• 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.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Hi. I am newly diagnosed and need info please

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
C

Christopher Price

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Last week my doc said I was borderline and needed a fasting blood test, which was done. Yesterday my doc confirmed I had T2 Diabetes. I have been on the laptop trying to find out a) how I got it and b) what does it mean for my future.
I've been struggling to make sense of it but my sister (who I live with) put me on a low carb high fat diet when she heard I was borderline. The doc gave me a diet sheet which to a certain extent contradicts the 'lchf' way of life. I noticed from perusing some threads that low carbs is being recommended by some members here.
I wondered if members agree initially for me to stick to this diet until at least I have figured out a way forward.
I am 60, 2 stone overweight, smoke (I know!!).
Apparently I have got this illness due to my doc leaving me on Prednisilone for 8 months instead of a few weeks. This week they are dropping my dosage drastically to bring me off the Prednisilone within one week. I was diagnosed with seno-negative arthritis in my hands a year ago, which is so painful.
Yesterday I started on metaformin 2 x 500 mg twice a day and Lipitor statin 20 mg once a day.
Many thanks for taking time to read and in future I will not be so long winded. Looks like this site may literally save my life as my doc has given me no info or support yet.
 
Welcome to the forum I'm sure there will be other type 2's along to welcome and give you advice soon 🙂 x
 
Welcome from another newish T2. I reduced carbs upon diagnosis and my sugar levels dropped, so it's working for me. Do you have a meter to test. IMO a meter is essential to find out what your diet does to your blood glucose levels else you are guessing until you have another GP appt, which could be 3 months away.
 
Thanks for replies so far. Hi Grogg 1. No meter. I presume I will have to buy one but to be honest my doc said I was 5.6 and I don't even know what that means. He simply sent me away with a prescription and request for blood test for B12 deficiency. I am spending time looking at this site in an attempt to find out what I need to do, whether I could drop dead or simply watch what I eat and carry on!
 
Welcome Christopher, yup Prednisone may well cause problems, many of us also have a genetic predisposition with multiple D's in the family line but as to why/how is not important but getting control back is.

I am an advocate of LCHF & since DX I have lost about 60lb (160ish now) so I wasn't obese or anything just a little cuddly ( 6' tall) my FBG is usually in the high 4's & A1c 37 & cholesterol near normal. Now, if you are following any kind of diet it's important to enjoy it otherwise it will not be sustainable & you will likely slip into old habits.

There are many horror stories about complications due to D, my view is that with strict control one can prevent most, if not all, complications.
 
Christopher Price said:
Thanks for replies so far. Hi Grogg 1. No meter. I presume I will have to buy one but to be honest my doc said I was 5.6 and I don't even know what that means. He simply sent me away with a prescription and request for blood test for B12 deficiency. I am spending time looking at this site in an attempt to find out what I need to do, whether I could drop dead or simply watch what I eat and carry on!
Click to expand...
Hi Christopher... many of us here have been diagnosed...given tablets...diet sheets and sent on our way to fend for ourselves...little or no support from GP's or other health care professionals...if you can I would strongly recommend reading Type Two Diabetes The First Year by Gretchen Becker...a diabetic herself...she takes you though her first year from diagnosis with type 2 month by month...explains so much...I found this a great help...I follow a low carb high fat diet...so far this is working for me...but does not suit everyone...ask any questions you need to...good luck.
 
Thank you all for welcome. So far Martin I am o.k. on this LCHF but my sister said today (after reading doc's diet sheet) that 'red meat' has to go. So I do not know how well I will manage without the thought of a succulent steak. A plate of veg isn't so enticing.
Bubbsie, I will get the book. Going onto amazon as we speak, thanks.
 
Not sure why red meat would have to go in terms as of the diabetes. I know plenty ok people on here like a steak. Welcome 🙂
 
Christopher Price said:
A plate of veg isn't so enticing.
Click to expand...
To be honest I emphasize the Healthy Fat alternative for HF, don't have much more fat than I used to but look for it from quality sources. Veggies were never high on my agenda but my tastes have changed with additional flavoring such as tossing them in butter or Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Last nights dinner was a quiche made with Steelhead Trout & spinach in an almond flour pie crust & a side-salad.
I don't do a lot of read meat but quite a bit of fish & chicken, but I can't see much wrong with a nice quality steak.
 
