Hi my name’s Bop. I have type 2 diabetes which is currently uncontrolled. I haven’t really had much support from my go other than 6 monthly routine checks. I’ve just been given a blood sugar monitor after asking for 3 years. I’m so happy to join these forums for support and friendship.
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- Thread starter Bop
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rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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Hi Bop and welcome
Congratulations on getting a BG meter from your GP. Hopefully they are also prescribing test strips. Do you have a testing strategy to use it effectively to manage your levels?
Can you tell us a bit more about your diabetes, like how you came to be diagnosed. I see that it was 3 years ago but were you symptomatic or just discovered via a routine blood test? It is helpful to know what if any medication you are on and what adjustments you have made to your diet so far?
Also, do you know your most recent HbA1c result?
The forum is great for support and advice and I would not be managing my diabetes anywhere near as effectively if I had not joined, (to say nothing of my sanity although that is still questionable 😉 ), so I hope you find it equally beneficial.
Congratulations on getting a BG meter from your GP. Hopefully they are also prescribing test strips. Do you have a testing strategy to use it effectively to manage your levels?
Can you tell us a bit more about your diabetes, like how you came to be diagnosed. I see that it was 3 years ago but were you symptomatic or just discovered via a routine blood test? It is helpful to know what if any medication you are on and what adjustments you have made to your diet so far?
Also, do you know your most recent HbA1c result?
The forum is great for support and advice and I would not be managing my diabetes anywhere near as effectively if I had not joined, (to say nothing of my sanity although that is still questionable 😉 ), so I hope you find it equally beneficial.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @Bop
It is good that your GP has given you a test kit.
Was there any advice about how to make effective use of the testing.
Many on here find it helpful to test both before a meal and then again 2 hours after a meal.
These results along with records of the amount of carbs you have eaten, can help you to make some changes to your diet and/or portion sizes, in order to get to a level which your body can cope with.
Diabetes is not one size fits all. The common thing is that we all need insulin to process the carbs that we eat. With diabetes we don’t have enough (or any in the case of T1) so we need to match the carbs to the insulin available. There is lots of advice on here so have a good read, and do ask any questions that you have.
It is good that your GP has given you a test kit.
Was there any advice about how to make effective use of the testing.
Many on here find it helpful to test both before a meal and then again 2 hours after a meal.
These results along with records of the amount of carbs you have eaten, can help you to make some changes to your diet and/or portion sizes, in order to get to a level which your body can cope with.
Diabetes is not one size fits all. The common thing is that we all need insulin to process the carbs that we eat. With diabetes we don’t have enough (or any in the case of T1) so we need to match the carbs to the insulin available. There is lots of advice on here so have a good read, and do ask any questions that you have.
Thanks to everyone for replying. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 3 years ago from a routine blood test. I was put on meteor in but had side effects so was changed to ligaliptin ? which has been fine. My HbA1c has risen from 94 to the latest reading of 101. I struggle with craving sweet foods and my diet hasn’t been good. I was referred to the diabetic nurse who has suggested I start on an injection (begins with a v) that works by stopping you feeling hungry. I have read up on it and am not happy with side effects so am looking to try an alternative. I have had no support regarding diet or anything else except for 6 monthly routine checks. Over the past week my morning readings have been between 11.5 and 15 and 2 hours after food between 15 and 20.5. This is really scary. I hope to get support from this forum.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
The good news is that the less sweet stuff you eat, the less you will crave it.
You can swop lower carb foods for the carby or sugary stuff, often with little bother, make yourself some low carb alternatives by doing a bit of baking, and that has a pretty rapid effect on your blood glucose levels.
You can swop lower carb foods for the carby or sugary stuff, often with little bother, make yourself some low carb alternatives by doing a bit of baking, and that has a pretty rapid effect on your blood glucose levels.
Thanks everyone, you’re all so helpful and kind, and non-judgemental. I have felt so ashamed of my sugar craving but it seems so easy to talk about it here and to get the advice and support I need. I wish I’d found the forum before, but better late than never
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
There are lots of nuts you can eat - walnuts, hazelnuts, brazils, almonds. If you crave them with chocolate then Lidl do a high cocoa chocolate which you could melt and use to coat the nuts - or grate it into cream or yoghurt, as it is fairly low carb.
Hi has anyone ever tried hypnotherapy? I’m thinking about it to help with my cravings. This is a new area for me and I don’t want to get into something that is not good. I don’t think hypnotherapist need to be registered so that’s the bit that worries me.
Feeling better today. What a difference, I’m human again, at least for now
Feeling better today. What a difference, I’m human again, at least for now
Getting over sugar/carb cravings is rather like stopping smoking.
There are 3 possible ways to do it:
1. Fast - just give up and use determination until the craving goes away. This worked for me with sugar in tea, when allowing some forgiveness for occasional fails - my taste eventually changed.
2. Cut down bit by bit until effectively you have given up. My mother quit smoking this way.
3. Use a substitute - but in some cases this can get to be as big a problem as the original one. For example my dad started eating lots of sweets when he tried to stop smoking. Each time his increasing weight and shortening temper made him start smoking again.
There are 3 possible ways to do it:
1. Fast - just give up and use determination until the craving goes away. This worked for me with sugar in tea, when allowing some forgiveness for occasional fails - my taste eventually changed.
2. Cut down bit by bit until effectively you have given up. My mother quit smoking this way.
3. Use a substitute - but in some cases this can get to be as big a problem as the original one. For example my dad started eating lots of sweets when he tried to stop smoking. Each time his increasing weight and shortening temper made him start smoking again.
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