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Hi to everyone

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Phil C DUK

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello everyone, my name is Phil, I'm 66 years old and was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about a year ago. Sometimes I get quite low and tired I think due to my Diabetes plus I have to look after and take care of my wife who has Dementia so I'm tired quite a lot. I thought and hope that by becoming a member of Diabetes UK there would always be a friend I could talk to when I'm feeling low. - Phil.
 
Hi @Phil C DUK and welcome to the forum.
You can just vent in the forum about things. when you need to.
We all have experience of Diabetes and the majority have been diabetic (or in remission) for a few years or more, so ask anything about diabetes.

I personally only have 3rd hand experience of dementia (and there are lots of variations within that category - just like within diabetes). I have 2 friends who both cared for wives with dementia for several years before it became too much. They both went into hospital themselves due to the constant stress and neglecting themselves for their partner. But both still feel 'guilty' that they couldn't keep caring for and supporting their wife at home.
 
ianf0ster said:
Hi @Phil C DUK and welcome to the forum.
You can just vent in the forum about things. when you need to.
We all have experience of Diabetes and the majority have been diabetic (or in remission) for a few years or more, so ask anything about diabetes.

I personally only have 3rd hand experience of dementia (and there are lots of variations within that category - just like within diabetes). I have 2 friends who both cared for wives with dementia for several years before it became too much. They both went into hospital themselves due to the constant stress and neglecting themselves for their partner. But both still feel 'guilty' that they couldn't keep caring for and supporting their wife at home.
Click to expand...
Hi ianf0ster: Thank you for replying to my introduction to Diabetes UK yesterday. I never thought I would receive a response so quick and I thank you for that. Dementia to me is as bad as the big C if you know what I mean, and to watch the one you have been married to for nearly 46 years is heart breaking, to see their health deteriorate in front of you is soul destroying, sorry I'm diversing from the main subject. I'm new to Diabetes and never ever thought id ever get it until I went to my GP for an unrelated issue and the blood test results confirmed the onset of Type 2 Diabetes, I was scared to start with and I gues in a way I'm still scared of what's going to happen in the future. I'm on medication for High blood presure and High sugar levels but it's the diet I'm worried about, not knowing what I can and can not eat, what's good for me and what's not. I'm not a big person, average I surpose but I do have a very large belly which makes me look 9 months pregnant and it's causing me a lot of stress when I look in the mirror and when people poke fun at me saying "when's the baby due" that's cruel. Well, thank you for reading my thread. Stay safe. Phil.
 
Hi Phil. Welcome my friend 🙂

First of all please feel free to talk about everything, not just diabetes related. The bigger picture that makes you YOU is important.
eg I am my daughter's carer at the moment as she has some knee and mobility issues. It can in turn affect me in so many ways from physical exhaustion, mental fatigue to little time for self care which in turn affects other areas of my life including my diabetes. It all ends up intertwined.
Some folks may not have experience with dementia or being a carer but we can at least sympathise and still offer you support.
It is great that you are wanting to look at your own needs and take a little more care of yourself 🙂

As far as the diabetes is concerned, can you tell us a little about how things are going for you?
What medications (if any) are you taking for it?
What kind of diet do you have now and what steps have you taken so far to try and bring it all under control?
Do you have any idea of your blood test results from diagnosis and reviews? (it is called the hba1c test)? Has it gone down (or up) since diagnosis if you have had multiple tests?
How much room for change is there in your day to day life with dietary and exercise?
Did your doctors supply you with a blood glucose meter?

Do you have support in your local area from healthcare providers or support groups for help with being a carer?

The reason we ask is so we can generally get an idea where you are at now, how much you understand about everything and what suggestions to make.
 
Hi @Phil C DUK and a welcome from me. I am also a carer with diabetes (not for somebody with dementia) and I will ask if you have tried to find out what carer support exists in your area. If you have not, then google "carer support" and "[your local authority]" and see what turns up. Your local authority has a statutory obligation to provide carer support but like most things these days the service quality is very post code dependent. You can only try and see what happens.
 
