Hiya

[Panmo]

Hiya I'm a new Type 2. Been roughly 7 weeks since I was diagnosed. My first HbA1c was 95 and now it's 70. Although I was suffering extreme tiredness and waking to wee a lot I put it down to other health problems and so did the gp who I kept asking as I really wasn't feeling right.

My eye sight went bad and at my check-up (had only been checked 7 months prior) both my eyes were a 0.75 difference. This was the point the optician told me to get a diabetes check. Thankfully gp agreed and tagged it onto my other bloods for methotrexate and Abdilimumab monitoring.

I see the nurse tomorrow and so far just been put on Metformin. Dreading what she will say as I've only lost 3.8kg in 4 weeks since seeing her.

 

[Drummer]

Diabetes is primarily about controlling blood glucose, not weight which is only a secondary consideration. You have done very well in under 2 months.

 

[Panmo]

Diabetes is primarily about controlling blood glucose, not weight which is only a secondary consideration. You have done very well in under 2 months.

She made it out like it's all my fault for being overweight. Didn't really give much advice on diet just cut out carbs but you can still eat normally. I left more confused than I went in. Sat on the info for a few weeks in denial and now I'm starting to think about things. She has me on 2x500mg morning and 2x500mg evening. Coincidentally I'm light now than before I had my last child 12 years ago and managed to maintain that weight for 2 years. Was 2 stone heavier then. Size 22 down to 18/20.

 

[Drummer]

I was diagnosed with Hba1c of 91 - working out the reductions I saw and comparing them to your results so far, you could very well be no longer diabetic at 3 months (like me) and in the normal range (41) at 6 months.
I don't think you have anything to worry about really.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Panmo

For anyone with Diabetes we are unable to process the glucose in our blood stream, due to a lack of enough (or any in the case of T1) insulin. The glucose comes fr ôm any carbohydrates that we eat. So a good starting point is to become more familiar with the amount of carbs that is in the food you are eating. The information can be gathered from packaging for food, from apps such as Carbs and Cals or from Google. If you know how many carbs you are eating, as you have Diabetes you need to eat less than you were. You could achieve this by swapping to lower carb options and or reducing portion sizes.

I cannot advise on calories as I know nothing about those, as my head is too full of carb values.

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Panmo and welcome from me as well.

I am sorry to hear that your nurse wasn't very helpful. There are many causes of Diabetes and although loosing weight will certainly help to improve your blood sugar levels, it is not the only cause.

Many of us here have faced similar situations to yourself, and although it will mean a few changes, there are good solutions that will let you find a way to controlling your blood sugars and learn to live with diabetes.
There is no 'one size fits all' though and you need to find out what works for you.
It sounds as if you have already made a good start, and it is best to take things steadily and find a solution that works for you and that you can sustain as a long term change.

What has worked for me is a reduced carb diet, and I will list some of the things that have helped me -
As well as cutting out all sugary things I seriously reduce all starchy carbs - bread, pasta,rice, potatoes etc.
I eat lots of veg, which helps me feel full - but mainly the less starchy ones that grow above the ground.
Proteins are fine and help me feel full - but I avoid processed food.
Fruit also needs to be limited as it can be high in carb, I limit to one portion a day, usually berries.
I include lots of good fats - oily fish,olive oil,avacado, nuts.
I also increased my exercise levels gradually.

You will find lots of help on the forum, and please ask any questions.
The 'Learning Zone' tab at the top of this page is also a good information source.

If you want to read about how some one else went about the changes then
(2) Maggie Davey's letter to newly-diagnosed Type 2s | Diabetes UK may be worth a read,

 

[Freddie1966]

Hiya I'm a new Type 2. Been roughly 7 weeks since I was diagnosed. My first HbA1c was 95 and now it's 70. Although I was suffering extreme tiredness and waking to wee a lot I put it down to other health problems and so did the gp who I kept asking as I really wasn't feeling right.

My eye sight went bad and at my check-up (had only been checked 7 months prior) both my eyes were a 0.75 difference. This was the point the optician told me to get a diabetes check. Thankfully gp agreed and tagged it onto my other bloods for methotrexate and Abdilimumab monitoring.

I see the nurse tomorrow and so far just been put on Metformin. Dreading what she will say as I've only lost 3.8kg in 4 weeks since seeing her.

You have lost weight, whatever the figure be proud of that

 

[Shells2909]

Your weight loss is something to be proud of, well done! It's not easy but lots of helpful advice and support on here xx

 

[Drummer]

Hang on - that is over two pounds a week - there are many diet club managers would give their eye teeth for that sort of result.

 

[Gwynn]

Yup I can confirm excactly what Toucan says here. Two things, you have to discover who you are and how you personally react to different foods (home BG testing is the key here) and for many, including myself, reducing my carb intake has helped greatly.

But there's the rub, to be able to reduce your carb intake you need to find out what foods contain in terms of nutrition (carbs mainly). Thankfully there are some great Apps out there that can help you with this.

I managed to reduce my carb intake, cut out all sugary stuff, like sweets, significantly reduce bread, rice, pasta, potatoes. Note that I did not ban any foods (except sweets), merely cut back on them.

Is it too much bother, well, not if your health is a priority, and looking at your post, you are taking this seriously.

Food actually became more of a pleasure once I had changed my diet a bit. Food started to taste sweet and, basically, delicious.

Never going back to the old ways. Now there's a mantra. I bet there's a song with that as the catch line.

Knowledge is the key and puts you back in control

 

[goodybags]

Hi @Panmo
well done in reducing your Hba1c down to 70 in only 7 weeks from initial diagnosis
plus the weight loss a great start!

it took me to many years to realise and accept for myself what I needed to do to reduce my levels.
you will find many of us kind of know what your saying about the attitude of some of the Dr’s & Nurses that should be supporting not lecturing and berating (I’ve been there)

 

[MAC2020]

Hi @Panmo, welcome to the forum and well done for your achievements so far, weight loss 2lbs+ a week and 3.8kgs in 4 weeks and your reduction in A1c in such a short time. Also dropping dress sizes. These are all milestones to be celebrated.

I empathise with you regarding unhelpful comments made by Drs and nurses. Some are better than others but bedside manner does tend to vary. When I've had rude and unsympathetic Drs I refuse to see them again. I have a choice. Also I think we can sometimes hand over too much power to these clinicians, and hang onto their every word and syllable like it's Gospel. The truth is, it's our bodies and we have agency over it, to accept or not accept what's is being said. Nobody knows my body better than I. It speaks to me daily. So it's up to me to listen to it, give it what it needs, to assist in its maintenance. Sometimes a type 2 D will have to take responsibility for where we are but we don't need rude clinicians who are there to help us instead make us feel even worse with their poor choice of words.

The good thing is once we take responsibility, we can reverse the bad habits and replace them with healthier habits that will make our bodies thrive and feel "thirty years younger". This includes stress management, being cognisant of why and when we may comfort eat.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum @Panmo Well done on the excellent weight loss, I'm looking to lose 2lbs a week myself, seems about the right amount and speed to me.