Morning all :)

[Badboytwig]

Good morning to you all.
Well my lifestyle has finally caught up with me and was diagnosed with type 2 last Wednesday. Since then I have been given a testing kit which is now becoming my focus of the day. My relationship with food is slowly dropping off as now I can't eat anything I have done the past 35 years+. In truth it's all a bit depressing as I no longer have interest in food My levels are high (around 12) fasting and mostly stay there. I am trying to lose weight. Stopped all alcohol and have been taking meds (Metformin) the past week and no change. I have to start taking a second tablet come tmrw so that will be a 1000mg daily. How long can I expect the side effects to last for (Bad stomach cramps etc)
I am now exercising and am losing weight but damn I feel the whole process is just a depressing episode which isn't going to go away

 

[Taz78]

Good morning to you all.
Well my lifestyle has finally caught up with me and was diagnosed with type 2 last Wednesday. Since then I have been given a testing kit which is now becoming my focus of the day. My relationship with food is slowly dropping off as now I can't eat anything I have done the past 35 years+. In truth it's all a bit depressing as I no longer have interest in food My levels are high (around 12) fasting and mostly stay there. I am trying to lose weight. Stopped all alcohol and have been taking meds (Metformin) the past week and no change. I have to start taking a second tablet come tmrw so that will be a 1000mg daily. How long can I expect the side effects to last for (Bad stomach cramps etc)
I am now exercising and am losing weight but damn I feel the whole process is just a depressing episode which isn't going to go away

Hi

I was diagnosed with type 2 just before Christmas. I totally know what you mean about food. My birthday is Christmas Eve so it totally threw out any plans I had which happened to be food and alcohol related. I don't have to test which I find strange as i have no idea if my levels are high or low.

As I have lost weight and the odd days were I feel normal it sort of help ing me to enjoy food again and try foods I like and use them with the foods that wouldn't be my first choice. I was advised to take my meds with food to reduce the side effects. Someone else also suggested coated tablets.

It is a lot to get your head round. I found speaking to others with diabetes helps a bit as you don't feel like your the only one going through it.

Hope that helps a little

 

[Leadinglights]

Good morning to you all.
Well my lifestyle has finally caught up with me and was diagnosed with type 2 last Wednesday. Since then I have been given a testing kit which is now becoming my focus of the day. My relationship with food is slowly dropping off as now I can't eat anything I have done the past 35 years+. In truth it's all a bit depressing as I no longer have interest in food My levels are high (around 12) fasting and mostly stay there. I am trying to lose weight. Stopped all alcohol and have been taking meds (Metformin) the past week and no change. I have to start taking a second tablet come tmrw so that will be a 1000mg daily. How long can I expect the side effects to last for (Bad stomach cramps etc)
I am now exercising and am losing weight but damn I feel the whole process is just a depressing episode which isn't going to go away

Welcome to the forum
It can be a shock to get a diagnosis but by doing something about it you will hopefully avoid getting the unpleasant consequences of high blood glucose and a bit of sacrifice now will be worth it.
Some people do get an upset stomach from the metformin which can take a few weeks to settle down but I would delay the extra dose until it has (check with your Diabetic nurse) or ask for slow release version as they are kinder on the stomach, taking mid meal will help.
I'm afraid dietary changes are needed but there are still plenty of foods you can eat, basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, with vegetables, salads and fruit like berries can still give you options for tasty meals just not with loads of chips, potatoes, rice, pasta or bread.
Have a look at this link and you will see there are still lots of options.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com

You can still have alcohol in moderation, wine and spirits with diet mixers are the best choices rather than beer or cider.*

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I don't have to test which I find strange as i have no idea if my levels are high or low.

Hello @Taz78,

The NICE Guidelines do not require those diagnosed with T2 diabetes to test (ie with finger pricking) unless their medications put the patient at risk of going hypoglycaemic. So as written you "don't have to test". There are some people who would not want to test, and some might find the results alarming or frightening which could add stress to their lives- which is a bad thing in itself. No doubt this sort of reasoning is why the NICE Guidelines preclude testing. Also there could be a deluge of questions for GPs if the majority of T2s did routinely test and did not understand or like the results they get. So "strange" perhaps, but perhaps explainable.

The consequence of those NICE Guidelines is that GPs don't routinely provide the test kit of a lancing device, test strips and a meter. However, some people do self fund their own test kit, because they don't like the idea of being blind to whether they are doing the right sort of things. Personally, that would be my approach, because if I were T2 I would want to take ownership of my D and then be trying to find a sensible way forward. I think that, broadly, many longer-standing members on this forum encourage new and inquisitive members to self fund test kits. For me the clue for this is if someone is seeking clearer advice about what they should be doing from a forum such as this - then probably that inquisitiveness would be appropriately rewarded by encouraging home testing.

But the key to regular home testing is that it is ONLY of use if the test regime has some purpose and structure to it. Random spot checks, even if frequent but still random, serve no purpose. The purpose is not so much to confirm after 3 months that diet or activity changes have worked - an HbA1c formal blood test can do that.

