In denial for 18 months

[Snoopyj]

Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed 18 months ago but went into denial, went for annual review, gently shouted at. Now started on Metformin and looking for info on what to eat.

 

[Kaylz]

What are you eating just now?

As a diabetic you don't tolerate carbohydrates too well so best to limit these so things like cereal, porridge, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes etc, some even have to eliminate these things completely as they struggle with them, do you test your BG?
xx

 

[Snoopyj]

Thanks Kaylz. No I don't check my BG as the nurse said the 3 month check was ok!

 

[Snoopyj]

What are you eating just now?

As a diabetic you don't tolerate carbohydrates too well so best to limit these so things like cereal, porridge, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes etc, some even have to eliminate these things completely as they struggle with them, do you test your BG?
xx

Only started on tablets on Saturday so only cut out obvious sugars and processed food, until I find out what to fill my food cupboard with xx

 

[Kaylz]

Yeah the health professionals are good at telling Type 2's they don't need to test when in fact it is the best thing as a diabetic you can do, if you don't mind sharing what was your bloods at last 3 month check? The only way to find the things that effect you is to test your own BG at home xx

 

[Snoopyj]

Yeah the health professionals are good at telling Type 2's they don't need to test when in fact it is the best thing as a diabetic you can do, if you don't mind sharing what was your bloods at last 3 month check? The only way to find the things that effect you is to test your own BG at home xx

No I don't mind at all. They were 129. I will certainly look at getting one xx

 

[Kaylz]

No I don't mind at all. They were 129. I will certainly look at getting one xx

😳😱 sorry a nurse told you a hba1c of 129 was ok?? I'd be reporting that nurse straight away as that really isn't ok and is VERY high, prediabetes is diagnosed between 42-47 and diabetes at anything over 48, your just under triple that, I'd be calling the GP and asking for a second opinion if I were you
xx

 

[Snoopyj]

😳😱 sorry a nurse told you a hba1c of 129 was ok?? I'd be reporting that nurse straight away as that really isn't ok and is VERY high, prediabetes is diagnosed between 42-47 and diabetes at anything over 48, your just under triple that, I'd be calling the GP and asking for a second opinion if I were you
xx

Thanks Kaylz, I will look into it. It's so good to be in touch with someone that understands living with diabetes xx

 

[Kaylz]

Thanks Kaylz, I will look into it. It's so good to be in touch with someone that understands living with diabetes xx

I do but slightly different as I'm Type 1 lol, how are you finding things in general? xx

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I wonder of the nurse meant that the 3-month test was all that you needed, rather than that your specific results were OK?

Because as @Kaylz says, 129 is very much on the high side for HbA1c.

Im not sure what you’ve been eating so far, but it sounds like you’ve made a good start with a cupboard clear out of sweet things and highly processed foods. Keeping a food diary can be a very useful way of getting a ‘benchmark’ starting point for changes to your meal plan.

It’s best to make changes to your menu and activity levels gradually - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels, and changing things more gently will give your body time to adapt.

While there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will be wanting to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. So it will be helpful to reduce portions of these, and find alternatives. This can be a bit mind boggling at first, but the ‘what did you eat yesterday’ thread might give you some ideas for swaps and options.

What did you eat yesterday?

It can be helpful sometimes to know what sort of things people are eating, as it might give some ideas for a more varied diet. So, I'll start off with what I ate yesterday: Breakfast - 1 slice buttered Burgen toast (my breakfast every day, I don't like to run with too much in my stomach)...

forum.diabetes.org.uk

 

[Snoopyj]

I do but slightly different as I'm Type 1 lol, how are you finding things in general? xx

I have just ordered a BG tester kit. I think after 18 months in denial, I am now ready to embrace it and do my best to get my BG down, so positive I think lol. Lockdown has certainly given my time to think about it xx

 

[Snoopyj]

I wonder of the nurse meant that the 3-month test was all that you needed, rather than that your specific results were OK?

