New and confused

[DiabeticJames]

Diagnosed late April with type 2.

Originally given a Metformin and Gliclazide to take, have been told that i was a 92 and the interven at 50 something but this didn't mean much(possibley overwhelmed by infomation needing to take on board)

After recent visit have come off the gliclazide and gone onto a once weekly injection dulaglutide and remained on the metformin.

When I first was diagnosed i was experiencing extreme tiredness that would not shift regardless of the amount or quality of my sleep, but as this had been happening to me for many years put this down to a busy lifestyle and having kids that like 5am starts etc, since gaving meds found my energy returning, a somewhat strange feeling as not felt in a very long time.

Recently I found this tiredness returning and wasn't sure if I am supposed to be checking my sugar levels or not, nurse(s) have not said as such but have seen someone different of each occation i have been to GP, i know you can get all the kit from Amazon but have no idea what im looking for or even if it's something i need to do, got diet and exercise sorted but unsure if other stuff I can do to help me control levels better then the obvious, maybe a call with nurse on cards, hate this feeling

 

[Vonny]

Hi @DiabeticJames and welcome to the forum. The figure of 92 will be your hba1c which is the last 3 months of sugars (don't ask me how it works please!) and the intervention will come at 49 which is the level that indicates diabetes.

My DN actively discouraged me from testing my blood glucose, but I can honestly say that the monitoring, plus rigorous keeping of a food diary, have enabled me to reduce my hba1c. I use an SD Gluco navii because the lancets and testing strips are relatively cheap but other makes are available.

You are best doing a fasting blood test in the morning, then just before eating and 2 hours after, and you are looking for no more than 2 or 3 mmol difference before and after the meal.

I'm sure others will be along soon who may be able to explain this better than me, and who may remember more makes of monitoring kits.

 

[DiabeticJames]

Hi @DiabeticJames and welcome to the forum. The figure of 92 will be your hba1c which is the last 3 months of sugars (don't ask me how it works please!) and the intervention will come at 49 which is the level that indicates diabetes.

My DN actively discouraged me from testing my blood glucose, but I can honestly say that the monitoring, plus rigorous keeping of a food diary, have enabled me to reduce my hba1c. I use an SD Gluco navii because the lancets and testing strips are relatively cheap but other makes are available.

You are best doing a fasting blood test in the morning, then just before eating and 2 hours after, and you are looking for no more than 2 or 3 mmol difference before and after the meal.

I'm sure others will be along soon who may be able to explain this better than me, and who may remember more makes of monitoring kits.

Thank you for your reply, this is truely helpful, looking at machines to test glucose seemed like a minefield so some outside propective is very helpful and very appriciated, thank you again, will give this a google, All the best

 

[Flower]

Hi @DiabeticJames and welcome

If you read the Patient Information Leaflet with Dulaglutide also known as brand name Trulicity, fatigue is listed as one of the more common side effects. It may be nothing to do with the drug and more/all to do with glucose levels but worth considering as you have only recently started on it.

The 2 glucose meters usually recommended on here with the least expensive strips if self funding are the SD GlucoNavii & Spirit Tee2 -if you decide to buy choose the mmol/L version and VAT exemption. Usually the starter kit only has 10 or 15 strips with it so you need to buy extra strips sold in 50's and extra lancets

I hope you start to feel better as soon as possible. Best Wishes.

 

[DiabeticJames]

Thanks for the reply, it's really appricated that you've given time to respond.

That infomation is truely helpful, especially when there are pages and pages online and can be hard to decifer through it all, thanks again.

Ordered the gluco navvi so will give that a go a hopefully be able to see if tiredness in glucose related or another factor.

Thank you, infomation is truely helpful

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope you find the BG meter helpful @DiabeticJames

Seeing how your body responds around food, and also being able to check your levels whenever you are experiencing unexpected symptoms or feelings can be really helpful in determining whether whatever it is might be related to your blood glucose levels at the time, or something else entirely.

As @Vonny says, you can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them). Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing portion sizes of carbs and swapping to different types or lower carb alternatives (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference).

If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework.

For a bit more background on T2 diabetes, and diabetes in general, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes

Good luck, keep asking questions, and let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[DiabeticJames]

Hope you find the BG meter helpful @DiabeticJames

Seeing how your body responds around food, and also being able to check your levels whenever you are experiencing unexpected symptoms or feelings can be really helpful in determining whether whatever it is might be related to your blood glucose levels at the time, or something else entirely.

As @Vonny says, you can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them). Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing portion sizes of carbs and swapping to different types or lower carb alternatives (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference).

