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Hi, newbie here

M

MrsBaloo

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Pronouns
She/Her
Hi. I was diagnosed as T2D in Aug 2023 and it's been a battle all the way through. My HBA1C is higher now than when 1st diagnosed. We (me and my diabetes nurse) have tried so many different drug combinations but just can't seem to find the right one. I have suffered with IBS for 10 years which doesn't help my stomach sensitivity to these meds and have also since developed high cholesterol, high BP and NAFLD. Last year we tried rybellsus but this was giving me debilitating stomach cramps so had to stop it. I can't take gliclacides as they give me thrush. I currently take 1500mg metformin, 30mg pioglitazone and aloglipton but can't get my hba1c down. We've talked about mounjaro as there have been good results for people with NAFLD but we're both nervous about how my stomach will cope with this. I am extremely bloated all the time to the point where I waddle and can't bend over without it hurting and getting out of puff. It's really depressing me that I can't control my diabetes. My diet isn't perfect as still trying to find the balance between cutting carbs and having the right amount of carbs but it just feels like my body has given up. I've tried joining groups on Facebook but there are some nasty people on there so I thought I'd join this group where people might be more supportive. Sorry for the long intro
 
Hi @MrsBaloo and welcome to the forum!
I'm so sorry to hear about everything you've got going on, that sounds so difficult to deal with! I'm glad you gave a DN who's trying to work with you, to find the best suited solution for your health, but I can only imagine how frustrating dealing with all of this might feel.
I'll leave the advice-giving to our experienced forum users, however do know that this group is really supportive. We know everyone manages their diagnosis differently and people can only share what has helped them, without instantly assuming it would work for you. So if you'll ever have any questions or will simply want to rant - do feel free to do so here, we accept it all <3
 
MrsBaloo said:
Hi. I was diagnosed as T2D in Aug 2023 and it's been a battle all the way through. My HBA1C is higher now than when 1st diagnosed. We (me and my diabetes nurse) have tried so many different drug combinations but just can't seem to find the right one. I have suffered with IBS for 10 years which doesn't help my stomach sensitivity to these meds and have also since developed high cholesterol, high BP and NAFLD. Last year we tried rybellsus but this was giving me debilitating stomach cramps so had to stop it. I can't take gliclacides as they give me thrush. I currently take 1500mg metformin, 30mg pioglitazone and aloglipton but can't get my hba1c down. We've talked about mounjaro as there have been good results for people with NAFLD but we're both nervous about how my stomach will cope with this. I am extremely bloated all the time to the point where I waddle and can't bend over without it hurting and getting out of puff. It's really depressing me that I can't control my diabetes. My diet isn't perfect as still trying to find the balance between cutting carbs and having the right amount of carbs but it just feels like my body has given up. I've tried joining groups on Facebook but there are some nasty people on there so I thought I'd join this group where people might be more supportive. Sorry for the long intro
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum, it is tricky to balance a number of different conditions but I'm sure there will be a solution.
Some medications do require people to have some carbohydrates but in most cases that is no more than 130g carbs not just sugar per day or a maximum about per meal that your body can tolerate. Some people find that a low carb approach as suggested improves their IBS symptoms and also incorporating probiotic yogurts to help with gut microflora which can help with bloating. Bloating can be a side effect of metformin and in some cases it is not recommended if people do already have gut issues.
I will post this link so you can see what a low carb approach would be in comparison to your current diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
Ieva DUK said:
Hi @MrsBaloo and welcome to the forum!
I'm so sorry to hear about everything you've got going on, that sounds so difficult to deal with! I'm glad you gave a DN who's trying to work with you, to find the best suited solution for your health, but I can only imagine how frustrating dealing with all of this might feel.
I'll leave the advice-giving to our experienced forum users, however do know that this group is really supportive. We know everyone manages their diagnosis differently and people can only share what has helped them, without instantly assuming it would work for you. So if you'll ever have any questions or will simply want to rant - do feel free to do so here, we accept it all <3
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
Leadinglights said:
Welcome to the forum, it is tricky to balance a number of different conditions but I'm sure there will be a solution.
Some medications do require people to have some carbohydrates but in most cases that is no more than 130g carbs not just sugar per day or a maximum about per meal that your body can tolerate. Some people find that a low carb approach as suggested improves their IBS symptoms and also incorporating probiotic yogurts to help with gut microflora which can help with bloating. Bloating can be a side effect of metformin and in some cases it is not recommended if people do already have gut issues.
I will post this link so you can see what a low carb approach would be in comparison to your current diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Click to expand...
Thank you. My DN has already given me the app and I do have a prebiotic every morning. I try to get my husband to reduce his carbs too so that we can do it together, but he cooks a lot for convenience, so there's often potatoes or rice. It's tricky trying to eat different to the rest of the family. Plus I'm quite weak-willed. My downfall pre T2D was always a fondness for red bull which I cut right back on. I try to be good and eat a diabetic friendly diet whilst I'm at work so that at least I'm doing the right thing for the majority of the time. It's just the evenings and weekends that are hard when it's family time. I drink a lot of water with peppermint cordial to help with my IBS as there are many fruits I'm not fond of so don't like cordial.
 
