Just diagnosed

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IanR76

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi All
Really was not feeling great since the New Year. Very tired etc. Looked up for symptoms on the internet - seemed to have most of the symptoms of type 2 - did a blood test at home - was off the scale - repeated and same again. Phoned up GP surgery and went for bloods Got a phone call from hospital that night and told to come in for further test the next day as blood sugar very high. Lots of tests. then given metformin. I was told I have type 2 diabetes and to contact GP. Next day GP surgery phoned for further blood tests, Now waiting to see diabetes nurse and optician = 3 week wait.
I have found diabetes UK website an excellent resource as I really did not know what I should be doing in the short term.
 
Hi @IanR76 , I'm sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis but you've come to the right place. There's a lot of information out there, and it can feel overwhelming, but learning as much as you can is a great way to feel more in control again. I would start here: Diabetes UK | The Basics of Type 2.

Below I'll include some more useful links:
  • This is DUK's physical guide to Type 2. It's free to order: Your guide to type 2 diabetes | Free diabetes information - Diabetes UK Shop. You can also find free leaflets and posters on lots of topics there.
  • You might want to check out our Learning Zone as well: Learning Zone | Diabetes UK. It will ask for some basic information about you and your situation that it will use to provide tailored information to give back to you, including tips on managing comfortably and in a way that suites you.
  • It's great to see you've found our website. Use the search bar, found on most pages, to search key words. You'll find a lot of information that way, including recipes and blogs. That's found here: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/.
If you have a problem or need advice, you can always come to us. We're not medical professionals, be we have a lot of information about Diabetes, and we should at least be able to point you in the right direction. You can call our Helpline, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6pm, on 0345123 2399, or email us at helpline@diabetes.org.uk.
 
IanR76 said:
Hi All
Really was not feeling great since the New Year. Very tired etc. Looked up for symptoms on the internet - seemed to have most of the symptoms of type 2 - did a blood test at home - was off the scale - repeated and same again. Phoned up GP surgery and went for bloods Got a phone call from hospital that night and told to come in for further test the next day as blood sugar very high. Lots of tests. then given metformin. I was told I have type 2 diabetes and to contact GP. Next day GP surgery phoned for further blood tests, Now waiting to see diabetes nurse and optician = 3 week wait.
I have found diabetes UK website an excellent resource as I really did not know what I should be doing in the short term.
Click to expand...
Something which almost defines type 2 is that reducing the amount of carbohydrate in the diet lowers blood glucose very efficiently. That applies to a plain ordinary type 2, and there are other possibilities - but as you seem to have the means to test your blood glucose it might be worth cutting out the high carb foods, those high in starch and sugars and seeing how your numbers change.
The usual technique is to test just before starting to eat and then two hours later than that test. It seems to indicate how you respond as well as how suitable the meal was for you.
You could make significant discoveries in the next few weeks and be able to argue for diet only control - the usual mix of Metformin and a statin can, for some be quite devastating. Some take them and report no problems, but it is rather like Russian roulette.
 
Have they told you what your HbA1C result was as that will indicate how far you are into the diabetes zone and therefore how much work you will need to do.
As well as the suggestions above you might find this link useful for some ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
 
Drummer said:
Something which almost defines type 2 is that reducing the amount of carbohydrate in the diet lowers blood glucose very efficiently. That applies to a plain ordinary type 2, and there are other possibilities - but as you seem to have the means to test your blood glucose it might be worth cutting out the high carb foods, those high in starch and sugars and seeing how your numbers change.
The usual technique is to test just before starting to eat and then two hours later than that test. It seems to indicate how you respond as well as how suitable the meal was for you.
You could make significant discoveries in the next few weeks and be able to argue for diet only control - the usual mix of Metformin and a statin can, for some be quite devastating. Some take them and report no problems, but it is rather like Russian roulette.
Click to expand...
Thanks for advice. I have looked into carbohydrates and now recognise that I was eating far too much starchy food particularly bread. Also looked at Michael Mosley's 8 week blood sugar diet. I have cut out bread etc and over 2 weeks have lost a stone. Blood sugar levels coming down. Sticking with metformin for now.
 
Doctor that phoned up asking me to go to the hospital indicated that blood sugar was in the mid thirties. I have been testing blood sugar at home and over 2 weeks. It has reduced considerably due to metformin and diet - before breakfast 7,8mmol/l.
 
IanR76 said:
Doctor that phoned up asking me to go to the hospital indicated that blood sugar was in the mid thirties. I have been testing blood sugar at home and over 2 weeks. It has reduced considerably due to metformin and diet - before breakfast 7,8mmol/l.
Click to expand...
Have you actually had an HbA1C test as that is the one used for diagnosis being an average over the previous 3 months rather than a spot test which just reflects the here and now. The result of that if over 47mmol/mol would give you your diagnosis but also indicates where you are on the diabetes ladder and how much work you nee to do.
Your morning reading is looking promising for being on track. But probably worth checking out some typical meals to see how your body copes with those, aiming at no more than 8 -8.5 mmol/l 2 hours after you eat.
 
Blood sugar 10.4 2 hrs after breakfast of porridge.
Not sure I got the hospital blood sugar correct - doctor said he thought I should come to hospital as blood sugar level dangerous.
 
IanR76 said:
Blood sugar 10.4 2 hrs after breakfast of porridge.
Not sure I got the hospital blood sugar correct - doctor said he thought I should come to hospital as blood sugar level dangerous.
Click to expand...
It would be a good idea to ask for an HbA1C test if not done so you know where your starting point rather than just the reading you are getting from a home monitor, useful though it is, it is affected by many different factors.
If porridge is you breakfast of choice then reducing your portion a bit as you are having an increase from before you eat of rather more than you want of no more than 2-3mmol/l after 2hours.
 
Thank you for all your advice - very much appreciated.
Sorry to be vague re HbA1C but I am unable find out from doctor's surgery and my first appointment with diabetes nurse is 2 weeks away.
Definitely will cut down on porridge portion size.
All the best.
 
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