Hi, I'm Brian

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brisoreturns

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi all

great site, can just about type as I'm still shaking after the diagnosis 4 days ago. Type 2 they say, no meds need yet but possibly in a few months.

Read all the usual over the weekend about complications and have successfully scared myself to the point of no sleep!

Must have walked 12 miles in 2 days and bought a meter which currently has test strips in and out so much it resembles a windmill.....no idea what to do with the results mind you.....

I know this may be silly but one of my biggest fears is not being able to have kids, I've not found anything about fertility anywhere? is it affected? I'm 38 by the way (yeah , I know, my mum keeps telling me but the right girl has only just come along....)


Thanks

Brian
 
Hi and welcome brian
 
Hi Brian welcome to the site , we are a great bunch anything you need to ask do so xx
 
Hi Brian, welcome to the forum 🙂 Diabetes shouldn't interfere with your ability to have children if you look after yourself. Erectile dysfunction is one of the potential complications if your diabetes is not well-controlled for some time, but there is help available for it. Diabetes doesn't make you sterile.

Stick with us and ask anything you're not sure of and we'll do our best to help out.
 
Hello Brian,

Re: fertility. So long as you haven't been an undiagnosed diabetic for too long, it shouldn't be a problem unless you don't keep your blood glucose levels under control. That's where your meter comes in .....

In the beginning, test yourself before meals (doesn't have to be all on the same day) and then after. I tested myself after 2hrs, but there's plenty of advice that I've read on a couple of forums that a 1hr test is also useful.

Learn which types of food send you hyper and which don't. Watch your carbohydrate intake as well as sugar and modify your diet so that you're within the recommended guidelines (i.e. 4-7mmol/l before meals and 7-9mmol/l 2hrs after). Above all, in the beginning, don't worry about the odd high reading so long as you can bring it down afterwards (I find a brisk 30min walk does that for me).

There's a lot to learn, but there're also plenty of people with good advice.

Good luck!

Andy
 
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Thanks all

funny how important something you think you can keep putting off suddenly becomes. My partner is a bit younger than me so she wanted to wait a few years yet hence the concern (still in her 30's mind, not "Ronnie Wood style" young!)

My 3 month reading (hb1 or something?) was 7.9 but I've about 4 stone I could lose so hoping that will do the trick to get started and see where it goes. Bit surprised, now I've thought about it, that GP just said she would refer me to all the support services, at the minute I'm just waiting on someone to contact me.... not really sure what to do now, except trying not to be frightened to eat!
 
Hi Brian, don't be frightened. 7.9 is a little on the high side, but not disasterous for a first reading - I was 11.8! Losing weight will certainly help your health generally and improve you blood sugar levels - time to get healthy! A lot of people find that a diagnosis, whilst not great news, spurs them on to a much happier and healthier lifestyle, so try and be optimistic🙂
 
Hi Brian, welcome to the forum.
 
brisoreturns said:
...........My 3 month reading (hb1 or something?) was 7.9....................
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Hi Brian - Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

My HbA1c at diagnosis was 5.7% but then it rose slowly but surely to 9.4% before I started learning how to change things. My advice to you would be to learn as much as you can straight away and then keep things under control. You've made a great start by coming to these diabetes forums so quickly - it took me eight years to arrive here.

In my view, diet is your most powerful weapon in fighting your Type 2 diabetes.

Don't get yourself too worried but you do need to take it seriously to ensure good health for the long term. I'm absolutely fine more than nine years after my diagnosis - in fact, I feel just great.

Best wishes - John
 
Hi Brian,

I'm new to this as well but I did have the knowledge of my mum being diagnosed over 10 yrs ago. She lives her life just as fully now as if she didn't have diabetes.

She took her meds, lost a bit of weight and just ate and drank sensibly. Having that example meant that although I'm not glad to be diabetic I'm also not overly concerned.

I hope that you'll soon come to terms with your diagnosis and be able to settle down into a regime that keeps problems at bay.


TE
 
Thanks again John and TE.

I still haven't slept for days, and have successfully exhausted myself from doing so much walking and swimming that I'm a zombie today.

I think a bit of calm down is needed, I seem to have the thought that the world is ending tomorrow unless I keep moving.

Bumped into a guy who's inital reading was 28 and he did help, but as you all know 3 AM is not a place for calm reflection...
 
Hi Brian, i can sympathize with how you're feeling at the moment as i was only diagnosed with type 2 at the end of january. I was quite 'down in the dumps' on the day of diagnosis and joined this site the very same day where i have learnt so much ever since.

Firstly although its scary you have to take each day at a time. Do some research and read some of the threads on here to get ideas about food, exercise etc.

Secondly.... each persons coping methods and body reacts differently so you MUST get used to how your body copes with certain foods. Some people on here struggle eating fruit as it makes their sugar levels too high but personally i've been ok this past month. I'm not able to monitor but have learnt when i'm starting to get a bit 'low'....i get quite snappy but as soon as i've eaten a balanced meal i'm fine again.

Thirdly........don't be afraid of asking any questions.

Lastly......welcome....like me, you'll learn lots here and feel less stressed and anxious about being diabetic.

best wishes Ness x
 
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