Hello there

[MrBuzz]

Hi everyone, I’m new here.

I got a surprise diagnosis of type 2 diabetes yesterday. I’d had blood tests for something else and got called in for an urgent diabetes appointment much to my surprise.

Not entirely sure what to make of it all at the moment, feel like I’ve been told I have a serious illness, but no symptoms at all. And so much information to get my head around.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @MrBuzz

Sorry to hear about your sudden and unexpected diagnosis must have come as quite a shock!

Hope whatever the other thing you were getting checked for resolves speedily.

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. Were you told the result of your HbA1c - this is a reflection of your general glucose levels over the past 3-4 months, it will be a number above 47mmol/mol for a diabetes diagnosis (but can be much higher). Knowing your HbA1c can help you understand how significant the changes to your menu might need to be.

If you would like a good overview of T2 diabetes, to add to the knowledge you’ve already picked up, 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. Additionally, for a more personal take, members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter to the Newly Diagnosed, which you can work through gradually.

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

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi everyone, I’m new here.

I got a surprise diagnosis of type 2 diabetes yesterday. I’d had blood tests for something else and got called in for an urgent diabetes appointment much to my surprise.

Not entirely sure what to make of it all at the moment, feel like I’ve been told I have a serious illness, but no symptoms at all. And so much information to get my head around.

Welcome to the forum, you have come to the right place to get good information and suggestion about how to manage your condition, people tend to consider it a condition rather than an illness as it is something that with some changes can be managed. It does need to be taken seriously so the consequences of high blood glucose don't result in an illness.
The test you would likely have had would have been an HbA1C which is the average blood glucose over the previous 3 months and anything over 47mmol/mol gives you a diagnosis, how much above that indicates how much work you will need to do so if you have not been told that result you should ask.
Many find that a low carbohydrate approach is successful especially if you need to lose weight. this link may help you with some ideas and there is a good explanation of the principals of managing Type 2. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Whether this is suitable may depend on any medication you may have been prescribed.
The more information about your diagnosis you are willing to share will help people make appropriate suggestions.

 

[MrBuzz]

Welcome to the forum, you have come to the right place to get good information and suggestion about how to manage your condition, people tend to consider it a condition rather than an illness as it is something that with some changes can be managed. It does need to be taken seriously so the consequences of high blood glucose don't result in an illness.
The test you would likely have had would have been an HbA1C which is the average blood glucose over the previous 3 months and anything over 47mmol/mol gives you a diagnosis, how much above that indicates how much work you will need to do so if you have not been told that result you should ask.
Many find that a low carbohydrate approach is successful especially if you need to lose weight. this link may help you with some ideas and there is a good explanation of the principals of managing Type 2. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Whether this is suitable may depend on any medication you may have been prescribed.
The more information about your diagnosis you are willing to share will help people make appropriate suggestions.

Thanks for the welcome. I’m still getting my head around the terminology and what it all means so thanks for the guidance and recommendations.

It was a HbA1C test and result was 135, so quite a long way above the 47 mark. I was looking to lose some weight anyway, I’m a few stone overweight so will look into the low carbohydrate approach. I’ve seen that and Mediterranean diets recommended.

I did my first blood glucose test this morning and couldn’t get the reader to work, turned out I was putting the blood drop in the wrong place on the strip. Not sure how you’re meant to take everything in in that first appointment. I’ll definitely be taking a notepad to the next one.

Thanks again for the warm welcome!

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks for the welcome. I’m still getting my head around the terminology and what it all means so thanks for the guidance and recommendations.

It was a HbA1C test and result was 135, so quite a long way above the 47 mark. I was looking to lose some weight anyway, I’m a few stone overweight so will look into the low carbohydrate approach. I’ve seen that and Mediterranean diets recommended.

I did my first blood glucose test this morning and couldn’t get the reader to work, turned out I was putting the blood drop in the wrong place on the strip. Not sure how you’re meant to take everything in in that first appointment. I’ll definitely be taking a notepad to the next one.

Thanks again for the warm welcome!

With an HbA1C so high I would expect your readings are going to be pretty high. But one useful thing is to find the effect of your meals so testing before you eat and after 2 hours where you would be looking for an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l if it is then your meal is too carb heavy.
I assume that you have been prescribed some medication to help alongside dietary changes. Depending on what that is will determine what dietary regime may be appropriate.
You just touch the end of the strip in the drop of blood and it is sucked into the reservoir by capillary action (it does not go on the top of the strip). There are usually some YouTube videos for your particular monitor which explains the sampling technique, it should be easy and not hurt, if it does you may have the lancing device set too deep.

 

[MrBuzz]

With an HbA1C so high I would expect your readings are going to be pretty high. But one useful thing is to find the effect of your meals so testing before you eat and after 2 hours where you would be looking for an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l if it is then your meal is too carb heavy.
I assume that you have been prescribed some medication to help alongside dietary changes. Depending on what that is will determine what dietary regime may be appropriate.
You just touch the end of the strip in the drop of blood and it is sucked into the reservoir by capillary action (it does not go on the top of the strip). There are usually some YouTube videos for your particular monitor which explains the sampling technique, it should be easy and not hurt, if it does you may have the lancing device set too deep.

That was exactly the problem I had. I was putting it on top of the strip not holding it to the end. I thought I’d paid attention to the nurse showing me how to do it, but obviously not close enough. Fortunately I was able to speak to her on the phone this morning to get it right.

I’ve been prescribed metformin at the moment and told there was another one I might need to go into in a few weeks, but not insulin.

That sounds sensible with testing before and after meals. And good to know what’s reasonable increase is too.

 

[Leadinglights]

That was exactly the problem I had. I was putting it on top of the strip not holding it to the end. I thought I’d paid attention to the nurse showing me how to do it, but obviously not close enough. Fortunately I was able to speak to her on the phone this morning to get it right.

I’ve been prescribed metformin at the moment and told there was another one I might need to go into in a few weeks, but not insulin.

That sounds sensible with testing before and after meals. And good to know what’s reasonable increase is too.

If it is just metformin at the moment then a low carb approach would be suitable, in fact just as important if not more so.
It is suggested that a good starting point is no more than 130g carb not just sugar per day. You need to get used to looking at carb values for the foods you are having and weighing portions until you get used to it as it is very easy to underestimate the weight of something so you are having more carbs than you think, you can fill your plate with low carb veg, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, courgettes, green beans or salads.

 

[Tdm]

When i was first diagnosed i couldn't get my lancing device to work and ended up ising a pin to draw blood.
Then i read the instructions. Not sure why i didn't do that first...probably still feeling shock from the diagnosis

 

[Leadinglights]

When i was first diagnosed i couldn't get my lancing device to work and ended up ising a pin to draw blood.
Then i read the instructions. Not sure why i didn't do that first...probably still feeling shock from the diagnosis

I confess I find the lancing devise a phaff and just hold the lancet and give a quick stab.