New Diagnosis

[Grant2908]

Good afternoon,

Diagnosis Type 2 on Friday (14/01)

It was a bit of a whirlwind to be honest! BM was 29.7 and I think ketones 0.8.

Put on metformin twice daily 500mg and started those PM Friday. Managed to get BM down between 5-6 for the last 3 days consistently.

I know it’s early days but through the entries I’ve made on the app I’m using it’s estimating hbA1c at 5.9% since starting medication.

The whole process seems to be lacking in any sort of support (other than this forum). I felt like it was in/out and here’s some tablets. Since then I’ve done a hell of a lot of research myself but I can’t help but feel the support side of diagnosis is a little lacking.

Anyway, I have an appointment Tuesday with the GP so hopefully I’ll be advised on some sort of targets to aim for.

Thanks,
Grant

 

[harbottle]

Hello and welcome,
I've had zero support. Was diagnosed via a quick phone call and told to 'stop eating chips' and take two Metformin tablets plus given a link to a website.

Bought a meter. Took a few readings after eating what the websites advised (Brown bread) and saw high numbers (9) and went into a blind panic so did some research, bought some cookbooks with lo-carb recipes and things improved. Stopped doing any readings but did get a free Libre sensor which showed me that levels were OK (This was in the middle of December, before I had a second bloody test.) and returning back to the 4-6 range fairy consistently after meals.

Visited the diabetic nurse who said 'I don't know why you're here.' (The GP told me to book an appointment!)
They sorted out a retinal screening (Although I suspect it's automated) which was very efficient and done in a city centre clinic.

Seems very hit and miss, although I wonder if the GPs are snowed under at the moment. I'm quite capable of doing the research (I am a 'Doctor' in the non-medical sense!) but I can imagine some people go into blind panic.

I was offered a course called 'Desmond' about a month ago, but have heard nothing since then.

This forum has been great and is full of people with a lot of knowledge.

Well done on getting it down!

 

[Windy]

I had an appointment with the nurse at the practice who chatted about diet, and I brandished my newly purchased Blood sugar diet cookbook at her, as she seemed happy I was looking at my diet. She told me to look on Diabetes UK for more information, so I did! Not seen the GP at all about my T2.

Did the Desmond course, it was ok, but they teach you to eat the eatwell guide plate, ie 1/3 of the plate being carbs. Due to already having read stuff on this site, and having read some diabetes research papers and books (Prof Roy Taylor and Dr Michael Mosley's), I ignored their eatwell plate and continued on low carb, backed up by testing my BG with a monitor. The information on the Desmond about footcare was useful, but the diet stuff less so.

The NHS is underfunded and overwhelmed by Covid and winter pressures, I don't think they have the resources to provide much at diagnosis. I'm happy with the care I got from the nurse (foot screening and blood tests), but there should be more available for newly diagnosed people - it embeds disparity in information on your condition based on if you can or can't find stuff out for yourself.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

I had an appointment with the nurse at the practice who chatted about diet, and I brandished my newly purchased Blood sugar diet cookbook at her, as she seemed happy I was looking at my diet. She told me to look on Diabetes UK for more information, so I did! Not seen the GP at all about my T2.

Did the Desmond course, it was ok, but they teach you to eat the eatwell guide plate, ie 1/3 of the plate being carbs. Due to already having read stuff on this site, and having read some diabetes research papers and books (Prof Roy Taylor and Dr Michael Mosley's), I ignored their eatwell plate and continued on low carb, backed up by testing my BG with a monitor. The information on the Desmond about footcare was useful, but the diet stuff less so.

The NHS is underfunded and overwhelmed by Covid and winter pressures, I don't think they have the resources to provide much at diagnosis. I'm happy with the care I got from the nurse (foot screening and blood tests), but there should be more available for newly diagnosed people - it embeds disparity in information on your condition based on if you can or can't find stuff out for yourself.

I was told I was diabetic by text message. not seen GP for two years... Nurse was helpful and approved of the book i'm using to help, Professor Roy Taylor's life without diabetes. The NHS has basically ignored me apart from the nurse. Metformin disagrees with me so I have stopped taking it.