If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework.

For a bit more background on T2 diabetes, and diabetes in general, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes

Good luck, keep asking questions, and let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[DiabeticJames]

Thank you, will give this a go.

Been trying to fit a solid 30 minutes of cardio a day normally before dinner, I'm guessing this will impact my BG so be nice to know where I am, and any trigger that might make me spike without me being aware.

Thanks for the tips, appriciated

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.

You might find exercising after food helpful. A walk after dinner is usually one of the best ways of helping to lower your levels. Cardi work will often increase your levels in the short term but reduce them over the longer term whereas a walk will usually lower levels in real time, so can be particularly helpful after a meal.

You are at the younger end of the spectrum for developing Type 2 and your initial HbA1c was quite high which makes me wonder if you might possibly be a slow onset Type 1. If you don't mind me asking, do you have a particularly high BMI (Body Mass Index) or do you live a particularly sedentary lifestyle? Also did you notice any easy or unexplained weight loss pre-diagnosis?

 

[helli]

Cardi work will often increase your levels in the short term but reduce them over the longer term whereas a walk will usually lower levels in real time, so can be particularly helpful after a meal.

Do you mean cardi (or cardio)?
As a T1, cardio reduces my levels and resistance increases them.

Or do you mean any exercise you do whilst dressed in a comfy baggy knitted cardigan will increase blood sugars whereas the effort of dragging on lycra will reduce them?

 

[rebrascora]

@helli Certainly doing cardio in a cardi, especially in this heat and humidity, would have an impact in increasing my BG levels, but for me cardio increases my levels at the time and then drops them later.

 

[Leadinglights]

@helli Certainly doing cardio in a cardi, especially in this heat and humidity, would have an impact in increasing my BG levels, but for me cardio increases my levels at the time and then drops them later.

Heat you should be so lucky, freezing and dank in Coventry. Nearly had to go back to my thermals let alone a cardi.

 

[DiabeticJames]

Hi and welcome from me too.

You might find exercising after food helpful. A walk after dinner is usually one of the best ways of helping to lower your levels. Cardi work will often increase your levels in the short term but reduce them over the longer term whereas a walk will usually lower levels in real time, so can be particularly helpful after a meal.

You are at the younger end of the spectrum for developing Type 2 and your initial HbA1c was quite high which makes me wonder if you might possibly be a slow onset Type 1. If you don't mind me asking, do you have a particularly high BMI (Body Mass Index) or do you live a particularly sedentary lifestyle? Also did you notice any easy or unexplained weight loss pre-diagnosis?

My BMI comes out as 35.7 on google calculator.

My weight have proberly been a factor in my life from what I remember as a very young age, through primary school etc, but myself being the route cause as seem to throw the towel in on each diet I've tried.

Remember being contantly tired from as long as I remember tbh but have just put this down to everyday life without realising that there might have been a deeper cause for this.

Know my weight pays a massive part in this and have brought a exercise bike with app etc that is there so no excuses.

Sure I'll get there, thanks and all the best

 

[rebrascora]

We have plenty of members who have managed to lose a lot of weight and two inspirational members @adrian1der and @Maca44 have both used an exercise bike and low carb way of eating to reduce their weight and BMI very significantly as well as get their Blood Glucose levels under good control. It helps to set yourself small achievable targets both with diet and exercise and then build on the success of achieving those goals as success is very motivating. Try not to look at the end target, just focus on the next step in front of you. Following a low carb way of eating is difficult at first because we have spent all our lives packing out each meal with bread and potatoes and pasta and rice etc but cutting right back on these essentially quite bland foods can make for a more enjoyable diet and therefore sustainable long term once you get the hang of eating without them. I have dieted before and yoyoed afterwards but I feel like eating low carb will be possible for the rest of my life now without feeling deprived. It does take a bit of getting your head around it though. The great thing is that once you stop eating those carb rich foods, you don't crave them anymore and that is really liberating. Losing weight also feels good and is a confidence booster, so lots to gain and we are here to support you through the process.

