Hi all!

[Deepwaters5]

Diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with Type 2. I don't understand much about it and the medical people can be a bit overwhelming. Any tips are welcome.

 

[helli]

Welcome to the Diabetes Club!
There is a lot to get your head around when first diagnosed and health care providers (HCPs) seem to either bombard us with too much information or tell us too little.
As I have Type 1, my advice is probably not relevant but, have you taken a look at the Learning Zone (the orange tab at the top of the page)? This aims to provide great information about diabetes and how to manage it.

 

[Leadinglights]

Diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with Type 2. I don't understand much about it and the medical people can be a bit overwhelming. Any tips are welcome.

There are some lifestyle changes you will need to make but quite how much will depend on what your HbA1C result is as that will indicate how far you are into the diabetes zone. What approach you take may also depend on what if any medication you have been prescribed.
This link gives a very straightforward explanation and some ideas for menu plans to suit different tastes and budgets, it is a low carb approach which many have found successful. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[Martin.A]

Any tips are welcome.

Hi, and sorry you've had to join us. The tips will depend on what your HbA1 result was that got you your diagnosis, as this will determine how much you need to do to manage things. Also, were you prescribed any medication?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Deepwaters5

Sorry about your diagnosis, but glad you have found us 🙂

The Learning Zone is a great recommendation. Also, for a more personal take on adjusting to a diagnosis you might find Maggie Davey’s letter interesting:

Maggie Davey's letter to newly-diagnosed Type 2s

This disappeared from the original site, but @Alan S has managed to track it down. Rather than risk losing that link I'm posting the text here. I've had to split it over a few posts, as there is a size limit for each post and it wouldn't all fit in one! :) An open letter to the newly-diagnosed...

forum.diabetes.org.uk

 

[Tdm]

You'll soon get the hang of it all, and your in the right place for advice

 

[Deepwaters5]

Thanks for the replies. I have looked at some of the learning stuff but still haven't gotten my head around it. Latest HbA1C was 92 which I believe is pretty high. Before June, I was always in the normal range but since then it's spiked with the diagnosis coming late October. Was already on Metformin for something else so they've upped that and have prescribed something else and well, it's all happening so quickly.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Deepwaters5 🙂 Yes, 92 is high. You said things seemed to deteriorate quite quickly. Can you pinpoint any reason for that, eg meds, stress, steroids, illness, etc?

 

[Drummer]

Thanks for the replies. I have looked at some of the learning stuff but still haven't gotten my head around it. Latest HbA1C was 92 which I believe is pretty high. Before June, I was always in the normal range but since then it's spiked with the diagnosis coming late October. Was already on Metformin for something else so they've upped that and have prescribed something else and well, it's all happening so quickly.

I started off with HbA1c of 91, went low carb at once and it was fixed in 6 months, but I always had a problem with carbs and had been left for 10 years before diagnosis but after a test which showed high blood glucose - maybe I am just lucky but many ordinary type 2's have managed even better than me.
Even without the diabetes, avoiding high carb foods always made me feel better all my adult life, so it is a win-win situation as far as I am concerned.
If you put the medication you are taking, and anything that might be relevant into your signature it will help with understanding your situation.

 

[trophywench]

Was the reason for the Metformin before diabetes diagnosis, PCOS or something else?

 

[Deepwaters5]

Was the reason for the Metformin before diabetes diagnosis, PCOS or something else?

Yes PCOS

 

[trophywench]

Right, well, you are actually at a bit of what can be a notoriously difficult time of life, ie the menopause when all yer female 'ormones can frequently be doing all sorts of odd things they never have before - and I'm afraid their action can wreak havoc with blood glucose levels. Of course those without diabetes don't have the slightest clue about this happening - but 'us lot' definitely do. For example - It's ruddy hard work being pregnant in company with diabetes due to the effects of those hormones - well it can be without diabetes of course - but nowt in comparison to optimal managing of mum's diabetes at that time.

Might not be that of course - but something that definitely occurred to me.

 

[Deepwaters5]

Right, well, you are actually at a bit of what can be a notoriously difficult time of life, ie the menopause when all yer female 'ormones can frequently be doing all sorts of odd things they never have before - and I'm afraid their action can wreak havoc with blood glucose levels. Of course those without diabetes don't have the slightest clue about this happening - but 'us lot' definitely do. For example - It's ruddy hard work being pregnant in company with diabetes due to the effects of those hormones - well it can be without diabetes of course - but nowt in comparison to optimal managing of mum's diabetes at that time.

Might not be that of course - but something that definitely occurred to me.

I did ask the GP if menopause could be causing some issues but he only suggested possibly taking HRT. I have noticed a few things starting around May/June that I thought must be hormone-related, like not craving sweets anymore. Which is kind of nice since I do need to lose weight also.