Just been told I'm T2

[Amanda3266]

I should have known as I've gone off so much sweet stuff, it's like my body was saying "no you don't want that".

Anyway my HBAC1 was 66 which shocked me beyond belief.

I'm already pretty active but I definitely have weight to lose.
In the meantime I have to start Metformin and build it up to four times a day.

Funnily enough I downloaded Nutracheck a week ago and have been monitoring my food and carb intake. I've lost 6.5lbs this week just by doing that so have an added incentive now to keep going.

I'm 55 and care for my autistic son, I need to be around for him for as long as possible and he's only 19.

 

[Windy]

Hi @Amanda3266 I found out I was type 2 a few weeks ago, no idea what my HbAc1 was, it was a bit overwhelming when the nurse told me, and I didn't take it in.
I'm also on metformin 2 x 500mg. I've been logging my calories and carbs per day on a spreadsheet and started a diet to lose the 5 extra stone that I'm carrying.
I've found the forum useful to find out about my T2 and ask questions to the friendly forum members.
Not sure I've got any wisdom or experience for you as it's all new to me, but welcome!
Sarah

 

[janw]

Hi Amanda and welcome. I'm also fairly new having been diagnosed a few months back as type 2. You are doing well with your weight loss, that should help lower your Blood Glucose for when they next give you a blood test. Cutting carbs, exercise, plenty of fluids all help. Do you have a BG meter to check your blood glucose before meals and 2 hours after? They are a real help is seeing what foodstuffs causes spikes, they really are a blessing for type 2s especially in the early days. Sadly most GPs will not prescribe them for T2, so we need to buy our own, plus keep a stock of test strips and lancets - your GP should be able to prescribe you a sharps container for the used lancets, you may need to find out where they go once it is full - it varies from town to town by the sound of things. Anyway, if you need any help, advice, encouragement or a shoulder, you will find it here - great people, very friendly and with a wealth of information and experience.

 

[Amanda3266]

Thank you , I've just ordered a BG monitoring kit, I mean to take this very seriously.
I am overweight but am dieting (hate that word lol) and made a good start to my weight loss.

Been told that weight loss and exercise is all I need alongside Metformin.

I'm already part of a regular exercise group though but need to add more on days when I don't attend that as I can be a bit of a couch potato .

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you , I've just ordered a BG monitoring kit, I mean to take this very seriously.
I am overweight but am dieting (hate that word lol) and made a good start to my weight loss.

Been told that weight loss and exercise is all I need alongside Metformin.

I'm already part of a regular exercise group though but need to add more on days when I don't attend that as I can be a bit of a couch potato .

I hate that word also as dieting or going on a diet implies something with a beginning and an END which with diabetes it is definitely not that and should be regarded as a dietary regime which suits you and has to be sustainable for the rest of your life.
Well done on your weight loss so far and I'm sure with strategic use of you monitor will help you crack this.

 

[Amanda3266]

I hate that word also as dieting or going on a diet implies something with a beginning and an END which with diabetes it is definitely not that and should be regarded as a dietary regime which suits you and has to be sustainable for the rest of your life.
Well done on your weight loss so far and I'm sure with strategic use of you monitor will help you crack this.

Yes that's what my GP said "diets have end points" so advised me to not go lower than 2000 cals a day. She said the 800 calorie diets should only be done under the supervision of a dietician. This is good as the chances of me sticking to such a low number are virtually zero.

I'm also exercising too which she said can often be more useful than a diet.

 

[Leadinglights]

Yes that's what my GP said "diets have end points" so advised me to not go lower than 2000 cals a day. She said the 800 calorie diets should only be done under the supervision of a dietician. This is good as the chances of me sticking to such a low number are virtually zero.

I'm also exercising too which she said can often be more useful than a diet.

I think exercise has to go hand in hand with diet. The reduction in carbohydrates is going to have most impact, it is better to think of carbs not just calories.
Something can be low calorie but high carb as well as the other way round.

 

[Amanda3266]

I think exercise has to go hand in hand with diet. The reduction in carbohydrates is going to have most impact, it is better to think of carbs not just calories.
Something can be low calorie but high carb as well as the other way round.

I'm tracking number carbs and keeping them under 150g a day at the moment. Been looking at labels in the supermarkets and making choices that way.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I'm tracking number carbs and keeping them under 150g a day at the moment. Been looking at labels in the supermarkets and making choices that way.

Sounds like you have been making really positive changes @Amanda3266

And really well done on the weight loss - that should certainly help.

Yes like @Leadinglights I tend to feel that adopting a new ‘way of eating’, rather than a short term period of dieting,seems more likely to be successful - so it’s important to discover a menu that suits your weight aspirations, your tastebuds, your bank balance, and your BG levels 🙂

If you’d like some additional food ideas, you might find the Diabetes UK low carb meal plans helpful

Low-carb diet and meal plan

Eating a low-carb diet means cutting down on the amount of carbohydrates (carbs) you eat to less than 130g a day. But low-carb eating shouldn’t be no-carb eating. Some carbohydrate foods contain essential vitamins, minerals and fibre, which form an important part of a healthy diet.

www.diabetes.org.uk

Alternatively, there are hundreds of day’s worth of meal ideas from members in the ‘what did you eat yesterday’ thread.

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/what-did-you-eat-yesterday.30349/page-490

Hope your next set of blood results reflect the positive changes you have been making 🙂

 

[Amanda3266]

Sounds like you have been making really positive changes @Amanda3266

And really well done on the weight loss - that should certainly help.

Yes like @Leadinglights I tend to feel that adopting a new ‘way of eating’, rather than a short term period of dieting,seems more likely to be successful - so it’s important to discover a menu that suits your weight aspirations, your tastebuds, your bank balance, and your BG levels 🙂

If you’d like some additional food ideas, you might find the Diabetes UK low carb meal plans helpful

Low-carb diet and meal plan

Eating a low-carb diet means cutting down on the amount of carbohydrates (carbs) you eat to less than 130g a day. But low-carb eating shouldn’t be no-carb eating. Some carbohydrate foods contain essential vitamins, minerals and fibre, which form an important part of a healthy diet.

www.diabetes.org.uk

Alternatively, there are hundreds of day’s worth of meal ideas from members in the ‘what did you eat yesterday’ thread.

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/what-did-you-eat-yesterday.30349/page-490

Hope your next set of blood results reflect the positive changes you have been making 🙂

Oh thank you so much for the links there, I’m really keen to find new recipes. This site is huge so I hadn’t found those pages. Some wonderful recipes with cauliflower which I love.