I wish I was an idiot

[williams89]

I have been diagnosed type 2 and have spent about a two weeks reading books and on forums. I'm none the wiser now than when I began. Eat carbs.
Don't eat carbs. I have purchased some urine test papers to check clucose and protine which seem to me to be important because I have bladder cancer and have bladder infections as well as frequent cystitis. I have cut out sweets biscuites cakes fried food and only eat low fat foods. I eat wholegrain seed bread. Max 2 slices daily. Weetabix,shreddies, oily fish once a week plus haddock, potatoes, tomatoes. salads, porrige. I drink two ltr of cranberry juice (light) well diluted with water daily. One coffee a day three teas a day. There is sooo much conflicting information it is making my head spin. My nurse is about as helpful as an ashtry on a motorbike. She spent about ten minuets with me and handed me a folder with the most basic of information. I read that the diet recommended by the N H S will tip a person into diabetes even if they were ok before taking their advice. So if I was an idiot I would worry less. Thank you for this opportunity to have a rant.

 

[Northerner]

Hi williams89, welcome to the forum 🙂 Good rant - you are absolutely right, there is an enormous amount of conflicting information. I think the best you can do is just take things methodically and discover what works best for you and your lifestyle. Sorry to hear that your nurse is not providing you with good support and advice - there seems to be such a huge variation in the professionalism and quality of so many healthcare staff. Is she specially trained in diabetes i.e. a DSN (diabetes specialist nurse), or just the surgery practice nurse. I think only the DSNs seem to have the sufficient depth of knowledge to consider the person and not just spout the standard, basic advice.

You seem to be doing everything right regarding your diet. Are you able to get much exercise? That should help as well. Did they tell you what your HbA1c blood test was?

Please do ask questions here - first-hand experience of other people is often far more valuable than standard medical advice in allowing you to adjust things and make improvements. You'll also find plenty of good support too!🙂

 

[Caroline]

Hi Williams89, and welcome. I try to keep up to date with the latest information too. The advice I was given by my doctor was so full of negatives I decided I'd look for the positives.

When I eventually saw a DSN she said that I had more knowledge than most people so it was little point on sending me on a course of any kind and I was better off doing as I did and working it out for myself.

On this forum, there are people with varying degrees of experience, but the advice is tried and tested. SOme things you just have to suck it and see, but we are always here...

 

[C*5_Dodger]

I have been diagnosed type 2 and have spent about a two weeks reading books and on forums. I'm none the wiser now than when I began. Eat carbs.
Don't eat carbs. I have purchased some urine test papers to check clucose and protine which seem to me to be important because I have bladder cancer and have bladder infections as well as frequent cystitis. I have cut out sweets biscuites cakes fried food and only eat low fat foods. I eat wholegrain seed bread. Max 2 slices daily. Weetabix,shreddies, oily fish once a week plus haddock, potatoes, tomatoes. salads, porrige. I drink two ltr of cranberry juice (light) well diluted with water daily. One coffee a day three teas a day. There is sooo much conflicting information it is making my head spin. My nurse is about as helpful as an ashtry on a motorbike. She spent about ten minuets with me and handed me a folder with the most basic of information. I read that the diet recommended by the N H S will tip a person into diabetes even if they were ok before taking their advice. So if I was an idiot I would worry less. Thank you for this opportunity to have a rant.

Dear williams89,

Welcome to the forum, your confusion is not uncommon. There is plenty of info' out there, the trick is finding it. As others have said, you need to learn what will work best for you, by the way, do you have a blood glucose meter?. Most people on this forum would not be without one - your DSN may be able to give you one. If you look at Diabetes UKs (DUK) web site they have a definition of type 2 diabetes: "Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance)". The upshot of this is that when you consume carbohydrate it raises your blood sugar too high (unless you only eat a small amount).

There are two ways around this:

1. Eat plenty of starchy carbs - Then take oral diabetes medicine to get rid of them or

2. Restrict your carbs - So that your blood sugar does not rise too high anyway.

The former is the advice that DUK and probably your diabetes team will give you. They will not condone the second alternative

So the choice is yours. BTW I have adopted the second approach and am still "diet controlled" after 15 years - however this approach is not easy because carbs are addictive! Also exercise is important no matter which approach you adopt!

