I have recently been diagnosed borderline Diabetes 2. When I went to see the nurse she told me i had a reading of 100 mols which to me seems very high not just borderline. I have got appointments with the podiatrist and an eye test Soon. I am overweight and was told I had to lose weight. I have cut down my carbs and I think I am eating healthy. I go out about twice a week to walk about an hour or two each time and are trying to increase the speed. I find exercise difficult at times as I have had 2 knee replacements. I am on thyroxine and blood pressure tablets and also cholesterol tablets. I am on 2 metformin a day and often get stomach cramps and stomach upsets. I get headaches but I have noticed that I feel tired a lot could this be because I am cutting down the carbs.
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Hello
- Thread starter AnnetteT
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Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome. I don't recognise mols, so can't comment on whether you are borderline or higher. As you have been put straight on Metformin, you might well be higher. People who are borderline can be given the opportunity to get their level down with healthy eating and exercise - I was. You can but ask. Metformin side effects are well known - I got cramps, the runs, nausea, retching, headaches when my dosage was increased. If they are disrupting your life, you can request the slow release version.
Do you have access to a swimming pool? It's a good way to exercise without putting too much strain on your knees. I go to Aqua Fit 2/3 times a week, and my body feels much more toned.
Also can you give us an idea of what you eat and drink during the day, including snacks and if you put sugar in your drinks? People may be able to suggest tweaks. I have an app NutraCheck which allows me to monitor my calories and carbs. I experimented with carb levels and settled on around 90gm a day. Some people are very sensitive to carbs and others not so much. It's a very individual thing and we each have to find our own way. Please note if you cut your carbs too drastically too quickly it can affect your vision. You need to get your energy from somewhere, so increasing protein might help. Best wishes
Do you have access to a swimming pool? It's a good way to exercise without putting too much strain on your knees. I go to Aqua Fit 2/3 times a week, and my body feels much more toned.
Also can you give us an idea of what you eat and drink during the day, including snacks and if you put sugar in your drinks? People may be able to suggest tweaks. I have an app NutraCheck which allows me to monitor my calories and carbs. I experimented with carb levels and settled on around 90gm a day. Some people are very sensitive to carbs and others not so much. It's a very individual thing and we each have to find our own way. Please note if you cut your carbs too drastically too quickly it can affect your vision. You need to get your energy from somewhere, so increasing protein might help. Best wishes
Hi @AnnetteT Low carb will probably improve your HDL and Triglycerides and also reduce your blood pressure. So careful with the Blood Pressure medication. Dr David Unwin (a UK Low Carb GP) found himself lightheaded when getting up to greet patients and then realised he needed to adjust his BP medication for his Low Carb way of eating (he is now off all BP meds now).
The stomach symptoms of Metformin are well known. Do you take the normal or the slow release (which is more easily tolerated)?
Did you start taking extra sodium, potassium and magnesium (or bone broth) when you started Low Carb in order to avoid the 'Atkins 'Flu' ? Otherwise people sometimes get headaches and flu like symptoms when first cutting down hard on carbs.
If by Cholesterol tablets you mean statins, you need to be aware that some statins (like steroids) are known to increase Blood Glucose.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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Welcome to the forum @AnnetteT
Sounds like you are making some very positive changes, and working around the challenges with your new knees!
100mol could be 100mmol/mol, the new (well, not really new any more!) IFCC units for HbA1c, which is a check that reflects your glucose levels over the preceding 3-4months. The cut-off for a diabetes diagnosis is only 48, and while we have had members who have very successfully managed their diabetes starting in 3 figures, I’ve not heard an A1c of 100 being described as ‘borderline’ before.
Hope the stomach upset calms down in time - some people find the effects settle after a few weeks/months. Some members have mentioned that it helps them to take metfartin with a reasonably substantial meal, and as has been suggested the slow release versions are usually kinder on the tum.
Good luck, and keep us posted with how things are going!
Sounds like you are making some very positive changes, and working around the challenges with your new knees!
100mol could be 100mmol/mol, the new (well, not really new any more!) IFCC units for HbA1c, which is a check that reflects your glucose levels over the preceding 3-4months. The cut-off for a diabetes diagnosis is only 48, and while we have had members who have very successfully managed their diabetes starting in 3 figures, I’ve not heard an A1c of 100 being described as ‘borderline’ before.
Hope the stomach upset calms down in time - some people find the effects settle after a few weeks/months. Some members have mentioned that it helps them to take metfartin with a reasonably substantial meal, and as has been suggested the slow release versions are usually kinder on the tum.
Good luck, and keep us posted with how things are going!
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @AnnetteT
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. You have already made a start to changing your diet. It is all the carbs that we eat that get changed into glucose once inside us. This then requires an amount of insulin to enable us to process the glucose. Managing our diabetes is about managing this balance And will be helped by the exercise that you are doing, in spite of two new knees.
There is plenty of experience to tap into on here, so do fire away with any questions that you have.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. You have already made a start to changing your diet. It is all the carbs that we eat that get changed into glucose once inside us. This then requires an amount of insulin to enable us to process the glucose. Managing our diabetes is about managing this balance And will be helped by the exercise that you are doing, in spite of two new knees.
There is plenty of experience to tap into on here, so do fire away with any questions that you have.
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