Hi Newbie here.

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veganlass

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Type 2
Just been diagnosed yesterday of type 2 diabetes. Bit down at the moment as I already have a progressive peripheral neuropathy due to having Charcot Marie Tooth Neuropathy (CMT) .

I am due to start Metformin but am wary of having it as side effects can cause weakness and tiredness, amongst other symptoms and I already suffer from fatigue and muscle weakness due to my disability.

I am due to talk to the diabetic care nurse again today with my decision. My fasting blood sugar was 12.4 and thumb prick one 2 days ago was 17.4. So I cannot afford to ignore it.

Do any of you have side effects of this drug?.
 
Hi veganlass. welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear of your diagnosis, and especially about the CMT :( Metformin is a very common drug used to treat a number of conditions, not just diabetes, and it seems to work well for most people. The main side-effects, from what I have gathered (I'm Type 1 myself and don't take it) are tummy upsets and wind, although these often fade within a couple of weeks or so. If you find you can't tolerate the ordinary metformin there is a slow release form that can be tried instead. Others will be able to tell you about any tiredness or muscle weakness, but I haven't heard people speak much about them as being side-effects they have suffered from metformin.

Have a look at our 'Useful links' thread for some good links to further reading - I'd particularly recommend Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, which has proved invaluable to many of our newly-diagnosed members.

Please ask any questions you may have, or feel free to let out your frustrations in a good old rant - there are many lovely friendly and helpful people here who will listen and understand. 🙂
 
Thanks Northerner (from a southerner 🙂)

I will need loads of support at the moment, being a vegan I read labels as it is, so it adds more of a dimension.

I will ask for a glucometer today when I speak to the nurse. Once I have that on board it will make life a little easier.

Apart from the high blood glucose I am not symptomatic. Although nearly 2 stone overweight.
 
You are welcome 🙂 Very good idea to ask for a meter, it is essential in order to find out how different foods affect you, and may be particularly important for you in order to retain confidence and flexibility in your diet. You will have a head start in terms of understanding diet - remember that carbohydrates are the things to watch out for in food - especially (but not only) sugar content.

Don't let the nurse tell you that you don't need to test - this is common because the strips are expensive. Read this from Diabetes UK so you have a counter argument:

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our_Views/Position_statements/Self-monitoring_of_blood_glucose/

Do join in with the 'Weight Loss Group' section for lots of help and support with losing those two stones 🙂

Looking forward to hearing more from you - I hope the appointment with the nurse goes well 🙂
 
Thanks. I consider I am half way regarding diet as a vegan I do eat varied things, but my weakness is bread. I could happily eat up to 6 slices a day if I didnt curb my weakness.

Dont worry about the possibility of the nurse refusing a monitor, as an ex nurse myself I can stick up for myself..🙂.
 
veganlass said:
Thanks. I consider I am half way regarding diet as a vegan I do eat varied things, but my weakness is bread. I could happily eat up to 6 slices a day if I didnt curb my weakness.

Dont worry about the possibility of the nurse refusing a monitor, as an ex nurse myself I can stick up for myself..🙂.
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The meter (when you get it!) will tell you how well you can tolerate different bread and in what quantities. Seeded, granary bread is best, as it releases glucose slowly - white bread is worse than pure sugar! So there is quite a range. Burgen and Vogel are two brands that are particularly favoured by people with diabetes.
 
Thanks Steffie🙂

I always eat either Oatmeal bread, wholemeal or granary.

This morning for brekkie I had one slice of Oatmeal toast, small spread marg and some vegan pate, followed by a glass of unsweetened soya milk.

The diabetic care nurse is supposed to ring me back between 10 and 12 today.
 
hi Veganlass..... welcome to the forum 🙂
 
Just had a call from the diabetic care nurse and she says she will see me in a month and she doesnt want me to start metformin just yet and review in one month.

So I must strictly adhere to my diet.
 
No haste then! 🙄 I suspect that, by the time you see her you will have learned much of what she could tell you, and you will probably have quite a few questions to test her knowledge 🙂 Armed with the forum and Gretchen's book there is every possibility that you will be able to make the necessary adaptations to your diet and lifestyle to improve your insulin sensitivity and stay off medications. It's fairly normal to be given a period of time to try the 'Diet and Exercise' route. You certainly sound very committed to getting your diabetes under control so I have every hope of your success! 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum Veganlass it a great place for support. Everyone is very friendly and some is always here to answer your questions.
 
When you see the nurse (or speak to her next) ask about getting your name put down for one of the Type 2 Diabetes Education programmes Desmond or Xpert. Though as an ex nurse yourself you may find them a little slow.

Re metformin - I took the slow release for a while but my team are happy with me not right now. I found that my legs ached and I felt weak around the time of my period but not the rest of the time. Since stopping it I don't get the aches.
 
Thanks folks.
Until I see her, I will cut down on carbs and sugar (although I dont eat much sugary things at the moment anyway).

Will keep you folks posted.
 
veganlass said:
Thanks folks.
Until I see her, I will cut down on carbs and sugar (although I dont eat much sugary things at the moment anyway).

Will keep you folks posted.
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if you are a vegan you might also consider Neal Barnard's books, a vegan diet for Diabetes

http://www.nealbarnard.org/books.cfm

Barnard," There are only two things wrong with eggs - the yolk and the white"😱
 
Hi veganlass. A belated welcome from me 🙂

Rob
 
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