Regards Dodger

 

[AlanJardine]

1. Eat plenty of starchy carbs - Then take oral diabetes medicine to get rid of them or

2. Restrict your carbs - So that your blood sugar does not rise too high anyway.

The former is the advice that DUK and probably your diabetes team will give you. They will not condone the second alternative

So the choice is yours. BTW I have adopted the second approach and am still "diet controlled" after 15 years - however this approach is not easy because carbs are addictive! Also exercise is important no matter which approach you adopt!

Regards Dodger

Low carbing is an approach put forward by an American Doctor name Bernstein and is rather controversial. Some people swear by the results of following his methods, others fear that it may cause other problems. I recall hearing something recently about some recent research about it but can't remember the details.

Sorry Dodger, but I find your opinion slightly biased and maybe even a little insulting to people who don't follow the low carb approach. You may cause some people to feel guilty if they have not been able to 'stay off medication' as you imply.

I know you don't believe in taking drugs, but please tell people that that is your personal opinion and not that of everyone.

In ragards to the medical profession, a lot of research has been done on various aspects of diabetes and associated conditions. Please don't be so quick to call all their work a sham (especially if it does not agree with your doctrine).

I personally dislike the Bernstein approach. It seems to have very little scientific support (in terms of clinical trials and such).
When I was first diagnosed over ten years ago, I used to frequent a newsgroup where there was a very strong proponant of low carbing. He would instantly bombard any new members with a biased tirade of how it was the only approach people should take. After a while he disappeared. When he came back, it transpired that he had had a foot amputated due to complications.

Sorry, I don't mean this to be a personal attack, but do make sure that it is clear when you are stating personal opinions.

 

[C*5_Dodger]

Low carbing is an approach put forward by an American Doctor name Bernstein and is rather controversial. Some people swear by the results of following his methods, others fear that it may cause other problems. I recall hearing something recently about some recent research about it but can't remember the details.

Sorry Dodger, but I find your opinion slightly biased and maybe even a little insulting to people who don't follow the low carb approach. You may cause some people to feel guilty if they have not been able to 'stay off medication' as you imply.

I know you don't believe in taking drugs, but please tell people that that is your personal opinion and not that of everyone.

In ragards to the medical profession, a lot of research has been done on various aspects of diabetes and associated conditions. Please don't be so quick to call all their work a sham (especially if it does not agree with your doctrine).

I personally dislike the Bernstein approach. It seems to have very little scientific support (in terms of clinical trials and such).
When I was first diagnosed over ten years ago, I used to frequent a newsgroup where there was a very strong proponant of low carbing. He would instantly bombard any new members with a biased tirade of how it was the only approach people should take. After a while he disappeared. When he came back, it transpired that he had had a foot amputated due to complications.

Sorry, I don't mean this to be a personal attack, but do make sure that it is clear when you are stating personal opinions.

Dear Alan,

I seem to have a knack of upsetting you. I thought I laid out the alternatives and then asked williams89 to choose. I don't think we should hijack this thread with anymore off topic issues. If you want to persue this further send me a PM I make no apology for having the opinions I hold I even went to the trouble of saying that the low carb option would not be condoned! BTW where did I call the medical profession a sham!

Regards Dodger

 

[katie]

Ive never heard a medical profession say do not cut down on carbs. I told my doctor that my levels were a bit better because I cut down on carbs and she said "oh, well done!". You don't have to go to the extreme that Dodger does, as this may not suit everyone. Everyone recommends a 'balanced' diet, so why should this mean a shit load of carbs and less of everything else?

 

[Steff]

hi and welcome i cant really add to what has already been said x

 

[insulinaddict09]

I have been diagnosed type 2 and have spent about a two weeks reading books and on forums. I'm none the wiser now than when I began. Eat carbs.
Don't eat carbs. I have purchased some urine test papers to check clucose and protine which seem to me to be important because I have bladder cancer and have bladder infections as well as frequent cystitis. I have cut out sweets biscuites cakes fried food and only eat low fat foods. I eat wholegrain seed bread. Max 2 slices daily. Weetabix,shreddies, oily fish once a week plus haddock, potatoes, tomatoes. salads, porrige. I drink two ltr of cranberry juice (light) well diluted with water daily. One coffee a day three teas a day. There is sooo much conflicting information it is making my head spin. My nurse is about as helpful as an ashtry on a motorbike. She spent about ten minuets with me and handed me a folder with the most basic of information. I read that the diet recommended by the N H S will tip a person into diabetes even if they were ok before taking their advice. So if I was an idiot I would worry less. Thank you for this opportunity to have a rant.

