HI All Newbie Type 2

[Andyw]

Hi all just good the news yesterday type2, so any info on how to live with it would be great.

 

[Northerner]

Hi all just good the news yesterday type2, so any info on how to live with it would be great.

Hi Andy, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis - how did it come about? Have you been given any medication?

I'd suggest starting by reading Maggie Davey's letter, which will give you a good overview of how to get to grips with things. Diabetes is a serious condition, but it can be managed well with the right information and a bit of hard work and planning 🙂 People often find that the adjustments they make can actually result in them feeling much happier than they have for a long time, whilst they remained undiagnosed, so there are lots of positives 🙂

I'd also recommend getting a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker - a well-written and positive guide that will take you through these early months.

Ideally, you need to test your blood sugar levels using a home blood glucose monitor. People's tolerances for various foods can vary considerably, so it's important to determine what you personally tolerate well, and what you should avoid - this can only be determined through regular testing to discover the effects of you meal choices on your levels. Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S to understand how this works. If your GP or nurse hasn't issued you with a meter and test strips then it is worth asking for them. Unfortunately, they will often decline to prescribe them as a cost-saving measure, believing that they are only required when you are on certain types of medication, but this is a false economy - without knowing the effect of food on your levels they may not improve and you won't really know why, and this can lead to longer-term problems and expensive, life-altering complications

If they still decline then it is worth funding testing yourself - you won't need to do intensive testing forever, just initially whilst you gain experience of how well or otherwise you tolerate things. The cheapest option we have come across is the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50 - High St brands can charge up to £30 for 50 test strips, so there can be quite a difference. All meters have to confirm to minimum accuracy standards, so cheaper doesn't mean less accurate 🙂

Finally, if you are able, it's worth finding a regular exercise routine that you can enjoy. Exercise helps make the body more insulin-sensitive and can really help with maintaining good blood sugar levels 🙂

Let us know if you have any questions at all and we will do our best to help 🙂

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome Andy from a fellow T2

 

[Zillah]

Hi Andy and welcome 😎

 

[Beck S]

Welcome to the forum 🙂

Great place to ask any questions you have and find out loads of information. The stuff in Northerner's post is really helpful to read, and I'd recommend it too. Don't expect to have to get it all right straight away, it takes a lot of time to get used to it and find something that works for you, so if it's not working for a few months, don't fret.

 

[scottishlass]

Hello Andy, welcome to the club.

 

[David Hay]

Andy, I was diagnosed two weeks ago
go low carb for a start,
2 weeks ago my sugar was 18.5. (333)
now I am 5-6 7 at most (108)

These vegetables are low in carbs
Lettuce
Celery
Asparagus (1)
Cauliflower (1 floret)
Garlic (1 tsp)
Mushrooms (handful)
tomato wedge
Brussels Sprouts (1)
Broccoli (1 floret)
Onion 1 slice
Green Beans (10)
carrots (1)

Drink plenty of water, it helps the kidneys function and eliminate waste
I also have a teaspoon of olive oil (hgh in monounsaturated good fat)
and a teaspoon of cinnamon

meats are mostly good and have no carbs
Chicken, Bacon, Pork, steak, turkey Tuna salmon etc

avoid - Pasta, cereals, potatoes, rice, soft drink, anything with sugar