in fear every day

[Jan1967]

Im worried every day not getting as much sleep as i used to, i know i will catch it at some point as co workers have tested positive so only a matter of time just dont know whether i will survive my sugar readings where 53 54 56 tried for the 48 but could not get there but last april it was 70 back to where it was when diagnosed in 2011 think it was becasue my husband very close to nearly dying with pnemonia and in DKA but was not diabetic at the time, but now type 1, i was highly stressed, but my gp said that would not cause sugars to go up, so they put me on a extra tablet as well as metformin and that and my next test was due in April now will be the end of June, also on Blood pressure tablets and a tablet for cholestrol, Im so scared every day sorry but cant help it i know im a keyworker as i work in a Emergency control room when i got the job i was not diabetic been in the job 20 years wish i could leave but i cannot afford to. just got to pray becasue if i got it dont think i would survive and im overweight but i have lost three stone but contary to beleif i did not eat cakes all day think its been working shifts i think thats not helped maybe, just got to try and be realistic, I know but cant help worrying Ive tried to calm myself but everyday at work im on edge. Just got to pray.
Janine

 

[SB2015]

Hi @Jan1967 it is understandable that you are worried both for yourself and for your partner.

Well done on losing three stone already. What strategies did you use to achieve this. It could be useful to focus on these as you are correct in thinking that the better you manage your levels the better you could manage any infection.

I am sure you are already aware that it is not just the sugar that we eat gets converted to glucose once inside us. A lot of people find it helpful just to count all the carbs that they are eating at each meal. Once you know this amount you can take steps to reduce it to a level that your pancreas can cope with. The carbs include all those things like pasta, rice and potatoes as well as anything with sugar in.

 

[trophywench]

Oh - and stress does cause your BG to increase.

 

[Teddy*]

Hi Janine
Wanted to reassure you, you are not alone. I too was very stressed about catching Covid 19 but have been lucky enough to work from home and self isolate. You mustn’t think all will be bad if you catch this virus, anxiety and stress won’t help your overall heath. Try and speak to your employer, they have a duty of care to keep you safe, and reduce the risk. If at all possible could you work from home? Or take a break/holiday from work to give you a bit of time to feel safe at home? It’s not unusual to be prescribed cholesterol and blood pressure tablets, these are to help protect you. I know this is worrying time, but as the weeks and months go by, have faith in our wonderful healthcare teams who are making great advances in the treatment of this virus. Be kind to yourself and try and speak to your diabetic clinic about your concerns, who I’m sure will reassure you.

 

[tangchen]

I'm currently on the 12 week shielding ,type 2 and overweight, i'm all over the place mentally. Just worry most of the time.The anxiety i had years ago has come back and i'm finding it hard to shake off.I'm 56 next month and i just hope things return to some sort of normal sooner or later.

 

[Jan1967]

Hi all

Yes i have been doing what i am told, the best i can with my diabeties type 2, I am still classed as obese although I was 18 stone now 15, never been thin but would like to get to about 12 stone, but contary to belief i did not sit there all day and eat, and i have worked all my life since leaving school, im now 52, i work shifts so it is difficult, the job i do, i cannot work from home it is in a emergency control room, prefare not say which one, social distancing is difficult aswell, Still awaiting results of risk assesment, but not heard anything so dont think i will, there have been a few gone off and tested positive for covid and confirmed so although in a control room and not face to face it is amongst us at work. I am on ,Gliclazide 40mg tablets, Metformin 500mg tablets, Telmisartan 20mg tablets, Telmisartan 40mg tablets, Atorvastatin 20mg tablets, i have been doing the carbs and i had good control but since last year, husband, anxiety and other stuff sugars have been rising, so im terrified of going to the next check in June, in know ive got to go dont worry, I will but they just seem to not take it seriously when i tell them my sugars are not like they where so I just dont know, im trying not to worry, I dont want to get out of work i am not wanting to know stuff for that reason, i just want to try and stay safe as best i can.

 

[trophywench]

Why not get a blood glucose meter and keep a check on your BG as you go, then you wouldn't be scared of having your annual diabetes check cos you'd already know what your HbA1c is likely to be?

