the eyes), to less than 130gm a day. I carb count regular food, but others try various other means, like the Keto eating plan, shake based 800 cals a day, 16/8 hours (only eating in an 8 hour window), 5/2 (fasting under 800 cals for 2 days).
Carbs turn into sugars in the body, so it is not just sugar to reduce. This means rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, cereals, processed food, tropical fruit and the usual suspects - cake, biscuits, sweets, pastries, sugary drinks. I suggest you keep a food diary of everything you consume - food, drinks, snacks. Some do it with pen and paper, some have spreadsheets, and some, like me, use an app (cuts out the hard work!). I keep digital scales, a clear glass bowl and plate on my kitchen top so I weigh everything (even now). Only takes a few seconds and no guesstimating and a method of portion control.
Everyone's body is different so it is very much trial and error what works for you. You won't have been given a blood glucose monitor (Type 2 rarely are) but they can be purchased online and I'm sure someone will suggest a suitable one. Testing should be on waking, immediately before eating, 2 hours after first bite. You are aiming towards a starting level of around 4.5 mmol/l - 7mmol/l to a maximum of 8.5mmol/l, with a rise of around 2mmol/l. If you compare your rises with your food diary you will soon work out what affects you and what doesn't. If you don't test, you won't know! I did this religiously at first but 4 years in, I just test for new foods.
Exercise is important - it could just be increasing your walking, cycling, swimming, exercise classes - whatever suits you and your medical needs. I do aquafit 2/3 times a week
I suggest you look at the posts from Leadinglights as they always give excellent advice to new Type 2 diabetics and suggest a dietary website. Also have a look at the Forum Food/carb queries and recipes for ideas from Type 2 posters.
No question is silly as we have all been where you are, and asked them!
Click to expand...
Thank you both for upur warm welcome and advise I will bd looking jnto everything you have suggested , I am now on 100mg of sitagliptin ,I think that's haw you spent it , I also suffer from high blood pressure due to bring hereditary, I am abit over weigh so need to look into it , and your advise is a goid place to start thank you girls
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Welcome to the forum @Large 🙂

The 68 you mention is likely to be your HbA1c - 68mmol/mol

People are considered at risk of diabetes if their HbA1c falls between 42-47, and above 48 puts them in diabetes territory, so you are comfortably over the line, but we’ve had several members who have started with an HbA1c over 100, and who have successfully been able to get their numbers down into the recommended range, so don’t despair!

An HbA1c is a check which gives an indication of general glucose levels over the preceding 3-4 months by examining changes in red blood cells (which last that long before being recycled by the body).

Your surgery may want to check after 3-6 months to see how things are changing.

Let us know how you get on 🙂
Click to expand...
He has asked for bloods,again in 2 months time to aee haw I'm getting on , if I get into a HbA1c that is good , does that mean I won't be diabete anymore ?mant thanks
 
In recent years medical people have begun to talk about diabetes going into ‘remission’ where people are able to achieve an HbA1c at 48 or below with no medication, but this is not considered a ‘cure’ because if weight and visceral fat is regained the diabetes would reassert itself. Other people successfully manage their glucose levels with a reduced carbohydrate menu, but again, if they went back to their diet before diagnosis, their diabetes would most likely reemerge.

But the evidence suggests that people who are able to achieve an on-target HbA1c significantly reduce their risk of developing and long-term health conditions associated with high glucose levels.
 
High glucose levels for an extended period of time, and rapid changes to reduce glucose levels that have been high can affect fine blood vessels that supply nerve endings to hands, feet, and lower legs which can cause changes in sensation, including tingling and burning.

Perhaps ask your diabetes nurse to check your circulation and the pulses in your feet to see if the strange feelings you've been having might be associated with your diabetes?
 
The label just says to take 1 a day not stating a time in the dat to take it ‍♀️
 
What medication is it? That is the really important thing to tell us.
Have you read the patient information leaflet in the box?
 
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