My first time

[dickiesplitz]

Hi All. My name is Richard and I am new here. I was diagnosed about 18 months ago with Type 2. I am really trying hard to control the sugar levels using Metformin but am not always successful. I still feel really tired in the early afternoons and it does affect my work.

Hopefully I may pick up some useful advice here.

 

[novorapidboi26]

Im a Type 1 but there are many heavily qualified type 2s on here that can give you unendless amounts of good advice........

Welcome to the forum........

 

[Northerner]

Hi All. My name is Richard and I am new here. I was diagnosed about 18 months ago with Type 2. I am really trying hard to control the sugar levels using Metformin but am not always successful. I still feel really tired in the early afternoons and it does affect my work.

Hopefully I may pick up some useful advice here.

Hi Richard, welcome to the forum 🙂 Have a read of the following links, they may help refresh or inform you about good diabetes management:

Maggie Davey's letter to newly diagnosed Type 2s:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5836

and also Jennifer's good advice:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5835

Plus, a book I always recommend, as do many others here: Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker (amazon link)

I'd recommend getting a book about the GL (Glycaemic Load) diet. You can have a healthy, varied diet, it just takes planning and a bit of compromise here and there. Nothing is forbidden, but common sense needs to be applied for 'treats'!

Here are links to a couple of good books I found useful and well written:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=7719

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=7337

Hope all this helps! If you have any questions, that's what we're here for! 🙂

 

[Steff]

Hi Richard and a warm welcome to the forum, anything you need to know just ask we are here to help.x

 

[dickiesplitz]

Thanks everybosy

Hi Richard, welcome to the forum 🙂 Have a read of the following links, they may help refresh or inform you about good diabetes management:

Maggie Davey's letter to newly diagnosed Type 2s:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5836

and also Jennifer's good advice:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5835

Plus, a book I always recommend, as do many others here: Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker (amazon link)

I'd recommend getting a book about the GL (Glycaemic Load) diet. You can have a healthy, varied diet, it just takes planning and a bit of compromise here and there. Nothing is forbidden, but common sense needs to be applied for 'treats'!

Here are links to a couple of good books I found useful and well written:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=7719

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=7337

Hope all this helps! If you have any questions, that's what we're here for! 🙂

Thanks very much for that. I will certainly have a look at these when I get the chance

 

[PhilT]

Hi Richard, welcome to the forum.

 

[Andy HB]

And a warm welcome from me too.

Andy 🙂

 

[dickiesplitz]

Exercise Regimes

And a warm welcome from me too.

Andy 🙂

Hi Andy

Very impressed with the HbA1c scores. Do you have any strict regimes that you use bearing in mind you use execrise and diet only? This is what I would like to be doiing too. My first 2 scores were 15.6 down to 6.1 (I think), but I am sure that I have been less successful since then.

 

[Emmal31]

Hi Richard

Welcome to the forum 🙂

 

[Robster65]

Welcome Richard.

Can't offer advice, other than ask anything and everything you want to know but are afraid to ask ! 🙂

Rob

 

[Andy HB]

Hi Andy

Very impressed with the HbA1c scores. Do you have any strict regimes that you use bearing in mind you use execrise and diet only? This is what I would like to be doiing too. My first 2 scores were 15.6 down to 6.1 (I think), but I am sure that I have been less successful since then.

I think that I have been very lucky in that my diabetes seems to have been more about insulin resistance than pancreas mis-function. I've lost around 3 stones in weight since October 2009 and this has done wonders for my control.

On a day to day basis, I'd say that I am fairly strict about my diet, but I make a point of letting myself off the leash fairly regularly! For instance, I went out for a meal with my Dad yesterday and had a 12" Pizza followed by apple crumble with ice cream 🙂eek🙂. I decided to test myself 2hrs after and it came out at 6.9. Not too bad bg-wise. But diet-wise, well, I'll pick that up again from today (I'm averaging around 1600 cals per day at the moment).

I make a point of walking for an hour every day and occassionally top it up with a row on my machine at home (plus I cycle everywhere). Exercise definitely helps me keep on top of things.

Andy

 

[wallycorker]

............My first 2 scores were 15.6 down to 6.1 (I think), but I am sure that I have been less successful since then..........

Hi dickiesplitz,

From that HbA1c information, you sound to have got off to a good start in managing your Type 2 condition.

