Just diagnosed & concerns over levels

[scotcaz22]

Hi, my name is Carri, and I have been recently diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2. It has been a week today and it has been a long week of crying, depression and confusion but almost straight away I have changed my eating habits.

I started to cook more at home with lots of vegetables, fruit as well as protein (chicken, fish, mince etc) and some other carbs. I have done healthy eating before so it wasn't new to me and it was easy for me to change almost straight away (although it wasn't easy, especially yesterday!)

I was put on metformin (one tablet twice a day for a week, increased to 2 tablets twice a day yesterday until further notice)

I also received a little machine (not sure what is the proper name for it!) to check my blood sugars once a day (sometimes twice a day) as recommended by my doctor. I started with 17.1 mmol/l on the first day, which was to be expected but I noticed that the levels have dropped quickly during the week (e.g. on Friday before breakfast it has dropped to 7.7 from 8.8 the night before) (although some evenings before bed it has increased a little). At the weekend, the levels have increased hugely due to eating out on Saturday (from 6.7 in the morning to 8.9 in the evening) and Sunday increased again to 10.2 (due to emotional eating and feeling depressed, plus had late lunch etc).

Today, at the last check (morning), it has dropped again to 6.9.

I expected the levels to drop slowly but they have dropped quickly within a week. Is that normal or should I be concerned? My doctor said that the ideal levels for me are between 5 and 12.

I hope you can help?

Thank you in advance :=)

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I expected the levels to drop slowly but they have dropped quickly within a week. Is that normal or should I be concerned?

Sounds fine to me. There's a regulatory mechanism trying to keep you within about 4-7 most of the time (though even non-diabetic people will go outside of that now and again), and it sounds like what you're doing is allowing yours to work effectively again.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @scotcaz22

It is not unusual to go through a range of emotions with a diagnosis of diabetes. There is a lot to take in , but it sounds like you have made a good start, with some changes to your diet already.

It is great that you have been provided with a test kit so that you are able to monitor your levels day by day. Everyone’s blood glucose (BG) readings will rise and fall through the day, especially after eating Whether they have Diabetes or not. Some find it useful to monitor their levels before a meal and again 2 hours after, as that will show how your body has coped with the meal you have eaten. This gives you chance to then decide to make swaps and/or reduce portions sizes.

Keep in touch and fire away with any questions that arise. Nothing is considered silly on here. just ask.

 

[scotcaz22]

Sounds fine to me. There's a regulatory mechanism trying to keep you within about 4-7 most of the time (though even non-diabetic people will go outside of that now and again), and it sounds like what you're doing is allowing yours to work effectively again.

Thanks, that puts my mind at peace! 🙂

 

[scotcaz22]

Welcome to the forum @scotcaz22

It is not unusual to go through a range of emotions with a diagnosis of diabetes. There is a lot to take in , but it sounds like you have made a good start, with some changes to your diet already.

It is great that you have been provided with a test kit so that you are able to monitor your levels day by day. Everyone’s blood glucose (BG) readings will rise and fall through the day, especially after eating Whether they have Diabetes or not. Some find it useful to monitor their levels before a meal and again 2 hours after, as that will show how your body has coped with the meal you have eaten. This gives you chance to then decide to make swaps and/or reduce portions sizes.

Keep in touch and fire away with any questions that arise. Nothing is considered silly on here. just ask.

Thank you for the welcome! Yeah I was lucky to be provided with a test kit - the doctor hopes it will be temporary as he wanted me to take blood sugar checks for 3 weeks, so I will wait and see what happens when I go back to the diabetes clinic.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @scotcaz22

Sounds like you have made a lot of positive changes so far - well done!

Some emotional upset is very common on getting a diagnosis with diabetes. Some people liken it to a kind of grieving, with the familiar jumble of stages, cycling through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and ultimately acceptance. So be kind to yourself, and take things gradually. Diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint!

Using your BG meter before and after eating can be very effective way to examine the effects of specific meals, and the types and portion sizes of carbohydrates they contain. Some things have a reputation for being ‘slow release‘ (or fast acting!) but this can be frustratingly fickle and individual. Many members here have found it very helpful to ‘eat to their meter’ instead. Ignoring the reputation foods have, and going through a period of experimentation to find what works well for them as an individual.

Aiming for a rise of no more than 2-3mmol/L from a meal at 2hrs after the first bite is a pretty good benchmark.

 

[scotcaz22]

Welcome to the forum @scotcaz22

Sounds like you have made a lot of positive changes so far - well done!

Some emotional upset is very common on getting a diagnosis with diabetes. Some people liken it to a kind of grieving, with the familiar jumble of stages, cycling through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and ultimately acceptance. So be kind to yourself, and take things gradually. Diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint!

Using your BG meter before and after eating can be very effective way to examine the effects of specific meals, and the types and portion sizes of carbohydrates they contain. Some things have a reputation for being ‘slow release‘ (or fast acting!) but this can be frustratingly fickle and individual. Many members here have found it very helpful to ‘eat to their meter’ instead. Ignoring the reputation foods have, and going through a period of experimentation to find what works well for them as an individual.

Aiming for a rise of no more than 2-3mmol/L from a meal at 2hrs after the first bite is a pretty good benchmark.

Thank you for the welcome and for the advice 🙂

 

[Felinia]

Hi and welcome. I suggest you keep a food diary, linked to your readings, so you will have an idea of what does and does not affect you. Unlike some people I can have a couple of small potatoes or a small slice of bread, but pasta, rice and apples are a no-no. Do you know what your HbA1c was? You were put on the maximum dose of Metformin within a week - that's quite quick. I hope you have not had side effects. If you have, most people take a pill in the middle of their meal. Best wishes