Because as @Kaylz says, 129 is very much on the high side for HbA1c.

Im not sure what you’ve been eating so far, but it sounds like you’ve made a good start with a cupboard clear out of sweet things and highly processed foods. Keeping a food diary can be a very useful way of getting a ‘benchmark’ starting point for changes to your meal plan.

It’s best to make changes to your menu and activity levels gradually - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels, and changing things more gently will give your body time to adapt.

While there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will be wanting to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. So it will be helpful to reduce portions of these, and find alternatives. This can be a bit mind boggling at first, but the ‘what did you eat yesterday’ thread might give you some ideas for swaps and options.

What did you eat yesterday?

It can be helpful sometimes to know what sort of things people are eating, as it might give some ideas for a more varied diet. So, I'll start off with what I ate yesterday: Breakfast - 1 slice buttered Burgen toast (my breakfast every day, I don't like to run with too much in my stomach)...

forum.diabetes.org.uk

Thank you for the advice about doing it gradually. My first instinct was to go all out, I will certainly check the thread out.

 

[Kaylz]

I have just ordered a BG tester kit. I think after 18 months in denial, I am now ready to embrace it and do my best to get my BG down, so positive I think lol. Lockdown has certainly given my time to think about it xx

which one did you order? I only ask as self funding test strips can become quite expensive unfortunately xx

 

[Snoopyj]

which one did you order? I only ask as self funding test strips can become quite expensive unfortunately xx

Sinocare. Says £ 22 for 100 strips and lancets. Never thought to ask how often should I check my level xx

 

[Kaylz]

Sinocare. Says £ 22 for 100 strips and lancets. Never thought to ask how often should I check my level xx

that's completely up to you but some will test on waking, pre meal, post meal and before bed until they have a picture of how things effect them and then relax their testing when they have a plan of action that keeps BG where they want it to be xx

 

[Snoopyj]

that's completely up to you but some will test on waking, pre meal, post meal and before bed until they have a picture of how things effect them and then relax their testing when they have a plan of action that keeps BG where they want it to be xx

Thanks Kaylz

 

[trophywench]

Have a read of this - https://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html for when to test and how to use the results to your advantage.

 

[Drummer]

A Hba1c of 129 is not even on the chart - so any alteration in diet to cut back on the starch and sugar is going to be an improvement. I was told that they were the healthy foods for so long, and yet all the time I felt ill when eating them.
I suggest taking stock of the carbs in your diet and reducing them a little each week - as it would be too much of a shock to just drop them from the menu.
You might find that you are able to eat more carbs with less effect at one end of the day. For me it is the evening, so I have just a few carbs at breakfast and the rest in the evening.
Your meter will be a great help in doing the fine tuning, but at the moment the obvious targets of high sugar foods, including fruit, and the high carb foods such as bread and potatoes, pasta and pizza should get the heave ho in favour of lower carb berries and veges.

 

[Snoopyj]

A Hba1c of 129 is not even on the chart - so any alteration in diet to cut back on the starch and sugar is going to be an improvement. I was told that they were the healthy foods for so long, and yet all the time I felt ill when eating them.
I suggest taking stock of the carbs in your diet and reducing them a little each week - as it would be too much of a shock to just drop them from the menu.
You might find that you are able to eat more carbs with less effect at one end of the day. For me it is the evening, so I have just a few carbs at breakfast and the rest in the evening.
Your meter will be a great help in doing the fine tuning, but at the moment the obvious targets of high sugar foods, including fruit, and the high carb foods such as bread and potatoes, pasta and pizza should get the heave ho in favour of lower carb berries and veges.

Thank you for the advice

 

[Snoopyj]

Have a read of this - https://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html for when to test and how to use the results to your advantage.

Thank you Jenny have just read the blog. Wow it is so different to what I thought (Just lose weight, cut out sugar) but interesting so I am still positive.