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Hi everybody!
- Thread starter Bob1967
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Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Personally I never drink red wine Bob...gives me the most dreadful hangover...but...I.do enjoy a glass of Champagne...or Gin & Tonic...some here do have a glass of red wine with little ill effect...of course this is where testing will be a real benefit...once you have your meter...test yourself before a glass (or two)...then test again 2 hours later...will show you how the wine effects you...having said that I am type 2...so a couple of drinks doesn't affect me too much...however...not sure about the position with type 1s....hopefully one of them will be able to answer that question.
Lucy Honeychurch
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I can drink red wine with no problems, but as a type 1 I've been advised to eat a small amount of carbs when I have a glass 🙂
Welcome to this very friendly, helpful Forum Bob. Hope you get answers soon. As regards red wine I cannot drink it very often as it sometimes makes me feel quite ill. I was diagnosed pre-diabetic last year but it is nothing to do with that it is just that I don't metabolise wine very well.
New-journey
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum and hope your appointment goes well tomorrow. It looks like you have now the right questions to ask and hope you get answers, what a long wait it has been. Good luck with everything.
Bob1967
Member
I think I am getting the hang of this now, so far I have just been trying to avoid sugar as much as possible, monitoring (and measuring) everything I eat. I have a fitness app - 1920 calories a day inc 96g protein 240g carbs 30g fiber 72g sugar and 64g fat. I am assuming this is not the correct way to do this but I should be measuring my blood before and after meals to see what food I can tolerate? (meter is ordered) I will ask nurse these questions later today but you guys have been so much more helpful in the last couple of days than the health professionals in the last 4 weeks!
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Bob...the best way to use the meter is to test before you eat...make sure you record (or remember) the number...then test two hours later...see how far your BG levels have risen...you should be aiming for no more than a 2-3mmols rise after eating...if you are within that range...great ...whatever it was you've consumed is a keeper...if you go above that range...then consider avoiding ...food/drink isn't the only thing that can raise our BGs...stress...if we are feeling unwell/emotional...it can all take its toll...testing is such a valuable resource for us...good luck with the nurse...I'm not sure how she will react to your testing...usually type 2s not dependent on hypoglycaemic medications are encouraged not to test...rely on the quarterly/biannual HbA1c test...however...since you are not sure whether you are 'really' type 2...you may get some leeway...at the risk of being identified as overly negative...seeing your DSN can be a bit of a lottery...some are not willing to consider anything but the NHS standard diet...recommend the notorious 'Eat Well Plate'...are not pro-active in their approach to diabetes...most I have heard of do not support home testing for type 2s...you make be fortunate and have one of the more enlightened ones...willing to discuss how best to manage/control your blood sugars...hear what you have to say...hopefully you've 'armed' yourself with some useful information...can demonstrate you can engage in a meaningful discussion of what is best for you...have some real input...again...good luck...don't take any nonsense!...let us know how you fare...possibly reconsider how many carbs you have per day...all a matter of individual choice...but...240gms per day...seems an awful lot...possibly a subject for discussion another time when you're more settled in.
Bob1967
Member
Hi Bubbsie, great, thank you! All still a bit confusing but getting on the learning curve. I will cut down on the carbs and seek nutritional advice on how to compensate. I'm 6 foot tall and 13 stone so not too overweight but am certainly open to advice 🙂 My son is a personal trainer and has a good knowledge of nutrition but not in relation to diabetes so he is going to study that a bit more, so you helpful peeps on here are a god send, will report back after seeing the nurse today. Thanks again.
Bob1967
Member
Hi All, so I am a wee bit further forward, I think!
The original figure when I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago was 10.3 so they never felt that warranted an emergency referral, I saw the doctor last week and that figure was 7. something (sorry can't remember) so that seems to be an improvement.
Another blood test has been asked for which will hopefully determine type 1 or 2 that will be done next week so will report back on that also.
Been referred to a dietician and have an eye screening appointment next week so things seem to be moving in the right direction.
The nurse seemed happy the figure had dropped and thinks is it is pointing to type 2 but because I'm not overweight isn't sure.
She was against measuring blood levels at home ( as you thought she would Bubbsie 🙂 ) said that was the policy of our health board but that other health boards may differ.
I'm still not sure what I will be measuring my bloods for or why because they are against it!
Further forward but still confused!
The original figure when I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago was 10.3 so they never felt that warranted an emergency referral, I saw the doctor last week and that figure was 7. something (sorry can't remember) so that seems to be an improvement.
Another blood test has been asked for which will hopefully determine type 1 or 2 that will be done next week so will report back on that also.
Been referred to a dietician and have an eye screening appointment next week so things seem to be moving in the right direction.