 

[Felinia]

Just wanted to add a couple of things. I keep a food diary (an online and phone app) which measures calories and carbs, by meal, day and week, so I know exactly what I've had. I plan a day in advance, and weigh everything, keeping digital scales and a clear glass bowl to facilitate. If you then keep your monitoring results you will soon see which meals cause spikes. I did this for a month, then just reduced my monitoring to new foods. People react differently to foods - what causes one person to spike, may not cause another.
All medications have side effects, so suggest you also keep a record of how you feel each day, related to your injections. When I first started Metformin, side effects were unpleasant, and it took 6 weeks to acclimatise. I have no problems now. Best wishes

 

[DiabeticJames]

We have plenty of members who have managed to lose a lot of weight and two inspirational members @adrian1der and @Maca44 have both used an exercise bike and low carb way of eating to reduce their weight and BMI very significantly as well as get their Blood Glucose levels under good control. It helps to set yourself small achievable targets both with diet and exercise and then build on the success of achieving those goals as success is very motivating. Try not to look at the end target, just focus on the next step in front of you. Following a low carb way of eating is difficult at first because we have spent all our lives packing out each meal with bread and potatoes and pasta and rice etc but cutting right back on these essentially quite bland foods can make for a more enjoyable diet and therefore sustainable long term once you get the hang of eating without them. I have dieted before and yoyoed afterwards but I feel like eating low carb will be possible for the rest of my life now without feeling deprived. It does take a bit of getting your head around it though. The great thing is that once you stop eating those carb rich foods, you don't crave them anymore and that is really liberating. Losing weight also feels good and is a confidence booster, so lots to gain and we are here to support you through the process.

Totally agree, seen results already, lost 1 stone since being diagnosied but feel this time around unlike any other the weightloss is managable and not just dropping to yoyo back where I started.

Lots of adjusting to do, family holiday end of July so that be the real test but feel prepped as don't miss many foods, been a massive learning curve trying to understand food, learning something new but is all coming in good time, have felpful sheet from GP but this maybe have been more help back in April but all good.

Partner is eating the same as me which has helped me along, it'll happen, just have to give it the patience but bike has helped massively, it has an app where you can follow someone cycling somewhere nice, and the gears etc are controlled as you go up and down hills, found it massively benifical so will stick with it.

Thank you so much for taking time to respond, massively helpful and really appricated

 

[DiabeticJames]

Just wanted to add a couple of things. I keep a food diary (an online and phone app) which measures calories and carbs, by meal, day and week, so I know exactly what I've had. I plan a day in advance, and weigh everything, keeping digital scales and a clear glass bowl to facilitate. If you then keep your monitoring results you will soon see which meals cause spikes. I did this for a month, then just reduced my monitoring to new foods. People react differently to foods - what causes one person to spike, may not cause another.
All medications have side effects, so suggest you also keep a record of how you feel each day, related to your injections. When I first started Metformin, side effects were unpleasant, and it took 6 weeks to acclimatise. I have no problems now. Best wishes

Thank you, thats a very good point, I'll look at doing that.

Was quite lucky with metformin as no side effects when I started.

Once my BG moniter comes I'll be able to keep a truer recond of this.

Thanks for reponse, appreciated, all the best

 

[Leadinglights]

Totally agree, seen results already, lost 1 stone since being diagnosied but feel this time around unlike any other the weightloss is managable and not just dropping to yoyo back where I started.

Lots of adjusting to do, family holiday end of July so that be the real test but feel prepped as don't miss many foods, been a massive learning curve trying to understand food, learning something new but is all coming in good time, have felpful sheet from GP but this maybe have been more help back in April but all good.

Partner is eating the same as me which has helped me along, it'll happen, just have to give it the patience but bike has helped massively, it has an app where you can follow someone cycling somewhere nice, and the gears etc are controlled as you go up and down hills, found it massively benifical so will stick with it.

Thank you so much for taking time to respond, massively helpful and really appricated

It always helps when your partner is on board with the meal choices. Annoyingly my OH has a few extra carbs than me but has lost just as much weight. Being male I suppose he can justify it.

 

[AdeV]

...bike has helped massively, it has an app where you can follow someone cycling somewhere nice, and the gears etc are controlled as you go up and down hills, found it massively benifical so will stick with it.

Ooh, that sounds cool... which bike is that? I could be tempted to buy one, if it'll take my weight that is!

 

[DiabeticJames]

Ooh, that sounds cool... which bike is that? I could be tempted to buy one, if it'll take my weight that is!

Nordictrack VR19, it's a bike with a seat, maybe more of a static go kart then a bike but it suits me(no saddle sore)

Need a tablet(ipad or something) if you wanna use app part of it and doesn't come with tablet holder which is kinda annoying but got passed that by getting a flip case for ipad and resting it on top.

Quite expensive but I pay monthly though amazon, only way I could afford it but no regrets so far, wanted something the kids couldn't break but serves a purpose which it does.

Really enjoying it.

Hope your all well

All the best