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Hello

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MarkT

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Morning folks,
I was diagnosed type 2 last month, payback as a result of my own body abuse for years!
One of those people who "doesn't do doctors" , until recently, when my eldest announced my first grandchild was on the way...Unfortunately things didn't work out for her, but I continued with the health checks and here I am.
What am I looking on here for?
Positive support from people, which at times can be lacking at home. Guidance and advise, especially in the kitchen as I am generally the family cook.
It just appears that everyone I have spoken to, either diabetic or not, is an expert on the subject.
Mark


 
Hi Mark T, Welcome to the club no one wants to join.
You've come to the right place for positive support and some very good guidance.
Have you been told to test your blood, I do hope so.
Feel free to ask questions.
It would help if we knew a little more , are you on any diabetic medications or just been told to diet and exersize.
 
Welcome to the club no one would choose to join. This forum is tremendously helpful and supportive.

There'll be a T2 along soon.
 
Hi there,
Thanks for the welcome.
I have been prescribed Metformin, 2x500 twice a day.
It was not suggested to check my blood by my "GP / diabetes specialist", however my role at work means I have to start to check my levels and keep a record twice a day for the Occupational Health department. In fact, my GP doesn't want to see me for 3 months!
Diet and exercise is incorporated as part of getting my weight down, which will be a big help....Pardon the pun.
There is a T2 coming soon? Should I duck? (sorry, not sure what a T2 is).
Mark T
 
Hi Mark, welcome and none of us pretend to be experts, just good honest folk going through the same journey and willing to share our experience. This will often lead to you picking up on things for you to try and see if they help you, sometimes the will, sometimes they wont, we are all different. I'm sure @Northerner will pick up this thread at some point and recommend some great reading material that will help you. T2 refers to Type 2 etc. Ive been where you started no dr visits etc, and had a shock back in January this year which persuaded me to take this condition seriously I cant beat it but I can get on top of it and over 3 months I believe I have. Testing is the key for me knowing what foods do what to my blood, enables me to make informed choices. This site has been so valuable to me and I thank everyone for the advice I've picked up. Ask as many questions as you like you will get answers but you often find reading the posts from others who may be asking the questions your thinking about is really informative too. so Join in and be part of our Community. I wish you well on your Journey. Al
 
There is a T2 coming soon? Should I duck? (sorry, not sure what a T2 is).
Mark T
Might be a good idea as most medics seem to think we're all heavyweights 🙂😉🙂
T2 = type 2 diabetics

It really annoys me when I hear T2s being told not to test their blood. How on earth can you know if what you are doing is working for you, it's mainly down to cost, which IMO any most others here is very short sighted.
As you have to record your BG (blood glucose) levels for the Occupational Health dept , I would get back to the GP/ diabetes specialist and explaine this , if your still told no, then try getting your O H dept to speak on your behalf.

Their are meters and test strips , I believe called Codefree available from Amazon which I'm told are reasonably priced
 
Morning folks,
I was diagnosed type 2 last month, payback as a result of my own body abuse for years!
One of those people who "doesn't do doctors" , until recently, when my eldest announced my first grandchild was on the way...Unfortunately things didn't work out for her, but I continued with the health checks and here I am.
What am I looking on here for?
Positive support from people, which at times can be lacking at home. Guidance and advise, especially in the kitchen as I am generally the family cook.
It just appears that everyone I have spoken to, either diabetic or not, is an expert on the subject.
Mark

Hi MarkT, welcome to the forum 🙂 I was similar before diagnosis - only visits to doctors in the 25 years previously had been for a broken arm then a broken leg! You will soon become surprised at how much you learn about the workings of the human body - and the good and bad points of the NHS! 😱

Regarding diet/meals - I would suggest starting by writing a food diary, noting down the amount of carbohydrates in anything you eat or drink. Be meticulous, it's boring and tedious, but it will give you a good, true picture of your carb consumption and can be used to look for areas where you might improve things and make them more 'diabetes-friendly' 🙂 There are lots of ideas to do this -things like cauliflower rice, courgetti spaghetti, sweet potato mash etc. - have a browse of the food section to see what inventive ways people have come up with to reduce carbs (which are what raise your blood sugar levels - bread, rice, pasta, baked goods etc. - note, it's not just 'sugar' you need to watch for, that is just another type of carbohydrate). I'd also suggest looking at the GL (Glycaemic Load) diet. You can have a healthy, varied diet, it just takes planning and a bit of compromise here and there. Nothing is forbidden, but common sense needs to be applied for 'treats'!

