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Sue19

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Type 2
Hello, I have joined in the hopes I can get some much needed help and support to get me back on track. I have type 2 diabetes which I'm really sorry to say I have neglected over the past 2 years but especially in the past 4 months since Christmas, consequently I have paid the price of weight gain and loss of control of my blood sugars. I've had the worst 10 weeks of my diabetic life as my HbA1c level went up and the gp put me on another medication, unfortunately for me the side effects were horrendous so I have now stopped taking them after talking to the gp and started following a sensible and healthy eating plan. Walked my first decent walk today and managed to get my blood sugars into a safe range. Now I need to stay focused and not allow this to slip again. Sue
 
Hello @Sue19 ,

Thank you so much for joining the Diabetes UK community forum. I am so thrilled to hear that you are that you are feeling confident and comfortable sharing your journey with us and managing your first decent walk. Please feel free to read through some of the pages regarding food and exercises on the forum.
 
Hi Sue from another Sue. Welcome to the forum and I hope you get all you want from it. Everyone is very friendly and supportive and we use it as a tool to gain information/help/support and even for a good old rant when we need it. perhaps you could tell us what your latest hba1c was so we have some idea where you are on the diabetic 'scale'. Was it Metformin you were prescribed or do you take anything else.
I can certainly sympathise with the losing control. Since lockdown I have not been good at all as carbs, particularly bread, are my go to food when a bit stressed. Having said that I do test with a meter and when I had a bad reading the other morning realised that I need to get my act together, so you are not alone. I take it that you do have a meter as you say you managed to get your sugars into a safe range. The only thing you, and a lot of us that finds ourselves in this situation, is simply to 'start again'. As you have been diagnosed for 2 years I assume you know all about lowering carbs etc but if for any reason you don't just let us know and we can offer whatever advice you need. Look forward to seeing you post. Sue x
 
Welcome @Sue19 🙂 You’ve taken the biggest step already - resolving to change things. Walking is excellent. Just try to make little changes and keep going. There’s lots of support here🙂
 
Hello @Sue19 and welcome from me as well.
Good to hear that you are on the track to get your diabetes under control again.
There are many of us on the forum including me that have ups and downs of staying on track, and we are all here to help and support each other.

I've gone back to making a daily food diary as I find that having to right everything down actually stops me eating so much, an having to check the carbs on something I'm not sure about helps keep the daily total down.
As you say walking is also a great way to help keep the blood sugars down.

Best wishes, and please keep posting to let us know how its going or ask any questions you may have.
 
Hi Sue, welcome from me too! When I first started my journey exercise was the biggest challenge due to other health issues, so I started walking, building up slowly, I reduced my carbs as advised here and within a year I was 4 stone lighter and my bloods a steady 5.5......I have limited self control and never dreamed I could do this, now a few years down the line I cant imagine not doing it. The current Covid-19 situation has spurred my walking on as Im working from home so go at lunchtime to break the day up. You can do this and we will all be here for you along the way 😉
 
Hi Cathy, you have given me a real boost, I have rheumatoid arthritis as well so any form of exercise can be tough but walking is about the only thing I do without any real after effects ( sore knee today and pains in the foot ), but nothing that is going to put me off. My blood readings today have been so good 5.4 and 6.0 which considering what they have been over this last weekend is great. My aim is to loose weight steadily and build up exercise tolerance. I did find it a little difficult to answer the very kind messages I've had today from other members, particularly Sue EK but if this one finds its way then there will be no stopping me. Thanks for the support. I'm reading as much as I can and going to start to set up menus and plans for exercise on a daily basis, it will keep me focused and give me motivation.
 
SueEK said:
Hi Sue from another Sue. Welcome to the forum and I hope you get all you want from it. Everyone is very friendly and supportive and we use it as a tool to gain information/help/support and even for a good old rant when we need it. perhaps you could tell us what your latest hba1c was so we have some idea where you are on the diabetic 'scale'. Was it Metformin you were prescribed or do you take anything else.
I can certainly sympathise with the losing control. Since lockdown I have not been good at all as carbs, particularly bread, are my go to food when a bit stressed. Having said that I do test with a meter and when I had a bad reading the other morning realised that I need to get my act together, so you are not alone. I take it that you do have a meter as you say you managed to get your sugars into a safe range. The only thing you, and a lot of us that finds ourselves in this situation, is simply to 'start again'. As you have been diagnosed for 2 years I assume you know all about lowering carbs etc but if for any reason you don't just let us know and we can offer whatever advice you need. Look forward to seeing you post. Sue x
Click to expand...
 