Hi Phil,
And welcome to the forum.

It sounds like you have an awful lot on your plate with coming to terms with your own diagnosis as well as being there for your wife so it’s no shock you get low from time to time. Use this forum to vent as best suits you.
I can attest to the usefulness of this place as a sounding board or even as a safe space to just release feelings and emotions into when necessary as I’ve certainly done that over the last two years since my diagnosis.
Yes we’ve all got the D connection but more than that is that we’re all human and even though we’re online the support here for each other is genuine and invaluable. Hopefully as you stick around and get to know the characters here you’ll feel the same.
 
gll said:
Hi Phil. Welcome my friend 🙂

First of all please feel free to talk about everything, not just diabetes related. The bigger picture that makes you YOU is important.
eg I am my daughter's carer at the moment as she has some knee and mobility issues. It can in turn affect me in so many ways from physical exhaustion, mental fatigue to little time for self care which in turn affects other areas of my life including my diabetes. It all ends up intertwined.
Some folks may not have experience with dementia or being a carer but we can at least sympathise and still offer you support.
It is great that you are wanting to look at your own needs and take a little more care of yourself 🙂

As far as the diabetes is concerned, can you tell us a little about how things are going for you?
What medications (if any) are you taking for it?
What kind of diet do you have now and what steps have you taken so far to try and bring it all under control?
Do you have any idea of your blood test results from diagnosis and reviews? (it is called the hba1c test)? Has it gone down (or up) since diagnosis if you have had multiple tests?
How much room for change is there in your day to day life with dietary and exercise?
Did your doctors supply you with a blood glucose meter?

Do you have support in your local area from healthcare providers or support groups for help with being a carer?

The reason we ask is so we can generally get an idea where you are at now, how much you understand about everything and what suggestions to make.
Click to expand...
Hi there, thank you for allowing me to be your friend, that means a great deal to me. Things are ok with me at the moment but I'm not kidding myself that it will get better because we all know that Dementia is nasty and eats and distroys the brain which is not a pleasent thing, never the less I will always care and be there for my wife as she slowly gets worse with this terrible disease. It is as you say very exhausting and mentally draining which is affecting my health as I dont seem to have any time to myself as I'm caring for my wife virtually 24/7, its begining to be so that I cant waitcose meter for my wife to go to sleep at night so I dont have to worry so much for her and I can relax a little so I'm having a lot of sleepless nights trying to stay awake and do a few things I want to do.
The medication I'm taking is Zicron/Gliclazide 40mg once daily my diet is a bit mixed up, I'm not really eating a healthy diet which I know I should be, I love curries, fish and chips maybe once a week, I do have a healthy breakfast of cereals most mornings but I do have the od cheese and onion pasty between meals. I really must learn more self control where my eating habbits are cocerned. Sorry I dont know anything about hba1c test. There's not a lot if any room for change in my life re exercise, I have recently had an hip replacment which restricts me from doing any exercises but I do try and get out with my wife in her wheelchair for walks. My GP has not given me a blood glucose meter although I did ask if I could have one but was told it wasnt really necessary for me to be taking blood tests at home, ( I would like one just to see how I'm doing ) I do have the number to Social Services in my area should I feel the need to call them which I'm now considering getting in touch with. I hope this thread helps you to know me a bit better and my situation. Phil.
 
My wife is a paranoid schizophrenic which has made things very tough in our marriage. She does seem somewhat better at the moment but it comes in waves. So I do understand the strain you are under, "24 / 7 / 365". No support too.

Thankfully my own diabetes seems to have retreated somewhat following a determined change of lifestyle, diet, exercise, you name it....and I feel and look better for it.

Please feel free to ask, say, rant as you want/need to. This is a remarkably friendly and informed place. Just chat about anything ! Doesn't seem to have to be diabetes related all the time.
 
🙂 thank you for supplying the info. I know it was a lot of questions.