The GL Diet for Dummies is a very good introduction to the 'Glycaemic Load' approach to selecting and combining foods so that they have a slow, steady impact on blood glucose levels.

Have a read of Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter and treat yourself to a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker - these will all help to mkae things a lot less confusing 🙂 There is a lot to take in, but don't let it overwhelm you, you don't have to change everything overnight so take time to absorb things 🙂

If you don't have a blood glucose meter, I would really recommend getting one, as it is the best tool available to learn about how different foods affect you, and inform you what foods may need to be ditched from your diet and what things you can happily retain 🙂 The cheapest option we have come across is the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50 if your doctor hasn't given you one. Read Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S to understand how to use the meter to best advantage 🙂

That lot should keep you going for a bit! 🙂 Please ask any questions you may have, nothing is considered 'silly'. Diabetes is a serious condition, but the good news is that it can be managed well with the right knowledge and effort, and well-controlled diabetes is the major cause of - absolutely nothing! So, no reason why you can't be fit and healthy for many, many years to come! 🙂
 
Hi,
Thanks for the tips which are going to prove most useful.
What stands out for me is " it's not just 'sugar' you need to watch for, that is just another type of carbohydrate" : I have only been checking the sugar % of my food so far, and not the carbohydrate....Now that puts another aspect into the thought process. But as you said, it won't all change overnight.
I was able to get an Accu-Chek from a friend who had 2, (not sure why),and plan to start using this tonight. Is it best to test before the meal & tablet, or after?
Also managed to get both books on Amazon quite cheap, so I must push on and finish my book on Waterloo before they arrive.
To be honest, I am a little pee'd off with the lack of info I received from my GP / Specialist, even though the visit lasted 30 mins.
thanks again, I've learnt quite a bit already.
Mark T
 
Hi,
Thanks for the tips which are going to prove most useful.
What stands out for me is " it's not just 'sugar' you need to watch for, that is just another type of carbohydrate" : I have only been checking the sugar % of my food so far, and not the carbohydrate....Now that puts another aspect into the thought process. But as you said, it won't all change overnight.
I was able to get an Accu-Chek from a friend who had 2, (not sure why),and plan to start using this tonight. Is it best to test before the meal & tablet, or after?
Also managed to get both books on Amazon quite cheap, so I must push on and finish my book on Waterloo before they arrive.
To be honest, I am a little pee'd off with the lack of info I received from my GP / Specialist, even though the visit lasted 30 mins.
thanks again, I've learnt quite a bit already.
Mark T
Have a read of the Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S link to understand how to use the test strips efficiently, Mark 🙂 The only problem you might find using the AccuChek is the cost of new test strips - these can be £25-£30 for 50 strips, which is why we recommend getting the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50. Most big companies give away their meters for free, but you are then tied to using their strips which is where they make all their money 🙄

Some GPs and nurses are pretty woeful in the lack of information they provide, no wonder so many people find themselves feeling anxious and concerned when diagnosed, because they are not really told how to manage it. Mind you, what can be even worse is when they give out lots of information that is incorrect :( It's a gradual process, but well worth putting in the effort 🙂
 
Carbohydrates turn to sugar in the body and can increase blood sugar levels. How much carbs you can safely have depends on the individual. Its all about trying and testing the result.
 
Hi Mark and welcome to the forum. Its a great place for help and advice. Its certainly helped me since last August when I was diagnosed.
 
I was diagnosed type 2 last month, payback as a result of my own body abuse for years!
Hi Mark, please don't beat yourself up about your past life.... Diabetes is more about genetics & predisposition to the disease.

Welcome to the forum.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum Mark. Plenty f information on this forum.

I use the SD Codefree initially to see how food affected my blood glucose levels but now I use it to keep myself accountable. I know me only too well!:D
 
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