Hi Sue, sorry I have had some problems working out how to reply to the threads on this site, I think I've got it now.. My latest HbA1c was 56 from 48 not a tremendous jump but enough for my GP to give me an added medication of dapagliflozin which I took for 9 weeks even though I had the most horrendous side effects from it, until I couldn't tolerate them any longer, I spoke to the GP and he agreed that they weren't suitable for me. I guess you would say it was a wake up call for me to get this under control myself and stop ignoring the fact that I am a diabetic, I think I just relied on the Metformin to control things which is obviously not the way to deal with this disease. I am starting again as you have put it and intend to walk every day building up my tolerance and to start planning meals. My blood testing meter has been my saviour over this past 10 days, today my readings were 5.4 and 6.0 which considering I was having 12.5 and 10.9 over the weekend as much better. If I feel I'm starting to slip I will take my bloods and that gives me a little reminder . Thanks for the support and advise x
 
Welcome to the forum @Sue19

Sorry you’ve been having a tough time with your diabetes recently, and that your recent medication change didn’t work out for you.

We are a friendly bunch, and there are literally centuries of lived experience on the forum, with all sorts of approaches, strategies, likes and dislikes.

Fire away with your questions, nothing will be thought of as too obvious or ‘silly’
 
I have a trampoline in the back garden - it is very low impact and when I was having problems with my joints it was such a relief to be able to kneel down without pain. I know that I am lucky to have the space, but there are small trampolines available - small enough for indoors. A further advantage is that it is fun to do the exercise, and if it starts to rain I am seconds from the back door rather than far from home.
 
Welcome to the forum @Sue19

Good to hear that you are making steps to change things and you have already been given lots of advice. Just keep in touch and keep the questions coming.
 
Hi everyone, I feel I am making slow but steady progress, blood sugars yesterday 5.0 6.4 7.8 not bad considering they were over 10.5 and 12 the weekend before last. Diet is much better, but my sleeping is rubbish, which I suppose everyone is suffering with in these time. I have just been out for my walk (second full week) I am very pleased with myself I have gone out every day and walked roughly about 3 . 5 miles. some days I found it very hard, my feet are absolutely killing me, I have really good trainers and also gel insoles, but today it was like trying to walk with broken bones, I guess that's my arthritis as well. I am thinking of buying a foot spa in the hopes it may relieve some of it, anyone advise on this I would be very grateful..
 
Can't advise on a foot spa but just wanted to say a huge WELL DONE on your progress both with your BG readings and the walking. I think it may be that you are at the stage where your body is complaining the most from the change of routine and that it will get steadily easier as your joints get more used to it. Maybe try alternating with a gentle cycle ride every few days to give different muscles and joints a work out and others a rest.
 
That’s fantastic @Sue19 You’ve not only kept up the walking, but you’ve got your blood sugars down too. Those are great numbers! 😎

I’m not familiar with foot spas, but the important thing would be to check the temperature very carefully before you put your feet in. You might also want to check your trainers. Some have quite thin soles and aren’t very cushioned. I prefer the thicker soles myself. You could also think about whether good walking boots would be an option.
 
Sue19 said:
Hello, I have joined in the hopes I can get some much needed help and support to get me back on track. I have type 2 diabetes which I'm really sorry to say I have neglected over the past 2 years but especially in the past 4 months since Christmas, consequently I have paid the price of weight gain and loss of control of my blood sugars. I've had the worst 10 weeks of my diabetic life as my HbA1c level went up and the gp put me on another medication, unfortunately for me the side effects were horrendous so I have now stopped taking them after talking to the gp and started following a sensible and healthy eating plan. Walked my first decent walk today and managed to get my blood sugars into a safe range. Now I need to stay focused and not allow this to slip again. Sue
Click to expand...
Well done for that walk Sue. I’m finding lockdown a good time to get out every day and thankfully the weather has been fab. Hope you can get out today and tomorrow too. Caroline
 
Great results Sue and well done on your exercise. I have very bad arthritis and balance problems, walking used to be a huge part of my life, alas I no longer can walk, and have andog walker. Today arrived a HoMedics luxury foot spa, the instructions say “not suitable for d8abetics” after I bought it, but I think this could simply be because some diabetics might not feel the temperature as well as those with no foot problems, so I won’t let that put me off from using it, I really bought it for relaxation purposes and will put lavender oil or Tea tree oil in. Keep up the good work
 
A great start...keep going and enjoy your continuing success.
 
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