Hello

[Godwhale]

Just registered Today, though i was diagnosed with Type 2 last November. I went to Hospital with a badly infected foot and discovered i had undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes. I am on one Trulicity injection per week and Metformin daily Tablets. My last review on my Birthday was fine, with my Blood Test results & Blood Pressure ok,
Mark.

 

[LittleSunflower]

Welcome to the forum @Godwhale. You’ll find lots of useful information and friendly people who may have experienced or be experiencing what you are going through so you are never alone in your diabetic journey!

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Mark and welcome

Sorry to hear about your foot infection. Hope it has healed well now that your diabetes has been diagnosed and you have started treatment for it. How are you managing with the Trulicity and Metformin? Have you also modified your diet as diabetes is best tackled from a number of different angles... Dietary changes, exercise, weight loss and medication. The first two often have a bigger impact than the last and weight loss often just happens as a result of the first 2, so it is important not to just rely on the medication with this condition. Lifestyle changes will benefit your whole sense of wellbeing not just the diabetes, so well worth investing some time and effort into those first 2 options.

As regards your results, many of us find that knowing actual numbers is really important so that we can track our progress and that helps to motivate us and know that we are doing the right things or give ourselves a bit of a kick up the pants if it shows we are slipping. I know many GP practices seem to want to keep us in the dark with our readings but diabetes is a condition which should be mostly under our control with support from Health Care professionals because our day to day lives have such an impact on it, so it is quite important to accept that challenge and take control and know the numbers and many of us believe that home testing is a really helpful tool in giving us control to manage things better. Knowledge is power with diabetes, so I would encourage you to take control and we will help and support you in making sense of the numbers and learn how to tame the beast! 😉

 

[Godwhale]

Hi Mark and welcome

Sorry to hear about your foot infection. Hope it has healed well now that your diabetes has been diagnosed and you have started treatment for it. How are you managing with the Trulicity and Metformin? Have you also modified your diet as diabetes is best tackled from a number of different angles... Dietary changes, exercise, weight loss and medication. The first two often have a bigger impact than the last and weight loss often just happens as a result of the first 2, so it is important not to just rely on the medication with this condition. Lifestyle changes will benefit your whole sense of wellbeing not just the diabetes, so well worth investing some time and effort into those first 2 options.

As regards your results, many of us find that knowing actual numbers is really important so that we can track our progress and that helps to motivate us and know that we are doing the right things or give ourselves a bit of a kick up the pants if it shows we are slipping. I know many GP practices seem to want to keep us in the dark with our readings but diabetes is a condition which should be mostly under our control with support from Health Care professionals because our day to day lives have such an impact on it, so it is quite important to accept that challenge and take control and know the numbers and many of us believe that home testing is a really helpful tool in giving us control to manage things better. Knowledge is power with diabetes, so I would encourage you to take control and we will help and support you in making sense of the numbers and learn how to tame the beast! 😉

My feet are fine apart from some loss of feeling in them due to damage to my nerves, though they seem to me to be recovering a bit.

My digestion is a bit delicate, I have stopped eating crisps, biscuits and cut down on chocolate, processed & fatty foods. I now take my Metformin regularly with my Breakfast and my Evening meal, which has stopped most digestive problems.

When the COVID restrictions end I will be able to join a support group at our local Diabetic Clinic, which should help me if any problem arises.

I have a Blood Sugar testing machine which I use when I feel under the weather. The last reading was 6.5.

My goals are to lose a bit more weight to get my BMI to a normal level and get more exercise if it ever stops raining.

 

[rebrascora]

Sounds like you are doing really well. Metformin has a reputation for causing digestive upset but taking it with a substantial amount of food is helpful in limiting that. It sounds like you have made some good dietary changes. Exercise wise, it doesn't have to be anything overly exertive. A brisk daily walk is ideal and work on increasing the distance and pace and/or incorporate hills or steps as you get fitter.

 

[ianf0ster]

My feet are fine apart from some loss of feeling in them due to damage to my nerves, though they seem to me to be recovering a bit.

My digestion is a bit delicate, I have stopped eating crisps, biscuits and cut down on chocolate, processed & fatty foods. I now take my Metformin regularly with my Breakfast and my Evening meal, which has stopped most digestive problems.

When the COVID restrictions end I will be able to join a support group at our local Diabetic Clinic, which should help me if any problem arises.

I have a Blood Sugar testing machine which I use when I feel under the weather. The last reading was 6.5.

My goals are to lose a bit more weight to get my BMI to a normal level and get more exercise if it ever stops raining.

Hi
6.5 (if you are in the UK) or are using european measurements ie. mmols is a good number. A good target to aim for is to keep it less than 8.0 if you can. Many of us test before a meal and then 2hrs after 1st bite in order to see how our body reacts to that meal.

Almost all Type 2 diabetics are extremely sensitive to carbohydrates (including whole grains and fruit) but some are OK with some foods and get blood glucose spikes with others even though the Carb load and GI may be similar - so the only way to know is to test.

Even if you want to lose weight, you don't necessarily need to avoid fatty foods, but the food you eat should be traditional whole foods. Thus you don't need to eat 'Low Fat' versions of things indeed those are often higher in carbs than the normal full fat versions which are more satiating and keep you fuller for longer.

Many doing Low Carb way of eating still eat bacon, butter, fatty fish and even double cream.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Godwhale

Glad to hear you feet seem to have recovered, and congratulations on the positive changes you have been making already.

Good to hear that you are seeing positive results from your efforts, approaches and current meds too. 🙂

Member here frequently recommend Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, as a very helpful source of information and reference about T2 diabetes.

And feel free to ask away with any questions you may have. We are a friendly bunch, and we have centuries of lived diabetes experience between us. No question will be considered ‘too obvious’ or ‘silly’ 🙂