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Lizajane10

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Hi all

Just diagnosed with type 2, I’m in Birmingham UK and aged 56. HbA1c level is 65. I don’t currently have any symptoms as far as I know, this was picked up when I had a blood test for something else. I have been trying to follow a low carb diet for about 10 days since the blood test result came back. I saw the GP for the first time today and she has asked me to take a statin for my also raised cholesterol, but no medication for the diabetes at the moment. However I will be seeing a diabetes specialist GP and nurse in the next few weeks so that may change.
I don’t know if I have any questions at the moment except I suppose would it be usual to treat by diet alone at that level, or am I likely to be put onto medication? I said to the doc I didn’t want to start two new meds at once so maybe she thought the statin took priority. (Cholesterol 5.7 - under 5 is normal.)
Thank you for any thoughts!
 
Welcome

It’s up to you whether you’d like to take medication for the diabetes, doctors can only ever make recommendations it’s you that makes the decisions. So if you’d like some medication alongside diet and exercise changes, ask at your appointment, and if you’d prefer not to take any yet then say that at your appointment
 
You have made a good start in making some changes to your diet and indeed many find a low carb approach works for them. 56mmol/mol is not desperately high so there is no reason why diet alone should not be sufficient. That can also have a beneficial effect on reducing cholesterol as well, again 5.7 is not too far over the level they like people to be when they have 'at risk' conditions which is usually below 4. Incorporating healthy fats into your diet can improve your ratios as well.
Unfortunately the standard NHS dietary advise is too high in carbs for many to tolerate as it is based on the EatWell plate which is fine if not Type 2 diabetic but not so good if you are.
Have a look at this link for some good explanation and some meal plans and recipes to suit various tastes. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Just to add that low carb is suggested as being no more than 130g per day as a good starting point, it is not NO carbs.
 
Welcome to the forum @Lizajane10

Your HbA1c of 65mmol/mol is comfortably over the line for a diagnosis with diabetes. In the UK 42-47 are seen as ‘at risk’, and 2 readings at 48mmol/mol or above confirm a diagnosis with T2. Once you have that diagnosis the preferred total cholesterol level drops to below 4, as people with T2 are more at risk of heart disease.

Different GPs seem to favour different approaches when it comes to initiating treatment. Some will recommend starting on meds earlier (to give glucose management attempts a kick-start) while others will allow people a few months to see what effect some menu changes bring about.

Do you know when you are due a follow-up appointment?
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Welcome to the forum @Lizajane10

Your HbA1c of 65mmol/mol is comfortably over the line for a diagnosis with diabetes. In the UK 42-47 are seen as ‘at risk’, and 2 readings at 48mmol/mol or above confirm a diagnosis with T2. Once you have that diagnosis the preferred total cholesterol level drops to below 4, as people with T2 are more at risk of heart disease.

Different GPs seem to favour different approaches when it comes to initiating treatment. Some will recommend starting on meds earlier (to give glucose management attempts a kick-start) while others will allow people a few months to see what effect some menu changes bring about.

Do you know when you are due a follow-up appointment?
Click to expand...
Thank you for the information. I’m seeing another GP in about 10 days time who is a diabetic specialist, and also will get booked in with a nurse too in the next few weeks, so the more specialist GP might have a different view on medication.
I have had two blood tests which were 64 and 65 so I now have the diagnosis.
 
Hope the appointments are helpful.

It can be helpful to take a notebook with a list of things you wanted to chat about, as it’s often hard to keep everything in mind when the conversation starts flowing!

If you have a preference for starting meds earlier or later, those are things you can chat through, and ask why the GP/nurse is recommending whichever they suggest.

Either approach can work for different people.
 
Hello and welcome. To help you monitor your daily carbs, you might like to start a daily food diary. I'm lazy, so have an app (NutraCheck) which does all the hard work for me. Search for the food and portion size and enter it. It works out the carbs and keeps a running total. This is an example. First column was cals, 2nd column was carbs.


BREAKFAST		37421.2
Benecol No Added Sugar Raspberry Yogurt Drink 6 x 67.5g (405g)

67.5g serving		333.2
Soft Boiled Eggs

[2x] Very large (64g)		1840.0
Warburtons Medium Sliced Wholemeal 400g

[2x] Per average slice (23.8g)		11017.8
Flora Proactiv Light Spread 500g

15g		470.2
 
Leadinglights said:
You have made a good start in making some changes to your diet and indeed many find a low carb approach works for them. 56mmol/mol is not desperately high so there is no reason why diet alone should not be sufficient. That can also have a beneficial effect on reducing cholesterol as well, again 5.7 is not too far over the level they like people to be when they have 'at risk' conditions which is usually below 4. Incorporating healthy fats into your diet can improve your ratios as well.
Unfortunately the standard NHS dietary advise is too high in carbs for many to tolerate as it is based on the EatWell plate which is fine if not Type 2 diabetic but not so good if you are.
Have a look at this link for some good explanation and some meal plans and recipes to suit various tastes. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Just to add that low carb is suggested as being no more than 130g per day as a good starting point, it is not NO carbs.
Click to expand...
Thank you, my level is 65 not 56 but I have heard of people much higher at diagnosis. I will have to start doing some sums with the carbs but it’s good to know I’m not trying to eliminate them completely! It’s good to have a figure in mind to aim for and thanks for the recipe link. Main meals are ok but sorting out packed lunches and breakfasts is taking a bit more planning.
 
Felinia said:
Hello and welcome. To help you monitor your daily carbs, you might like to start a daily food diary. I'm lazy, so have an app (NutraCheck) which does all the hard work for me. Search for the food and portion size and enter it. It works out the carbs and keeps a running total. This is an example. First column was cals, 2nd column was carbs.


BREAKFAST		37421.2
Benecol No Added Sugar Raspberry Yogurt Drink 6 x 67.5g (405g)

67.5g serving		333.2
Soft Boiled Eggs

[2x] Very large (64g)		1840.0
Warburtons Medium Sliced Wholemeal 400g

[2x] Per average slice (23.8g)		11017.8
Flora Proactiv Light Spread 500g

15g		470.2
Click to expand...
Thank you that’s extremely useful - I’ve downloaded and put in today’s food and got to 126g carb - and I feel I’ve eaten quite well today including a pud.
 
Lizajane10 said:
Thank you, my level is 65 not 56 but I have heard of people much higher at diagnosis. I will have to start doing some sums with the carbs but it’s good to know I’m not trying to eliminate them completely! It’s good to have a figure in mind to aim for and thanks for the recipe link. Main meals are ok but sorting out packed lunches and breakfasts is taking a bit more planning.
Click to expand...
At least I didn't think you were 65 🙂
 
Helloooo - virual waves from Barnsley :D

You will find loads of good advice on here, going low carb doesn't have to mean going hungry! Keep logging on it's a lovely, friendly place.
 
Welcome to the Forum. There is lots of helpful advice on here.

I credit this Forum with helping me return to normal from pre-diabetes. Unfortunately, it has gone back to pre this year after a few years normal but hoping to get it back down again.

I have to say that when I had a high carb diet I was always hungry but it is rare nowadays on a lower carb one.
 
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