It really is the only way to know whether what you're eating and drinking is OK for your particular body, or not.

 

[Jan1967]

Why not get a blood glucose meter and keep a check on your BG as you go, then you wouldn't be scared of having your annual diabetes check cos you'd already know what your HbA1c is likely to be?

It really is the only way to know whether what you're eating and drinking is OK for your particular body, or not.

Hi there

Yes i have a meter, i was told not to test too often , but i do every so often i have been between 7 9 10 11 i dont want double figures and i have not changed my eating habits when i was getting good single figures all the time, i dont know what more i can do i also do photography and walk quite a bit but thats not been as much due to lockdown but im trying my best with it all but i just need to try and destress myself but thanks foir yor advice, appriciate it

 

[SB2015]

Hi there

Yes i have a meter, i was told not to test too often , but i do every so often i have been between 7 9 10 11 i dont want double figures and i have not changed my eating habits when i was getting good single figures all the time, i dont know what more i can do i also do photography and walk quite a bit but thats not been as much due to lockdown but im trying my best with it all but i just need to try and destress myself but thanks foir yor advice, appriciate it

Most on here find it to test more often if their levels are not what they want to be.

Often the HCPs don’t recommend it as they are often not able to fund the necessary test strips.
However by finding out how your body copes with different carbohydrates you can then make changes to you diet and/or portion sizes.

I know that this would mean some hard work but it could help you to make the changes that you want.

 

[Jan1967]

Most on here find it to test more often if their levels are not what they want to be.

Often the HCPs don’t recommend it as they are often not able to fund the necessary test strips.
However by finding out how your body copes with different carbohydrates you can then make changes to you diet and/or portion sizes.

I know that this would mean some hard work but it could help you to make the changes that you want.

thanks i appriciate your advice thanks

 

[rebrascora]

Perhaps, as a simple solution to help you reduce your BG levels, you could tell us what you currently eat and we could suggest some lower carb substitutes for the higher carb items you are eating. I appreciate that working shifts may mean that your food routine is not the same as a normal daytime worker, but I imagine you have still developed some set meals, so whilst breakfast may not necessarily be at breakfast time etc it would be interesting to know the sort of things you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Even just substituting low carb snacks may make a big difference. I know that as a shift worker, you may feel the need to snack just to keep yourself awake and alert, particularly during night shift (I used to get by on chocolate) but choosing the right snacks can have a significant impact.
It may also help you to keep a food diary and log everything that you eat and drink and go through it to see where you might make cuts or changes yourself.

As an example, many diabetics assume that porridge is a good breakfast choice, when for many of us, porridge is one of the worst things we could eat to start our day and a bowl of creamy natural yoghurt with seeds and berries and nuts or even bacon eggs and mushrooms would be a much better choice. That may seem ridiculous, but if you use your BG meter to test before and 2 hours after each meal you will see what the food you ate is doing to your levels and many of us find that porridge sky rockets out glucose levels and keeps them high for hours, so is just not a good choice. Porridge was the last carb rich food I gave up before my BG came down into single figures.

 

[trophywench]

…. and first and foremost - how to test to be of best benefit to YOU personally!

Test, Review, Adjust

Managing blood glucose levels for type 2 diabetes. Learning how to achieve long term control by testing and diet.

loraldiabetes.blogspot.com

No point in testing if you don't use the information!

 

[Gruers]

Good luck @Jan1967 I wish you well in these difficult times
you could try The Low Carb Program on your phone or tablet I’m sure that could help you

 

[Jan1967]

Perhaps, as a simple solution to help you reduce your BG levels, you could tell us what you currently eat and we could suggest some lower carb substitutes for the higher carb items you are eating. I appreciate that working shifts may mean that your food routine is not the same as a normal daytime worker, but I imagine you have still developed some set meals, so whilst breakfast may not necessarily be at breakfast time etc it would be interesting to know the sort of things you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Even just substituting low carb snacks may make a big difference. I know that as a shift worker, you may feel the need to snack just to keep yourself awake and alert, particularly during night shift (I used to get by on chocolate) but choosing the right snacks can have a significant impact.
It may also help you to keep a food diary and log everything that you eat and drink and go through it to see where you might make cuts or changes yourself.