I would consider calling social services or like @Docb suggested, find out what services are available to you for some support.
Even if you are coping now, it will be easier to have growing and adaptive support in place as your and your wife's need change.
Maybe they can help find groups that will take your wife out for the day and allow you a little bit of downtime to recoup and regenerate.
How can you take care of your wife if you aren't taken care of. (easier said than done, I know but keep telling yourself that).

I also take gliclazide and your GP should have given you a meter based on that alone. It does come with a risk of hypo (low blood sugar) and you should be able to monitor you bloods at home.
Speaking of hypos, has your health team explained this risk and do you understand what to do etc? (again most folks here can help explain).
It might be an oversight on their part.
A lot of type 2 folks self fund their meters. Most are inexpensive but the cost of the testing strips is ongoing and they range from £8.50-£20 per pot of 50.
The gluco navii and the spirit tee2 meters are the recommended ones for cost effectiveness.
I would ask again for one from your GP as they will put the strips on a repeat prescription for you if they say yes and save you money etc. (make sure to mention hypo risk when asking).
Failing that, order one if you feel like the cost is worth it to you (most here will say it is the best money well spent).

The other benefit of having a meter is to see how your body responds to food.
The usual thought process for a diabetic's diet is cut out sugar. While that is important, carbs are a issue entirely.
If you get a meter, someone can explain more on what to do with testing foods (don't want to overload you with info here).
Everyone has different tolerances and different foods effect everyone to different degrees (sorry it has to be complicated right?) so it is worth finding out what works for YOU.

Diet wise, be mindful of carbs.
Reducing pasta, rice, bread and potatoes is a great start (and those pasties and cereals too I'm afraid).
Proteins, veg and healthy fats are more easily tolerated and less likely to impact your bg.
I'm sure more people will come in with a bunch of suggestions.
Do you find you eat the way you do as a comfort thing or you just grab and go out of convenience?

Exercise wise, pushing the wheelchair is pretty darn good exercise.
If you want to mix it up a little, try looking on youtube for some exercise routines aimed at elderly folks that can be done from a sitting position if that would make it easier on your hip. (I'm doing that with my 20 year old daughter, its not the age part I am suggesting it for). Maybe your wife would join in too and you could have some fun and silliness 😉
 
gll said:
🙂 thank you for supplying the info. I know it was a lot of questions.

I would consider calling social services or like @Docb suggested, find out what services are available to you for some support.
Even if you are coping now, it will be easier to have growing and adaptive support in place as your and your wife's need change.
Maybe they can help find groups that will take your wife out for the day and allow you a little bit of downtime to recoup and regenerate.
How can you take care of your wife if you aren't taken care of. (easier said than done, I know but keep telling yourself that).

I also take gliclazide and your GP should have given you a meter based on that alone. It does come with a risk of hypo (low blood sugar) and you should be able to monitor you bloods at home.
Speaking of hypos, has your health team explained this risk and do you understand what to do etc? (again most folks here can help explain).
It might be an oversight on their part.
A lot of type 2 folks self fund their meters. Most are inexpensive but the cost of the testing strips is ongoing and they range from £8.50-£20 per pot of 50.
The gluco navii and the spirit tee2 meters are the recommended ones for cost effectiveness.
I would ask again for one from your GP as they will put the strips on a repeat prescription for you if they say yes and save you money etc. (make sure to mention hypo risk when asking).
Failing that, order one if you feel like the cost is worth it to you (most here will say it is the best money well spent).

The other benefit of having a meter is to see how your body responds to food.
The usual thought process for a diabetic's diet is cut out sugar. While that is important, carbs are a issue entirely.
If you get a meter, someone can explain more on what to do with testing foods (don't want to overload you with info here).
Everyone has different tolerances and different foods effect everyone to different degrees (sorry it has to be complicated right?) so it is worth finding out what works for YOU.