Hello @MrsBaloo and a very warm welcome from me too 🙂 . Oh dear I'm not surprised you feel depressed, but I do hope things improve for you soon. This is useful to understand carb content of food and portion sizes: Carbs & Cals | Dieting & Calorie Counting Books & App. Rest assured we're a friendly, supportive bunch here 🙂
 
Hi @MrsBaloo welcome to the forum and sympathies on the issues you are facing. Fully get the problem of eating differently to the rest of the family, but maybe a first step could be to have rice or potatoes but cut the portion size down? I had to do something like this when having dinner at a friend's place over the weekend. It is not easy to say no to more but sometimes we have to for our own good.
 
MrsBaloo said:
Thank you. My DN has already given me the app and I do have a prebiotic every morning. I try to get my husband to reduce his carbs too so that we can do it together, but he cooks a lot for convenience, so there's often potatoes or rice. It's tricky trying to eat different to the rest of the family. Plus I'm quite weak-willed. My downfall pre T2D was always a fondness for red bull which I cut right back on. I try to be good and eat a diabetic friendly diet whilst I'm at work so that at least I'm doing the right thing for the majority of the time. It's just the evenings and weekends that are hard when it's family time. I drink a lot of water with peppermint cordial to help with my IBS as there are many fruits I'm not fond of so don't like cordial.
Click to expand...
I'm sure he might find some of the recipes in the Freshwell link easy to adopt or another good book is the Caldesi Diabetes Cook Book for Weight Loss. Often it is not the main part of the meal but what you have with it that is the problem.
My other half also did the low carb with me so all our meals were the same but he just had a few extras on the side. He also lost some weight which he wanted to do.
 
Hello @MrsBaloo and welcome to the forum.
It must be very frustrating trying to manage your diabetes and IBS when your hbA1c is going up despite your medication. I am glad to hear your DN is supporting you.
As you mentioned struggling with your diet maybe focus on one meal to review each day, perhaps breakfast, and see how it affects your blood glucose. Adjust the carbs to a level that works for you. Celebrate any victory, even the small ones. Be kind to yourself and ignore social media if you find it toxic.
I am very much still work in progress a year after diagnosis. People on this forum have given so much good advice and support.
As you are finding out, there is no "one size fits all" solution to manage diabetes. Read through some of the posts to get ideas of what others have found helpful.
Let us know how you get on. We all want you to succeed. The forum is a safe place to vent if you need to. We all get how frustrating living with diabetes can be.
 
I've tried going without breakfast most mornings as I just wake up with nausea all the time. Cereal is no good and I get bored with boiled eggs all the time
 
Welcome to the forum @MrsBaloo

Hope you find the folks here friendly and encouraging. We have all sort of different people trying to find their own way through the maze of possible options. Some, like you, are having to juggle the needs and requirements of multiple different conditions, which can add significant extra challenges trying to find options and strategies that keep everything happy.

Sorry to hear you’ve been having such a frustrating time trying to find meds that you can get along with. Getting the right meds, and balancing them with the right BG-friendly menu for you as an individual can be a huge part of the puzzle.

Good luck finding your own meds and menu balance.

🙂
 
MrsBaloo said:
I've tried going without breakfast most mornings as I just wake up with nausea all the time. Cereal is no good and I get bored with boiled eggs all the time
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that. I have stopped eating cereal too. Usually have yoghurt with berries and either a desert spoon of muesli or nuts. If I have more time I enjoy poached or scrambled eggs on a single slice of toast. I understand that some options aren't ideal with IBS. One of our users posted a nice recipe for baked egg bites. You can vary the fillings to your taste, make them in advance and warm a couple for breakfast.
You can do a search on the forum.
Wishing you all the best.
 
