Introduction -new T2

[JimPD]

Hello all,
I was diagnosed Type 2 last week so just checking in as a new forum user.
HBa1c was just over 100. Prescribed Metformin (worked up to 2000mg/day) and Gliclazide 80mg/day. Given a Nexus mini ultra to measure my BG.
1 week in and BG, pre-meals, tends to be in the 5 to 6.5 mmol/l range.
If I have a fairly low carb meal it stays around 6 to 8 mmol/l but it rises between 8 & 10 post meal if I have anything with significant carbs.
Looking back, my sugar intake was pretty appalling - biscuits, chocolate, crisps, cake etc at any opportunity, always a packet of Polo mints or Softmints in a pocket.
Now stopped all those snacks completely and discovering a new world of better eating habits. So far I am pretty positive about this being the kick up the a*se I needed to sort myself out and avoid an early demise (now just 52 years young).
I have a good amount of weight to shift so have been minimising carbs (not quite LCHF yet) and getting more exercise in, mainly fast walking, half an hour weekdays and at least an hour a day on weekends.
Target is to lose quite a bit of weight over the next few months and hoping that this will enable me to drop the Gliclazide and maybe, ultimately, lower the Metformin as well.
Very interested in the possibility of stopping the meds altogether as a longer term goal.

Jim

 

[Amigo]

Hello all,
I was diagnosed Type 2 last week so just checking in as a new forum user.
HBa1c was just over 100. Prescribed Metformin (worked up to 2000mg/day) and Gliclazide 80mg/day. Given a Nexus mini ultra to measure my BG.
1 week in and BG, pre-meals, tends to be in the 5 to 6.5 mmol/l range.
If I have a fairly low carb meal it stays around 6 to 8 mmol/l but it rises between 8 & 10 post meal if I have anything with significant carbs.
Looking back, my sugar intake was pretty appalling - biscuits, chocolate, crisps, cake etc at any opportunity, always a packet of Polo mints or Softmints in a pocket.
Now stopped all those snacks completely and discovering a new world of better eating habits. So far I am pretty positive about this being the kick up the a*se I needed to sort myself out and avoid an early demise (now just 52 years young).
I have a good amount of weight to shift so have been minimising carbs (not quite LCHF yet) and getting more exercise in, mainly fast walking, half an hour weekdays and at least an hour a day on weekends.
Target is to lose quite a bit of weight over the next few months and hoping that this will enable me to drop the Gliclazide and maybe, ultimately, lower the Metformin as well.
Very interested in the possibility of stopping the meds altogether as a longer term goal.

Jim

Welcome Jim and it sounds like you’re already doing really well and are embracing the changes necessary. If you shift a substantial amount of weight and consistently get your levels out of diabetic range, there’s always the possibility of becoming med free. It will require a lot of commitment but it sounds like you’re determined to succeed. Glad your doctor gave you the means to test. Good luck!

 

[Flakie]

Hi Jim and welcome to the forum. I’ve been diagnosed nearly four weeks now and very much like you had an appalling diet pre dx and this has been a kick for me too! My HbA1c reading was 74 and my DN told me that was very high, so it sounds to me as if you’ve done very well to get your BG readings down so low. Mine are usually about 7.5 in the mornings and have justbonce dipped below 6. But I’m being as good as I can so fingers crossed! Started on Metformin but ditched it much to my nurses disgust as I couldn’t cope with the usual side effects so am starting on Amotriptin (?) now. Need to lose weight as well but have dropped nine pounds so far. This forum is great and I’ve learned so much already. Keep up,the good work!

 

[JimPD]

Thanks both
Amigo - seen your posts elsewhere on here and noticed you are now med-free - well done achieving that, I hope I can do likewise.
Flakie - Thanks, I am pretty chuffed with progress so far. I worked up my Metformin dose quicker than advised as I thought it more important to get the BG down and suffer the usual side effects. I might be lucky but they weren't too bad and have now settled down. Well done with the weight loss - I am just 4 pounds down so far - long way to go!

The forum looks like an excellent source of information & support. My usual forum habits are to read a lot but not contribute much, I will try & change that round as I learn and experience more on this subject over the coming months.
Jim

 

[Grogg1]

You are doing really well in such a short period. If you look st my signature you will see I was higher than you at diagnosis and the gp was fully expecting to up my meds at first 3 month review but instead kept them the same. Now they are talking about reducing them . I've been lucky with no real side effects from metformin

 

[JimPD]

Thanks Grogg. I have a review towards the end of November and would be pleased to get anywhere near the reduction in Hba1c that you have managed.
Have you not had any other meds as well as the Metformin? Just wondered why, with higher levels, you have been prescribed half the dose I have and nothing else, yet still got great reduction in levels.