 

[Windy]

I was told I was diabetic by text message. not seen GP. Nurse was helpful and approved of the book i'm using to help, Professor Roy Taylor's life without diabetes. The NHS has basically ignored me apart from the nurse. Metformin disagrees with me so I have stopped taking it.

It's shocking you were told by text message, there's no opportunity to ask any questions that way. Glad your nurse was good and approved of Professor Taylor's book. Reading it made me realise that I needed to lose weight so I'd be better off.

I hope you've managed to get eye screening arranged @Mrs Mimoo? And maybe a referral for a Desmond course if they're in your area?
Reminds me I need to arrange my 3 month review. Squeeky wheel gets the oil, and all that.

 

[Felinia]

Your experience is typical for most newly diagnosed diabetics. Many GP surgeries simply do not seem have the in depth knowledge, time or resources to properly help new diabetics, so recommend Diabetes UK. Eventually you get to see a nurse who does the various tests, which should be at least annually, an eye test referral and perhaps a dietary phone call. But the best source of information is people who actually live with diabetes and can share their tips and suggestions. We are all different, and have through trial and error found out what suits us best.
As you have started your own research you will probably have picked up the key points for Type 2. 1) Reduce carbs, but slowly - too quick can affect the eyes. 2) If overweight, try and lose the extra pounds. 3) Exercise - anything from a short walk every day, to cycling, swimming, workouts, but build up slowly and steadily if you are not used to it.
I suggest you start to work your way through the Learning Zone (orange tab above), perhaps just one module a day to take it in. And prepare a list of questions to ask your GP at your appointment Tuesday. If you are having bowel problems with Metformin (fondly known as Metfartin for giving cramps and the runs) then you can request the slow release version from your GP. Also keep a food diary in conjunction with your monitoring. It will help you identify which foods affect your blood glucose, and is something you can share with your nurse if they talk diet.
We all had to learn, so please ask us any questions you may have - I certainly did!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Alas you experience is not anything like as rare as it should be @Grant2908 - perhaps especially at the moment, with the pandemic pressures on GP surgeries

But glad you have found us, and well done on the strong start you have made to your diabetes management 🙂

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

It's shocking you were told by text message, there's no opportunity to ask any questions that way. Glad your nurse was good and approved of Professor Taylor's book. Reading it made me realise that I needed to lose weight so I'd be better off.

I hope you've managed to get eye screening arranged @Mrs Mimoo? And maybe a referral for a Desmond course if they're in your area?
Reminds me I need to arrange my 3 month review. Squeeky wheel gets the oil, and all that.

I already have eye scans as I have one wonky optic nerve and my father had every eye disease known to man (macular degeneration, wet and dry, gluacoma in both eyes, and cataracts). I had one in October and it was ok. But I will sign up to get another one!!

 

[Windy]

I already have eye scans as I have one wonky optic nerve and my father had every eye disease known to man (macular degeneration, wet and dry, gluacoma in both eyes, and cataracts). I had one in October and it was ok. But I will sign up to get another one!!

If you've had one recently (and I'm guessing yours are yearly, as mine are, as there's glaucoma in my family), then try and get the diabetic eye screening 6 months after the optician's eye screening - my optician told me this would be better as if there's any changes after 6 months, they get picked up quicker, so they can be treated quicker than if they're picked up after a year.

 

[Felinia]

I have had 5 eye tests in the last 9 months! Retinopathy was 4 months late, due to COVID, then glaucoma followed by DVLA. Last month it was my routine optician, and this month the next retinopathy, back on track! I don't mind, as I'm just glad to be monitored regularly.

 

[trophywench]

@Grant2908 - are you an NHS employee?

Reason I ask is that you used the abbreviation BM to indicate your glucometer results - and as BM stands for Boehringer Mannheim, the manufacturers of the very first available glucometers in the 1970s, the NHS is the only place in the world that still uses that term! though none of the people using it know anything about Boehringer (the company) and don't realise Mannheim is a town in Germany where that branch of B was situated!

We just usually say BG on here, ie Blood Glucose.

 

[Leadinglights]

Good afternoon,

Diagnosis Type 2 on Friday (14/01)

It was a bit of a whirlwind to be honest! BM was 29.7 and I think ketones 0.8.

