Just a few days in ...

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lyndasw

lyndasw

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi there!

I was diagnosed officially this week as type 2. I haven't felt well for a while and it dawned on me the week before last week, a lot of what was wrong was symptons of diabetes. A friend did a quick test, 15.6 before lunch, so off to the doctors three days later. She sent me straight for blood tests and phoned me 5 hours later telling me to go back on the Monday for a fasting test. Both tests were 11.6. She called me the next morning in work to confirm I was type 2. I wasn't really shocked, my father had suffered from it . I saw the diabetic nurse yesterday who gave me loads of information but I was surprised to find I wont be tested for another two months :confused: I have to follow the diet and will be reassessed at that point. I really thought I would have been on diet and tablets and at least testing myself :confused:

I have been feeling quite fragile emotionally, but this morning I couldn't stop crying. Feeling sorry for myself I guess 😱 Doesn't help when you feel rubbish either! The nurse seemed to think I should be feeling better in a couple of months and I really hope so.

Sorry to go on so, everyone has said I have been quite strong this week but I seem to have lost my way today..... but tomorrow is another day 🙂

Lynda
 
Hi Lynda, welcome to the forum - but sorry you find yourself here. The good thing is that now you are diagnosed you can start taking care of things. There's a lot to take in at first, and I think a lot of newly-diagnosed Type 2s are leftin the lurch a bit, as you have been. A short consultation and a diet sheet are not very much to take you through the important early months. Fortunately, you'll find lots of genuine support and good advice here from people who know the score.

A book we always recommend to people such as yourself is Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year - An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Gretchen Becker - this will give you a great introduction to what you should expect and how to tackle it.

Don't panic - many people find their health actually improves signifcantly, despite the diabetes, once you start making the necessary lifestyle and diet adjustments.🙂 Your nurse was right - the high levels will be affecting your moods and this will improve as you get them under control
 
lyndasw said:
Hi there!

I was diagnosed officially this week as type 2. I haven't felt well for a while and it dawned on me the week before last week, a lot of what was wrong was symptons of diabetes. A friend did a quick test, 15.6 before lunch, so off to the doctors three days later. She sent me straight for blood tests and phoned me 5 hours later telling me to go back on the Monday for a fasting test. Both tests were 11.6. She called me the next morning in work to confirm I was type 2. I wasn't really shocked, my father had suffered from it . I saw the diabetic nurse yesterday who gave me loads of information but I was surprised to find I wont be tested for another two months :confused: I have to follow the diet and will be reassessed at that point. I really thought I would have been on diet and tablets and at least testing myself :confused:

I have been feeling quite fragile emotionally, but this morning I couldn't stop crying. Feeling sorry for myself I guess 😱 Doesn't help when you feel rubbish either! The nurse seemed to think I should be feeling better in a couple of months and I really hope so.

Sorry to go on so, everyone has said I have been quite strong this week but I seem to have lost my way today..... but tomorrow is another day 🙂

Lynda
Click to expand...


Hi Lynda and welcome.
 
Hi there, this is a message i just left for another newly diagnosed type 2! Although you're being monitored on diet, some of this info might help! Believe me the mood swings i've had in the last few months have been terrible but i can kind of control them at the moment with dietary choices (thank heavens says the other half!!!) I haven't yet seen a diabetes nurse nor have i been told to monitor but i certainly know when i dip and when i've eaten the wrong things......fruit is now my best friend and i never thought i'd say that!

good luck and i do hope some of this below helps you......

Hi Mistress, sorry you're feeling so naff at the moment but i hope i can offer a bit of support.

I was diagnosed Type 2 at the end of january and although i did have the symptoms i was still shocked but knew it was the kick up the ar*e i needed to sort out my eating habits and lifestyle.

I too was started on Metformin but only 500mg twice daily. I think they skipped just diet control as both my parents have type 2 and i'd been suffering with symptoms for around 6 months. The Gp i saw gave me some printed info then that was it......i felt alone, confused and like you angry.

My first week was a rollercoaster of emotions ....i broke down sobbing after 2 days having done the weekly shop and not exactly knowing what to buy for the best. My partner couldn't really understand why i felt so miserable and i encouraged him to read up on the condition.

Feeling better the 2nd week i decided to go swimming but overdid it with 40 lengths....i felt terrible and now know i was probably in need of food sooner than i ended up eating!

Now i feel i have found a good balance......its early days but i'm learning when i need to eat more and what certain foods do to me (white bread is now a definite no, no as it makes me too bloated and sluggish)

I too was a chocoholic and although i've had cravings i've managed well by substituting the chocolate for fruit. Try lots of different ones with a bit of yoghurt but spread them out through the day. I also make sure i eat lots of veg and have to say that i feel much healthier because i've stopped eating all the processed junk i used to.