 

[trophywench]

Jim - here's your first lesson LOL - we are ALL different and each of us need only whatever we need to help us!

Us Type 1s are the same and it doesn't mean your or my diabetes is 'worse' or 'not as bad' than someone else's - it's just that our body is different, which is absolutely obvious really LOL

 

[JimPD]

Hi Trophywench
Appreciate that and would understand if meds were initially similar and adjusted according to results but to have similar levels at diagnosis and yet get very different starting meds doesn't seem logical.
I have a lot to learn!

 

[Ljc]

Hi Trophywench
Appreciate that and would understand if meds were initially similar and adjusted according to results but to have similar levels at diagnosis and yet get very different starting meds doesn't seem logical.
I have a lot to learn!

Hi Jim, Welcome. You’ll find that each professional has their own ideas.
I’m still learning after 23 years at this game

 

[Wirrallass]

Hi Jim and a warm welcome to the forum ~ Good to hear you're getting to grips with your diabetes, well done. Glad to hear too that you have a meter to test your bgls ~ where would we be without one ~ not everyone is supplied with a meter upon being dx (Diagnosed) Its the only way we can keep on top of our levels IMO. If you take a walk about 30-40 mins after each meal it will help lower your bgls.
WL.

Dx Type2 April 2016
Metformin withdrawn
Diet control and exercise only

 

[Bubbsie]

Hello all,
I was diagnosed Type 2 last week so just checking in as a new forum user.
HBa1c was just over 100. Prescribed Metformin (worked up to 2000mg/day) and Gliclazide 80mg/day. Given a Nexus mini ultra to measure my BG.
1 week in and BG, pre-meals, tends to be in the 5 to 6.5 mmol/l range.
If I have a fairly low carb meal it stays around 6 to 8 mmol/l but it rises between 8 & 10 post meal if I have anything with significant carbs.
Looking back, my sugar intake was pretty appalling - biscuits, chocolate, crisps, cake etc at any opportunity, always a packet of Polo mints or Softmints in a pocket.
Now stopped all those snacks completely and discovering a new world of better eating habits. So far I am pretty positive about this being the kick up the a*se I needed to sort myself out and avoid an early demise (now just 52 years young).
I have a good amount of weight to shift so have been minimising carbs (not quite LCHF yet) and getting more exercise in, mainly fast walking, half an hour weekdays and at least an hour a day on weekends.
Target is to lose quite a bit of weight over the next few months and hoping that this will enable me to drop the Gliclazide and maybe, ultimately, lower the Metformin as well.
Very interested in the possibility of stopping the meds altogether as a longer term goal.

Jim

Jim...its very early days for you...however it sounds as if you have made an excellent start...with a review due next month I understand you wanting a good HbA1c result...with your commitment & hard work I have no doubt you will see a real improvement...but...there is no need to rush...do things at your own pace...you need to find a routine that suits you...one you can sustain long term...it is perfectly feasible to reduce your medication...then once you achieve good control stop your meds...you need to be guided by your GP/DSN on that...many here have got to that stage...now rely on diet & exercise only...at diagnosis my BG was 17.4...started on Metformin 500mgs twice daily...now that has been reduced to 500mgs once a day for the last six months...my blood sugars are an average of 5.7...hoping to 'drop' the medication at my next review in January...so its perfectly feasible for you to get to that stage...but...as you say that is & should be a long term goal...good luck...be interested to hear your progress.

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum. Metformin effects on blood sugar levels build up more slowly than its antisocial effects on gut, so building up slowly over a couple of weeks really does make sense.
In addition to addressing diet, body weight and carbohydrate content in diet, you should also consider increasing exercise / activity levels - not necessarily gym and sports (unless that's what you enjoy), but replacing some journeys by car / bus / train with walking or cycling, more heavy gardening / conservation volunteering tasks etc.

 

[Bubbsie]

Jim...any extra activity is beneficial...whether its fast pace walking...a leisurely stroll...as much as you feel comfortable with...don't push yourself too hard...you don't have to have a set routine...or a particular target...it all counts...fit it in when you can...like you I began the full dose of Metformin immediately...wasn't quite sure about GPs instructions...did suffer from the 'obvious' side effects...thankfully they wore off after a couple of weeks...thankfully didn't get prescribed Gliclazide (or other diabetes meds)...some find it does make them gain weight...just do what you can...when you can...there are no hard & fast rules...as said everything helps.

 

[Mark Parrott]

Welcome to the forum.🙂

 

[Radders]

Hi Jim and welcome. It does seem to be an art rather than a science. Are you under a GP or a specialist diabetes clinic? If it's a GP then they do seem quite enlightened in having given you a meter. What instructions were you given about when to test?