Put on metformin twice daily 500mg and started those PM Friday. Managed to get BM down between 5-6 for the last 3 days consistently.

I know it’s early days but through the entries I’ve made on the app I’m using it’s estimating hbA1c at 5.9% since starting medication.

The whole process seems to be lacking in any sort of support (other than this forum). I felt like it was in/out and here’s some tablets. Since then I’ve done a hell of a lot of research myself but I can’t help but feel the support side of diagnosis is a little lacking.

Anyway, I have an appointment Tuesday with the GP so hopefully I’ll be advised on some sort of targets to aim for.

Thanks,
Grant

I am quite surprised that metformin would have brought your blood glucose down so much in that time, have you done anything else as well, like changing your diet.

 

[Glen More]

Good afternoon,

Diagnosis Type 2 on Friday (14/01)

It was a bit of a whirlwind to be honest! BM was 29.7 and I think ketones 0.8.

Put on metformin twice daily 500mg and started those PM Friday. Managed to get BM down between 5-6 for the last 3 days consistently.

I know it’s early days but through the entries I’ve made on the app I’m using it’s estimating hbA1c at 5.9% since starting medication.

The whole process seems to be lacking in any sort of support (other than this forum). I felt like it was in/out and here’s some tablets. Since then I’ve done a hell of a lot of research myself but I can’t help but feel the support side of diagnosis is a little lacking.

Anyway, I have an appointment Tuesday with the GP so hopefully I’ll be advised on some sort of targets to aim for.

Thanks,
Grant

Hi Grant2908
I have a brother-in-law who lives in another health authority area and was diagnosed 6 months before me. Yet I had a lot of support fairly quickly whereas he is only just getting his support now. So it seems dependent on the local area health authority how quickly the support arrives.

I was diagnosed in October 2021 and my BG was at a similar level to yours. I was prescribed Metformin and glyclozide which with other changes I made (more of that later) brought my BG down to 6 and below over the next few weeks. As others have cautioned this did affect my eye sight for several weeks before slowly settling back down to normal. It came close to me being unable to drive. So slow and steady may be the best approach.

The changes I made were mainly diet related as I already did a lot of exercise (brisk walking) and was in the process of slowly losing weight by this (lost 6" from my waist since the start of lockdown in March 2020) and eating smaller portions. Upon diagnosis I cut out virtually all sugary foods and looked at my carbohydrate intake as well. The sugary foods were mainly related to snacks and the type of desserts I used to have. Now I have settled things down I do still treat myself occasionally but no more that that. I did consider the no carbs diet but I really would not enjoy the alternative foods to carbs. So I switched to healthier carbs (more slower to digest) and/or less carbs in my meals. Within a couple of months I had lost at least 2 inches around my waist and have continued to loose weight (put a kg back on over Christmas but now losing that). I got taken off glyclozide after a few weeks but still remain of Metformin and suspect will do so for a long time.

Whilst I was on glycozide I was measuring my BG using the finger prick test daily first thing in the morning, just before my evening meal and 2 to 3 hrs after my evening meal. I had bought myself a testing kit as they are relatively cheap to buy. Since Christmas I now only do the first thing in the morning test (the fasting test) as this is the best daily indicator. Make sure you wash you hands before the test though as the slightest "dirt" can send your readings sky high! The other tests during the day were useful at first to help me determine which foods or combination of affected my BG levels at those times. The ones before my evening meal would be lower than the fasting/morning reading due to my activities during the day (as you burn up the sugar in your blood).

There is a lot of helpful information and advice on this site which will allow you take work out what is best for you to manage your diabetes. Whilst my support was relatively soon after diagnosis I did manage get a lot of the information from my own research. So when the information support arrived it confirmed that the approach I had taken for me was a good way forward.

 

[Sharron1]

Good afternoon,

Diagnosis Type 2 on Friday (14/01)

It was a bit of a whirlwind to be honest! BM was 29.7 and I think ketones 0.8.

Put on metformin twice daily 500mg and started those PM Friday. Managed to get BM down between 5-6 for the last 3 days consistently.

I know it’s early days but through the entries I’ve made on the app I’m using it’s estimating hbA1c at 5.9% since starting medication.

