Just diagnosed, very anxious

[Beancounter298]

I had a blood sugar test last week and my blood sugar is 98
My GP gave me the results over the phone and I am feeling very anxious and overwhelmed
Any advice would be very welcome
My BMI is 26 so I am slightly overweight but I think my diet has been reasonably ok and I try to keep active,, for my age (69) anyway. I am a very anxious person and this feels like a terrible blow
Thank you

 

[Martin.A]

I had a blood sugar test last week and my blood sugar is 98
My GP gave me the results over the phone and I am feeling very anxious and overwhelmed
Any advice would be very welcome
My BMI is 26 so I am slightly overweight but I think my diet has been reasonably ok and I try to keep active,, for my age (69) anyway. I am a very anxious person and this feels like a terrible blow
Thank you

Hi. Sorry you've had to join us but welcome to the Forum. It's understandable that you're feeling anxious and overwhelmed - we've all been there and got the T-shirt - but you've come to a place where you'll get all the advice and support you need from members who are managing their diabetes day-to-day.

98 is very high but some of us were even higher at diagnosis but have still managed to turn things around. My BMI was 26.2 when I was diagnosed but it's now 21.3 as a result of losing weight, adopting a low carb diet and being more active. I'm no longer on meds and feel fitter and healthier than I've done in years. T2 is manageable.

What medication have you been put on? You say that your diet has been reasonably OK but could you give a rundown of a typical day?

 

[Beancounter298]

Hi. Sorry you've had to join us but welcome to the Forum. It's understandable that you're feeling anxious and overwhelmed - we've all been there and got the T-shirt - but you've come to a place where you'll get all the advice and support you need from members who are managing their diabetes day-to-day.

98 is very high but some of us were even higher at diagnosis but have still managed to turn things around. My BMI was 26.2 when I was diagnosed but it's now 21.3 as a result of losing weight, adopting a low carb diet and being more active. I'm no longer on meds and feel fitter and healthier than I've done in years. T2 is manageable.

What medication have you been put on? You say that your diet has been reasonably OK but could you give a rundown of a typical day?

I don't have a typical day but eat quite a lot of eggs and cheese, more fruit than vegetables especially berries and mangoes
No alcohol but a lot of diet fizzy drinks
Lately I have been eating too many cakes and desserts, but don't eat sweets or chocolate between meals

I have been prescribed metaforin and another medication gli something but won't get them until tomorrow. I take alvorstatin 20mg but this is being increased to 40mg

 

[Leadinglights]

I don't have a typical day but eat quite a lot of eggs and cheese, more fruit than vegetables especially berries and mangoes
No alcohol but a lot of diet fizzy drinks
Lately I have been eating too many cakes and desserts, but don't eat sweets or chocolate between meals

I have been prescribed metaforin and another medication gli something but won't get them until tomorrow. I take alvorstatin 20mg but this is being increased to 40mg

Welcome. Yes the cakes and biscuits will do you no favours unless you make your own low carb ones for which there are plenty of recipes. However it is all carbohydrates which convert to glucose not just the 'sweet ' stuff. Berries are good being the lowest carb fruits but tropical fruits like mangoes are very high. Vegetables and salads are a better option than too much fruit.
What may be a heathy diet if not diabetic is not so if Type 2 diabetic.
Meals based on meat, fish, eggs and cheese with veg and salads but only very small portions of any of the higher carb food like potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, breakfast cereals which are the big hitters.
Have a look at this link for some ideas for modifying your diet, it is a low carb approach which many find successful, there are some do's and don'ts and some menu plans to suit various tastes and budgets. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
The two medications you have been prescribes work in different ways, metformin helps the body use the insulin it produces more effectively and if the other one is gliclazide then that encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin.
That one has the potential to cause low blood glucose so your GP should have prescribed a monitor and test strips and lancets, if they haven't then ask.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I don't have a typical day but eat quite a lot of eggs and cheese, more fruit than vegetables especially berries and mangoes
No alcohol but a lot of diet fizzy drinks
Lately I have been eating too many cakes and desserts, but don't eat sweets or chocolate between meals

I have been prescribed metaforin and another medication gli something but won't get them until tomorrow. I take alvorstatin 20mg but this is being increased to 40mg

Welcome to the forum @Beancounter298

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It’s quite common to start out feeling anxious and overwhelmed be a diagnosis with diabetes, so be kind to yourself. Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.

Eggs and cheese won’t affect your glucose levels, but you may need to bear the calorific content of cheese in mind if you are hoping to lose weight.

Berries are generally the most BG-friendly fruit, but unfortunately mangoes like a lot of tropical fruits can be quite hard on the BG levels.

I’m perfectly happy to drink diet drinks in moderation, though some are a little cautious of high intakes.

Cakes and desserts are best reserved for soecial occasions in my experience. I find I enjoy them more and get more out of them with reduced frequency.

Hope the combination of meds and a tweaked menu balance well to gently improve your glucose levels over the coming weeks and months.

Diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint 🙂