Hi there. I am newly Diagnosed with Type 2

[Harrycr]

Hi,

My name is Harry. I was diagnosed today with Diabetes Type 2. My HbA1c level showed 85 mmol/ molHb.

They started me off on 500mg Metformin starting with 1 / day before brkfast in 1st week. 2nd week: 1 before brkfast and 1 before dinner and from 3rd week 1 each before brkfast, lunch and dinner.

I have already been working on my weight issue since the last 1 month. Switched to fruits for breakfast, lunch of Indian Roti (made of wheat flour) and veggies and dinner with salads

I am having fruits like Apples, Peaches, Grapes, Berries, Apricot, Cherries, Oranges, watermelon, pomegranate. Typically 2-3 portions at breakfast. Along with a glass of Horlicks with fully skimmed milk.

For salads I am having Brussels sprouts, shredded carrots, cucumbers, leafs, tomatoes, Corn, broccoli, mushrooms, avocados. Typically 2 portions of a combination with a lite yogurt dressing. The corn, broccoli or mushroom is cooked. Rest are mixed raw.

Do you think I should do anything more or remove anything.

I am also doing cardio in the gym.

Regards,
harry

 

[Northerner]

Hi Harry, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis The good news is that this is a condition that can be managed well with the right knowledge, and the determination you are already demonstrating in your efforts so far - well done!

The main comment I would make is that you may wish to reconsider the amount of fruit you are eating. Diabetes is a condition where we find it difficult to control the levels of glucose in our blood, and the source of this glucose is almost entirely derived from the carbohydrates we consume. Unfortunately, fruit is fairly high in carbohydrate, in the form of fruit sugars, and can therefore cause quite sharp rises in blood glucose levels, so we have to be careful about the type and quantity we consume. To make maters more complicated, we can have varying tolerances for the same things, so one person might be fine eating, say, a banana or apple, but another person might find they send their levels unacceptably high. This is also true of most other food containing carbohydrates (e.g. bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, as well as the obvious cakes, pastries and biscuits).

How can you work out what's best for you, and what to avoid? Really, the only way to do this is to use a blood glucose meter, and test your blood glucose levels before eating, then one or two hours after eating to see what sort of a rise in levels the food has produced. This is described in Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S. If you don't have a meter, then it is worth asking your doctor or nurse for one, explaining how you believe it will help you to tailor your diet choices in order to manage your diabetes well. They may be reluctant to do this, as they often see the test strips as expensive. If they won't then it is worth funding the equipment yourself whilst you establish your tolerances. The cheapest option we have come across is the
SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50 (most strips from high street chemists are around £25-£30 for 50).

I'd also recommend reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and (finally!) would recommend getting a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. All this should set you up very well to understand diabetes and how to tackle it!

I've thrown a lot of information at you there, but please don't let it overwhelm you - take things at your own pace, a step at a time, and you will get there. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help 🙂

 

[Lynn Davies]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Northie has given you enough to chew over for now but a good diabetic breakfast is bacon and eggs with a side of mushrooms.

 

[khskel]

Horlicks is pretty high in carbs too especially made with skimmed milk. Full fat is a bit lower but something like unsweetened almond milk is virtually zero but in the case of Horlicks most of the carbs are in the powder. Like Northerner said different things affect people differently. Get used to reading the labels on foods and perhaps invest in a copy of Carbs and cals . You'll get there

 

[Stitch147]

Hi Harry welcome to the forum. All good advice there. Definitely keep an eye on the amount of fruit you're having, I've cut my back to 2-3 portions a day, I was having between 5-7 portions. There is a lot of sugar in fruit. Berries are a good choice, just watch the portion size.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome from a T2 one year in. Your tables, are you taking them before food. First week, 1 a day. Increasing to 2 tablets a day. Then 3 tablets a day.