But rather to observe over weeks and months a daily trend, perhaps first thing on waking or last thing on going to bed. Or the weekly and monthly trend from bedtime to waking while one's body is fasting. Or for meals, testing immediately before the first mouthful and again 2 hrs later - to see how your individual metabolism has managed that particular meal. Then to confirm over time that you've found a particular meal that not only does repeatedly work well for you but is also a meal that you are happy to routinely adopt for your lifestyle. I.e that you can sustain that dietary lifestyle for the foreseeable future. There will probably be a legion of surprises about not only what foods are not so good for you but also what foods can be great for you.

I should add its not just about meals and their carb contents but about how your body responds to general activity and from more formal exercise. You could find that 3 x 10 min modest walks make a huge difference to your food digestion leading to much better BG readings. The opportunities are limitless.

So, you don't have to test but you can choose to test.

 

[Martin.A]

Good morning to you all.
Well my lifestyle has finally caught up with me and was diagnosed with type 2 last Wednesday. Since then I have been given a testing kit which is now becoming my focus of the day. My relationship with food is slowly dropping off as now I can't eat anything I have done the past 35 years+. In truth it's all a bit depressing as I no longer have interest in food My levels are high (around 12) fasting and mostly stay there. I am trying to lose weight. Stopped all alcohol and have been taking meds (Metformin) the past week and no change. I have to start taking a second tablet come tmrw so that will be a 1000mg daily. How long can I expect the side effects to last for (Bad stomach cramps etc)
I am now exercising and am losing weight but damn I feel the whole process is just a depressing episode which isn't going to go away

You did well to be given a test kit. That doesn't generally happen if only prescribed Metformin. I was given one, also only prescribed Metformin, and I found it invaluable for sorting out my diet by pre- and post-meal testing, and by adopting a testing regime that enabled me to see whether what I was doing had my BG trending downwards ahead of my next HbA1c (it was). I'm still doing it almost 5 years on but now I'm on the lookout for my BG trending upwards. Happily, so far it isn't and the trend line has been pretty flat for the last 4 years.

Can I ask what your previous diet consisted of and what it is that you've decided you can't have anymore?

 

[Badboytwig]

Hi

I was diagnosed with type 2 just before Christmas. I totally know what you mean about food. My birthday is Christmas Eve so it totally threw out any plans I had which happened to be food and alcohol related. I don't have to test which I find strange as i have no idea if my levels are high or low.

As I have lost weight and the odd days were I feel normal it sort of help ing me to enjoy food again and try foods I like and use them with the foods that wouldn't be my first choice. I was advised to take my meds with food to reduce the side effects. Someone else also suggested coated tablets.

It is a lot to get your head round. I found speaking to others with diabetes helps a bit as you don't feel like your the only one going through it.

Hope that helps a little

Thanks 🙂

 

[Badboytwig]

You did well to be given a test kit. That doesn't generally happen if only prescribed Metformin. I was given one, also only prescribed Metformin, and I found it invaluable for sorting out my diet by pre- and post-meal testing, and by adopting a testing regime that enabled me to see whether what I was doing had my BG trending downwards ahead of my next HbA1c (it was). I'm still doing it almost 5 years on but now I'm on the lookout for my BG trending upwards. Happily, so far it isn't and the trend line has been pretty flat for the last 4 years.

Can I ask what your previous diet consisted of and what it is that you've decided you can't have anymore?

Hi Martin,

It was a typical diet of takeaways and easy quick food in the oven. I was a sucker for chips and burgers and crusty bread and all the bad things sadly. I was borderline for about 6 years and nothing changed. 2023 was the year where I lost a parent and found them coupled with a close friend passing mid year and then my partner having a heart attack the week before Xmas. Throw in my first dose of Covid and vola 9.6 bloods and peeing like a race horse at night. I'm pleased to hear you have it under control and can only hope mine will follow suit. At the mo I feel like food is something I don't enjoy since being diagnosed but equally am aware it's early days so need to stay focused.. Days like today are hard after yet more eggs lol​

 

[Badboytwig]

Welcome to the forum
It can be a shock to get a diagnosis but by doing something about it you will hopefully avoid getting the unpleasant consequences of high blood glucose and a bit of sacrifice now will be worth it.
Some people do get an upset stomach from the metformin which can take a few weeks to settle down but I would delay the extra dose until it has (check with your Diabetic nurse) or ask for slow release version as they are kinder on the stomach, taking mid meal will help.
I'm afraid dietary changes are needed but there are still plenty of foods you can eat, basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, with vegetables, salads and fruit like berries can still give you options for tasty meals just not with loads of chips, potatoes, rice, pasta or bread.
Have a look at this link and you will see there are still lots of options.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com

You can still have alcohol in moderation, wine and spirits with diet mixers are the best choices rather than beer or cider.*

Many thanks Taz, I shall have a look at the guide 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Badboytwig

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and sincere condolences for the loss of your parent and friend in such quick succession, followed by such serious health concerns - you must have felt knocked sideways.

A diagnosis with a long term condition like diabetes can involve its own form of grief and grieving, with all sorts of strong emotions including things like denial, anger, depression, and anxiety. Plus high glucose levels in themselves can have a negative impact on mood - so it can be a bit of a double whammy.

Hope any gastric upset you are experiencing settles quickly, or that you are able to get the Slow Release tablets, and that they work better for you. Hope you are able to find a menu that you can actively enjoy too, and which also gives you the results you are looking for.

Let us know how you get on 🙂