I’m Natasha

[tashcoleman19]

Hello, I’m Natasha, I’m 41 and just under 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes!
I’ve got medication, I’m on metformin tablets. The doctor told me how to take them and that’s all I’ve heard from them. Haven’t heard anything from the diabetic nurse yet so am relying on my own information finding.
I’m extremely over weight, almost 24st and 5ft I'm following SlimmingWorld but not getting anywhere at the moment.
Since finding out I’ve been a bit all over the place.
Im hoping I can get this weight off and my diabetes under control.

 

[trophywench]

Hi Tash! As long as the diet reduces the amount of carbohydrate you eat it will help reduce your blood glucose, if it doesn't it won't. Metformin can not reduce it directly, but it can assist your body to use the insulin your pancreas is producing, better and hence, reduce the amount that's floating about with nowhere to go.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hello, I’m Natasha, I’m 41 and just under 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes!
I’ve got medication, I’m on metformin tablets. The doctor told me how to take them and that’s all I’ve heard from them. Haven’t heard anything from the diabetic nurse yet so am relying on my own information finding.
I’m extremely over weight, almost 24st and 5ft I'm following SlimmingWorld but not getting anywhere at the moment.
Since finding out I’ve been a bit all over the place.
Im hoping I can get this weight off and my diabetes under control.

I don't know if you mean Slimming World ready meals but there is quite comprehensive nutritional information on those so you could choose those with lower carbohydrates or have half a portion and bulk out with lots of green and leafy vegetables. If you are cooking their recipes from scratch then be aware of how much carbohydrate they contain. You need to look at the total carbs not the sugars on traffic light labelling system. Remember Slimming World is not primarily designed for a diabetic diet. But if it works for you to lose weight that will also help your blood glucose levels.
It would be useful if you kept a food diary so you can get an idea of how much carbohydrate you are currently having and identify where you could reduce them by making lower carb substitutions.
I also recommend the book or app Carbs and Cals which gives the carb values for a whole range of foods with portion sizes to give a good guidance for meals.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @tashcoleman19

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Feeling overwhelmed is quite natural in the beginning, but diabetes is generally a slow-moving foe, so you have plenty of time to adjust, adapt and experiment.

It’s good that you have identified your weight gain as something you want to tackle, and that you’ve started on a weight loss programme. Hopefully you will begin to see some positive results soon, or be able to adapt and adjust the approach to suit both your weight loss goals and also your blood glucose levels.

One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. So alongside the calorie reduction of Weight Watchers it will be helpful for your body to consider the choices in your meal plan that have lower carbohydrate portions, or to make some swaps and changes to the meals to reduce carb load.

You might find some helpful hints, tips, and some encouragement in our Weight Loss group.

The Weight Loss Group

This forum is for people seeking support and encouragement, tips and stories about ways to shed the pounds and help manage their diabetes

forum.diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.

Good luck, keep asking questions, and let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[Toucan]

Im hoping I can get this weight off and my diabetes under control.

Hello Natasha and welcome to the forum.

There are some good routes to getting your diabetes under control, and many of us on the forum have succeeded in this. There will be some ups and downs along the way, but we are all here to help and share the experiences that have got us through.
There is no 'one size fits all' solution though, and you need to take your time and find what is right for you and is sustainable for the long term.
If you want to read how someone else went about it, then take a look at (2) Maggie Davey's letter to newly-diagnosed Type 2s | Diabetes UK.

Best wishes and please ask any questions and let us know how things are going for you.