MrsBaloo said:
I've tried going without breakfast most mornings as I just wake up with nausea all the time. Cereal is no good and I get bored with boiled eggs all the time
Click to expand...
There are some lower carb granolas like the M & S grain free fruit and Nut or some of the Keto Hana ones which are only 9g carbs per 100g so you could have that with some Greek yoghurt.
You could have bacon or high meat content sausages with tomatoes or mushrooms if those suit you or try omelette or scrambled egg with smoked salmon as a change from boiled eggs. Nairn oatcakes are not too bad in carbs so a couple of those with some cheese might be OK.
Eating something low carb in the morning can stop a rise in blood glucose caused by the liver releasing glucose in the absence of food.
 
Leadinglights said:
Eating something low carb in the morning can stop a rise in blood glucose caused by the liver releasing glucose in the absence of food.
Click to expand...
On the other hand, not eating in the morning extends overnight fat burning. That's good for losing weight. See https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/going-low-carb/time-restricted-eating/

Here is what Freshwell have to say according to Google AI:

AI Overview

The Freshwell Low Carb Project, a program by Dr. David Oliver and Dr. Kim Andrews, incorporates time-restricted eating (TRE) as a strategy for weight management and improving metabolic health, focusing on a low-carb approach.

Here's a breakdown of how Freshwell approaches time-restricted eating:

What is Time-Restricted Eating?
  • Definition:
    TRE involves confining your eating window to a specific period each day, while fasting for the remaining hours.

  • Freshwell Approach:
    Freshwell suggests starting with a 16-hour fast and an 8-hour eating window, potentially progressing to a 24-hour fast (OMAD - One Meal A Day) if comfortable.

  • Flexibility:
    Freshwell emphasizes that you don't need to be strict with the 16/8 or OMAD approach, and that the goal is to find a sustainable eating pattern that works for you.

  • Focus:
    During the eating window, Freshwell encourages focusing on a low-carb diet, emphasizing healthy fats and protein.
Benefits of Time-Restricted Eating (According to Freshwell):
  • Weight Loss:
    TRE can be useful for kickstarting weight loss or getting things back on track after a period of less strict eating.

  • Metabolic Health:
    Freshwell suggests that TRE can help improve metabolic health, potentially leading to better blood sugar control and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

  • Simplicity:
    TRE can be appealing because it doesn't require calorie counting, making it easier to stick to.
 
Last edited:
JITR said:
On the other hand, not eating in the morning extends overnight fat overnight. That's good for losing weight. See https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/going-low-carb/time-restricted-eating/

Here is what Freshwell have say according to Google AI:

AI Overview

The Freshwell Low Carb Project, a program by Dr. David Oliver and Dr. Kim Andrews, incorporates time-restricted eating (TRE) as a strategy for weight management and improving metabolic health, focusing on a low-carb approach.

Here's a breakdown of how Freshwell approaches time-restricted eating:

What is Time-Restricted Eating?
  • Definition:
    TRE involves confining your eating window to a specific period each day, while fasting for the remaining hours.

  • Freshwell Approach:
    Freshwell suggests starting with a 16-hour fast and an 8-hour eating window, potentially progressing to a 24-hour fast (OMAD - One Meal A Day) if comfortable.

  • Flexibility:
    Freshwell emphasizes that you don't need to be strict with the 16/8 or OMAD approach, and that the goal is to find a sustainable eating pattern that works for you.

  • Focus:
    During the eating window, Freshwell encourages focusing on a low-carb diet, emphasizing healthy fats and protein.
Benefits of Time-Restricted Eating (According to Freshwell):
  • Weight Loss:
    TRE can be useful for kickstarting weight loss or getting things back on track after a period of less strict eating.

  • Metabolic Health:
    Freshwell suggests that TRE can help improve metabolic health, potentially leading to better blood sugar control and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

  • Simplicity:
    TRE can be appealing because it doesn't require calorie counting, making it easier to stick to.
Click to expand...
Each to their own, can work for some but not for others. For many people a natural period of fasting will be about 12 hours overnight anyway.
 
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