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Hi all
- Thread starter rozi682
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MrDaibetes
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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- He/Him
Hey, Welcome to the forum. I know there is a lot of users with Type 2 who could possibly help you.
What would you like to know?
What would you like to know?
Hi MrDaibetes, thanks for the reply.
Any advice welcome for a newbie, but especially re travel and changing time zones would be good as I'm going to India in less than a month. I put a separate post up re reflux meds to see if anyone else has similar issues.
I'm still struggling to forgive the diagnosis delivered by voicemail. Had my first appointment with the diabetes nurse on Friday and it was "this is what happens with Diabetes and here's a leaflet. I'll check your feet in 2 weeks, someone else will check your eyes and for other stuff read the leaflet and contact the people on this printout. Oh, and watch your diet." Not saying I'm an expert but the "this is what happens" isn't news, there's plenty of family history and I was hoping for something a bit more along the lines of "here's how I can help you" or some more positive idea of how to move forwards.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Can only agree with you that the leaflets are a bit useless. Its inevitable really, they have to be so bland that there is no chance of anybody taking anything the wrong way and have to be full of pretty colours and pictures because that is the modern way. As for diagnosis by e-mail, that the modern way as well.
One thing you need to find out is what was measured to get the diagnosis. As your surgery, they should tell you. Usually this is something measured as part of some blood tests, called the HbA1c. When you have this number then you can work out what you need to do. In the scheme of things, a HbA1c of over 48 gets a diagnosis of diabetes. What you need to do, and the urgency depends on how far over the threshold you are.
I'm guessing you are not far over the threshold otherwise, unless they are totally useless, your GP would have got you in and talked about medication. The leaflet will talk about diet. How you interpret that depends on where you are with your diabetes. It can mean two things. If you are overweight then diet could mean eating less. If you are not overweight then it could mean eating different things. If you are not overweight and are just over the diabetes threshold then modifying your diet to cut down on carbs and replace the calories by other sources will probably suffice. If you could do with dropping a pound or two - and there is evidence to support the idea that would be effective in reducing blood glucose levels - then cutting cabs can do that as well and therby attack the diabetes on two fronts. Your way forward depends on your numbers.
As for India, your problem is that rice and bread are big parts of the diet in that region. Both are high carbohydrate and eating a lot of them will do your diabetes no good at all. You can eat good Indian food without rice or bread. I have found that veg bhaji with grilled meat is a good low carb meal. I am sure that you will find loads of variations of veg dishes when you get there which will allow you to avoid the carb loaded things.
One thing you need to find out is what was measured to get the diagnosis. As your surgery, they should tell you. Usually this is something measured as part of some blood tests, called the HbA1c. When you have this number then you can work out what you need to do. In the scheme of things, a HbA1c of over 48 gets a diagnosis of diabetes. What you need to do, and the urgency depends on how far over the threshold you are.
I'm guessing you are not far over the threshold otherwise, unless they are totally useless, your GP would have got you in and talked about medication. The leaflet will talk about diet. How you interpret that depends on where you are with your diabetes. It can mean two things. If you are overweight then diet could mean eating less. If you are not overweight then it could mean eating different things. If you are not overweight and are just over the diabetes threshold then modifying your diet to cut down on carbs and replace the calories by other sources will probably suffice. If you could do with dropping a pound or two - and there is evidence to support the idea that would be effective in reducing blood glucose levels - then cutting cabs can do that as well and therby attack the diabetes on two fronts. Your way forward depends on your numbers.
As for India, your problem is that rice and bread are big parts of the diet in that region. Both are high carbohydrate and eating a lot of them will do your diabetes no good at all. You can eat good Indian food without rice or bread. I have found that veg bhaji with grilled meat is a good low carb meal. I am sure that you will find loads of variations of veg dishes when you get there which will allow you to avoid the carb loaded things.
SueEK
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Roxie and welcome, good advice from Docb above and yes you could do with knowing what your HbA1c is for you to move forward. I am also on reflux meds but sorry I haven’t seen your other post. As you can see below I am on full dose Metformin plus others and apart from nausea from the Metformin due to not eating enough breakfast I have had no problems. Good luck with your trip to India and ‘beware those carbs’. Good luck and ask any further questions you want to, we are happy to help if we can x
Hi and welcome Roxie, sounds like you have had a rough start with this so I’m pleased you have joined the forum, if I had followed my diagnosis advice I’d still be 4 stone heavier and struggling with fluctuating eyesight, I dread to think what meds I’d be taking now 😱 Thankfully the guys here taught me all I needed to know to quickly turn things around, within six months my bloods were back in normal range, my diet had changed completely and I was feeling better than I had in years!!
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