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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
My diagnosis arose from blood tests in a regular health check. This was sudden and surprising.
Having worked in healthcare for many years I am aware of the havoc diabetes can wreak and am determined to reverse it.
I joined this forum for advice and discussion on the subject and hope to make a positive contribution in time.
Hello and welcome. Are you willing to tell us a bit about yourself, your HbA1c and any other medical issues or medications. That will help us offer suggestions, then fire away with any questions you may have. Many of us control our diabetes well and have benefited from the advice offered on this forum.
Hello and welcome. Are you willing to tell us a bit about yourself, your HbA1c and any other medical issues or medications. That will help us offer suggestions, then fire away with any questions you may have. Many of us control our diabetes well and have benefited from the advice offered on this forum.
I am nearly 66. The only number I've been given so far is the HbA1c of 52. There was no prediabetes/being at risk of diabetes.
My diagnosis came only a couple of weeks ago so although I've been told about upcoming eye tests, dietician appointments etc I haven't yet had any.
At 65 I'm falling into the general routine testing net so have also received diagnoses of high BP and cholesterol.
In the spring I had laser treatment on both eyes for glaucoma. This was before the diabetes diagnosis and diabetes was not mentioned.
My general health is good, or I thought it was. I'm admittedly about 30lb overweight which I intend to put right with diet tweaks and exercise.
My job is active and I cycle 4 miles a day to and from work and at other times for fun.
The problem with the fun cycling is that it often entails a trip to a country pub or cafe.
That's over now!
As I mentioned above, working in healthcare taught me all about the potential horrors of diabetes including blindness and lower limb amputations. I'd think 'If I were ever diagnosed with diabetes I'd do everything I was told!'
It's time to put my money where my mouth is.😉
Thanks for the reply. The good news is that you are only just into the diabetic range, and of the right frame of mind to tackle it. I hope I am not telling you what you already know from your experience. My cousin worked in the healthcare system as a nurse practitioner specialising in diabetes, and what she told me was that most people learned to manage their diabetes and did not develop the conditions you mentioned, particularly if they looked after themselves. The annual eye and foot tests are essential - I always go when called.
You hopefully will only need a few tweaks to reduce your HbA1c, and I hope you have not been put on Metformin. Like you, I am overweight and have glaucoma, high BP (familial) and high cholesterol, for which I take medication. I've managed just fine for the last 5 years, following a reduced carb diet (I post my menu most days on the food/carb recipes and queries forum). I did end up on medication, but that was due to a 5 month kidney illness which caused my HbA1c to shoot up, and I have been chipping away at it ever since.
Fun cycling can always be followed by a suitable drink (I have peppermint tea, or sparkling water with ice and lemon/lime) and I always say no to the cakes and biscuits. I've never had a problem telling people I'm diabetic, with "sorry I can't, I'm diabetic and it's outside my daily carb allowance". My exercise is aquafit, and now restrictions are over the group stops for coffee/tea and biscuits afterwards.
All advice is useful.
I've newly diagnosed and have not yet had any instructions from my surgery dietician.
The diabetes nurse said I can most likely manage through diet/lifestyle (more cycling, no beer!) and will not be requiring medication in the near future.
The people with diabetes whom I looked after in hospitals were mainly quite elderly and/or possibly not managing the condition well. Smoking was often a factor.
So yes, I can see that the patients I met were probably not typical.
There's an article in today's Guardian about lower limb amputations in Welsh hospitals.
That's the sort of thing I was seeing at work.
All advice is useful.
I've newly diagnosed and have not yet had any instructions from my surgery dietician.
The diabetes nurse said I can most likely manage through diet/lifestyle (more cycling, no beer!) and will not be requiring medication in the near future.
The people with diabetes whom I looked after in hospitals were mainly quite elderly and/or possibly not managing the condition well. Smoking was often a factor.
So yes, I can see that the patients I met were probably not typical.
There's an article in today's Guardian about lower limb amputations in Welsh hospitals.
That's the sort of thing I was seeing at work.
Yes hospital work can give a skewed picture of the disease in the general population. My neighbours were police people and they tell me it became so easy to always think the worst of people, sadly.
One thing I found very useful to help me monitor my diet, was an app. I plan the day in advance, so I know my carb intake.
Yes hospital work can give a skewed picture of the disease in the general population. My neighbours were police people and they tell me it became so easy to always think the worst of people, sadly.
One thing I found very useful to help me monitor my diet, was an app. I plan the day in advance, so I know my carb intake.
Diabetes was one of the subjects I was taught about at school and college.
We also learned about parasites (tapeworms etc) and other public health issues like sanitation. All very interesting.
So when I came across diabetics at work I remembered my lessons and wasn't surprised to hear about amputations etc.
It all gave me a healthy interest in self-preservation.
Hello @Negative Ease I was diagnosed at 65 with a HbA1c of 91 - but I was back at 41 in 6 months by cutting right back on carbohydrates.
A lot of weight just folded its tents in the night and vanished away. (I've been reading Longfellow again)
I say it a bit quietly, but it really was no effort at all - I suspect that a lot of the problems for a plain ordinary type 2 is bad advice.
As I'm by nature an engineer it seems obvious that if the sink is overflowing you turn off the taps and worry about unblocking the drain after all the excitement has passed.
The more you come across the horror stories the more it makes you panic but by taking action then all those risks can be minimised.
I found following the principals in this link I reduced my hba1C from 50 to 42 in 3 months without any medication and it is now my normal way of eating. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
It was developed because that particular surgery found the standard NHS advise did not help their patients as it was far to high in carbohydrates.
The more you come across the horror stories the more it makes you panic but by taking action then all those risks can be minimised.
I found following the principals in this link I reduced my hba1C from 50 to 42 in 3 months without any medication and it is now my normal way of eating. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
It was developed because that particular surgery found the standard NHS advise did not help their patients as it was far to high in carbohydrates.
