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Hannyanna

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Type 2
Hi

I'm looking for some help as I found out I had diabetes type 2 4 weeks ago and haven't got any support. I have been in hospital 3 times this year with no support.
I get scared to eat so my blood sugar goes up even when I don't eat.
I'm not sure what to eat that's safe which is the issue.
I am being discharged from hospital tomorrow with no food in my property and I live on my own. I'm currently at 16 on the blood test and have insulin injections
Does anyone have any ideas what I could buy upon discharge that's safe to eat.
I'm not a great cook so any microwave meals etc.
I will call Diabetes UK tomorrow to get some advice but I am so overwhelmed by all this ....

Thank you in advance
 
Hi @Hannyanna and welcome to the forum. I think that calling the help line today is a great idea. Come back to us when you have done that with any further questions you have.
 
Welcome @Hannyanna Its hard to comment on what food you should get in without knowing what insulin(s) you’re taking. What are the exact names, including any letters or numbers after the name?

An important thing to get is hypo treatments. Get Dextro glucose tablets, mini cans of full sugar Coke and/or jelly babies. You’ll need these if your blood sugar goes low. I’d also get some basic foods in like fruit, veg, potatoes, meat, cheese, milk, tinned fish, sliced bread (easier to see the carbs on sliced bread), peanut butter, etc.

Can you tell us a little more about your diagnosis? Are they sure you’re Type 2 rather than Type 1? Have you been given any kind of food planner, menus or carb information?
 
Breakfast: Greek yoghurt and berries, plus a dash of vanilla essence and/or lemon juice.

I've just bought a classic salad and some chicken breast for lunch - drizzle a bit of balsamic vinegar on it and it's quite delicious.
 
Hi

I'm on nova rapid in emergency and 6-8 ml of humilin injection twice a day.
No ive not been given any kind of food planner, menus or carb information, should I? The hospital is away thats why I'm reaching out, this way. I will call the help line shortly
 
What’s the full name of the Humulin - ie the letters or numbers after the word “Humulin” @Hannyanna ?

You’ll find the forum very supportive. We have years and years of experience between us all. Knowing your exact insulin (ie the name and numbers or letter after the name) is crucial because there are lots of different insulins and that will impact the advice you get. There are a number of Humulin insulins.
 
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Inka said:
What’s the full name of the Humulin - ie the letters or numbers after the word “Humulin” @Hannyanna ?

You’ll find the forum very supportive. We have years and years of experience between us all. Knowing your exact insulin (ie the name and numbers or letter after the name) is crucial because there are lots of different insulins and that will impact the advice you get. There are a number of Humulin insulins.
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I'll try to find out nurses not very helpful if I ask questions I know it's twice a day and it's a measure of 6 in the morning and 8 in the evening
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. This is a very friendly place and you will find LOADS of useful advice on here. When I was first diagnosed Type 2, I did have lots of help from my GP and diabetes nurse but this forum has offered the most in terms of practical day to day advice.

I wasn't prescribed insulin so cannot help with that but I have followed the low carb approach to my food intake and have found it really easy. There are a few things to remember - rice, bread, pasta is all high carb regardless of colour. Brown is better for your digestion but not for your diabetes. Low carb is considered to be less than 10g per 100g. All packaged food in the UK is labelled per 100g so you can compare foods against each other. Less that 10g per 100g is low carb and less than 5g per 100g is considered to be low fat. You are always looking for total carbohydrates and not just total sugars.

You have mentioned microwave meals but be cautious and read the nutrition information on the back of the packet. A lot of processed meals are high in carbohydrate so be careful. You are far better off cooking fresh meals.

I am in no way a good cook - I possibly could be if I could be bothered but I'm too lazy 😉

I have however found an approach that is suiting me. I have a lot of eggs in many varieties; boiled, poached, omelettes, scrambled. In the summer I will have a HUGE salad with some form of meat, usually chicken or pork. Winter it's the same meat but with veg (not potatoes). I supplement all this with berries (not fruit), full fat Greek yoghurt, cheese, nuts. Probably load of other things I can't remember at the moment.

Good luck and keep logging in.
 
Thank you I called the line and the lady was not very helpful as I said I had mental health. I will call again in a bit. I believe I'm being discharged today, bit frightened about the lack of support whilst I've been in here
 
Hannyanna said:
I'll try to find out nurses not very helpful if I ask questions I know it's twice a day and it's a measure of 6 in the morning and 8 in the evening
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Hannyanna said:
Humilin 100
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If the nurse told you that that wasn’t very helpful. The ‘100’ just refers to the ‘strength’ of insulin (100 is normal). There should be something after the word Humulin. There is Humulin i, Humulin S and Humulin M3, as examples.That’s what you’re looking for on the box/label. They all do different things so we can’t give you advice without knowing which precise type you have.

Look for a small letter/number directly after the word Humulin. It might be in a different colour, eg green or orange, but it will be obvious.
 
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Hannyanna said:
Hi

Thank you for that I've been told it's humilin i 100.

It's so overwhelming
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Ok @Hannyanna That i stands for isophane, which is a type of slow-acting insulin. You’re taking it twice a day, which is good because that’s how it’s supposed to be used (each injection lasts very roughly 12hrs, so twice a day covers you over the whole 24hrs). You’re on fairly small doses, which is usual. People are usually started on less insulin than they need, and then the amount is gradually increased. So everything you’ve said looks normal, if that brings you any reassurance.

It is overwhelming starting insulin at first, but you’ll gradually get used to it and get into a routine. As I said above, it’s really important to have hypo treatments with you at all times. Take some with you when you go out. Always.

It would be helpful if you had a rough idea of what you’re supposed to be eating carb-wise - ie a rough amount of carbs to have for each meal. If you eat too many carbs than your insulin can cope with, your blood sugar will go high. If you eat too few, you could have a hypo. Hypos are what you need to watch out for because they need immediate treatment with glucose.

I advise to eat similarly to what you were before you were put on to insulin. Do NOT suddenly cut out all carbs like @Deb_l might have done (she’s not on insulin, as she said). That’s not safe if you’re just starting insulin as you could have a hypo.
 
Hannyanna said:
Is a hypo when it drops below 4? Thank you
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Yes, it is. If you ever feel funny or weak or start feeling confused, test your blood sugar. Treat a hypo with fast-acting glucose, as I described. Then follow that up with longer-lasting carbs like a digestive biscuit or two or a slice of bread.
 
Sorry to hear you aren’t feeling very well supported with your diabetes diagnosis @Hannyanna :(

Will you be staying on the insulins you have been started on when you are discharged? Humulin I is your background insulin, which takes care of glucose trickled out from your liver. Your novorapid will be balancing with the carbohydrates in your meals and snacks. Your doses and the carbohydrate content of your meals will need to work together to try to keep your BG levels in the recommended range (for as much of the time as your can manage), and keep you safe. If you stay on insulin, you’ll learn how to adjust your doses for different-sized meals, and different amounts of carbohydrates.

And to return to @Inka ‘s question from earlier - how have they decided that you are T2 rather than T1? T1 can come about at any age. Did your symptoms come on quite quickly? Did you lose weight without trying when you were diagnosed?
 
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