Hello

[Kevman]

Hi,

Diagnosed as type 2 diabetic Monday.

Bit of a shock - suddenly finding out this way.
I had been taking a medicine for an enlarged prostate, but the doctor suggested a blood test.
Looked at the symptoms -
Need loo at night - yes
Tiredness - yes
Thirsty - yes

All a bit clearere now...
Have to say the whole thing scares me a bit, more from the what can I eat, what can't I. Chatted to helpline and it did help but the whole things a bit overwhelming...

It's also given me severe mood swings...
I don't think the diabetic nurse who told me handled it well..

Anyway, forgot to mention, I'm Kev.

Hoping this forum will help a bit - and thanks.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Kev, welcome to the forum 🙂 Don't worry, things may not be as bad as you first fear. Diabetes is a manageable condition as long as you take a little time to understand it and put in a bit of effort - many people find that the discipline actually helps them to better health and vitality, so I hope this will be true of you too 🙂

Carbohydrates are the main things to watch out for - bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, sugary foods etc., but you won't necessarily have to give up all the foods you enjoy, the key watchword is 'moderation'. By following some simple principles you can modify your diet but retain a great deal of flexibility in what you eat - I would suggest getting a copy of The GL Diet for Dummies as a useful guide to ways of tailoring your meals so that they are more 'diabete-friendly'. It is worth eating normally and keeping a food diary, recording in particular the amount of carbs in everything you eat and drink, then you can examine this and look for ways you might substitute items for ones that are kinder to your blood sugar levels, or perhaps reduce portion sizes.

In order to understand diabetes and what it all means, I would highly recommend reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. These will all give you a good grounding and I am sure will give you more confidence as you set out to get things under control. As your blood sugar levels improve, so will your moods and your general feeling of well-being, so diagnosis is a good thing as you know where you stand now - far better than being undiagnosed and just feeling terrible without knowing the cause!

Please ask any questions you may have. Nothing is considered 'silly', and there will always be someone here who can help out 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Kev, and welcome to the forum.