As an example, many diabetics assume that porridge is a good breakfast choice, when for many of us, porridge is one of the worst things we could eat to start our day and a bowl of creamy natural yoghurt with seeds and berries and nuts or even bacon eggs and mushrooms would be a much better choice. That may seem ridiculous, but if you use your BG meter to test before and 2 hours after each meal you will see what the food you ate is doing to your levels and many of us find that porridge sky rockets out glucose levels and keeps them high for hours, so is just not a good choice. Porridge was the last carb rich food I gave up before my BG came down into single figures.

Hi breakfast usually have bran flakes or weetabix or cherios but not the honey ones plane sometime s have porridge but not often always have semi skimmed milk cant have skimmed dont like it, dinner time sandwich cup of tea or coffee, teatime vary mash potatoe but only a fist size more veg than anything , broccoli, carrots or sald especially in summer, sometimes have chip s oven chips but once a month i have a treat but i keep that for my long weekend off every four weeks fish sometimes lean meats, boiled eggs i dont fry anything i boil or steam potatoes and veg and grill meats bacon etc even grill eggs on george forman if i dont want boiled, if i have pasta i get the holemeal pasta, occasional biscuit the thing is im not changed my eating habits i was 53, 54 , 56 and one 60 out of all the years since diagnosis in 2011 it is only last year my sugars are higher than normal im not eating more carbs or sweets than normal, on nights , i take sandwiches , apple or orange sometimes pot noodle as no where to cook only microwaves and take own tea and coffee x

 

[Kaylz]

@Jan1967 to be honest from your list I'm not surprised your levels aren't where they should be
As a Type 2 your insulin resistant and if overweight then insulin resistance can be worse, every single meal consists of a lot of carbohydrates and as a diabetic its carbohydrates that aren't tolerated very well, I wouldn't manage very well on that diet and I have the benefit of insulin
I'd highly suggest a lot of testing before and after meals as that will allow you to see just what the carbohydrates are doing, you may be lucky in that they don't spike you but I'd be very surprised if that were the case, it doesn't matter whether they are the honey ones or not as it's still a bowl full of carbs, are you weighing your portion sizes to keep an eye on the amount of carbs you are consuming?
xx

 

[rebrascora]

Hi
I agree that your diet needs a rethink as you are eating significant carbohydrates with every meal. I appreciate that you are probably following dietary advice that was given to you at diagnosis but NHS advice for us diabetics is not ideal as it tends to be low fat, low sugar and brown/wholegrain carbs. In fact many of us find that that those wholemeal versions of bread pasta and rice etc break down in our digestive system almost as quickly as the white variety and spike our BG levels far too high for far too long. If you test your BG before eating and then 2 hours after each meal you will see if you can cope with the carbs you are eating. A rise in BG of 3mmols or more tells you that you ate too many carbs.
Many of us find that eating more fat and protein and very few carbohydrates is a healthier option for us, keeps us fuller for longer and provides us with slow release energy without spiking our BG and it is enjoyable so it doesn't take a huge amount of willpower to. In fact is may be that the low fat advice which we have been bombarded with most of our lifetime is in part responsible for the diabetes epidemic the world is currently experiencing and we are part of. Fat is satisfying. It fills you up. If you don't eat much fat then you need to get your calories from another source and carbohydrates are the cheap and easy option. The problem with carbohydrates is that they are broken down quite rapidly, produce a spike in our BG and then a drop which makes us want to eat more and we end up eating more food than we really need because our bodies start to crave them. I could happily eat a whole tin of baked beans with 4 slices of wholemeal toast pre diagnosis and not feel full and be hungry 3 hours later. Now that I eat more fat and no bread, pasta or rice and very small portion of potatoes/sweet potatoes once a week I only need one or two meals a day and I don't feel hungry in between.