Hi Williams89 ,Welcome to the forum !! As you can see by some of the other posts , there is lots of conflicting advice given by Doctors ,DSN's and various other health Professionals 🙄 Looking over the diet you have listed it does all look healthy and balanced ... I would just say that its also about portion sizes , especially regarding Carbs.
I have found that since reducing my Carb intake I have better levels , have lost weight , I have more energy and generally feel alot healthier and not sluggish. This is a personal choice that fits my lifestyle and eating habits and is not suited to everyone though. I think a healthy balanced diet , keeping an eye on portions and exersise is the key 🙂

 

[C*5_Dodger]

Ive never heard a medical profession say do not cut down on carbs. I told my doctor that my levels were a bit better because I cut down on carbs and she so "oh, well done!". You don't have to go to the extreme that Dodger does, as this may not suit everyone. Everyone recommends a 'balanced' diet, so why should this mean a shit load of carbs and less of everything else?

Dear katie,

You're absolutely right, people may not need to restrict carbs to the level I do - we are all different. As you know, I have been controlling my carbs for over 12 years. When I first started the level of carbs that I could eat was much higher, however as beta-cell function declines the amount I can eat has diminished. What I was advocating was restricting carbs so that blood sugar does not go too high i.e. meets your targets. BTW "Eat plenty of starchy carbs" is a quote from DUK

Dear Williams89,

You can see how "animated" this topic can get so let me repeat: It is your choice what you do. The fact that I am a low carber (not by choice) has nothing to do with the choices you will make.

Warmest Regards Dodger

 

[Caroline]

We are all intelegent people and we are all different.

Personally I think the thing to do is read through the posts, look at the alternatives and work out what is right for us as individuals. Certainly we should aim to eat a balanced diet but I know because of various reasons not everyone is able to eat everything, and there is still room in there for a treat or two too.

 

[aymes]

Hi williams89 and welcome to the forum.

There certainly is a lot of conflicting information out there but you're certainly doing the right thing reading up on everything. I think the amount of different opinions out there reflects the fact that diabetes is such an individual thing, what works for one may be dreadful for someone else. It's not really about high carb/low carb/ no carb or any of the steps in between it's about working out what works for you. In my opinion the best way to do this is to test you blood, see what different foods and activity do to your levels and use that information to inform what you do next time, of course others may have different views!
There is a book I've heard recommened a lot on these boards that several here have found extremely useful when diagnosed. I'm sure it's mentioned on the book board but think it's called something like, diabetes, the first yet. I'm sure someone else will be along to correct me!
Sorry to hear you've not had more support from your nurse. Is your care with your gp or a diabetes centre at a hospital. A lot of people say they feel better supported when they're with the dedicated diabetes centre as they tend to have more knowledge than a lot of gps so asking for a referal might be worth considering?

 

[Steff]

hi yes the book is called type 2 diabetes the first year by gretchen becker it is a superb book for the newly diagnosed x

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=5433490

 

[Sebstar]

Hi William I feel exactly like you. I was diagnosed in June and like you was given a folder of stuff. I was told that a balanced diet and exercise was all I needed at the moment. I was also told not to bother testing my blood glucose as it wasn't necessary in type 2s. I still don't know if I am eating the right things but I did buy a blood glucose meter and use that before and after meals (not every meal as the strips are very expensive) and by doing that I can see what makes my blood glucose go very high and what doesn't. I am due a three monthly blood test and only then will I know if I have been doing ok or that I am rubbish. There is so much information and all of it seems to be conflicting. I'm just trying to eat a bit of everything and am doing 30 mins of walking on a treadmill and walking more in general. But I feel I have been told I am diabetic use diet and exercise to control it and we'll see you in about 3 months.

