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My GP suggested I join

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TonyGM

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Hi, so my GP had a conversation with me about my blood test results showing regular increase in blood sugar and suggested I learn about diabetes. What to eat and not etc. So it was quite a short discussion. I am obviously new to this group so I won’t talk in any detail, albeit to say that for me this is quite difficult as I am already trying to balance a couple of other medical related diets. I am sure many of you have similar problems. It would be good to talk
 
Welcome to the forum
A bit more detail about your diagnosis would help people make appropriate comments and suggestion to your question what to eat, what not to. So it is relevant to have some idea of what your HbA1C is that has led to your diagnosis and if you have been prescribed any medication. Do your other conditions impact on what you can eat already?
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet and hopefully you will find some changes that would be suitable for you and help reduce your blood glucose. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Also the Learning Zone has lots of information and some links you may find useful.
 
Hi @TonyGM and welcome to these forums. That sounds like a very brief conversation with your GP and no doubt is leaving you with more questions than answers.

I guess your GP was referring to an HbA1c test (which shows your average blood glucose over the previous 3 months) and is saying that was increased from previous tests? It would be really useful to know what the result was, but hopefully it is not quite showing diabetes otherwise the GP would have started you on some medication?

For reference :
  • HbA1c below 42 mmol/mol: Not diabetes
  • HbA1c between 42 and 47 mmol/mol: Impaired glucose regulation or prediabetes.
  • HbA1c of 48 mmol/mol or over: diabetes
As you are probably aware, diabetes has two main forms, Type 1 and Type 2 with other types and sub types just to complicate the picture! Treatment options are different between these types so you need advice from your GP really. If it is Type 2, where your pancreas is still producing insulin but your body has some insulin resistance which results in rising blood glucose levels, then a lot of people find that they can lower this and improve their HbA1c results by reducing the amount of carbs they consume (sugars and starchy carbohydrates like pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, that the body converts into glucose). There are a lot of people on the forum who have done really well in improving their HbA1c by changes in diet and I’m sure someone will be able to help further around suggestions for you.

As a Type 1, I treat my diabetes solely by insulin and match that to the amount of carbs I eat, so as you can see that is a different approach to type 2.
 
Hi thanks for the replies. My GP didn’t tell me the result this week, but I can get it. He just said it was going up.In 2019 HbA1c was, 43, In 2020 it was 44, I am not on any meds for this.

However I have Parkinson’s Disease and take a lot of meds for that. I also had cancer, but am clear at the moment.

I have had times when I fall into what I thought was deep sleep during the day. I thought it was PD related, but have now found that it is after having a lot of carbohydrates. I have been measuring blood sugar for a research group investigating PD, and discovered that my blood sugar goes to Lo, on my meter after a carbohydrate rich meal, which I am confused about. This happens regularly. Yesterday after going out for lunck I couldn’t stay awake, and couldn’t speak. I decided to take some sugar as an experiment, and within a short time the sleepiness was gone and I was back to my normal.

I also have problems with my eyes which I also thought was PD. Apparently I have had bleeding in my eye and have developed scar tissue over the centre of one eye. Now that I have read some of the information on your web site it seems more like diabetes symptoms.

So don’t know.
 
With the blood sugar going low after meals, firstly make sure you’re properly drying your hands before testing, but then read about reactive hypoglycaemia and just see if it sounds anything like what you experience or not.
 
My monitor shows 'Lo' when the blood I have obtained isn't sufficient for a reading. If you have instructions for your monitor, you may find its definition.
 
Lo on a meter can sometimes mean that the blood sample was insufficient. I had this problem with a sinocare meter. When I was first diagnosed people then said to me ahh that’s why you’re always falling asleep after a big meal. This was a result of the high sugar finally coming down I think. Not that I would actually go officially low but from a being at say 15 and dropping to 7 can feel like a hypo when it actually isn’t. Eating sugar will just take you back to the levels your body has been used to. It’s takes a while to adjust
 
Lucyr said:
With the blood sugar going low after meals, firstly make sure you’re properly drying your hands before testing, but then read about reactive hypoglycaemia and just see if it sounds anything like what you experience or not.
Click to expand...
Lucy,

Yes, thanks, my wife thinks it is that, my GP is not particularly interested in my own recorded blood test results. Yes I pretty much always was my hands.

Thanks for your comments.
 
That is quite a few things to be juggling but It doesn't sound like you would be restricted in low carbohydrate foods that you can eat. Sometimes what happens with a very high carbohydrate meal is your blood glucose goes high and you feel tired, thirsty, blurry vision but that then prompts your pancreas to kick out too much insulin so that then drives your blood glucose down quickly giving you hypo symptoms so you eat something sugary to compensate and the cycle goes on.
Moderating your intake of carbs for your meal should help.
As you have a monitor you can test before you eat and after 2 hours and you would be looking at no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase. That should give you an idea whether your meal is too carb heavy.
But yes do look at the information about reactive hypoglycaemia.
Your previous tests suggest you were in the at risk zone and it doesn't take much to push your level up if you haven't been keeping a watch on your carbohydrate intake. It would be a good idea to find out where you are now as that will indicate how much you will need to do.
Keeping a food diary along with some of your readings may pinpoint some particular issues with some meals.
 
TonyGM said:
Lucy,

Yes, thanks, my wife thinks it is that, my GP is not particularly interested in my own recorded blood test results. Yes I pretty much always was my hands.

Thanks for your comments.
Click to expand...
Make sure you are drying them thoroughly as well as washing since a bit of water on your hands could cause a low reading
 
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