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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.
Hi all
- Thread starter KevP
- Start date
- Status
KevP
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Colin, so, I was taking my wife to the fracture clinic last week (she fell and broke her arm!) and I got a call from my Drs practice basically saying that they had done a review on my blood tests over the past 4 years. (I have regular tests as I have arthritis). They were concerned that my sugar levels and cholesterol were high and then decided that they were going to diagnose me with type 2.
Saw the practice diabetic HCP yesterday and she went through everything.
Blood pressure was up,
Cholesterol at 5.2
Sugars were ??
I am quite overweight so that doesn't help at all. Got loads of advice (including joining this site) and was placed on Atorvastatin straight away.
Must loose weight as a priority and increase my exercise and eat properly.
Got to have my feet checked in two weeks (is that a thing??) but they are going to check me regularly.
TBH I am quite embarrassed but I know its my own fault for letting myself go once I retired 10 years ago after my last career. I still work (driving instructor) and of course thats sitting a lot.
I need to get out more!!
I know I'm going to need to learn loads and this forum will do that.
Many thanks mate, K
ColinUK
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The feet thing is a thing. Generally most of is have feet checked annually.
Eyes are another thing and you may be sent for a retinopathy check (not something which can be done by a high street optician but only takes a few minutes anyway) annually also.
Ask the surgery what your HbA1C is/was as that’s the yardstick they use to diagnose someone as diabetic. It’ll also give you an idea of how diabetic you are which is useful as it can guide other actions.
You mention being overweight, if it’s not an impertinent question, how overweight are you?
What’s your general diet like?
Has the gp given you any diet advice or prescribed Metformin?
There’s an awful lot of wise advice to be found on this forum so have a poke around and make yourself at home!
I’ll page some of the wisest heads to this thread as they can always recall where the key info is stored and I never can…
So paging @everydayupsanddowns to begin with and others will likely follow!
Eyes are another thing and you may be sent for a retinopathy check (not something which can be done by a high street optician but only takes a few minutes anyway) annually also.
Ask the surgery what your HbA1C is/was as that’s the yardstick they use to diagnose someone as diabetic. It’ll also give you an idea of how diabetic you are which is useful as it can guide other actions.
You mention being overweight, if it’s not an impertinent question, how overweight are you?
What’s your general diet like?
Has the gp given you any diet advice or prescribed Metformin?
There’s an awful lot of wise advice to be found on this forum so have a poke around and make yourself at home!
I’ll page some of the wisest heads to this thread as they can always recall where the key info is stored and I never can…
So paging @everydayupsanddowns to begin with and others will likely follow!
Hi @KevP and welcome to the forum
Don't beat yourself up about a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis. Many people who have stuck to the government health guidelines get it (including me). In fact I blame those 'healthy eating guidelines for me getting T2 D in the first place.
All carbohydrates turn into glucose (sugar) when digested. Nobody disputes this, yet we are urged to eat more and more whole grains , fruit, and veg (such as carrots) which contain carbohydrates and less meat and fat. Certainly once diagnosed as Type 2 we should do our utmost to slow the flow of glucose and other sugars into our bodies down from a fast stream to a trickle.
There are only 3 macro-nutrients and only 2 of them are essential and those two are protein and fats. So cut the carbs down and eat more meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full fat dairy, nuts seed and low carb veg (mainly above ground and leafy green veg).
Find out what your HbA1C test result (the blood test used to diagnose T2 Diabetes) was so that you know how far into the diabetic range you are. If it's below 60 then perhaps a few simple food substitutions will do the trick. Note that in more than 50% of cases, eating a Low Carb way not only puts Type 2 diabetes into remission, but lowers blood pressure, weight and improves Lipid ratios (though not necessarily total cholesterol).
By the way your Cholesterol figure of 5.2 (assuming it's total cholesterol) is well below the threshold originally set to prescribe statins from the original study dome to prove they had a beneficial effect. In fact there is more evidence that HDL and the Triglycerides matter (HDL should be high and Triglycerides low) much more than Total Cholesterol or LDL does.
Don't beat yourself up about a Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis. Many people who have stuck to the government health guidelines get it (including me). In fact I blame those 'healthy eating guidelines for me getting T2 D in the first place.