 

[Grogg1]

The gp I saw wasn't the diabetic specialist in the practice so I think went for the conservative, standard med and referred me to diabetic nurse. I could tell from convo with DN that she thought I would probably need to increase my meds and would either make another appointment as BG still high- they gave me meter and targets, or at my 3 month review decide I need a bit more help. Your BG has dropped much quicker than mine did, it took me a few weeks to get a single digit reading.

I ignored DN dietary advice and instead sought help from this forum. She did offer me a loan of her carbs and cal book at 3 month review so she may even be promoting low carb diet now.

I do think it was a bit of luck that I wasn't put on more meds initially but as with other health issues no two Doctor's go for same treatment plans. My hubby had rubbish asthma treatment for years from gp who only prescribed reliever whereas when my daughter diagnosed with asthma a more knowledgeable doctor explained importance of preventatives. Hubby then went back to his gp and had preventatives prescribed and now rarely has asthma attack.

Don't be alarmed if your eyesight changes from dropping quickly. Mine did but it was temporary for about 3 weeks but do get it checked by optician, plus you should get called for retinal screening.

 

[Bubbsie]

The gp I saw wasn't the diabetic specialist in the practice so I think went for the conservative, standard med and referred me to diabetic nurse. I could tell from convo with DN that she thought I would probably need to increase my meds and would either make another appointment as BG still high- they gave me meter and targets, or at my 3 month review decide I need a bit more help. Your BG has dropped much quicker than mine did, it took me a few weeks to get a single digit reading.

I ignored DN dietary advice and instead sought help from this forum. She did offer me a loan of her carbs and cal book at 3 month review so she may even be promoting low carb diet now.

I do think it was a bit of luck that I wasn't put on more meds initially but as with other health issues no two Doctor's go for same treatment plans. My hubby had rubbish asthma treatment for years from gp who only prescribed reliever whereas when my daughter diagnosed with asthma a more knowledgeable doctor explained importance of preventatives. Hubby then went back to his gp and had preventatives prescribed and now rarely has asthma attack.

Don't be alarmed if your eyesight changes from dropping quickly. Mine did but it was temporary for about 3 weeks but do get it checked by optician, plus you should get called for retinal screening.

Grogg...they have to provide him with a meter & testing strips...he takes Gliclazide...as such could be subject to hypoglycaemia episodes...obligatory to test in those circumstances...particularly if you drive.

 

[JimPD]

Thanks all
Copepod - I am trying to get more exercise and will continue to do so.
Radders - so far have been seeing one of the nurses at my GP practice. Was told to test 'regularly' and have been doing so before and after each meal to get better understanding of the effects of the different foods. Have now been told this is too often! Now just doing the aftermeal reading as premeal readings seem stable and below target.
Grogg - I already use reading glasses and have noticed that I now need them even more. I was warned that my eyesight would be affected and am looking forward to it settling down again. I have been referred for a retinopathy check.
Bubbsie - Also got warned about the Gliclazide and testing before driving. I havent measured <5 yet but it would be this med I would really like to drop as I drive quite a lot.

Jim

 

[Bubbsie]

Thanks all
Copepod - I am trying to get more exercise and will continue to do so.
Radders - so far have been seeing one of the nurses at my GP practice. Was told to test 'regularly' and have been doing so before and after each meal to get better understanding of the effects of the different foods. Have now been told this is too often! Now just doing the aftermeal reading as premeal readings seem stable and below target.
Grogg - I already use reading glasses and have noticed that I now need them even more. I was warned that my eyesight would be affected and am looking forward to it settling down again. I have been referred for a retinopathy check.
Bubbsie - Also got warned about the Gliclazide and testing before driving. I havent measured <5 yet but it would be this med I would really like to drop as I drive quite a lot.

Jim

Jim...once you get good control of your BG...perfectly feasible you should be able to drop the gliclazide... & reduce the other medications in time...of course with your GPs agreement...not sure I understand the nurses criticism re: you testing too much...obviously with the glicazide you need to test before you drive...then as I understand after every two hours of driving after that...as well as before and after meals...initially I never saw the DSN at our practice...she only saw diabetics that were having problems...or 'further on down the line' as my GP would say...then a new DSN arrived...persuaded to have an appointment with her...foot check done...she asked me how I was managing...when I told her I was testing 6 times daily...she said I was obsessive...there was no need for me to test...I said I would continue to test as many times as I felt necessary...my doctor had said my control was excellent...she had to ask me what my levels were...hadn't even looked at my patient records before she saw me...considered me excessive without knowing any of my history...now I refuse to see her...won't have her involved in any of my diabetes care.

 

[Carolg]

Hello jimPD