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Rick1969

Rick1969

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi

I'm new here and I have just found out I have diabetes type 2. This has come as a shock to me and to say the least I am having problems getting my head around it and am feeling a bit scared as I am a bit of a woos at the best of times. Then there is the issue of diet and I keep wondering why it's happening to me on top of my back pain and waiting for gastric surgery.
 
Hi Rick, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it can be very worrying, but fortunately diabetes is a disease where the risks and problems can be greatly diminished by some hard work, patience and gradually building up your knowledge of how best to manage your blood sugar levels. I'd suggest starting by looking at the links in our 'Useful Links' thread, and also try and get hold of a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker - an excellent introduction that is highly recommended by many of our members.

Please feel free to ask anything that mayu be concerning you - nothing is considered 'silly', and there is usually someone around who can help put your mind at ease or clarify things for you 🙂 Are you on any medication?
 
Welcome the forum Rick you will be going through every emotion at the moment I can remember feeling like that when I was first diagnosed. But 10 months down the line I am now feeling healthier and fitter than I have for a very long time.

The book that Northerner recommend in his message is really good and explains things really well.

This forum is a great place to come for help and support 🙂
 
Welcome to the forums Rick 🙂
 
Northerner said:
Are you on any medication?
Click to expand...

I'm on Gliclazide 160 mg twice a day for two weeks, 80 mg twice a day for the next two weeks and finally 40 mg twice a day for two weeks. I am also on Metformin 500 mg once a day for two weeks, 500 mg twice a day for two weeks then I will be on 850 mg two times a day.

Thank you for the warm welcome!
 
Hi Rick. Welcome 🙂

Rob
 
Welcome to the forum, Rick.

When I was diagnosed in Oct2009, I was fortunate to be able to attend a course run by the NHS called Diabetes X-pert. I found it gave a really good grounding into what diabetes is and how I could deal with it. Other variant courses are available too (DESMOND being one).

You might find it useful too and, if interested, check with your healthcare team whether there is anything similar run in your area.

Andy 🙂
 
It's great that you're both members. It affects everyone involved in different ways and sometimes needs more than one perspective.🙂

Keep looking forward.

Rob
 
Feeling low

Hi
i am feeling low today trying to get my head round this diet I have got to be on. I know its for my own good but it feels torture at the moment. My wife is being firm over what I eat now and it does feel like I am being punished. I am missing eating my daily choc bar as well as other things I like to eat. The trouble is I don.t like salads, it's rabbit food that does not taste all that nice to me! I suppose I have to get used to it but am having trouble dealing with this at the mo.
Any advice
please
rick
 
Rick1969 said:
Hi
i am feeling low today trying to get my head round this diet I have got to be on. I know its for my own good but it feels torture at the moment. My wife is being firm over what I eat now and it does feel like I am being punished. I am missing eating my daily choc bar as well as other things I like to eat. The trouble is I don.t like salads, it's rabbit food that does not taste all that nice to me! I suppose I have to get used to it but am having trouble dealing with this at the mo.
Any advice
please
rick
Click to expand...

Hi Rick,
Don't look at what you eat as being on a diet, but as a life style change. Aim for low sat fat and low sugar food. Write a food diary and see what you are eating and look at way you can make those little change. It all counts at the end of the day.

Remember as it is not about what you can or cant have - you can in theory have anything, but it wont help you feel better or get better. Stick to your healthy eating and then have a nice little treat say in one months time - it will give you something to look forward to. All the hard work will pay of in the end and you will be more healthy and happy. Your Mrs is doing what is right to help you and she is doing it because she loves you. Is she adopting the healthy eating as well? My hubby did / ate exactly the same as me when I was first diagnosed over 3 years ago. I lost 2 stone in weight within the first 4 months and then within another 2 months I'd lost another stone.

Stay strong and be positive, it will be hard battle, but with losts of help, love and determination you will get there.

PS sorry if I have pecked you head and it sounds like I'm nagging :D
 
Rick has read your response 🙂

Yes I am having the same diet as Rick as I need to lose weight anyway but I want to be supportive as well. I've made small changes such as not putting sugar in his coffee (I don't sweeten my hot drinks), changing the way I cook food and checking labels on packages - I don't use salt in cooking and haven't for years plus Rick doesn't add it to his food either. Fried food is a no no in our home but I have got 'treats' in such as Rich Tea biscuits as Rick likes those so monitor how many he eats. I will make sure I have a bar of chocolate hidden in case of an emergency. I will be glad when we see the dietician though to make sure I'm doing all the right things.
 
Hi Rick,

Your average chocolate bar probably contains at least 2 meals worth of carbohydrates ? I?m not sure if you would see chocolate bars in exactly the same light if it was the only thing you got to eat for lunch and supper combined! (imagine half a bar for each meal)

It doesn?t mean that you have to completely give up chocolate, as a reward for getting my BMI back into the normal range I let myself have one or two chunks of chocolate. But you do have to be self disciplined enough to stick to those one or two chunks and not the whole bar.

Salads don?t have to be boring, just remember to mix in some meat and try a range of flavours. Iceberg and those fancy lettuces are boring, I prefer Chinese leaf. Try something different! I mix courgette, carrot, lettuce, radish, sliced broccoli stalks, sliced cauliflower stalks and mushrooms in my salad for a bit or variety. You could add bell peppers (or chilli if you like). There are several different types of tomato to try. I?m no salad fan either ? but if I?m going to be eating it I?m going to find something that at least is interesting.

Yes it does depress me that I see these nice cakes and biscuits and I can?t go beyond a tiny mouthful.
 
Sounds like your making great steps, the dietitian will help and also look on the diabetesuk website - it has helpful tips on portions size etc.

Just remember it takes time, and it will all become clear. With strong will power and determination you can do it.

Me and hubby did and if I can help in away way, even if it is for a little support or someone to blow of at PM me.
 
Hi Rick and Pip welcome to the forum.

Has your GP provided you with a test meter and strips? When I was first diagnosed I found testing really helped me to realise what eating certain foods did to my blood sugar levels - also make enquiries about courses such as expert like Andy mentioned, I'm in the middle of one at the moment (called Juggle here in East Mids) and its very informative and helpful.
 
Yes I am having the same diet as Rick as I need to lose weight anyway but I want to be supportive as well. I've made small changes such as not putting sugar in his coffee (I don't sweeten my hot drinks), changing the way I cook food and checking labels on packages - I don't use salt in cooking and haven't for years plus Rick doesn't add it to his food either. Fried food is a no no in our home but I have got 'treats' in such as Rich Tea biscuits as Rick likes those so monitor how many he eats. I will make sure I have a bar of chocolate hidden in case of an emergency. I will be glad when we see the dietician though to make sure I'm doing all the right things.[/QUOTE]

Hi and welcome. On a positive note you should find that after a few weeks of not having sweet and sweetened food and drink his and your tastes will change and you will not enjoy more than a tiny portion - if any - of sweet things. In the meantime a piece of high cocoa - 70% or higher (therefore lower sugar and fat) can satisfy a craving for chocolate. I found healthy options thst I prefer to the unhealthy food I useed to consume.

Dieticians can certainly help, too.

Richard
 
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