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thumper_ke

thumper_ke

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
2 weeks diagnosed type 2 :confused:
Still trying to take it all in
 
Hi thumper_ke, welcome to the forum 🙂 How did you come to be diagnosed? Have you been given any medication for your diabetes?

Glad you have found us, hopefully we can help calm your fears and help to clarify any questions you may have! There is a lot of information to take in at first, but try to take things one step at a time and please ask if there is something you don't understand or are not sure of - nothing is considered 'silly'. A good place to start is by reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter - these will give you an idea of what it is all about, plus I would highly recommend getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker.

Have you been given a blood testing meter and advice about diet?
 
Nothing as yet. Have the Dr next Tues when she is going to tell me all about it!
Her reasoning was she didn't want to overload me with new stuff over Christmas and the New Year, and that was the first appointment I could get.

Just feeling a lil woolley at the mo.
 
thumper_ke said:
Nothing as yet. Have the Dr next Tues when she is going to tell me all about it!
Her reasoning was she didn't want to overload me with new stuff over Christmas and the New Year, and that was the first appointment I could get.

Just feeling a lil woolley at the mo.
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Sounds like a sensible approach. Many people find that their diagnosis and the consequent modifications they make to their diet and activity levels lead them to become happier, fitter and healthier than they have been for some time - it's a condition that can be managed well, with a little application to keep things on track, so try not to worry 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum thumper_ke 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum 🙂
 
Thanks for the responses. Am so new to this, but looking at all those menus makes me kinda hungry.
Still confusing what I need to be looking at.
Is it the Energy values, or the Carbohydrates which sugars value that I need to be keeping a watch on?
 
thumper_ke said:
Thanks for the responses. Am so new to this, but looking at all those menus makes me kinda hungry.
Still confusing what I need to be looking at.
Is it the Energy values, or the Carbohydrates which sugars value that I need to be keeping a watch on?
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The main thing to look out for is the carbs in general, since all carbs convert to glucose and raise blood glucose levels. The proportion of carbs that is sugar will have an effect on how quickly the carbs are converted, and how steep the rise in levels may be - something with a high proportion of sugar will raise levels quicker than something which is relatively low-sugar. BUT you also need to watch out for white flour products as white flour will raise levels as quickly as pure sugar!

Most people try to follow the principles of the Glycaemic Index, which is a measure of how quickly a food will convert to glucose - a high GI food will convert more quickly than a low GI, so you need to try and keep meals low GI. I found The GL Diet for Dummies to be a good introduction to the princiles of GI and a more practical version of it called 'Glycaemic Load' (GL), so worth a look 🙂 You also need to take care with the total amount of carbs you consume, so it is worth keeping a food diary so you can see places where you might be able to reduce or replace carbs with a lower carb alternative. 🙂
 
HbA1c: 9.9%
Metformin 2000mg/d
Simvastatin 40mg/d
 
thumper_ke said:
HbA1c: 9.9%
Metformin 2000mg/d
Simvastatin 40mg/d
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Hi thumper_ke, are you being asked to work up to the full dose of metformin? Most people start by taking 500mg for a week, then 1000, and so on so they can build up a tolerance for it. It can have some side-effects (wind, especially!), so be prepared! If you find you really can't tolerate it well there is a slow-release version that is better for some people, but most people can tolerate the ordinary tablets after a few weeks.

Again, with the simvastatin - are you being asked to build up to the full dose? These can also have side-effects, so be sure to let your doctor know if you think you are getting some as there are alternatives you can take. Read the Patient Information leaflets that come with the medicines so you know what to look out for.

I'm sure your HbA1c will start coming down as you start to make adjustments to your diet and activity levels, and the metformin kicks in 🙂

Let us know if we can help with anything 🙂
 
starting the metformin at 500mg until no side effect (Dr is hoping couple of days) then adding in 1 extra tablet and waiting again for possible side effects to subside until finally up to full dose.

Simvastatin is 1 tablet at night (no grapefruit juice) tablet is 40mg each
 
thumper_ke said:
starting the metformin at 500mg until no side effect (Dr is hoping couple of days) then adding in 1 extra tablet and waiting again for possible side effects to subside until finally up to full dose.

Simvastatin is 1 tablet at night (no grapefruit juice) tablet is 40mg each
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The reason for the grapefruit juice ban is that it contains an enzyme that can enhance the effect of the statin, which can be dangerous. Hope don't suffer with side-effects 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum from another Oxonian. I'm glad you found this forum so quickly, it took me 2 years to come across it.

I was on the same metformin dose and this was reduced when my levels improved.

Like you I had to build my way up to the full dose. Only issue I had on the 2000 dose was a "bit of" wind and a few dodgy tummy days. Then everything settled.

Don't be surprised if you also receive a letter shortly from the Oxford eye hospital. Nothing to be alarmed over but when I was diagnosed I also had to undergo a "Retinopathy test" to check the health of your eyes.

Once you get your letter you just book up with 1 of the listed opticians near to where you live. You have this test once a year. This for me is the only 1 I don't do at my local health centre.

I also found I wasn't told about the 4 hour workshop available to you which goes over the basics of Type 2 and diet/exercise etc. It may be a bit early yet with everything you are coming to terms with, but once you feel able to, I would recommend you ask your GP to nominate you.

Take care
Lynne
 
Already had the eye letter in. Appt booked at my local surgery for the 25th Jan. was so surprised when it arrived, and Hazel on the telephone is so friendly.🙂
 
Well, we are now up to the full dose. The slight side effects are manageable, and since Christmas I have now lost 8lb. Result!
 
thumper_ke said:
Well, we are now up to the full dose. The slight side effects are manageable, and since Christmas I have now lost 8lb. Result!
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Terrific news! Well done! Great that you are not suffering too much from the side-effects 🙂
 
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