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Hi Everyone,

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GypsieJay

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi Everyone,
I am a 36 year old, overweight, unfit lady and was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes just over a month ago.
I hadn't been feeling right on and off for months. Going to the bathroom far more than I should be, drinking more than I should be, tired, shaky, getting angry far too easily, heartbeat feeling really fast amongst other things. After having googled it, doing a little reading and my dad being diagnosed diabetic (type 2) about 15 years ago I suspected what was wrong. But didn't have the courage to act on it until I had a really bad night when I thought I was going to pass out and got virtually no sleep. After that I decided I couldn't leave it any longer and finally got an appointment with my GP. A couple of tests and another appointment later and it was official... I really was Diabetic.
My GP told me that whilst I was Diabetic all the other tests he had run were fine. So fortunately no medication needed at present. He told me to concentrate on healthy eating and exercise. So for the last month that's what I have been trying to do. I am currently half a stone lighter than I was when diagnosed. But in an ideal world I would like to lose 5 stone so an awful long way to go.
At the same time I am still trying to negotiate the minefield of what I can and can't eat and drink as both a dieter and a diabetic. It isn't easy and my GP didn't offer an awful lot of help in that respect. So I have had to try and research it myself. I am trying my best but it is incredibly confusing and overwhelming. There are so many sites that seem to offer advice to Diabetics and so much to take in, which then brings up so many questions. For example I was not told by my GP what my blood sugar levels actually were when I was diagnosed (although I did get the impression it wasn't massively high) and I wasn't given a blood glucose monitor. So I keep wondering if it would be a good idea to buy one myself. Then I think but the doctor didn't think it was worth giving me one so perhaps I don't need one. I can't decide what to do for the best.
I have a lifelong condition that will never ever go away. It isn't something I find easy to get my head around and being someone with a very sweet tooth I have to make some big changes that I will have to maintain for the rest of my life. But right now I think I am doing ok.
Anyway apologies for the essay I seem to have written. I'll be shutting up now...
 
Hi GypsieJay, welcome to the group.... You will find us very supportive & encouraging.

2 things to start out with (as there is a lot to learn & this disease is not the same for everyone)
  • Reduce your Carb intake, the easiest way to do that if to cut back/out all starchy foods.... potatoes, pasta, bread, rice etc as well as sugary foods like breakfast cereals & low fat foods (yes, I did say low fat)
  • Purchase a test meter & plenty of strips, use it to test your FBG (Fasting Blood Glucose) & after each meal to see how different foods affect your BG levels
As you learn & research I'm sure that you will develop a strategy which help the management of your disease.
 
Hi. Wrongly IMO type 2 diabetics who are not on certain diabetic meds are seldom given a test meter . How on earth are you supposed to know if what you are eating is working for you.
I've read on here that the SD code free meter and test strips are the most economical , I believe they are available online.

My advice is not to buy special diabetic foods they are far more expensive and can be high in carbs, which we turn into sugar.
Low fat or fat free options often have more sugar added to make them taste better.
 
You might find this book helpful
Type 2 diabetes the first year by Gretchen Becker
Though I've been diabetic for quite a long time I bought it recently and am finding it helpful.
 
Hi & welcome to the forum. These guys have offered you great advice. The SD Codefree meter is available from Amazon or from Home Health (the manufacturer) on line. Doctors don't like giving out meters & strips. They'll come up with all types of excuses but the truth is they won't pay for them. Any questions, please ask. I have successfully lost weight & lowered my cholesterol doing a LCHF (low carb high fat) diet. A low GL diet may also help to keep blood sugar under control.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. This place is great for help and advice.
 
Hi again!
I just wanted to thank everyone very much for the friendly replies and the advice. I have ordered the blood glucose meter and the book that were recommended. So hopefully it will be the next step in a better understanding and better control of my Diabetes. So thanks again everyone!!!
 
Hi. Feel free to ask any questions.
 
Welcome from a fellow T2. There's a couple of info/courses out there. DESMOND, X-Pert, and some local provision. Tell your Dr to refer you. I actuall complained to my GP practice about not providing information; telling me about tests and results, answering questions etc.
There are some diabetis support groups about and you may get some information there. Check on the Diabetes UK website for a list.
 
You've done the most important thing every diabetic in the world can do - you've tried to help yourself!!

GPs and their medical staff are useful - they do have knowledge that we don't to begin with and can therefore advise us to start off. They can also arrange for blood and other lab tests. However - when we get to the stage where we need to know more (fairly soon) they will not have any more knowledge to impart - they do get ipdates on their training - but have to wait their turn for it a) to be them and b) for it to be about diabetes (or any other of the million medical conditions they have to know something about)

However by the time they get that training a new to them info, it will have been in the papers, in Diabetes literature, in Medical literature and on Diabetes forums for blooming ages!

And we only want to read stuff that affects US really, in detail, whether it's diabetes or some other conditions us and ours happen to have - so we can keep ourselves far more up to date with latest practice than they can!

Doctors may recommend, we can agree or disagree with that. If we agree, they can prescribe it.

But when we get it home - it's US that have to treat ourselves - with the assistance of that medicament or not as the case my be. And in a very short time we are ALL experts on Diabetes. Our OWN diabetes, that is!
 
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