My new journey

[Nidge76]

Hi everyone,

My name is Neil and over the last 3 months or so I have been feeling gradually more and more tired, anxious and stressed and over the Christmas period was far more thirsty than usual.

I put the tiredness and stress down to work and felt that the Covid virus had made me more anxious due to working in a public place (I work in a library). The thirst I put down to eating too much cheese at Christmas!

Anyway fast forward to last Thursday (27th January) after having blood tests done I was told by my GP I have Diabetes.

I have no idea what type or any other details yet. I am due to have a phone call later today from my Diabetes nurse to find out more.

Over the last 4 or 5 days I have been through so many emotions. Angry, upset, why me? regret. Why wasn't I more healthy in the past so I could have stopped this?

At the moment I feel lost as what to eat and virtually ate nothing for 2 days in fear of making myself unwell.

I have recognised that these are normal emotions and I need to look forward to my future.

I enjoy cooking and I have started looking at new recipe ideas for cutting down my carbs and adapting my current favourites. I hope to get referred to a dietitian to help me with this.

I have also seen that there are courses I might be able to go on and I am keen to get myself a glucose monitor so I can manage my health as best I can.

I apologise for the ramblings, but writing this down certainly helps.

 

[Docb]

Hi @Nidge76 and welcome to the forum. Don't worry about the ramblings, most on here are prone to that at times and you are right that writing stuff down can be very helpful. Good to see that you have worked out already that getting on top of diabetes is a journey. Generally I don't like the "journey" label, it's become a bit of a cliche, but with diabetes it does apply. You need to get to understand your version of it, make a plan that suit you and then implement and stick to your plan. You are going to get there by dogged determination, not by magic. Now who's rambling!

Read around the forum, check out the learning zone but above all just ask questions on here. No question is too simple. We have all been where you are now and are only too happy to pass on our experiences.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Nidge76 🙂 Have you had further blood tests to help determine your diabetes type? If there’s any doubt, it’s important to have further investigations. Too many adults are simply assumed to be Type 2 when they’re actually Type 1. Type 1 can occur at any age and often develops more slowly in adults.

Yes, a diabetes diagnosis is stressful and causes a lot of anxiety, but you’ve made a good first step - joining this forum. You’re not alone. We all understand how you feel.

 

[Nidge76]

Thanks for the welcome.

@Inka so far I have just had 1 blood test determining I have Diabetes. Hopefully when I speak to the nurse later today she will guide me to the next steps, including any further tests I need to find out what type I am.

 

[Felinia]

Hi Nidge76 and welcome
When you speak to the nurse, ask her what your HbA1c was and make a note of it. That will tell you where you are on the diabetes path. Anything of 48mmol/mol and above is diabetic. The closer you are to 48 the better. If you are above 60 you will probably be given medication, but if you are below, you can ask to see if careful eating and exercising for 3 months can lower your level naturally. Dietary changes will be for life though if you are Type 2. Type 1 have more flexibility by balancing their insulin. If you let us know the outcome, we can best make suggestions for you.
You have mentioned monitoring. That should include a food diary, so you can correlate your food with changes in your glucose levels. You can get an app for your phone - MyFitBit is popular and free, Nutracheck is £23.99 a year. Or pen and paper, or your own spreadsheet. The Learning Zone here is very informative, and once your type is established you can get a referral for the appropriate course (maybe online or face-to-face). You will need a 2nd blood test to confirm your diabetes and other tests, for retinopathy, foot tickle test, BP, weight, cholesterol. These will be at least annual and initially more frequent.
I'm just off now for my annual retinopathy test!! Best wishes

 

[helli]

Welcome to the forum @Nidge76 and welcome to the D-Club.
As you say, a diabetes diagnosis is a huge shock to pretty much all of us. It may seem weird now but I think it is a positive thing - you have an explanation for your tiredness, thirst, etc and can now do something about it.

If you have lost any weight recently I would definitely agree with @Inka to push for further tests to determine whether it is Type 1 or type 2. This is important sooner rather than later as they are different conditions with different treatments.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 in my mid-thirties 18 years ago. The best thing my diabetes nurse told me was that it should not stop me doing what I want. And it hasn't. Unlike @Felinia , it has not been a "change for life". I have had to add a few things to my life like testing blood sugars, calculating insulin dose and injecting but that is in addition to everything I would have done anyway in my life.

Good luck with your next nurse's appointment. Ask them lots of questions, if you feel like it, tell us how it went and continue to ask the forum questions ... and rant and ramble and laugh. No, diabetes does not take away your sense of humour.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi, you have had some good recommendations from others but I would add don't panic and give yourself time to get your head around it as slow and steady reduction in blood glucose levels is less likely to give issues with nerves and eyes as a sudden change can shock your system.
I would also recommend this link, the principals are much like the things many people here have found successful.

Freshwell Low Carb Project – Real Food, Low Carb, Good ...https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

 

[Nidge76]

@Felinia Thank you. I will ask about the HbA1c numbers. I have used Nutracheck before when dieting so I have download the app again. Also, I do like a spreadsheet

Thank you for the information regarding the different checks and tests going forward. It is all useful information.

@helli I have lost about half a stone in the last 3 months. This also occurred at the same time as choosing to cut back on alcohol and snacks, however, making these changes I didn't expect to lose that much in that time.

I will report back once I have spoken to the nurse.

@Leadinglights Thank you for the website link. I will have a look at that later.

 

[Nidge76]

I just got back from seeing the Diabetes nurse.

Apparently I am Type 2 and the HbA1c number was 98.

