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Marcone

Marcone

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello all,

I'm Marco, 49, London - diagnosed Type 2 just yesterday (51) after a few years of pre-diabetes hovering, which I didn't take seriously enough to reverse... I've had a pretty tough year with anxiety and sleeplessness (which had slowly improved) but this has now sent me spiralling as I try to take it all in - waking up at 5:30am with waves of worry is not something I wish on anyone! My GP suggested a 'small' dose of metformin, she was understanding but gave me all of ten minutes on the phone and after chatting with family last night, I'm wondering if I should ask for a face to face and see if I can make changes without taking medication yet? I'm aware that this might just be wishful thinking, but I thought I'd put it out there... Is it worth trying? Thanks.
 
Hello and welcome. Initial diagnosis is often a shock, but you are only just in the diabetic range, so should be able to reduce your HcA1c with a few tweaks. Many enlightened GP's now give the newly diagnosed, just in the range, Type 2 diabetics the opportunity to make lifestyle changes without medication, then re-testing in 3 months. I was one of them, and it worked fine until I became ill with something else. But the changes must be for life as the problem returns if you slip back to old habits - the voice of experience!!!
Metformin can come with side effects, (tummy problems), and you will still need to make changes anyway. I suggest you work your way through the Learning Zone, orange tab above, one module a day to take it all in. If you are not active, an increase in activity level will help. It could be walking, cycling, swimming - it doesn't necessarily mean pounding away at a gym. I go to the pool 2/3 times a week now.
The first thing I did was get an app to record my daily food and drink intake, cals, carbs etc. Diabetics have problems processing carbs - not just the obvious sweet things, but bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, cereals, tropical fruit, processed food. It is suggested Type 2 reduce their carb intake to less the 130gm a day. Reductions should be done slowly to protect the eyes and it does not mean NO carbs. If you read the posts here, various people have made suggestions, or will come back to you with ideas.
We are all different so it's a question of trial and error to find out what suits you. Most important is the it should be enjoyable and sustainable. I got food ideas from the Food/carb queries and recipes part of the Forum. It will help if you get your family on board with your food changes and may also benefit their health.
Please ask any questions you may have. Nothing is silly - we have all been where you are, and asked the questions! Best wishes.
 
HI, Marco - welcome to the Forum. As @Felinia has said you're only a step over the line for a diabetes diagnosis so you have an opportunity to turn things round with some lifestyle changes around diet, exercise and (if needed) weight loss, and maybe without starting on meds. Some of us have done so from much higher numbers, often 3 figures. Talk to your nurse about that.
 
Great advice offered above @Marcone. My knowledge of T2 is scant. But I prefer "trial and learning", rather than error; it takes time and information / data to determine what works for you.
 
Welcome from me also
I was just over the threshold at 50mmol/mol but following the principals in this link, https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/ I got back down to 42 in 3 months and 38 in another 6 so yes it can be done with some dietary changes ( and no medication)
It is a low carb approach and there are some do's and don'ts and some menu plans to suit various tastes and budgets.
,
 
Thank you all! True, there's a lot to process and I don't want to get too overwhelmed at this point - I've got an appointment with a diabetes nurse at my surgery next Friday, so we'll take it from there. Always thought my diet was pretty good (but may well need improving), there's no history of diabetes in my family, but my lifestyle is mostly sedentary and sometimes quite stressful, so there are definite areas that I would like to work on. Of course I'd rather not be in this situation, but it might be a wake up call that leads me to be more healthy overall (and not wait to be more healthy next month, next week, tomorrow etc).
 
You are really positive and honest which will help. May I suggest you put together a list of questions to ask your nurse at your appointment.
Thanks for your suggestion "Proud to be erratic" - I'll use "trial and learning" in future!!
 
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