The nurse seemed happy the figure had dropped and thinks is it is pointing to type 2 but because I'm not overweight isn't sure.
She was against measuring blood levels at home ( as you thought she would Bubbsie 🙂 ) said that was the policy of our health board but that other health boards may differ.
I'm still not sure what I will be measuring my bloods for or why because they are against it!
Further forward but still confused!
Bob1967
Member
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Bob... many here were advised there is no need to test our blood sugars...what our health care teams mean is...they will not provide us with a meter & testing strips... various reasons given...you'll become obsessive...emotional...the HbA1c test is sufficient...if honesty prevailed they would tell us it is about saving money...cost cutting...type 2s not dependent on hypoglycaemic medication are regularly refused meters & test strips..this wasn't always the case... local practices have their spending remits set by their local clinical commissioning groups...they direct GPs on how to spend their budgets...what they can prescribe...who gets what...based on their interpretation of the NICE guidelines...politicking in the NHS...who would have thought?...however...perhaps that's a discussion for another time...I was advised several times no need to test...initially I accepted that advice...then joined the forum...the advice here was to test regularly...I accepted that advice...diagnosed with BG levels at 17.4...a year later now I have an average of 5.8...have reduced my medication to 500gms Metformin daily...at my next review there is a possibility I may be able to stop taking the medication...rely on diet & exercise only...diet with diabetes is very much an individual matter...what I & others tolerate well...may not suit you...and vice versa...I test before eating...gives me a starting point... then test 2 hours after my meal...to check how much my BG has risen...we should be aiming for a rise of no more than 2-3mmols after food...that's how testing helps me achieve reasonable control of my diabetes...if higher than 2-3mmols...I avoid that food....it demonstrates how any changes to our diet/lifestyle/activity impacts on our blood sugars...of course...whether to test or not is entirely an individual choice...however...I would urge you to give it some serious thought...another essential recommendation I received was to read Type 2 Diabetes The First Year...by Gretchen Becker...type 2 herself...she takes you through her first year from diagnosis...month by month...explains why we should test...the benefits of testing far better than I could...and so much more...you can preview the book on Amazon before deciding whether to buy it...well written...easy to read...do try to read it before making a decision...good luck...keep us updated.
Ditto
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello Bob and welcome to the forum. Sorry about your dog. I was thinking of one of our dogs this morning and he passed a decade or two ago, you never forget them. I wish I had all ours back again. 🙂
Definitely measure your bg, you need to know.
Definitely measure your bg, you need to know.
Bob1967
Member
Hi Ditto, thank you. Mishka is my soulmate, you as a doggy person will understand that 🙂
Bob1967
Member
Good morning Bubbsie, thanks again, your advice is invaluable and this post in particular has explained why I need to and the reason behind measuring my bg levels. I did decide to order a meter a couple of days ago, after your advice, hopefully I will have that any day now. I will go to amazon and get that book right now. I still haven't been told type 1 or type 2 she thinks it is leaning towards type 2 because it has come down but because I am not overweight that is throwing her. Cant help to start measuring now 🙂 Thanks again I hope someday I will be able to help give people who are in my position now the peace of mind you and others are currently giving me.
Bubbsie
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Bob the 'politics' of diabetes often disappoints me...not supplying meters & testing strips to type 2s (non dependent on hypo meds) disappoints me too...it is nothing but a money saving exercise...and a false economy...if I had relied on the advice not to test...the information given in respect of what diet was suitable to manage/control my BG I believe I would be in real trouble now...possibly have to rely on increased medication...become depressed...maybe incur complications...if any of those scenarios occurred (to any of us) our GP's would be able to prescribe the extra meds...refer us to whichever specialist department we needed...without having to justify their decisions to the CCGs...where is the sense in that...fortunately I came to the forum...was steered in the right direction...I trust you get some clarity soon...are you type 1 or 2...hope very much you find the book useful...I did...it changed my whole perspective on how I approach my diabetes...in fact even my GP now recommends it to newly diagnosed type 2s...let us know how you get on with the testing...be good to have some feed back.
Bob1967
Member
Hi bubbsie, meter arrived today, will start testing tomorrow. Got the book on my ipad and can't put it down 🙂 More blood taken yesterday so hopefuly results early next week. Hope you have a great weekend.
Bob1967
Member
Morning all. So I used my new meter for the first time thismorning, 9.30 am nothing eaten since night before 8.1 10.15 pre breakfast 8.2 one hour and 2 hour measurements to follow. Hope I have done something wrong!Metformin taken with breakfast after 2nd reading.
Bob1967
Member
First reading 1 hour after breakfast ( 3x weetabix protein ) and metformin tablet14
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