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Cosmiczippy

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Type 2
I have very recently been diagnosed with type II diabetes and my GP started me on Metformin 500mg. This has all come as a bit of a shock and I have been referred to the DESMOMD programme. The worst thing for me is trying to work out what I should and should not be eating. I have simply been told to stick to a "healthy" diet but I want to know quite specifically what I can and can't eat. For example, I never normally eat breakfast and thought I was doing well today managing two Belvita breakfast biscuits so that I could take my Metformin as directed "at breakfast time with food". Now I read that there is too much sugar in the Belvita biscuits! Also I don't know why I cannot take my Metformin with my evening meal, which would be much easier for me.

I think the whole thing sounds like it is going to be a nightmare! :(
 
Hi Cosmiczippy, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but it needn't turn into a nightmare, many people find that they end up feeling fitter, healthier and happier than they have done for ages after getting to grips with things (honest!) 🙂 Diabetes is a condition that can be managed well with the right level of support and knowledge, and hopefully you will find lots of both here from the many, many people who have lived with it for years and learned how to control it.

Regarding diet - many people find that following a low GI/GL diet (Glycaemic Index/Glycaemic Load) is the best route to follow, as this works on the principle of combining foods that will release their energy slowly and steadily and therefore have least impact on your blood glucose levels. I would recommend looking at The GL Diet for Dummies as a good introduction. To get an idea of how to manage your diabetes I would recommend reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and also getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, which will guide you through the learning process without overwhelming you with information, much of which can be conflicting.

Have you been given a meter so you can test your tolerance of different foods? If not, then I would ask your doctor for one. He/she may be reluctant to prescribe one, as the test strips are expensive, and may say you don't need to test, but 99% of our members would disagree - it is the best, if not the only way to learn how to tailor your diet so that it works for you as an individual. To suggest you 'follow a healthy diet' is not good enough, and lazy in my opinion - some things that may appear healthy (fruit juice, for example) will have a detrimental effect on your blood glucose levels. You need to learn your own personal reactions to things as each individual can be different. Regarding Belvita biscuits, I have personally found them to be fine - they may taste a little sweet, but for me they do release their energy slowly - the only way you can find out if they are OK for you is to test with a meter before eating, and then one or two hours after to see what effect they have had.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and we will do our best to help! 🙂

p,s, I know you've just joined, but as it happens we are having a forum meet in Glasgow on June 9th - you would be very welcome to come along! Everyone is very friendly, and the meets are very informal, but it's nice to be able to talk to people who understand 🙂

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=27893
 
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Welcome to the forum. 🙂

I seem to remember something about slow release metformin being taken all at once and perhaps in the morning. Perhaps this is the type that you are taking? When I was on metformin, I had one during breakfast and one in the evening with my main meal but that was the 'standard' version of it.

Anyway, it may seem a nightmare now, but if you get to grips with your diabetes you may find that life turns out better than before. For my part I am fitter and healthier than I've been for decades (and now medication-free too ... I'm just diet and exercise only after losing 5st overall).

Good luck,

Andy 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum Cosmiczippy 🙂
 
Hi Cosmiczippy,

I do not think anyone finds the intial diagnosis easy and learning to cope with dietary advice such as "eat a healthy diet" would cause more confusion. :confused: I don't think that is very helpful. At the moment what you are going through is the grieving process, it happens to anyone newly diagnosed with a chronic condition and it means it is difficult to take information on board.

You have taken the first step towards taking responsibility for your own care by coming here to ask for help, and I congratulate you on your courage in doing so.

First don't get stressed about this - finding out all you need to know takes time and most of us would say we still learn something on a regular basis.

Second - do you happen to be overweight? If so then the "healthy diet" advice should include ways to reduce your weight. This is considered very important at the early stages as it may (and I stress may) reduce the need for medication. Some people find weight loss clubs very helpful from this point of view.

Have you found information which you can read and absorb at your own pace. Some people find this easier than listening to advice, when they say only about 1/3rd of what you are told sticks. There is a saying - I hear and I think I understand, but if I read I really begin to understand. Try these pages
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Food_and_recipes/

This site explains two methods you can use to lower your blood sugar
a) Carbohydrate counting - which I find easier than using the glycaemic index, but I stress that is a personal preference on my part after trying both methods. I now use this book:- Collins Gem - Carb Counter: A Clear Guide to Carbohydrates in Everyday Foods [Paperback] Very cheap and available online and in good book suppliers.
b) the glycaemic index of foods, eating foods with a low glycaemic index lowers the blood sugar. I know many people find this the easiest method, it is just a question of choice. Both methods are recognised as good by diabetes uk and other advisary sources, such as diabetes nurse specialists and dieticians.

If you are unsure about food quantities you can buy a plate that helps you divide food into carbs, vegetables and protein which some people find intitially helpful.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/OnlineS...Range---NEW/The-Diet-Plate-Earthenware-range/

I think that is enough for now - I would take a deep breath and start reading so that you can start to make decisions based on fact. It will take time which is OK, nobody should expect you to know everything from the start.

Mogwilover
 
Thank you for all the helpful advice. It is all a bit overwhelming but hopefully a few months down the line I will feel a bit more in control.
 
I have looked at your suggested sources of further info and they sound really helpful. I think I will order the books you suggest at the weekend. You asked if I had been given a meter to test my tolerance to different foods. My type 2 diagnosis was given over the telephone by my GP and I am not due to see her until next Thursday to ask any questions about this condition. All I know is that my fasting test came back at 10 something and the test which was taken two hours after my sugary drink was 18 = positive result. That is as much as I know. I have no idea what my blood levels should be. I assume I will be told this by my GP next week. Until then I am just trusting to good luck that what I am eating is ok. As I said in my first post, I was just told to eat a healthy diet. I was not advised to particuarly cut out any type of food. On the forums everyone seems to be talking about monitoring bloods throughout the day, cutting carbs etc. and I am simply eating as if I was on a diet i.e. cutting down on high calorie/high fat foods. I really don't know if I am on the right track at all!
 
Hi, ideally, blood sugar levels should be in the range of 4-7 pre-meal and (again ideally) not go higher than 8.5 two hours after eating. It's unlikely you will be able to achieve this for a while, but you can certainly start to make some progress! Diabetes is all about carbohydrates - all carbs get converted to glucose and raise blood sugar levels, so it's a case of finding out which ones, and in what quantities, your body can tolerate without your levels 'spiking' (rising too quickly) or generally rising too high before your next meal. This is why it is important to be able to test so you can build up this knowledge and tailor your diet. Calories and fat are less of a problem where diabetes is concerned unless you are concerned about your weight - even then there is some evidence that it is actually carbs that cause the most weight gain! The GL Diet for Dummies will help you in deciding where to begin 🙂 It would be very useful to start a food diary, writing down the amounts of carbs in the food and drink you consume each day so you can get a good and accurate picture of how much carb is in your diet and also help highlight areas where substitutions may be made 🙂
 
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