Christopher Price said:
Thank you all for welcome. So far Martin I am o.k. on this LCHF but my sister said today (after reading doc's diet sheet) that 'red meat' has to go. So I do not know how well I will manage without the thought of a succulent steak. A plate of veg isn't so enticing.
Bubbsie, I will get the book. Going onto amazon as we speak, thanks.
Click to expand...
Christopher...what diet regime you follow is very much what suits you...wait until you have done a little more research before making a decision...I feel the diet advice given out by the nurses a little old fashioned and out of date...I still eat red meat...not often...nothing wrong with a steak...no carbs...combine with veggies...you basically need to lower those carbs...not starve yourself...or rush...this is a lifelong condition...take your time and work out a programme that is sustainable long term...read...test (would strongly recommend testing)...read some more...it is confusing...frustrating...but...you will get to grips with it...and it does/can get better.
 
Last edited:
Totally agree Bubbsie, I need to stop panicing and slow down. Too much going around in my head. That pie sounds good Martin. Stephknits - on the doctor's diet sheet it says cut out red meat, but I am going to take time and read all posts/info. Thanks all. I am glad I found you.
 
Hello Christopher and welcome. 🙂

I go here first thing
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/group-7-day-waking-average.20148/page-1188

and here
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/what-did-you-eat-yesterday.30349/page-31#post-677790

and then I check out all the new posts to make sure I haven't missed anything. I have learned lots since I've been on here. I knew quite a bit about diabetes anyway because I do Atkins and have read all Dr Atkins books, he was big on cardio and diabetes. If I'd just followed his regime from the outset I don't feel I would have become diabetic. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. 😉
 
stephknits said:
Not sure why red meat would have to go in terms as of the diabetes. I know plenty ok people on here like a steak. Welcome 🙂
Click to expand...
Maybe it was General Healthy Eating Advice For Everyone, not for diabetes. It's not just fat, it's not just fat, it's saturated fat. Which comes from dark meat.
 
Hi Christopher.
 
Christopher Price said:
Totally agree Bubbsie, I need to stop panicing and slow down. Too much going around in my head. That pie sounds good Martin. Stephknits - on the doctor's diet sheet it says cut out red meat, but I am going to take time and read all posts/info. Thanks all. I am glad I found you.
Click to expand...
As said Christopher all very much a matter of individual choice when deciding on what you can/cannot eat...what you can tolerate without raising those BG's...I eat bananas...not much effect on me...whereas others find they do get a spike with them (BG raised)...I still have bread although I stick with high protein bread...Burgen/Tescos HP bread...dare I mention there is another book that is useful🙂...Carbs & Cals...lists the carb contents of food...including portion size...when you start testing you'll be amazed how information you glean from it...just re-read your initial post...can't see any mention of your BG levels...have you had an HbA1c test yet?...this is a test that gives the average BG for the previous 2/3 months...or did you get a number in percentages...I started with a BG of 17.4...now down to an average of 6.3...weight reducing...Blood Pressure within normal range...stuck rigidly to my LCHF diet...now feel comfortable managing my diabetes...so will allow myself the odd 'treat 'here and there...then get straight back on the wagon...keep us updated.
 
Christopher Price said:
Last week my doc said I was borderline and needed a fasting blood test, which was done. Yesterday my doc confirmed I had T2 Diabetes. I have been on the laptop trying to find out a) how I got it and b) what does it mean for my future.
I've been struggling to make sense of it but my sister (who I live with) put me on a low carb high fat diet when she heard I was borderline. The doc gave me a diet sheet which to a certain extent contradicts the 'lchf' way of life. I noticed from perusing some threads that low carbs is being recommended by some members here.
I wondered if members agree initially for me to stick to this diet until at least I have figured out a way forward.
I am 60, 2 stone overweight, smoke (I know!!).
Apparently I have got this illness due to my doc leaving me on Prednisilone for 8 months instead of a few weeks. This week they are dropping my dosage drastically to bring me off the Prednisilone within one week. I was diagnosed with seno-negative arthritis in my hands a year ago, which is so painful.
Yesterday I started on metaformin 2 x 500 mg twice a day and Lipitor statin 20 mg once a day.
Many thanks for taking time to read and in future I will not be so long winded. Looks like this site may literally save my life as my doc has given me no info or support yet.
Click to expand...
Welcome to forum
 
Contrary to what your GP has said, mine insisted i start on a low carb, high protein diet. The practice dietitian & diabetic nurse both agreed and to be honest i feel so much better for doing it. I've lost 2.5 stones in weight, my BG levels are coming down quickly, my cholesterol is now controlled. I'm continuing my fairly strict diet as i'm feeling the benefits at the moment. I probably need more exercise but i'm starting to address that also. Good luck with it, stay focussed, listen to the wonderful advice of people on here that are living with T2 every day of their lives and use that exxperience. All the best.
 
Hi, & welcome to the forum. Like others have said, sounds like your diet sheet is just a general healthy eating guide. Most likely based on outdated info. Red meat does not cause high cholesterol. It's carbs that are the enemy. Of course, there are the other dangers of too much red meat causing cancer, but it's all about balanced healthy eating.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top