The whole process seems to be lacking in any sort of support (other than this forum). I felt like it was in/out and here’s some tablets. Since then I’ve done a hell of a lot of research myself but I can’t help but feel the support side of diagnosis is a little lacking.

Anyway, I have an appointment Tuesday with the GP so hopefully I’ll be advised on some sort of targets to aim for.

Thanks,
Grant

Hi,

My test results were explained to me by the recrptionist on the basis that her dad was diabetic. At the time I was in such a muddle I didn't think this was odd. But three years down the road I know she was trying to help but ethically it was wrong.
I have learnt loads from this forum. So ask away.

 

[grovesy]

Hi Grant2908
I have a brother-in-law who lives in another health authority area and was diagnosed 6 months before me. Yet I had a lot of support fairly quickly whereas he is only just getting his support now. So it seems dependent on the local area health authority how quickly the support arrives.

I was diagnosed in October 2021 and my BG was at a similar level to yours. I was prescribed Metformin and glyclozide which with other changes I made (more of that later) brought my BG down to 6 and below over the next few weeks. As others have cautioned this did affect my eye sight for several weeks before slowly settling back down to normal. It came close to me being unable to drive. So slow and steady may be the best approach.

The changes I made were mainly diet related as I already did a lot of exercise (brisk walking) and was in the process of slowly losing weight by this (lost 6" from my waist since the start of lockdown in March 2020) and eating smaller portions. Upon diagnosis I cut out virtually all sugary foods and looked at my carbohydrate intake as well. The sugary foods were mainly related to snacks and the type of desserts I used to have. Now I have settled things down I do still treat myself occasionally but no more that that. I did consider the no carbs diet but I really would not enjoy the alternative foods to carbs. So I switched to healthier carbs (more slower to digest) and/or less carbs in my meals. Within a couple of months I had lost at least 2 inches around my waist and have continued to loose weight (put a kg back on over Christmas but now losing that). I got taken off glyclozide after a few weeks but still remain of Metformin and suspect will do so for a long time.

Whilst I was on glycozide I was measuring my BG using the finger prick test daily first thing in the morning, just before my evening meal and 2 to 3 hrs after my evening meal. I had bought myself a testing kit as they are relatively cheap to buy. Since Christmas I now only do the first thing in the morning test (the fasting test) as this is the best daily indicator. Make sure you wash you hands before the test though as the slightest "dirt" can send your readings sky high! The other tests during the day were useful at first to help me determine which foods or combination of affected my BG levels at those times. The ones before my evening meal would be lower than the fasting/morning reading due to my activities during the day (as you burn up the sugar in your blood).

There is a lot of helpful information and advice on this site which will allow you take work out what is best for you to manage your diabetes. Whilst my support was relatively soon after diagnosis I did manage get a lot of the information from my own research. So when the information support arrived it confirmed that the approach I had taken for me was a good way forward.

It can even vary from surgery to surgery in the same town.

 

[Grant2908]

Thanks for all your advice and information, it’s really helpful!
I’ve attached a screenshot of the app my meter is synced up with and was just wondering if the levels I’m reaching are normal for a newly diagnosed diabetic?
I understand Metformin is helping but from what I’ve read I’m well within non-diabetic values. (There is a day or so missing from diagnosis to purchasing the machine).
I have been testing A LOT but I’m trying to gauge how I’m feeling to how my levels are.
Has anyone else had such a rapid reduction in levels so early after diagnosis? I’ve obviously changed my diet immediately to help and started walking….I managed 17.5miles in 8 days which is an achievement for me.

 

[Windy]

Morning @Grant2908 I'm struggling to see the image (getting fitted for new glasses on Monday) but from what I can make out, your figures look good. Metformin doesn't make massive differences to your BG, from what I read it was only a few percent drop at most, so I suspect it's all down to your hard work with your walking and diet.
There's information here on what's normal but I'd be happy if I had those figures soon after diagnosis. There's a few orange ones in there too - was there something in particular that you ate/did prior to that that might have pushed the numbers up a bit? BG can be fickle. Exercise can push it up, plus lots of other things, it may not have been food related. Do you keep a food diary so you can correlate what you've eaten with your BG?
Looks like you're doing really well to me.
Sarah