Hi ,newbie here

[Red robin]

Hi ,I'm new here ,hope all is ok . I was diagnosed with type 2 about 3 years ago now I am 50 .Up to now I'm diet controlled but the nurse would like me to go on medication as my reading was 48. I do struggle with taking tablets and if I was to go on medication just wondering do they have a liquid form /fizzy or a very small tablet available to take ? . Thank you

 

[NotPink]

I am not good with tablets either and avoid if possible. I don't know of any effervescent forms of medication relating to diabetes. I am sure there will be someone coming along soon to let you know. Take care.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Red robin

I’m not sure if all diabetes meds are available as suspensions, but Metformin seems to be available in liquid form.

What sort of approach did you take with your diet to help manage your BG levels? Another alternative might be to reduce your carb intake if you thunk you may still have some carbs to cut back on?

While there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you probably cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. Reducing portions of these, or avoiding them entirely and getting your carbs from sources where they form a much lower percentage of the foodstuff can be a helpful strategy.

Your A1c of 48 is only just at the tipping point of a diabetes diagnosis, which makes me wonder if there may be room for you to reduce BGs with a tweaked menu?

 

[adrian1der]

If you post up some of your favourite, regular meals I'm sure people will be able to suggest modifications

 

[Pine Marten]

Hi @Red robin, welcome to the forum.

As your reading is only 48 I wonder why your nurse wants you to try medication. As the others have said, some tweaking with your diet may be all that's needed. I think it's worth a try, before going down the meds route.

 

[grovesy]

Unfortunately most Metformin Brand tablets are big. I have read of Dr. reluctant to prescribe the liquid as it is much more expensive.

 

[Red robin]

I am not good with tablets either and avoid if possible. I don't know of any effervescent forms of medication relating to diabetes. I am sure there will be someone coming along soon to let you know. Take care.

Thank you

 

[Red robin]

Hi @Red robin, welcome to the forum.

As your reading is only 48 I wonder why your nurse wants you to try medication. As the others have said, some tweaking with your diet may be all that's needed. I think it's worth a try, before going down the meds route.

Hi, my readings have not improved so the nurse was thinking of putting me on a slow release carbohydrate medication to see if it improves . I can tweak my diet more ,I have already cut out bread and hardly eat potatoes, pasta and rice . Thank you fir your advice

 

[Red robin]

Unfortunately most Metformin Brand tablets are big. I have read of Dr. reluctant to prescribe the liquid as it is much more expensive.

I think that may be the case too

 

[Red robin]

If you post up some of your favourite, regular meals I'm sure people will be able to suggest modifications

Thank you for your advice

 

[Leadinglights]

I would have thought it would be worth your while to look at your current diet, as the others say you are only just in the diabetes zone so it should not be too hard to address it with some changes in diet and increase your exercise. Maybe go back to basics and keep a food diary and use your blood glucose monitor if you have one (and get one if you haven't) then you can identify the foods which are pushing up your levels. I hope your doctor will agree to a period for you to try without the meds if they know you are trying without.
You have not far to go to get it down to an acceptable level but it is then something you need to keep up with to stay there.

 

[Red robin]

Welcome to the forum @Red robin

I’m not sure if all diabetes meds are available as suspensions, but Metformin seems to be available in liquid form.

What sort of approach did you take with your diet to help manage your BG levels? Another alternative might be to reduce your carb intake if you thunk you may still have some carbs to cut back on?

While there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you probably cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. Reducing portions of these, or avoiding them entirely and getting your carbs from sources where they form a much lower percentage of the foodstuff can be a helpful strategy.

Your A1c of 48 is only just at the tipping point of a diabetes diagnosis, which makes me wonder if there may be room for you to reduce BGs with a tweaked menu?

Hi , I have reduced my portion sizes . I have cut out bread and hardly eat any pasta, rice or potatoes. I don't eat takeaways or fatty foods My down fall is chocolate though . Ill have to talk to the nurse again to tweak my diet for me . Its frustrating too as I have a dry mouth which unables me to eat a lot of foods I used to eat . I think that's why she recommended a slow releasing carbohydrate medication for me . Thanks for the advice

 

[Pine Marten]

By 'slow releasing carbohydrate medication' do you mean the slow release Metformin, @Red robin?

