Just been diagnosed this morning

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Sheilagh1958 said:
Well I have started as I mean to go and just completed my first 1 hour walk this evening. 🙂

Maybe the new I got today will give me the incentive I need to get fit and healthy.

Pasta with Prawns for tea hope that okay.
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Well done for starting the walking! You may not feel the benefit of it straight off, but stick with it and you will do eventually.

Regarding your tea, I'd be a little wary of the pasta. But it depends on the portion size. Whereas before, I used to have platefuls of the stuff, it's wise not to now. Most of my meals tend to be bulked up with different kinds of vegetables (whilst they can still contain carbs, it's not to such a great extent).

The prawns are very good though. They're one of my favourites now (usually in my standard onion/garlic/tomato & herbs sauce!).

Andy 🙂
 
Weight Loss Board here I come. I felt so depressed this morning when I got the news. But this forum is going to be my lifeline. I already feel that I getting so much support from this forum
 
My advice is to go to your local library and look for books on the subject. Some are very good and recommendations are somewhere on these boards. I bought Diabetes for Dummies and find it really useful. This forum is great - you can have fun as well which is something I forgot about when first diagnosed. I remember just thinking what? What? What can I eat? What should I do? What did I do wrong?? My doc explained that there was always a good chance I would develop diabetes and I had not done anything wrong, could do with losing weight etc but as at least one of my parents and some of my siblings have diabetes, pretty good chance I would too.

I thought I knew bits about diabetes but once diagnosed and start reading for real, so much of it was new to me.

So, we really do understand how you are feeling.
 
I have ordered a couple of books that has recommended in this forum so hopefully will soon understand what I should and shouldn't be eating.
 
H Sheilagh,

I am a non-insulin-dependent Type 2 (myself and the advice that I give to anyone in the same situation as me is to do the following:

Firstly, start testing even if your healthcare professionals tell you not to, because that is the only way that you learn what different foods do to your blood glucose levels.

Secondly, cut back on any starchy carbohydrate that you are eating (e.g. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, pizza etc) because that usually leads to a very big improvement in blood glucose levels - and quickly too.

Eat the foods that your meter tells you don't send you high.

I got worse for eight years before I learnt those lessons. However, over the last two years I have normalised my blood glucose levels. These days, the medical people - by using any of the standard tests so often used to diagnose diabetes -i.e. fasting blood glucose levels or HbA1c - would say that I wasn't diabetic unless either they had access to my medical records or I told them that I was.

Good luck and best wishes - John
 
Thank you John for your positive reply/advice

It makes me think that there is life after Diabetes 2.

I have got an appointment with the Nurse this Friday so will leave it till after Friday. I will treat myself to a monitor at the weekend.

I have bought a book called 'The First Year of Type 2 Diabetes' which is giving me a better understanding.

Since my diagnosis I am having a very healthy diet and have started having a brisk 30 minute walk each day. Just hope I can keep this positive attitude up going forward.

Been feeling a little light-headed sometimes but hopefully this is my blood sugar level coming down and my body will get use to it.
 
You've made an excellent start Sheilagh, and we're here to help whenever you need us 🙂 Hope things go well on Friday 🙂
 
Met with the nurse at the surgery this Friday didn't really know what to expect and was very impressed with the check up I was given.

Gave me finger prick test and I have gone from 23.5 on my diagnosed day to 13.5 (I know its still high but in the right direction). I knew it had improved as all my symptoms ot thrush, drinking lots and going to the toilet a lot had gone. The nurse is keen for me to continue with the diet and exercise plan that I am currently doing which is low fat and a small amount of carbs with each meal. She explained to me what happens next so appointment for me feet to get checked out, appointment for my eyes to get checked out. She is also arranging for me to go an a 2 half day course to learn more about Diabetes 2.

Nurse asked me if I wanted a monitor (she didn't think at this stage that I needed one just to continue with what I am doing) but after I had read many articles on here and started to read the first year of Diabetes I asked for one. She is arranging a prescription for some new strips as the one that came with the monitor are out of date (prescription wont be ready till next Tuesday ...............that will be fun trying to use that for the first time!) she suggested to me at this stage to just check my level each morning! I was also prescribed some tablets for high Cholesterol to be taken each night.

I am feeling quite positive at the moment. Almost feel as though I been given a 2nd chance to get a more healthy lifestyle in order. A kick up the bum but they way I am looking at it is I would rather Diabetes 2 than some other illness that i can do nothing about.

I have already lost 10 pounds only about another 3 stone to go😉.
I am now trying to do 30 mins brisk walk a day or building up to 30 mins on my new exercise bike. If I had been diagnosed with Diabetes 2 two weeks ago would I be doing that .......NO. But know I am actually enjoying it.

THIS SITE IS BRILLIANT AND HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS IT WOULD OF BEEN SO MUCH HARDER TO COPE WITH THIS WITHOUT ALL OUR SUPPORT HOPE I WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE SUPPORT TO OTHERS THE MIRE I LEARN ABOUT DIABETES .......😎
 
Sheilagh, I'm so pleased to hear that you had such a good appointment with such an intellingent and well-informed nurse! That can make such a difference to how you perceive your diagnosis, and clearly it's given you a 'buzz' that you just want to get on with getting healthy! And from the sounds of it, you have made an excellent start! 🙂 Well done on the weight loss and stepping up the exercise - all this will help you come on in leaps and bounds with your blood sugar control. Great that you are being prescribed strips - I'm sure you have read of some of the battles many people here have had to get them - again a big cheer for your nurse! Plus, you get to go on an education course soon - many people wait years for such an opportunity, so that it really good news too 🙂

Keep up the good work, and remember we are always here for you, whatever the problem, or if you just want a bit of fun and a chat check out the 'Off the Subject' section. Brilliant, so chuffed that things are going so well!
 
That sounds really good. And well done to you too!

When I was diagnosed it was suggested to me that I test just once a day too, but in my case it was to do it at different times, not just when I got up. That is, one of ....

1) Before breakfast
2) 2hrs after breakfast
3) Before lunch
4) 2hrs after lunch
5) Before main meal
6) 2hrs after main meal
7) Before bed.

Using that approach to work out my diet took a bit more time than multi-testing through the day. But because my bg readings were already responding well to the medication, exercise and improved diet, I didn't have any problems with it. If you think that this'll work for you too, just check with the nurse first to make sure that she/he didn't have a reason for you only testing when suggested.

Andy 🙂
 
Hi again Sheilagh,

Great news about you being given a meter and prescribed strips! That doesn't happen for many Type 2s.

Just to repeat what I have said earlier, the most important lesson for someone in your position to learn is to cut back on any starchy carbohydrate that you are eating (e.g. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, pizza etc) because that usually leads to a very big improvement in blood glucose levels - and quickly too.

Eat the foods that your meter tells you don't send you high.

Diet is your most powerful ally - more important than weight loss and exercise in my experience. Keep working on those but get to work on making the dietary changes. Your meter will tell you the way to go!

Good luck - John
 
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