Help! Newly Diagnosed and confused.

[Zoel222]

Mod edit... This was your original post @Zoel222

Hi
Was diagnosed type 2 last week, i cant see the diabetic nurse for 3 weeks so have been trying to find out myself all the info i need, but its a bit overwhelming and confusing. My hba1c was 72, is this really bad? Also i got myself a glucose test kit today to try and start monitoring my levels,so i can see them improve and be aware of what foods trigger a high reading, how often and when should i test?I did test for first time 2 hours after eating my main meal today and it was 15.7 which from what i can gather is very high , i am very overweight but have made some changes and lost 2.5 stone since october so am on my way to a healthier lifestyle. Just worried about numbers and what i should do between now and my appointment, any advice appreciated xx

*update i tried to edit my post and somehow managed to get it to disappear, sorry! I have just been diagnosed type 2 but am unable to see the diabetic nurse for a couple of weeks and was concerned that my hba1c was 72 which seemed so high. Also was wondering how often you should test your own levels have been told this is a good idea but then after buying a kit my gp said not necessary?

 

[Vonny]

Hi @Zoel222 and welcome to the forum. I started down the long diabetes road last April with an hba1c of 76 although some people start off in 3 figures! Great that you've got a testing kit....mine has been (probably literally) a life saver. Although I don't test as much now, I still keep a food diary and used to note the cals and carbs I'd eaten, together with a monitor reading just before eating and 2 hours after.

Aside from the obvious sugary foods like cake and sweets, us diabetics have to watch our carb intake. I cut out all bread, potatoes, rice and pasta straight away, although it's actually advisable to reduce it gradually reducing your hba1c too quickly can cause problems. I wasn't aware of that before I joined the forum, and just went hell for leather! Luckily I was ok.

Well done on losing 2.5 stone, that's really good going. Cutting down the carbs should make sure that you lose more, if that is your goal.

You may want to take a look at the thread "What did you eat last night", it's full of great ideas for meals if, like me, you don't want to be stuck just eating a few types of food.

Were you put on any medication to help you reduce your hba1c?

 

[Zoel222]

Hi thanks for replying, i have just been given a prescription for metformin 500 sr today but haven't started it yet.
Really positive to hear you have reduced yours from a similar starting point. Its all a bit overwhelming at the moment but only been a couple of days, i guess i will catch on soon enough to dos and donts, definitely will be reducing carbs as clearly still having too much.

 

[Vonny]

The best thing when you can finally cut out simple carbs, you don't miss them and don't feel too hungry. I never ever would have believed I could live without my baguettes and chips, but I genuinely don't miss them now. Re the metformin, be prepared for a dodgy tum for a couple of weeks. Some people can't tolerate them and there is a slow release version which is kinder on the tum.

Yes, early days for you yet. I've had diabetes for almost a year and I'm still learning new stuff every day thanks to this amazing forum 🙂

 

[MrDaibetes]

Hey & welcome to the forum. Please feel free to ask questions.

 

[Zoel222]

The best thing when you can finally cut out simple carbs, you don't miss them and don't feel too hungry. I never ever would have believed I could live without my baguettes and chips, but I genuinely don't miss them now. Re the metformin, be prepared for a dodgy tum for a couple of weeks. Some people can't tolerate them and there is a slow release version which is kinder on the tum.

Yes, early days for you yet. I've had diabetes for almost a year and I'm still learning new stuff every day thanks to this amazing forum 🙂

I have been givien the slow release version so fingers crossed on the tummy front. Thx for the info, i feel better for talking to someone who started off with a similar number and has done so well

 

[Inka]

I can’t see the opening post here?

 

[Vonny]

HI @Inka, it was definitely there earlier, honest! I can't see it now either, I don't know what has happened to it. Can one of our techy wizards re-instate it do you think?

 

[Sharron1]

*update i tried to edit my post and somehow managed to get it to disappear, sorry! I have just been diagnosed type 2 but am unable to see the diabetic nurse for a couple of weeks and was concerned that my hba1c was 72 which seemed so high. Also was wondering how often you should test your own levels have been told this is a good idea but then after buying a kit my gp said not necessary?