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Red robin
Glad that you have found us.

It is good that you are starting with a reading that only just puts you into the Diabetic range.
You have already mentioned the changes you have made to your diet and portion size. Well done.
As others have said it can be helpful to keep a food diary, and perhaps start to calculate the amount of carbs is in each of these. When I was diagnosed I knew nothing about this at all and was was surprised at the hidden carbs in many prepared foods. You have already spotted those, as well as reducing the main meal accompaniments. A food diary will also help your nurse work with you to help you make appropriate choices.

Do read around on the forum and come back with any questions that arise.
Let us know how you get on.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi , I have reduced my portion sizes . I have cut out bread and hardly eat any pasta, rice or potatoes. I don't eat takeaways or fatty foods My down fall is chocolate though . Ill have to talk to the nurse again to tweak my diet for me . Its frustrating too as I have a dry mouth which unables me to eat a lot of foods I used to eat . I think that's why she recommended a slow releasing carbohydrate medication for me . Thanks for the advice

You say you do not eat fatty foods but it is not fats which are the problem for diabetics but the carbs which you have obviously reduced. With the dry mouth issue, have you tried having a drink of water with your food or dips from full fat yoghurt or mayonnaise to go with your meal. Home made soups are a good thing to have for a low carb food.
Look through some of the meal suggestions on the site and also the tread What did you eat yesterday for some ideas for meals which are low carb. I think you will probably get some better suggestions than from your nurse as they tend to stick to the traditional NHS standpoint which is the low fat and higher carbs than many people can tolerate. But you will only know what is OK for you by testing yourself with a blood glucose monitor.

 

[Red robin]

Hi all
I've spoke to my diabetic nurse again and she is going to give me 3 months on a diet and exercise plan .If its still the same readings as before or higher then it will be medication. Thanks for all your advice .

 

[Red robin]

You say you do not eat fatty foods but it is not fats which are the problem for diabetics but the carbs which you have obviously reduced. With the dry mouth issue, have you tried having a drink of water with your food or dips from full fat yoghurt or mayonnaise to go with your meal. Home made soups are a good thing to have for a low carb food.
Look through some of the meal suggestions on the site and also the tread What did you eat yesterday for some ideas for meals which are low carb. I think you will probably get some better suggestions than from your nurse as they tend to stick to the traditional NHS standpoint which is the low fat and higher carbs than many people can tolerate. But you will only know what is OK for you by testing yourself with a blood glucose monitor.

Thanks ,I will have to invest in a blood glucose monitor.

 

[Red robin]

Welcome to the forum @Red robin
Glad that you have found us.

It is good that you are starting with a reading that only just puts you into the Diabetic range.
You have already mentioned the changes you have made to your diet and portion size. Well done.
As others have said it can be helpful to keep a food diary, and perhaps start to calculate the amount of carbs is in each of these. When I was diagnosed I knew nothing about this at all and was was surprised at the hidden carbs in many prepared foods. You have already spotted those, as well as reducing the main meal accompaniments. A food diary will also help your nurse work with you to help you make appropriate choices.

Do read around on the forum and come back with any questions that arise.
Let us know how you get on.

Thank you ,will do

 

[What the..?]

Hello Red Robin, it is great that you've negotiated a bit of breathing space before perhaps going on medication. It is definitely very likely that you can bring your readings down simply through adjusting your diet and upping your exercise a bit. I was diagnosed last November, with a reading of 53, and by cutting down on carbs and making sure I moved more I got it down to 46 by the time of my next blood test which was about ten weeks later. I'm hopefully on-track to bring it down further when I have a test in July. This forum helped me a great deal, giving reassurance and helping me to understand about my condition, and I hope it will do the same for you. Good luck with it all.

 

[Gwynn]

Same here. 130 at diagnosis. With strict low carb diet (my choice) and some light exercise, after 3 months the Hba1c came in at 39. I too expect, hope, for an even lower result when the next test is done in september.

So yes it can be done, but you will have to work out what will work for you. The people here on this forum will be able to give you very helpful advice. I have found their knowledge and insight to be invaluable.