Alison Carr
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi again - I went for my review with the diabetic nurse this morning - hoping to get all my previous blood test results, as well as seeing what she thought of my efforts to keep my blood sugar levels down in order that I won't have to start diabetes medication Metaformin.
Well for starters I have lost 10 lbs in weight (been finding my way with the LOW CARB/HIGH FAT/no added sugar 'way of life for nearly 4 weeks now). The only blood test results she actually had were for last June (2015) of HbA1c of 58mmol/L; she referred to the test results having got so much worse by April/May this year - but said there were no figures noted!!!??? Yet she said my haemoglobin levels were 103/4 and okay. ??? In that respect I am still confused so will just have to wait until the end of August and the next test.
Anyway, she was impressed with my improved blood glucose readings from the meter, and said at this rate I won't need to go on Metaformin, but she said it wasn't worth doing another test until August (when I will have the last 3 months actually on this change of life eating style to see how it has done for me). Can't really argue with that I suppose.
She asked about the previous hieghtened chlorestrol reading - asking if I still refused Statins (I do). The most recent lecture I listened to said that "Statins were the most useless medication ever created by man", helping only 1 in 140 people. Therefore I have no wish to go that way; I have heard of many of the bad side effects also! This LC/HF way of life should lower chloresterol and blood pressure, as well as blood glucose, so I'm not for statins at this point.
Granted when I have been on this LC/HF life for over 10 weeks I should be better able to see how much I have improved all round. I am still learning what foods to eat etc., but obviously I am going in the right direction; still much to learn about the right foodstuffs and the technical side of things though. My meter readings were mostly: +9 to + 11 in the first two weeks using the meter (the 2nd and 3rd week of the change to LC/HF), and this week they are coming down to mostly 6+ to 7+ - with the odd 8 or 9+ at times so hopefully this is good for the 4th week of my change of eating habits.
Granted not everyone could/or would want to go down to 50-60 carbs per day; it's not for everyone; but I will stick with it. I am mostly NOT hungry (if I've got the right sort of food to eat), and one soon loses the cravings for sweets and chocolate (I find). I love my cheese snacks or strawberries and full cream, and my full fat natural yoghurts with seeds/chopped nuts and berries. So for someone starting out on the LC/HF way of life - I can say it is indeed working for me so far. Hope you find it works for you and your diabetes team are supportive.
The doctors practice did provide me with a blood glucose monitor and the nurse said I could probably have 100 test strips per months; that most people weren't bothered to 'self-check' - just left that sort of thing to her. As I am trying to take control over my blood sugars she was quite happy for me to do that, and could see the point of my testing before/after breakfast and dinner so as to see which foods send my blood sugar up (lunch is always the same each day for me so no need to test that each day). I have also bought one of the Codefree Meters as they are the cheapest stips to buy for oneself. The nurse did try to fit me in with an appointment with the dietician - but she is only available on certain days in the afternoon, and I work 6 afternoons a week! She also offered to re-send a request for me to join the 'Desmond Program' (2 sessions am., afternoon or evenings), so I said yes please.
I bought the book 'The First Year; Type 2 Diabetes' by Gretchen Becker and am wading my way through it when I have a spare minute. It is very helpful, but as she says - there are bits I will have to go back to and study further.
Well for starters I have lost 10 lbs in weight (been finding my way with the LOW CARB/HIGH FAT/no added sugar 'way of life for nearly 4 weeks now). The only blood test results she actually had were for last June (2015) of HbA1c of 58mmol/L; she referred to the test results having got so much worse by April/May this year - but said there were no figures noted!!!??? Yet she said my haemoglobin levels were 103/4 and okay. ??? In that respect I am still confused so will just have to wait until the end of August and the next test.
Anyway, she was impressed with my improved blood glucose readings from the meter, and said at this rate I won't need to go on Metaformin, but she said it wasn't worth doing another test until August (when I will have the last 3 months actually on this change of life eating style to see how it has done for me). Can't really argue with that I suppose.
She asked about the previous hieghtened chlorestrol reading - asking if I still refused Statins (I do). The most recent lecture I listened to said that "Statins were the most useless medication ever created by man", helping only 1 in 140 people. Therefore I have no wish to go that way; I have heard of many of the bad side effects also! This LC/HF way of life should lower chloresterol and blood pressure, as well as blood glucose, so I'm not for statins at this point.
Granted when I have been on this LC/HF life for over 10 weeks I should be better able to see how much I have improved all round. I am still learning what foods to eat etc., but obviously I am going in the right direction; still much to learn about the right foodstuffs and the technical side of things though. My meter readings were mostly: +9 to + 11 in the first two weeks using the meter (the 2nd and 3rd week of the change to LC/HF), and this week they are coming down to mostly 6+ to 7+ - with the odd 8 or 9+ at times so hopefully this is good for the 4th week of my change of eating habits.
Granted not everyone could/or would want to go down to 50-60 carbs per day; it's not for everyone; but I will stick with it. I am mostly NOT hungry (if I've got the right sort of food to eat), and one soon loses the cravings for sweets and chocolate (I find). I love my cheese snacks or strawberries and full cream, and my full fat natural yoghurts with seeds/chopped nuts and berries. So for someone starting out on the LC/HF way of life - I can say it is indeed working for me so far. Hope you find it works for you and your diabetes team are supportive.
The doctors practice did provide me with a blood glucose monitor and the nurse said I could probably have 100 test strips per months; that most people weren't bothered to 'self-check' - just left that sort of thing to her. As I am trying to take control over my blood sugars she was quite happy for me to do that, and could see the point of my testing before/after breakfast and dinner so as to see which foods send my blood sugar up (lunch is always the same each day for me so no need to test that each day). I have also bought one of the Codefree Meters as they are the cheapest stips to buy for oneself. The nurse did try to fit me in with an appointment with the dietician - but she is only available on certain days in the afternoon, and I work 6 afternoons a week! She also offered to re-send a request for me to join the 'Desmond Program' (2 sessions am., afternoon or evenings), so I said yes please.
I bought the book 'The First Year; Type 2 Diabetes' by Gretchen Becker and am wading my way through it when I have a spare minute. It is very helpful, but as she says - there are bits I will have to go back to and study further.