Each person is different ....for me i deny myself chocolate because one bite would get me eating the lot.......take each day as it comes....be prepared to have good and bad days but it does get easier.

I've found the best thing is to read lots of info about diabetes.....you won't be able to take it all in but it does help answer those questions day by day.

I started off with blood glucose readings of 8-15 and am proud that at the moment they are 5-6.

Hope some of this helps....sorry its so longwinded but i know how i felt 3 weeks ago!!

ask anything


p.s......the metformin gave me terrible diarrhoea for the first 4 days but i'm fine now!
 
Hi Lynda,

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I'm a Type 2 myself diagnosed just over nine years ago and I'm just fine. I've normalised my blood glucose levels recently mainly by changing my diet.

The main lesson to get to learn is to cut back on the starchy carbohydrates that you eat - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta and rice. That usually leads to a big improvement in blood glucose levels - and quickly too.

Testing is a good idea too so that you can learn what effect different foods have on your blood glucose levels.

Good luck and best wishes - John
 
Hi Lynda, welcome to the forum.
 
lyndasw said:
Hi there!

I was diagnosed officially this week as type 2.
I
Sorry to go on so, everyone has said I have been quite strong this week but I seem to have lost my way today..... but tomorrow is another day 🙂

Lynda
Click to expand...

Read and print out Maggie davey's Open letter to Newly Daignosed Type 2 Diabetcis .....
http://www.sequin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Downloads/openlet.pdf

heres the first paragraph as a taster ...
"You've had the bad news: you've got diabetes. Now,
here's the good news: you've got diabetes. Of all the
chronic conditions there are, diabetes can be
controlled very effectively, and you can live a pretty
normal life with it. But, you have to work at it,
there's a lot you need to learn, and you've got to
make the decision to take charge and do what's
necessary to control it. Once you have brought your
diabetes under control, you'll find that there are
definite bonuses that go with it: you'll probably be
more fit than you've ever been in your life, you'll
have energy that you maybe thought had gone
forever, and you're likely to be in better mental
shape as well."
 
Thank you everyone for your kind wishes and advice.

The book is on order :D and I am pleased to say I had a far better day yesterday.


Lynda
 
lyndasw said:
Thank you everyone for your kind wishes and advice.

The book is on order :D and I am pleased to say I had a far better day yesterday.


Lynda
Click to expand...

Excellent Lynda - really pleased you are starting to feel better about things!🙂
 
Hi Lynda,

Just wanted to say good luck with the lifestyle changes and hope they work and you're feeling better soon.

I was diagnosed in November, I'm also diet controlled, and have only been offered 6 monthly assessments. I decided that wasn't enough for me, so I sent off for a monitor and begged for test strips on prescription but they wouldn't give me them, so I'm buying my own. I only started this week, but have already learnt that Special K is not my friend LOL and that I'm better off having porridge - baby steps, and all that.

I think I'll have to pick up that book too!

Good luck again - and welcome to the site 🙂
 
LisaLQ said:
Hi Lynda,

Just wanted to say good luck with the lifestyle changes and hope they work and you're feeling better soon.

I was diagnosed in November, I'm also diet controlled, and have only been offered 6 monthly assessments. I decided that wasn't enough for me, so I sent off for a monitor and begged for test strips on prescription but they wouldn't give me them, so I'm buying my own. I only started this week, but have already learnt that Special K is not my friend LOL and that I'm better off having porridge - baby steps, and all that.

I think I'll have to pick up that book too!

Good luck again - and welcome to the site 🙂
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Hi Lisa

I think I will be buying a monitor too 🙄 - I don't like being in the dark about things. Where did you get yours from? And how much are these test stripes that we are not allowed on prescription?
 
lyndasw said:
Hi Lisa

I think I will be buying a monitor too 🙄 - I don't like being in the dark about things. Where did you get yours from? And how much are these test stripes that we are not allowed on prescription?
Click to expand...

Hi Lynda, you can usually get a monitor free from the manufacturers - try googling free glucose meter UK. They give the meters away because the strips are where they make their money - they range from ?15-25 for 50 strips, so ideally you want your doctor to prescribe them. A lot of doctors won't - they say you don't need to - but it is the only way yo are going to work out how different foods/quantities affect you on a day to day basis. Have you read 'Jennifer's Advice' in the Links section? That will tell you the best approach to testing.
 
I got the One Touch Ultra Easy from their website, took about a month to get here but worth the wait as it's easy, and replacement test strips are cheap on eBay (?15 ish including p+p).
 
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