Hi! I'm a newbie too!

[nedbowler]

I was told by my dr on Wednesday that I am now diabetic with a reading of 48. I wasn't too surprised as both my father and my brother became diabetic in later life!
The only help she gave me was to eat healthy and to pick up some information leaflets from reception! She told me I would need another test in 3 months and if things hadn't changed I would need medication. My cholesterol was also high.
So feeling very confused and not having much idea what I should be doing, I started doing research online. That's when I found this brilliant website with great forums.
I have started to think along the low carbs, high protein diet but think I will need to purchase a blood test kit to find out if I am doing things that are right for me. There seem to be a lot to choose from so if anyone has any advice on what to get I would appreciate it.
Another problem I have is that I am going on an all inclusive holiday for two weeks in two weeks time! The timing couldn't be worse! Any advice on how to deal with my diabetes during this time would be great especially as I love eating from the buffet and also enjoy a few alcoholic drinks especially as they have been paid for!!
Any help would be great! Thanks in advance!

 

[CathyB]

Hi Nedbowler, welcome! I’m a newbie too so not the best person to give advice but what I can say is this forum has taught me SO much in the past couple of weeks, I have learned what bread to eat, what snacks to try, what to avoid or be careful with and most importantly that, and I quote, “it’s a marathon not a sprint” 🙂
I’m not clever enough to give you the links but do have a look at the other threads, especially the one about what you ate yesterday. I have no doubt the others will give you the sound advice they gave me 🙄

 

[Martin Canty]

low carbs, high protein diet

Welcome Ned...

Think Low Carb, High Fat (High fat is a misnomer here, it's more like healthy fats)....

I went on a cruise to the Eastern Med within 3 weeks of being diagnosed, though I tried to be good with my eating, I wasn't (and didn't have the help of this wonderful forum). My advice would be to enjoy yourself; you have been diabetic for some time, likely, so another few weeks of being "non diabetic" is not likely to do any more harm. In my case I went from about 14 to 10 in that 3 weeks & stayed around 10 during the cruise.
On a side not, had no idea about diet until I attended a cooking demonstration in Crete.... That opened my eyes to the possibility of changing my diet significantly, particularly when they mentioned that the traditional Cretan Diet was being replaced with a Western Diet and as a consequence rates of Diabetes & Heart Disease was increasing in the population.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your GP wasn’t more helpful, I am afraid this is not unusual, however you have co e to the right pl@ce for support and information.

Yes testing your BG (blood glucose) is the best way to find out how the various carbohydrates afftect you, sadly unless those of us with T2 are on medications that can cause hypo’s (low BG) it’s most unlikely you’ll be pre#cribed a meter and testing strips.
Many here use the SD Codefree glucose meter, it’s a perfectly good meter that has the cheapest test strips we know of around £8 for a pot of 50, those that you can buy in chemists use test strips that cost £15 to £30 for 50 .

It’s avalable directly from Homehealth
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/

Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-G...fm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003
We use the mmol/l measurement in the uk and you’re entitled to claim VAT relief which helps a little.

To get the best out of testing how carbohydrates affect you I suggest you have a read of these
test-review-adjust. By Alan S
teting-on-budget

Their is a lot more info on this thread , just scroll down to th T2 section
useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes
For future reference you’ll find it at the top of the Newbies say hi here forum.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to .

 

[Vince_UK]

@nedbowler
Hi and Welcome.
This forum will give you all the help, support and guidance you could need to help you.
Great to see members already doing that. Great bucn of people here.
Just ask questions you want, there is no such thing as a stupid question
Please keep posting and let us all know how you get on and take care.🙂🙂

 

[Ljc]

Here is the link to
what-did-you-eat-yesterday

We have some good cooks on here who do low carb meals and treats
recipes.

 

[Grogg1]

Wine is low carb!

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome to the forum Ned from a fellow T2.
I don't know which is the best meter. However, a good priced one the the SD Codefree. The strips are £8 for 50. Test before and after eating (1-2 hours). The rise (difference between the before and after) will give you an idea about the food. Initially, do at least several days just to get an idea of what is going on.
48 sounds like the HbA1c test. On this, 30(?)-41 is normal, 42-47 is 'pre-diabetic', and once you his 48 and above you get the diagnoses of diabetic. Some on here have been a lot higher.