New and feeling a bit lost

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Carmina

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Type 2
I was diagnosed with type 2 a fortnight ago but I knew before I was told the test results.

I'm on Metformin 500 twice daily and have cut all added sugar out of my diet. My GP said I don't need to monitor my glucose levels but I'm feeling as though I've just been given a prescription (2 weeks with 5 repeats) and set adrift to flounder. I know I feel a lot better but have no idea if the tablets are being effective enough or if I've got my diet right. 2 days after the diagnosis I saw the practice nurse who said I must make sure I go back to her every year - but that seems to be the sum total of my evaluation until the prescription runs out in another 10 weeks.

I've spent ages on the phone trying to get through to the surgery but I've not managed to get through (I can't spend too long on the phone as I work full-time). I'm tempted to book a day off so I can go down and ask what happens now - do I have to make an appointment, if so when, or will they send me one?

Is it always like this??

And I have been monitoring my glucose levels but have no idea how much response there should be to the medication. I've been on it 2 weeks and my average before breakfast reading is between 9.2 and 9.5. This seems to be too high unless it takes longer than 2 weeks for the Metformin's full effect to kick in.

I feel so confused and bewildered!
 
Hi Carmina, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and the fact that you feel you have been pretty much left to 'get on with it', it's really not good enough! People are often left with minimal information and I do wonder if the doctors and nurses realise just how upsetting and unsettling this can be. Thankfully, you have found us, so if you have any questions or concerns we will help in any way we can.

It is good that you are monitoring yourself, this will help you learn how different foods affect you and how the modifications you are making to your diet and activity levels are affecting you. The numbers you report are a little on the high side for waking/fasting levels, but it is still very early days for you. I believe metformin can take a couple of weeks to begin showing its effects. Most importantly, you need to know that it is not just sugary things you need to consider, but ALL carbohydrates - bread, pasta, rice, potatoes etc. All these will convert to glucose and raise your blood sugar levels. By testing you can discover which foods you can tolerate well, and what needs to be avoided or reduced in portion size. Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S fr a good guide to efficient testing.

I would also recommend reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and getting a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker - these will help you understand diabetes better and set you on the right track 🙂 There are lots of other good sources of information in our Useful links thread.

Please let us know if you have any questions, and we will be happy to help out! 🙂
 
welcome ...its sooo confusing and I like you was totally lost when i was dx.
first things first ...cut out all obvious sugar then one step at a time moderating your food intake...i see you are testing basically you need to do this to try and suss out what food stuffs cause you to spike ( sugar levels rise) then you can start to restrict them....test before food ...then 1hr and 2hrs after... note down your results along with what you have eaten..and soon you will see patterns appearing
you joined a great forum ...remember no questions are regarded silly here x am🙂
 
Welcome to the forum Carmina :D

9.2 is not too bad from a start point when first diagnosed and it can take up to a month for Metformin to obviously have an impact.

Although, if it never seems to have an impact (and worse, your numbers go up) you need to go back to see the doctors right away.
 
Just dropping in quickly while I'm getting ready for a weekend away (Blackpool illuminations, here I come!) to thank you for the advice.

I'm feeling a lot better about things after reading some of the stuff on the links. I've printed off Maggie Davey's letter and read it - it's going to Blackpool with me instead of a novel for bed-time reading! It makes a lot of sense and so does most of what I've read thanks to you lovely people.

I've 'sort of started' the 8-week regime from Maggie's letter - I've spent a couple of days now on protein and veggies and my BS is now down to 7.5 so I'm very happy about that.

I went to see my GP this morning - my husband stepped in yesterday morning and made the appointment after I was so upset on Wednesday evening. He told me I shouldn't be self-testing - I should leave it to him to do every 3 months. I asked what would happen if I just trusted the Metformin and followed the diet sheet he gave me then went back in 3 months and found my BS was higher than ever. The answer was 'I'd increase your Metformin' which says all I need to know about his approach. He seemed quite put out that I want to take control of my own body.

I'm definitely going to stick with my way of doing things and will be here for advice - and later, hopefully, passing on what I've learned.
 
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