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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Hi, I’m Lorna, 48 years old, I live in Leeds,found out I have type 2 diabetes in October,
- Thread starter Loz1122
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MrDaibetes
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Hi Lorna and welcome to the forum. I'm sure you will find peer support much better than a booklet, to me peer support is something that has helped me manage my diabetes and knowing others also out in the world are living their best lives.
If you have any questions please ask away.
If you have any questions please ask away.
Hello Lorna, and welcome to the Forum!
Firstly, don't be put off by any sensational or horror stories you might see in the press or hear from the TV, and acquaintances
Diabetes is a serious condition, but if you treat it properly you can live well; however you will almost certainly need to make some changes to the way you live, especially to your diet, which will mean cutting out, or down on, carbohydrates, both starchy things like bread, cereals, rice, pasta, and potatoes, as well as the obviously sweet things like cake, sweets, biscuits, and sugary fizzy drinks
This change is difficult at first, but you soon get used to it
For information and ideas, go to the Home Page of Diabetes UK, and click on the headings Preventing Diabetes; Diabetes the Basics; Living With Diabetes
At the top of this page click on the red tab Learning Zone
Look through older Threads in Newbies and Food & Carbs, and if necessary Weight Loss, or any other Sections that might interest you
Most of the questions you might have will have been covered before, but if you do have any questions, just ask; there is a lot of experience and knowledge here
Firstly, don't be put off by any sensational or horror stories you might see in the press or hear from the TV, and acquaintances
Diabetes is a serious condition, but if you treat it properly you can live well; however you will almost certainly need to make some changes to the way you live, especially to your diet, which will mean cutting out, or down on, carbohydrates, both starchy things like bread, cereals, rice, pasta, and potatoes, as well as the obviously sweet things like cake, sweets, biscuits, and sugary fizzy drinks
This change is difficult at first, but you soon get used to it
For information and ideas, go to the Home Page of Diabetes UK, and click on the headings Preventing Diabetes; Diabetes the Basics; Living With Diabetes
At the top of this page click on the red tab Learning Zone
Look through older Threads in Newbies and Food & Carbs, and if necessary Weight Loss, or any other Sections that might interest you
Most of the questions you might have will have been covered before, but if you do have any questions, just ask; there is a lot of experience and knowledge here
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Loz1122
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis - never a good time to get such news, but I think it has been particularly difficult over the last 12 months or so with so much of the healthcare system locked down and tied up with the pandemic, and so many routine appointments put on hold
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. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years. 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. Often you don’t realise how weary, worn down and lethargic you have been feeling if your diagnosis has been creeping up on you for some time. Erratic and elevated blood glucose levels can be exhausting and are linked with low mood, but this may have come on quite gradually.
Making a few positive changes can give you more energy, a clearer mind, and a brighter outlook. Plus the regular checks you get after a diagnosis with diabetes mean that any potential problems may be spotted earlier, and can be sorted out sooner.
Do you know what your most recent HbA1c was? It will be a number above 48. This is a measure of how your body has been responding to your diabetes over the last 3-4 months, and can help you understand whether small tweaks or more significant changes may be needed to your meal plan.
One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
Many new members also find it can be really helpful to keep a food diary for a week or two. Be brutally honest! Note down everything you eat and drink. It can be especially helpful to estimate the amount of carbohydrate in the meals and snacks to give you an idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu.
Many members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, as a helpful starting point to understanding what diabetes is, and how you can successfully manage it.
Let us know how you get on!
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis - never a good time to get such news, but I think it has been particularly difficult over the last 12 months or so with so much of the healthcare system locked down and tied up with the pandemic, and so many routine appointments put on hold
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. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years. 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. Often you don’t realise how weary, worn down and lethargic you have been feeling if your diagnosis has been creeping up on you for some time. Erratic and elevated blood glucose levels can be exhausting and are linked with low mood, but this may have come on quite gradually.
Making a few positive changes can give you more energy, a clearer mind, and a brighter outlook. Plus the regular checks you get after a diagnosis with diabetes mean that any potential problems may be spotted earlier, and can be sorted out sooner.
Do you know what your most recent HbA1c was? It will be a number above 48. This is a measure of how your body has been responding to your diabetes over the last 3-4 months, and can help you understand whether small tweaks or more significant changes may be needed to your meal plan.
One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.
Many new members also find it can be really helpful to keep a food diary for a week or two. Be brutally honest! Note down everything you eat and drink. It can be especially helpful to estimate the amount of carbohydrate in the meals and snacks to give you an idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu.
Many members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, as a helpful starting point to understanding what diabetes is, and how you can successfully manage it.
Let us know how you get on!
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