All carbohydrates turn into glucose (sugar) when digested. Nobody disputes this, yet we are urged to eat more and more whole grains , fruit, and veg (such as carrots) which contain carbohydrates and less meat and fat. Certainly once diagnosed as Type 2 we should do our utmost to slow the flow of glucose and other sugars into our bodies down from a fast stream to a trickle.
There are only 3 macro-nutrients and only 2 of them are essential and those two are protein and fats. So cut the carbs down and eat more meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full fat dairy, nuts seed and low carb veg (mainly above ground and leafy green veg).
Find out what your HbA1C test result (the blood test used to diagnose T2 Diabetes) was so that you know how far into the diabetic range you are. If it's below 60 then perhaps a few simple food substitutions will do the trick. Note that in more than 50% of cases, eating a Low Carb way not only puts Type 2 diabetes into remission, but lowers blood pressure, weight and improves Lipid ratios (though not necessarily total cholesterol).
By the way your Cholesterol figure of 5.2 (assuming it's total cholesterol) is well below the threshold originally set to prescribe statins from the original study dome to prove they had a beneficial effect. In fact there is more evidence that HDL and the Triglycerides matter (HDL should be high and Triglycerides low) much more than Total Cholesterol or LDL does.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @KevP
Glad you have found us 🙂
Diabetes UK used to list ‘15 healthcare essentials’ that people with diabetes should be offered each year. Things have changed a kittke over covid / lockdown and the pressures that GP surgery appointments have been under, but this should give you an idea of the sorts of things you should ultimately be offered annually:
In terms of getting to know and understand your diabetes a little better, you might like to register for The Learning Zone (orange tab in the main menu) which has heaps of bite sized modules for you to work through.
Additionally members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter to the newly diagnosed and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which you might also find informative and accessible.
Glad you have found us 🙂
Diabetes UK used to list ‘15 healthcare essentials’ that people with diabetes should be offered each year. Things have changed a kittke over covid / lockdown and the pressures that GP surgery appointments have been under, but this should give you an idea of the sorts of things you should ultimately be offered annually:
In terms of getting to know and understand your diabetes a little better, you might like to register for The Learning Zone (orange tab in the main menu) which has heaps of bite sized modules for you to work through.
Additionally members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter to the newly diagnosed and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which you might also find informative and accessible.
KevP
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
See, I told ya that this forum would help!!
Many thanks for your help and guidance, I will take everything on board and I’ll be armed with with more knowledge and questions for when I see my nurse next week.
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Kind regards to you all
Many thanks for your help and guidance, I will take everything on board and I’ll be armed with with more knowledge and questions for when I see my nurse next week.
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Kind regards to you all
KevP
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Evening all, hope everyone is good.
So today I had my second visit to the HCP. Had a good foot inspection which was all fine.
Managed to get some numbers from the nurse.
In December last year, my Hba1C was 49 and at my last blood test last week, it rose slightly to 51.
My cholesterol was 6.7 (in December) and its now 4.2.
Weight was 130 kg (two weeks ago) and now I'm 128kg.
BP went down a bit to 128/68.
So I think, that apart from the rise in Hba1C, I'm heading in the right direction so far.
I have learned loads from the great folks on this forum so I'm forever grateful.
Got to stay on the statins and continue with the diet and exercise and see her again in September.
Take care of yourselves,
Kev
So today I had my second visit to the HCP. Had a good foot inspection which was all fine.
Managed to get some numbers from the nurse.
In December last year, my Hba1C was 49 and at my last blood test last week, it rose slightly to 51.
My cholesterol was 6.7 (in December) and its now 4.2.
Weight was 130 kg (two weeks ago) and now I'm 128kg.
BP went down a bit to 128/68.
So I think, that apart from the rise in Hba1C, I'm heading in the right direction so far.
I have learned loads from the great folks on this forum so I'm forever grateful.
Got to stay on the statins and continue with the diet and exercise and see her again in September.
Take care of yourselves,
Kev
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Yes it looks as if your diet needs a bit of attention. It may be worth you keeping a food diary of everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the carbs you are having as there may be some things which need reducing or cutting out.
This link may help to suggest some modifications, there are some do's and don'ts which you can take on board and some meal ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
This link may help to suggest some modifications, there are some do's and don'ts which you can take on board and some meal ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
KevP
New Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Lovely, thanks very much.
- Status