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scarlettohara

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi I'm new here. My partner has recently been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and I'm hoping to find out more about what he can eat and drink.
 
Hello Scarlett, welcome. Your partner is lucky to have someone who cares about the best dietary options.

Is you partner taking any medications? Been given any guidance re: carbohydrates? Is weight an issue as well? What level of support are you getting from the medical profession?
 
Hi LeeLee, he's taking Metformin 3 times a day, 500mg and also a cholestrol tablet once a day. Haven't really been given much guidance on carbs. He's lost alot of weight. We saw our GP a couple of weeks ago and will have to go back in 3 months.
 
Hi Scarlett as LeeLee says it nice to have some one who cares to help with things.

I am no where near an expert on food as still learning again. General things like white bread or foods made from white flour, is a good starting point to reduce or cut out. This food group tends to send most diabetics sugar high.

The next one is a real post code lottery and being type 2 makes it even harder. Does he have a meter and a prescription for test strips? The reason is with the aid of a meter one can then start to identify which foods affect him and in what why. Meters are not the problem as you can normally get these free from the meter suppliers, its getting the test strips on repeat prescription.
 
Do have a read of the 'sticky' at the top of the list of posts in this thread.

Basically, carbohydrates are the enemy, particularly highly refined products. It's not just about sugar. The body converts all carbs to sugar, some more quickly than others. A diet high in vegetables and protein is far more healthy. Potatoes, rice, pasta, bread etc. can be eaten in moderation - and preferably wholemeal versions to slow down their digestion.
 
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Thanks. I'm clearer on carbs now. No he wasn't given a meter. I've seen these online and will probably buy one and the test strips.
 
Thanks LeeLee. I'm alot clearer now on the carbs now. Sometimes he also gets a metallic taste when he eats. This doesn't happen all the time. Have you heard of this before. Also I'm hoping the tablets will improve his sleeping.
 
Hiya.

Errr, did he lose the weight deliberately after diagnosis, or was he losing it before he was diagnosed?

And how old is he (if you don't mind me asking, there is a reason) plus, where do you live? (I mean which country - some are better than others at dealing with D)

And - what's up with his sleep pattern? Is he getting up multiple times for the loo, or snoring/gasping for breath/breathing probs, or what?
 
His weight fell off really quickly about a year ago, long before he was diagnosed. It was a mystery as he wasn't dieting in any way.

He is 65. We are in the Canaries for a couple of months. He goes to bed and then about after half an hour he gets up. It's not the loo, snoring, he just wakes up. He then comes back about 4.00am, then sleeps til 12. He's asleep now! I'm hoping the tablets will help. He's been on Metformin for about 4 weeks now.
 
scarlettohara said:
Thanks. I'm clearer on carbs now. No he wasn't given a meter. I've seen these online and will probably buy one and the test strips.
Click to expand...

If you self fund the SD code free is probably one of the cheapest on the test strips. The likes of Bayer, Abbot, Lifescan, and Accu Chek meters if you ring them they will normaly send you one free.
 
scarlettohara said:
Thanks LeeLee. I'm alot clearer now on the carbs now. Sometimes he also gets a metallic taste when he eats. This doesn't happen all the time. Have you heard of this before. Also I'm hoping the tablets will improve his sleeping.
Click to expand...

The metal taste is part of the side effects of the metformin, as he getting up to go to the loo could be because he's drinking more due to the diabetes. Hopefully when his levels get better the drinking should go down and the night time loo visits should hopefully get less.
 
Thanks Pav. He was getting the metal taste before he was diagnosed with Type 2, but we'll keep an eye on that.
 
Hmmmm - how do they know he's type 2? What tests did they actually do?

My friend Patti was mis-diagnosed as T2 when she was well over 50. In fact it turns out she's T1 .......

Rapid unexplained weight loss is one of the classic symptoms of T1, however old you are ..... there can of course be other causes but whatever causes it, it ain't usually a GOOD sign.

Get that meter.

Keep us posted please .....
 
trophywench said:
Hmmmm - how do they know he's type 2? What tests did they actually do?

My friend Patti was mis-diagnosed as T2 when she was well over 50. In fact it turns out she's T1 .......

Rapid unexplained weight loss is one of the classic symptoms of T1, however old you are ..... there can of course be other causes but whatever causes it, it ain't usually a GOOD sign.

Get that meter.

Keep us posted please .....
Click to expand...

Agree 100% with the above.
 
Hi, thanks. They did a blood test and it came up type 2. The rapid weight loss was scary. I'll get that meter.
 
scarlettohara said:
Hi, thanks. They did a blood test and it came up type 2. The rapid weight loss was scary. I'll get that meter.
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Hi, they would most likely have tested the blood glucose level or Hba1c and if it was high, diagnosed diabetes and assumed it was type 2 due to your partner's age. However many adults are diagnosed with type 1 (it is not exclusive to children, as many would have you believe). The doc could also do a blood test for Islet Cell Antibodies, which if positive would indicate autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas, hence type 1 diabetes. Another test is a C-peptide test to see if insulin is still being produced, however there may be some residual insulin production in newly-diagnosed type 1's. I would want to make sure that the diagnosis of type 2 is correct, otherwise no treatment will work!
 
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