Diet wise, be mindful of carbs.
Reducing pasta, rice, bread and potatoes is a great start (and those pasties and cereals too I'm afraid).
Proteins, veg and healthy fats are more easily tolerated and less likely to impact your bg.
I'm sure more people will come in with a bunch of suggestions.
Do you find you eat the way you do as a comfort thing or you just grab and go out of convenience?

Exercise wise, pushing the wheelchair is pretty darn good exercise.
If you want to mix it up a little, try looking on youtube for some exercise routines aimed at elderly folks that can be done from a sitting position if that would make it easier on your hip. (I'm doing that with my 20 year old daughter, its not the age part I am suggesting it for). Maybe your wife would join in too and you could have some fun and silliness 😉
Click to expand...
Wow!! you are so helpful. Ok, from now on I'm going to cut out the rice, pasties, and cereals. Can you give me any surgestions of what is a healthy breakfast as I wont be eating cereals anymore? Main meal I'm thinking maybe salads with chicken or fish, and fruit if I'm peckish between meals. Sorry I dont mean to treat you like a dietitian. Phil.
 
I'll echo all that @gll has said and would also encourage you to contact social services sooner than later. If you think that diabetes is a bit of a minefield then you might find navigating your way round the social care system a lot harder. The sooner you start the process the better.
 
Docb said:
I'll echo all that @gll has said and would also encourage you to contact social services sooner than later. If you think that diabetes is a bit of a minefield then you might find navigating your way round the social care system a lot harder. The sooner you start the process the better.
Click to expand...
Hi there, many thanks for your thread and interest in me as a newbi. I will get in touch with Social Services and see what they say and what they can offer in way of any help and surport. Phil.
 
greek yogurt is a good option for brekkie with some berries (better choice for fruit - tropical fruits tend to be tad much).
Eggs are pretty awesome too.
If I am in a hurry I sometimes grab some sliced cold meat from the fridge. Whatever works for you really.

It is a good idea to start changes one meal at a time and breakfast is an ideal place to start.

There is a thread on here where folks post what they ate that day that might give you some more ideas.
HERE
 
Hi and welcome from me too.

You have had lots of good advice already. As regards breakfast, many of us have full fat Greek style natural yoghurt with a few berries (rasps, blackberries, blackcurrants strawberries and blueberries.... most supermarkets do a bag of frozen mixed berries. I get "Summer Berries" from Lidl or their packs of rasps or sour cherries) as these are the lowest carb fruits and it is important to be aware that fruits also contain sugar, so limiting portion size and type of fruit can be helpful diabetes wise.... Exotic fruits like bananas and mangos and pineapples etc are all pretty high in carbs so best kept as a very special treat. I tend to half a banana and have half one day and the other half the next, but it may be only a few times a year that I treat myself in that way.... It really makes you appreciate such a simple treat when you only have it on rare occasions.
Anyway, back to breakfast yoghurt with berries and usually some mixed seeds and/or chopped nuts, I have a sprinkle of cinnamon because I like it. Another option is eggs whichever way you like them. An omelette works well for me and I can mix up the fillings for variety. Usually mushrooms and onion and almost always cheese. I usually have it with a side salad and a big dollop of coleslaw (usually cheese coleslaw.... again full fat rather than reduced fat)
Bacon and eggs can also be back on the menu or a full English but remember that bread and toast needs to be restricted.

Because you are on Gliclazide which basically encourages your body to produce more insulin to deal with your high Blood Glucose (BG) levels, you need to reduce your carb intake slowly rather than cut everything out at once and definitely go back to your GP and mention that Gliclazide can cause hypos and especially as you are a carer for your wife so you need to be able to monitor for hypos. You should always carry something sweet to treat a hypo wherever you are just in case. Many of us use jelly babies or Dextrose tablets which can be bought from most large supermarkets or pharmacies. 3 jelly babies or 3-4 Dextrose tablets is the recommended treatment if your BG levels fall below 4. You will usually feel shaky and your heart rate will increase, you may get tingly lips or tongue and your vision may become blurry or sparkly and you might break out in a cold sweat. Hypo symptoms vary from person to person. The important thing is to be able to test as soon as you feel a bit "not right" and treat as soon as possible.
I suspect your BG levels are currently quite high for them to have started you on Gliclazide straight away so it is extremely unlikely that you are at risk of a hypo at this stage, but dietary changes can be much more powerful than the medication so the combination of the two could drop you too low, which is why making slow steady changes to your diet will be important. Maybe just focus on breakfast for now and keep everything else the same for a week or two. We tend to be more insulin resistant i the morning so having a lower carb breakfast can make a significant difference to the whole day.