In the first eight years my Type 2 situation had got worse (HbA1c slowly increasing from 5.7% at diagnosis to 9.4%) by following the "do not test" and "eat plenty of starchy carbohydrate" advice that I had been given by all the healthcare professionals.

However, my non-insulin dependent Type 2 condition has got better over the last two years (HbA1c down from 8.5% to 5.0%) by changing my diet to eat less starchy carbohydrate - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta, pizza and rice etc.

You can read details of what I eat these days elsewhere on this forum via this link:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boa...ead.php?t=6435

If you have any questions then just ask.

My advice would be not to expect the metformin medication to sort things out for you because in my opinion it might help a little in the short term but the most important way forward to sort things out is through diet.

Testing is a great idea so that you can see the effect that different foods have on your blood glucose levels.

Good luck and best wishes - John

 

[am64]

hi welcome to the forum ! 🙂

 

[dickiesplitz]

Thanks

Hi dickiesplitz,

From that HbA1c information, you sound to have got off to a good start in managing your Type 2 condition.

In the first eight years my Type 2 situation had got worse (HbA1c slowly increasing from 5.7% at diagnosis to 9.4%) by following the "do not test" and "eat plenty of starchy carbohydrate" advice that I had been given by all the healthcare professionals.

However, my non-insulin dependent Type 2 condition has got better over the last two years (HbA1c down from 8.5% to 5.0%) by changing my diet to eat less starchy carbohydrate - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta, pizza and rice etc.

You can read details of what I eat these days elsewhere on this forum via this link:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boa...ead.php?t=6435

If you have any questions then just ask.

My advice would be not to expect the metformin medication to sort things out for you because in my opinion it might help a little in the short term but the most important way forward to sort things out is through diet.

Testing is a great idea so that you can see the effect that different foods have on your blood glucose levels.

Good luck and best wishes - John

Hi

Thanks for the response and the advice.

I will take a look at the link that you provided.

All the best

 

[lucy123]

Hi - Just wanted to say welcome.

 

[RachelT]

Hi Richard, welcome to the forum!
Me too! I'm also not entirely sucessful in keeping my blood sugar levels down with Metformin and sometimes i do get pretty tired during the working day. I asked my practice nurse about it but she didn't seem to have any suggestions. I have been feeling a little better of late, i'm not sure why exactly because i haven't changed much in my eating habits, but i haven't been tempted to fall asleep in my cupboard in a few weeks now. (I'll explain, i work in a hospital pharmacy, some of my work involves inspecting imported medicines and "specials" (really, don't ask, long story, and it doesn't seem to involve diabetes much), it's a great place to nap, but people have a tendancy to come in looking for stuff and wake you up...). If i ever work out what the problem was i'll let you know. I do tend to find that i get dopey if my blood sugar is too high, and spacey if it drops too fast. I think peaks and troughs put me to sleep.

Rachel

 

[dickiesplitz]

Interesting

Hi Richard, welcome to the forum!
Me too! I'm also not entirely sucessful in keeping my blood sugar levels down with Metformin and sometimes i do get pretty tired during the working day. I asked my practice nurse about it but she didn't seem to have any suggestions. I have been feeling a little better of late, i'm not sure why exactly because i haven't changed much in my eating habits, but i haven't been tempted to fall asleep in my cupboard in a few weeks now. (I'll explain, i work in a hospital pharmacy, some of my work involves inspecting imported medicines and "specials" (really, don't ask, long story, and it doesn't seem to involve diabetes much), it's a great place to nap, but people have a tendancy to come in looking for stuff and wake you up...). If i ever work out what the problem was i'll let you know. I do tend to find that i get dopey if my blood sugar is too high, and spacey if it drops too fast. I think peaks and troughs put me to sleep.

Rachel

Thanks for that. There have certainly been many times when I really struggle to stay awake between about 2 and 3pm. I never really thought about it being because my level was too high but it is certainly after I have eaten. I'll take this on board and think about trying a different routine at lunchtimes.

 

[Ribenababy]

Hi Richard, I am new here too and the advice and support are fantastic. With you on the feeling tired after lunch thing - I thought it was my BigBrotheritis that was making me want to nod off. Can I ask what your Metformin dose is? I was only diagnosed last week and am taking 500mg with my evening meal in order to get used to it. Going back to the GP in early September for a review.

 

[KateR]

I never thought that being tired in the afternoon could be linked to high blood sugar but that makes sense. When I've had more exercise during the day paradoxically makes me less tired.🙄