Try starting the day with creamy Greek natural yoghurt with seeds and berries and chopped nuts or an omelette instead of your All Bran or Weetabix and see how you get on. I have a large side salad with my 2 egg (mushroom, onion, courgette and cheese) omelette with avocado and cheese coleslaw. Tastes delicious and keeps me going all day. I also have double cream in my coffee on a morning as cream is lower in carbs than milk and it tastes so good. I can't feel too badly done to when I have started the day with such a breakfast. I would suggest you ditch the semi skimmed milk and at least treat yourself to whole milk and avoid low fat products because they are almost always higher in carbs.

Try mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potato. It is much lower carb and tastes great when a spoon of wholegrain mustard and a dollop of cream cheese has been mashed into it. It can be served with meat and veg or used to top mince instead of potato mash with a generous sprinkling of cheese to make a cottage pie or even a fish pie.

These are just some of the dietary tricks we use to avoid carbohydrate rich foods. It may seem counter intuitive to eat more fat when you need to lose weight but it is mostly the carbs which make you fat.
You do really need to learn to read the nutritional info on the back of packaging (not the traffic light info on the front) to see how many carbs food contains and to use your BG meter to see how food affects your BG levels by testing before and 2 hours after eating. Keeping a food diary with your BG readings will help you to figure out the way forward.

 

[Jan1967]

thanks for the advice all im off for a week soon, so may try some of these suggestions and see how i go

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

thanks for the advice all im off for a week soon, so may try some of these suggestions and see how i go

Sorry you’ve been having such a tough time, and THANK YOU for the work you are continuing to do which is so vital.

Hope you get on well with some of the lower carb suggestions, and let us know if there are any meals which seem to cause you problems and folks here will be able to offer tips and ideas.

And don’t forget the ‘Test Review Adjust’ approach too... it helps you tailor a unique menu based on your individual reactions to foods, and means you can keep eating anything that you enjoy that your BG copes well with.

 

[Jan1967]

Hi
Just thought I would update everyone I had my assesment for work deemed me moderate risk, advised to stringent social distance which isnt really being done, ive been worrying all the way through , anxiety high got my blood results back yesterday from my latest test over 90 previously i have been 53, 54 ,60 this is the highest i have ever been, since diagnosis, my eating habits not changed and i have been cutting down more and keeping a once a month treat but spoken to my doctor who has upped one of my other tablets to twice a day, and i have to repeat the bloods in 8 weeks. advised stringent social distancing, cant be done where i work they try but too many people, she is giving me a letter not to be off but to advise about the social distancing. I feel so overwhelemed worrying about it all, people are acting like covid is over and it is not.

We have screens in work in front of us but i sit next to someone just about a metre see my first post explaining what i do, not getting much sleep and have a husband at home who is 70 and type 1, anyway going to take this extra tablet and go back in eight weeks but im not calming down, i know i should try but its very hard at the moment.

I have two of the comobilities or what ever you call it sorry if i have it wrong im type 2 high blood pressure but because i lost weight and gone under the bmi of 40 as lost three stone it does not deem me to be mediacally suspended ( should have kept the weight on ) so still working shifts day s and nights and feel drained with the worry. I used to be ok and managed quite well but this covid as really messed me up just worrying about it, I had a antibody test which was negative not sure if it would have been better if it came back positive thanks all

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Hi @Jan1967

Sorry to read this hasn't really improved for you at work. Have your work made any other adjustments besides the screens? Is there a more thorough and more frequent cleaning process for example?

Though people with diabetes haven't been advised to shield, it is still advised that social distancing and hygiene measures are followed, as you say, this is isn't over but some people have certainly become noticeably more complacent haven't they?

I'm not sure I can say much to alleviate the stress and anxiety this is clearly causing and understand why working from home is not an option for you - hopefully the letter from your doctor will encourage your employer to see if there is anything more they can do to make the workplace any safer for you.

Diabetes UK is pushing the government to provide clearer guidance for employees regarding those who are clinically vulnerable in order that they can risk assess more accurately, which may be something you could share along with the letter from your GP ;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...me-working-for-people-in-covid-19-risk-groups

Thank you for doing the valuable job you do, I am sorry that is more stressful than usual for you to do it at the moment.