Anyway, I am very conscious that it is all very overwhelming when you are first diagnosed but you will soon get the hand of it and I would just like to say that there are quite a few of us here who are now slimmer, fitter and healthier than we have been for many years as a result of our diabetes diagnosis, because it gave us the impetus to change things that we knew needed to be addressed but were putting off or ignoring. So it doesn't have to be all bad news. Stick with us and we will do our best to support you and steer you in the right direction.
 
Phil C DUK said:
Wow!! you are so helpful. Ok, from now on I'm going to cut out the rice, pasties, and cereals. Can you give me any surgestions of what is a healthy breakfast as I wont be eating cereals anymore? Main meal I'm thinking maybe salads with chicken or fish, and fruit if I'm peckish between meals. Sorry I dont mean to treat you like a dietitian. Phil.
Click to expand...
I am new but I have had good advice from this forum. Breakfast - I like eggs. Say two eggs and some tomato? Two eggs and 50g fried mushrooms? Try eggs fried, poached or scrambled.
Greek yogurt (un sweetened, not the low fat one) and some berries or a tiny sprinkle of oats is also good.
Cheese is ok too. try two slices of cheese, with some slices of ham and a tomato. You can try an app to record things on a smart phone if you are up with that or just read the info on the back. I gather from the gurus on here that you need to keep below 130g of carbs.

I bought my own meter after being told what to buy on the forum. V useful.
 
Phil C DUK said:
Hi there, many thanks for your thread and interest in me as a newbi. I will get in touch with Social Services and see what they say and what they can offer in way of any help and surport. Phil.
Click to expand...
Your first aim is to get a carers assessment organised and completed. This involves sitting down with somebody and going through a lot of stuff, in particular identifying what you need to help you cope. This can be anything from practical stuff to make domestic things easier to organising contact with local support groups to give you a bit of respite. It might sound a bit beaurocratic but it will make sure you do not get short shrift from some overworked, inexperienced, social worker trying to deal with your query in a couple of phone calls because they are under pressure not to take on any more casework.

Where you get to is all down to the county council and the amount of money they are prepared to allocate to carer services. Some councils are more enlightened than others. They realise that informal carers like you, me, Gwynn and Ed Davey (the Lib Dem leader) are the backbone of the care system and supporting them avoids an awful lot of people going into the relatively expensive formal care system. Others are so strapped for cash they only pay lip service to providing the services required by statute.

Hope you live in one of the better ones.
 
Docb said:
Your first aim is to get a carers assessment organised and completed. This involves sitting down with somebody and going through a lot of stuff, in particular identifying what you need to help you cope. This can be anything from practical stuff to make domestic things easier to organising contact with local support groups to give you a bit of respite. It might sound a bit beaurocratic but it will make sure you do not get short shrift from some overworked, inexperienced, social worker trying to deal with your query in a couple of phone calls because they are under pressure not to take on any more casework.

Where you get to is all down to the county council and the amount of money they are prepared to allocate to carer services. Some councils are more enlightened than others. They realise that informal carers like you, me, Gwynn and Ed Davey (the Lib Dem leader) are the backbone of the care system and supporting them avoids an awful lot of people going into the relatively expensive formal care system. Others are so strapped for cash they only pay lip service to providing the services required by statute.

Hope you live in one of the better ones.
Click to expand...
Thanks Docb, I will keep you informed of what the out come of the Social Services will do to help me out.
 
Welcome to the forum @Phil C DUK

Good to have you here 🙂
 
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