I feel better speaking to her knowing what I need to do and the information she provided. She has referred me to the Desmond programme and to see a dietitian in due course.

I have been put on Metformin which I will be starting tomorrow.

She basically said I need to increase my exercise and focus on a well balanced diet. She suggested reducing the alcohol consumption and snacking. Reduce the meal portion sizes and swap out white carbs for brown and increase the fruit and veg.

I will be going back in 3 months time for another blood test to see if there are any changes.

 

[Felinia]

Hi
Glad you got some answers. Your HbA1c is quite high, but not as high as some members here. Metformin can have some side effects (bowel issues and cramps) which can be very inconvenient when you are working. If they don't settle down after a few weeks I suggest you request the slow release version which is kinder on the inner workings! The pills should be taken in the middle of a meal.
Most of the information you have is spot on, and as a keen cook you should have no difficulty in devising low carb healthy meals. Some people cut down or out bread, potato, rice, pasta to reduce their carbs, as the brown versions have the same carbs. I look for alternatives and have a lot of cauliflower mash or "rice". Pasta can be replaced with courgetti or boodles. There are lower carb versions on the market now. I just have to think a bit more when I eat out. Lots of omelettes, steak and salads. I still enjoy tandoori chicken and salad, or stir fry veggies with prawns/chicken/cashew nuts.
I suggest you keep a food diary (paper, spreadsheet or app) to record your carbs. MyFitBit is a popular free one, or NutraCheck is £23.99 a year. You may wish to invest in a blood glucose monitor to correlate your food choices with your blood sugar. I'm sure someone will suggest a suitable one. Testing is the only way to work out which foods affect you, as we are all different. It's trial and error.
It's worth looking at the thread "What did you eat yesterday" to get ideas. It's amazing how quickly people adapt after diagnosis.

 

[Nidge76]

@Felinia thank you for your comprehensive reply.

I've downloaded the nutracheck to try. I have printed off a blank meal planner and lots of recipes to try out. I have also ordered a spiralizer to try out courgetti etc.

I've also started looking at glucose monitors as I think it would give me more control of I know what's going on when I eat.

 

[Leadinglights]

@Felinia thank you for your comprehensive reply.

I've downloaded the nutracheck to try. I have printed off a blank meal planner and lots of recipes to try out. I have also ordered a spiralizer to try out courgetti etc.

I've also started looking at glucose monitors as I think it would give me more control of I know what's going on when I eat.

A very good idea to get a monitor
I have just seen that somebody bought the GlucoNavil for £10 and 50 strips for £6.99 on E-bay so the cost should not be too great if you establish a sensible testing regime.

 

[Nidge76]

A very good idea to get a monitor
I have just seen that somebody bought the GlucoNavil for £10 and 50 strips for £6.99 on E-bay so the cost should not be too great if you establish a sensible testing regime.

Thanks for the information.

How regularly do people tend to test or does it vary?

 

[richardmillar11]

Hi Neil

Welcome to the place where I am sure you'd rather not be. I was diagnosed back in October. Experienced all the emotions that you are experiencing and one which took me the most was the surprise. Surprise I was diagnosed and surprised I was so upset and emotional about it. I just want to give you a bit of hope to say that 3 months on emotionally and mentally I have turned the corner. Like you I sorted the diet immediately and the Hba1c was down to 55 in three months with diet and exercise alone. I try to walk (enjoyably) for an hour after dinner each night but don't manage it every night and it makes a big difference to the sugar levels two hours after eating. So there is hope you can do this!! My result was higher than yours it was 115 on diagnosis. Hang in there and if there is anything you need to ask just message. Richard

 

[Nidge76]

@richardmillar11 It sounds like you have made great progress already. It definitely gives me something to aim for. I have 2 dogs so when I am not working I do tend to go for 2 or 3 walks a day. In the summer I tend to have a walk in the evenings, but of course it isn't so appealing during the dark evenings, wind and rain.

Everything is still a blur at the moment, partly because I feel so tired and drained, but now I have started the medication and made some changes to my diet, gradually things will improve I'm sure.

 

[Drummer]

@Nidge76 Watch out for brown carbs - they are so like all other carbs that they are not really worth the bother of seeking them out, at least for many type 2s.
Testing after meals was a great help to me in finding out what worked and what is best avoided.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

@Felinia thank you for your comprehensive reply.

I've downloaded the nutracheck to try. I have printed off a blank meal planner and lots of recipes to try out. I have also ordered a spiralizer to try out courgetti etc.

I've also started looking at glucose monitors as I think it would give me more control of I know what's going on when I eat

A great diet tip is 'slim pasta' or konjak pasta. Needs to be rinsed and dried in kitchen roll before cooking but a good pasta and rice substitute at 18 calories for 200g. I really rely on it.

Available on Amazon or at Holland and Barratt. they also do konjak rice and noodle. I eat these at least 3 time a week now!

 

[Nidge76]

@Drummer I must admit I have swapped out white for brown with regards to rice and pasta and if I do have it I'm also having a lot less.

However, I take your point and I need to think about having some meals without those carbs.

 

[Nidge76]

@Mrs Mimoo I hadn't heard of that type of pasta, it looks interesting. I'm certainly going to try and get some and give it a try. Thank you.

 

[Drummer]

@Drummer I must admit I have swapped out white for brown with regards to rice and pasta and if I do have it I'm also having a lot less.

However, I take your point and I need to think about having some meals without those carbs.

I eat a wide variety of tasty low carb veges, and berries too rather than try to include higher carb foods. I do stir fries, stews, curries, salads and don't need to be concerned about eating small portions except for peas and beans as I seem to extract more carbs from them than the listed amounts.