Hi, I'm new to this

[Evelyn Asante-Mensah]

Hi my name is Evelyn Asante-Mensah, I've been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes for many years and have have generally kept it well controlled through metformin and insulin. However in August last year I had acute heart failure since then my blood sugar control has gone out of the window. I need some inspiration to get it back under control and quickly. Some advice on getting back to maximum control would be really helpful and very gratefully received.

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum Evelyn. Have you had any cardiac rehab, covering exercise and diet, since your heart failure episode? I say episode, because you described it as acute.
You mention insulin and metformin. Are you taking both long acting, plus short acting with meals, or long acting alone? Short acting means matching dose to carbohydrate content of food, plus accounting for other factors, including exercise, stress, weather, infection etc. What support do you have for you and your diabetes? GP / diabetes specialist nurse at GP surgery / hospital clinic?

In general, the key factors in blood glucose control are carbohydrate content in diet, exercise / activity, achieving / maintaining optimum bodyweight, plus appropriate medication.

 

[Bill Stewardson]

Hello and welcome Evelyn.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Evelyn Asante-Mensah]

Thank you all for replying and welcoming me here.

Copepod, I have had cardiac rehab, I had these sessions at the hospital after my discharge. They did do sessions on diet and exercise. I am now part of Physical Activity Referral Service Programme, which is circuit training once a week. I go swimming I would like to go every day but I'm just managing 2 / 3 times a week since I started working again. We have a cocker spaniel (Milo) and I take him for walks. I've done various diets / eating programmes. The last one I lost 3 stones (which I have since put back on) and my HBA1c was amazing. All this was before my heart failure episode). Since the episode for which I was in hospital for 10 days, I have become more anxious have low mood and eat to compensate so I have put on all my weight again and consequently lost control of my blood sugar. I'm struggling with dealing with my heart problem and high blood pressure (which I am taking 8 different medications comprising of 12 tablets daily) and diabetes. I feel like such a failure on all sorts of levels.
I am maintaining swimming, walking Milo.
I need to lose weight and at the moment it feels insurmountable. I start and then struggle to sustain changes. I feel like I'm constantly stopping and starting. Makes me very depressed.
I have great GPs, they piloted a 'shared appointment' where they brought patients with diabetes together to share experiences which was useful in a way. I'm making an appointment to go and see the diabetes nurse at the surgery, to talk things through. I'm taking Novomix 30 which is both slow and long acting I believe.
I'm thinking of joining a weight management programme like weight watchers. I'm hoping that being part of the forum will give me inspiration and help me to sustain. I don't want to wallow, I want to make the changes I need to lose and maintain my weight.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum Evelyn. 🙂 I think you are being very positive.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Evelyn, welcome to the forum 🙂 It sounds like you are a bit overwhelmed by things - it might be a good idea to set small goals. Might be a good start to write a food diary so you get a better handle on what you are eating/drinking - record the carbs in everything, then review it and look for simple reductions or replacements that will benefit your blood sugar levels 🙂 If you can reduce your carbs you should need less insulin and this may help with weight loss. If we can help in any way, just let us know and we will be more than happy to help out 🙂

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Hi and welcome 🙂

 

[Steff]

Hi Evelyn and gill a warm welcome to you both x