It's all so confusing...

[LauraSWilde]

Hi!
I was hoping you could share your knowledge...I have been reading up on Diabetes but am just getting more and more confused!
I was diagnosed a week or so ago but the first available appointment with the Diabetic nurse is the end of January so for the next 4 weeks I have been told I have this condition and given some pills to take (Metformin) but not had any real advice other than 'Don't eat too much sugar!' and 'Try and lose weight'.
What's confusing me most at the moment is why do people have Hypos? From what I understand (and please correct me if I'm wrong!) Diabetes is about your body not breaking down sugar properly so it just stays in your blood. As a result Diabetics tend to have high blood sugar which caused complications in the Liver and Eyes etc which is why it needs to be kept under control?
How is it possible to then be at risk of a hypo? Is it just that you start cutting out too much sugar and risk low blood sugar?
Sounds like a silly question but I have this annoying tendency to need to understand everything!
Thanks!

 

[Robin]

Hi Laura, and welcome to the forum. Usually people who suffer hypos are either on insulin, or drugs like Gliclazide which force the pancreas to produce more insulin. In these cases, you can end up with an imbalance where you have too much insulin in the bloodstream, so it mops up too much blood glucose, leading to a low. It's rare to,have a hypo if you're just on Metformin, so don't worry!
Do keep asking, nobody thinks any question is silly. A question is just something you need to know the answer to!

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, LauraSWilde.
The little advice you have been given by whoever prescribed the metformin is correct, but incomplete. Do you need to lose weight? If so, you may find the Weight Loss section of this forum helpful. It's not just sugar but all carbohydrates you need to cut down. Exercise / activity is also vital in controlling blood glucose levels and weight.
Complications can usually be held at bay by maintaining good blood glucose levels. Liver is not usually counted among complications, by the way. Are you thinking of kidneys?

 

[Amigo]

I'm wondering if you are thinking of fatty liver disease Laura which can be a very common issue with Type 2 diabetics particularly those who need to lose weight. Diabetes presents a real risk in this situation of developing or exacerbating non alcoholic liver disease and it's known that losing some of the visceral fat from around the major organs can massively improve glucose regulation. It was found that my liver was starting to be affected by the diabetes when I had an ultra sound (for something unrelated).

Welcome to the forum and I'm sure that as you're keen to learn it will become less confusing in time. My advice would be to read the intro literature northerner recommends and also a book by Dr. David Cavan called, 'Reversing your diabetes'. I found it invaluable when I was diagnosed earlier this year.

Good luck!

 

[Lynn Davies]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I too am new so we can learn together xx

 

[Stitch147]

Welcome to the forum. No question is silly especially when you are still learning. I've been diagnosed since August this year and I'm still learning. This forum has been a great help to me since being diagnosed, especially with people on here encouraging me to get the help and advice that I've needed. I was initially diagnosed as type 2 but have since found out that I am quite unusual with the type of diabetes I have. I probably wouldn't have found out if I hadn't have listened to this lot on here.

 

[LauraSWilde]

Thanks Guys for your responses! 🙂 I've only been signed up for a couple of days and it's obvious that there is a very supportive community to be found on here.
Robin that makes much more sense about the hypos - Thank you! I have known people who are type 2 and say they suffer with hypos so I assume that they are on one of those medications. Hopefully I will be good on the Metformin (if the stomach cramps go away!)
I do need to lose weight - I plan on joining a Slimming World group this week. I know it's not specifically for Diabetics but I figured it couldn't hurt as long as I am careful with sugar.
On that note - Do you recommend checking blood sugar? I know this is something Type 1's do as they are taking insulin; I was just thinking how else do you know if you are effectively controlling it with your diet if you check your blood sugar daily?
Thanks again! 🙂

 

[AlisonM]

Absolutely, checking blood sugars is a useful tool no matter what 'Type' diabetic you are. If your surgery won't let you have strips then there's a cheap option which our members tell us does the job well, the SD Codefree. You can get it here, the kit cost £12.99 and strips cost £7.99, a fraction of what other meters cost which makes it practical for those who must fund their own supplies.

 

[Copepod]

Most people find that the gut related issues of metformin do decrease over time, but if they're still troublesome in a few weeks, then return to whoever prescribed it to ask about alternatives.
Regarding Slimming World diets, it's all carbohydrates, not just sugar, that you need to consider.
Blood sugar testing is good for discovering how certain foods / meals affect you - test just before eating, then 2 hours after. Once you know which foods / meals you can tolerate, you won't need to test nearly so often. Some GPs will prescribe strips, many companies give away meters. If you have to buy, then SD Codefree meter is one of the most cost effective, with 50 strips costing around £7.99.