Hi Everyone

[Denise1966]

I am knew to using a forum and to diabetes. I was officially diagnosed with Type 2 yesterday after three months of trying to lose weight. My HbAlc was 49mmol down from 51mmol 3 months ago. Feeling a little overwhelmed is a understatement,lol and feeling a little bit left out on a limb as well as everything help wise and information is on hold due to the virus. The only advice I received yesterday was to just eat a low carb diet (what is classed as a low carb diet and how many carbs am I allowed to eat in one day?) and to continue to lose weight. I looked at some of the advice given to newbie on the site yesterday and I have already found it helpful to the fact that I am going to buy a blood glucose machine today to help me track my blood sugar levels until I get into how to manage my diabetes better. It is good to have somewhere to gain advice and ideas from especially as I slowly gain knowledge on how to live with diabetes.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi Denise1966, and welcome to the forum.

Yes, get a BG test meter. The 2 meters that are most used by self funding Type 2 diabetics here are the ones with test strips costing about £8 per 50. They are the Tee2 (online from spirit healthcare) and the SD Gluconavii widely available. There is also an older meter from SD called the CodeFree.

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Welcome to the forum @Denise1966 - I’m sure someone more knowledgable than me on a low carb diet will come along soon, but it could be good to just start by looking at how much carbohydrate you are currently eating and then try to reduce it from there. Looking at the types of carb you are eating could be helpful too as certain things, such as pasta, are more often the cause of large bgl increases than things like vegetables.

 

[trophywench]

Hi @Denise1966 - by eck that was a good year for me! I've never partic liked a lot of boring carbs, from when I was little when you didn't get shedloads of anything on your plate, and never too much - I always ate such things as spuds or pastry around things first, before savouring the nicer things. When pud was a pie, always eat the thick bit off the edge first and enjoy the fruity part with thinner pastry with most of the custard in my dish. Hence reducing such things was never a mega problem.

However the diagnosis does not mean you instantly need to pack in eating the carbs that you DO enjoy - in fact, and this is important - you're better advised to test, review and adjust - like what it sez here https://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html
and let your body gradually get used to less of whatever. Unless you are going to also 'review and adjust' you'll be wasting your time testing!

Good for you, anyway Denise - getting good sensible advice early on and following it, frequently makes all the difference, honestly! 🙂

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome. 🙂

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Denise1966 . I am glad that you have found us.

There is plenty of practical advice and support available on here from those with loads of experience. Just keep the questions coming.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Denise1966

Feeling overwhelmed is a completely natural reaction, and I’m sorry to hear that you feel left out on a limb

Good that you have been given advice to cut down of carbs, and your meter will be a great way to examine your menu and make some positive tweaks and changes.

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Plus your regular checks will mean that any concerns will be picked up early, and can be acted upon.

Your levels are at the lower end of diabetes diagnosis, so it sounds like you have some time to adjust and adapt.

When it comes to managing your diabetes, it’s best to make changes to your menu and activity levels gradually - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels, and changing things more gently will give your body time to adapt.

If you’ve not found them already, you might find Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points - they are frequently recommended by members here.

 

[Denise1966]

Welcome to the forum @Denise1966 - I’m sure someone more knowledgable than me on a low carb diet will come along soon, but it could be good to just start by looking at how much carbohydrate you are currently eating and then try to reduce it from there. Looking at the types of carb you are eating could be helpful too as certain things, such as pasta, are more often the cause of large bgl increases than things like vegetables.

Thanks for your comments, I used to eat lots of pasta and especially rice and not realising that rice is bad for BG levels. I'm going to try brown to see if spikes my BG levels

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I'm going to try brown to see if spikes my BG levels

I find basmati (of either colour) noticeably easier on my BGs, but as with all questions of carbs, ‘your diabetes may vary’

 

[Drummer]

I suggest waiting to test the higher carb foods until you have a meter.
I can't eat rice or pasta, or grains. I do eat low carb breads in moderation but it is only 4gm per slice. No potatoes or starchy veges, only low carb fruits, and my Hba1c is still at the top end of normal.