Hi, My first Hbac1 was similar to yours and I was also put on slow release metformin. My GP told me not to test, but I didn't understand how I would know what I was able to eat. I ignored her and simply didn't mention my testing routine. I started a food diary, tested myself before and 2 hours after each meal until I knew what was good for me. I reduced bread potatoes,pasta and other carbs in my diet. Nearly 3 years down this road, I rarely test (only for 'new' foods) , but the food diary is useful. I also asked (and still do) numerous questions. So, ask away.

 

[Inka]

HI @Inka, it was definitely there earlier, honest! I can't see it now either, I don't know what has happened to it. Can one of our techy wizards re-instate it do you think?

I hope so. There’s no thread title for me either so I can’t even get a clue from that.

 

[Inka]

*update i tried to edit my post and somehow managed to get it to disappear, sorry! I have just been diagnosed type 2 but am unable to see the diabetic nurse for a couple of weeks and was concerned that my hba1c was 72 which seemed so high. Also was wondering how often you should test your own levels have been told this is a good idea but then after buying a kit my gp said not necessary?

No problem 🙂 My iPad likes to do that sometimes too - very annoying! 72 is well into the diabetic range but lots of people have had higher so don’t panic🙂 You know your starting point and I’m sure you can gradually reduce that number.

I’m Type 1 not Type 2 so have to test my levels, but if I was Type 2 I’d test them too just not as much. So I would ignore the GP and test. It will show you how you react to certain foods and meals, and will help you a lot, especially while you’re getting a regime sorted out.

 

[Zoel222]

Hi, My first Hbac1 was similar to yours and I was also put on slow release metformin. My GP told me not to test, but I didn't understand how I would know what I was able to eat. I ignored her and simply didn't mention my testing routine. I started a food diary, tested myself before and 2 hours after each meal until I knew what was good for me. I reduced bread potatoes,pasta and other carbs in my diet. Nearly 3 years down this road, I rarely test (only for 'new' foods) , but the food diary is useful. I also asked (and still do) numerous questions. So, ask away.

Thats good advice, i have managed to lose 2 and a half stone since october but definitely have too many carbs, so will be reducing those and swopping to the healthier types. From the advice on here i will continue to test and try and learn from the readings. Thank you for the help, i feel a bit calmer now and not so on my own in all of this!

 

[Nick Cliff]

Hi @Zoel222
Welcome to the forum.
Hopefully which changes to your diet and lifestyle and your monitoring you may be able to improve for blood glucose levels to a point where you can ditch the medication. I find that doing my own monitoring helps me keep on track.
Good luck with meeting the Type 2 challenge!
Nick

 

[Zoel222]

No problem 🙂 My iPad likes to do that sometimes too - very annoying! 72 is well into the diabetic range but lots of people have had higher so don’t panic🙂 You know your starting point and I’m sure you can gradually reduce that number.

I’m Type 1 not Type 2 so have to test my levels, but if I was Type 2 I’d test them too just not as much. So I would ignore the GP and test. It will show you how you react to certain foods and meals, and will help you a lot, especially while you’re getting a regime sorted out.

Thank you for the advice, i will definitely take it and i already feel better that so many people have managed to reduce levels and it can be done. Thanks again for taking the time to reply .

 

[Zoel222]

Hi @Zoel222
Welcome to the forum.
Hopefully which changes to your diet and lifestyle and your monitoring you may be able to improve for blood glucose levels to a point where you can ditch the medication. I find that doing my own monitoring helps me keep on track.
Good luck with meeting the Type 2 challenge!
Nick

Thank you, good to hear that is a real possibility with some lifestyle changes.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Zoel222

Using a BG meter to monitor what happens before and after eating can be a very direct way of tweaking your current meal plan to make it more BG friendly.

You can take a reading immediately before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, aiming to limit the rise in BG to 2-3mmol/L. If you identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them) you can begin experimenting with reducing portion sizes of the carbs you are eating, or trying different types (sometimes just having the same things at a different time of day makes a difference).

This way you will gradually tweak and tailor your menu to find one that suits your tastebuds, your waistline and your BG levels, without having to change everything all at once, or unnecessarily limit yourself - you just ‘eat to your meter’ 🙂

 

[Zoel222]

Thank you for the advice, its great to get a good starting point of things i can do from people who are in the know. 🙂