 

[Caroline]

Hi William I feel exactly like you. I was diagnosed in June and like you was given a folder of stuff. I was told that a balanced diet and exercise was all I needed at the moment. I was also told not to bother testing my blood glucose as it wasn't necessary in type 2s. I still don't know if I am eating the right things but I did buy a blood glucose meter and use that before and after meals (not every meal as the strips are very expensive) and by doing that I can see what makes my blood glucose go very high and what doesn't. I am due a three monthly blood test and only then will I know if I have been doing ok or that I am rubbish. There is so much information and all of it seems to be conflicting. I'm just trying to eat a bit of everything and am doing 30 mins of walking on a treadmill and walking more in general. But I feel I have been told I am diabetic use diet and exercise to control it and we'll see you in about 3 months.

There is a lot of conflicting information out there, even among the experts. You will have noticed from these forums we are all different, so there is no one size fits all cure. We make suggestions that might help others, but often it is a case of trial and error. Although expert help and support is nice too many of us seem to be left to get on with it and fumble round till we get something that does work. We are luckier than some in that we have these forums and lots of willing help and advice.

 

[williams89]

Hi williams89, welcome to the forum 🙂 Good rant - you are absolutely right, there is an enormous amount of conflicting information. I think the best you can do is just take things methodically and discover what works best for you and your lifestyle. Sorry to hear that your nurse is not providing you with good support and advice - there seems to be such a huge variation in the professionalism and quality of so many healthcare staff. Is she specially trained in diabetes i.e. a DSN (diabetes specialist nurse), or just the surgery practice nurse. I think only the DSNs seem to have the sufficient depth of knowledge to consider the person and not just spout the standard, basic advice.

You seem to be doing everything right regarding your diet. Are you able to get much exercise? That should help as well. Did they tell you what your HbA1c blood test was?

Please do ask questions here - first-hand experience of other people is often far more valuable than standard medical advice in allowing you to adjust things and make improvements. You'll also find plenty of good support too!🙂

Thank you for your comments and advice. I did not think in wise to ask for her qualifications.I have not been told anything other than I am now diabetic and my blood test read 8. As for getting out and about. I have a back problem which prevents me from standing for more than five minutes without 7/10 pain I am due to have injections in my spine in DECEMBER = 7 months on the list. So I can't move about. Happy days.

 

[Caroline]

Thank you for your comments and advice. I did not think in wise to ask for her qualifications.I have not been told anything other than I am now diabetic and my blood test read 8. As for getting out and about. I have a back problem which prevents me from standing for more than five minutes without 7/10 pain I am due to have injections in my spine in DECEMBER = 7 months on the list. So I can't move about. Happy days.

Have you thought about seated exercises? Some people get on very well with them, and other people don't. My husband has osteo arthritis and finds standing a problem, so I bought him a copy of the DVD Seated Tai Chi which helps him. If you think it might help go to www.taichiforarthritis.com and have a look at what is available there.

Seems a long time to wait for pain killing injections, I hope they work when you get them.

 

[williams89]

Thank you

A very big thank you to each of you for making time to help me. It is a big help just knowing there are people who care.
It seems I have caused some sort of upset between two of the posts. I know
I am the new boy on this forum but the idea is to help each other not fall out. BE HAPPY. It is so much better if we can all get along. Negative posts are self defeating.

 

[williams89]

DVD Seated Tai Chi

Have you thought about seated exercises? Some people get on very well with them, and other people don't. My husband has osteo arthritis and finds standing a problem, so I bought him a copy of the DVD Seated Tai Chi which helps him. If you think it might help go to www.taichiforarthritis.com and have a look at what is available there.

Seems a long time to wait for pain killing injections, I hope they work when you get them.

I will look into the link you have given me on Tia Chi. Thank you. Drinking two ltrs and more of water daily gets me up and down the stairs plenty of times so that's a start🙂

 

[williams89]

There is a lot of conflicting information out there, even among the experts. You will have noticed from these forums we are all different, so there is no one size fits all cure. We make suggestions that might help others, but often it is a case of trial and error. Although expert help and support is nice too many of us seem to be left to get on with it and fumble round till we get something that does work. We are luckier than some in that we have these forums and lots of willing help and advice.

Thanks for your comments. Be HAPPY