New Recruit to Diabetes

[Nadira Emjay]

Evening All,

Hope you all had a good day. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in February. It was a major shock as I wasn't expecting it all. Along with that, high cholesterol and high blood pressure also diagnosed. Then all that same appointment 3 meds were prescribed. My doctor was doom and gloom about it, as my fasting glucose was 11, but soon after the HBa1c test my sugar levels were 6.1. Doc after causing so much mental stress now says it is not bad as he thought. He apologised the way he delivered the news but I still can't over the initial shock.

 

[Steff]

Hi nadira welcome sorry to hear of your diagnosis and how it was delivered to you hun x

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Hi Steff.

Thank you. Don't know if I ever will get used to it

 

[Ljc]

Hi Welcome. Listen , you're still new to all this and it does take time to get over the shock, esp when it's been delivered the way it was with you. I guess part of the problem is they must see so many who don't try to help themselves.
You've taken the time and trouble to find us so you obviously do want to to take control of your Diabetes.
This is a good place for info and cyber support from people who live with diabetes.
Ask all the questions you want/need to , we will do our best to help

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Thanks so much Ljc. Seem to lead a paranoia life and confused thoughts. Sorry to read you are going through so many medications

 

[Nadira Emjay]

I worry about every pain now, worry if I read an article on diabetes, don't seem to give enough attention to my family, as I become have so absorbed in my problems and generally fed up with the constant worrying which has led me to have panic attacks. Soon as I get settled something else comes along to disturb the balance. Like today is burning sensation in my feet. Try to remain positive but don't always succeed

 

[Martin Canty]

I worry about every pain now, worry if I read an article on diabetes, don'tseem to give enough attention to my family, as I have so absorbed in my problems and generally fed up with the constant worrying which has led me to have panic attacks. Soon as I get settled something else comes along to disturb the balance. Like today is burning sensation in my feet. Try to remain positive but don't always succeed

Hi Nadira....
It's easy to get absolutely focused & obsessed with every nuance of D.... It will drive you nuts😱 My advice is to relax a little & concentrate on getting those BG levels under control. Stress will take it's toll on BG levels, often raising BG

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Thanks very much Martin. I have been quite good with my food intake. Avoiding all desserts and confectionery since my diagnosis and have lost 10kg. I want to lead a normal life and want to be happy and not so obsessed. Am trying and hate the feeling of sounding like a broken record. Further confused that my glucose test showed 11 but my HBa1c WAS 6.1. Doc said that was good and that it was caught early. My sis in law got same but her doc said she was pre diabetic. My doc initially prescribed my 500mg metformin 3 times which made me so unwell. Now after HBa1c he put me to once a day.

 

[trophywench]

Nadira - it's not simply sweet things that cause our BG to soar - it's all carbohydrates, sweet, sour, savoury or completely tasteless. Some don't affect us as much as others and the trick is finding out which ones are which.

You can do this by testing your blood before and after eating. Have you got a meter?

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Thanks Jenny. Been careful with my carbs too. Doc said don't need glucose testing meter. Though friends and family have advised just to but one. My problem is I worry so much that I bring on anxiety attacks. If I do them at home worry what the reading would be. Feel it's better done by docs. Have also been to a counsellor to help me deal with having diabetes. I am still trying to make sense of it. So paranoid that spend time looking at food package nutrition information. Can't even enjoy my favourite foods without worrying about sugar levels. Having diabetes has taken the pleasure out of everything

 

[Martin Canty]

If I do them them at home worry what the reading would be.

I actually prefer to know, it gives me a sense of being in control of D to know what my baseline for the day is (Fasting Blood Glucose - FBG) and if new foods are going to have an adverse affect. If I have a higher than normal reading I just reflect on what I may have done to cause it then move on. We all get the odd reading outside of normal but it's not something to stress on.

In fact (bear in mind that I now live in the US) my health insurance company just sent be a booklet "Diabetes Management" & the #1 goal is defined as "Test your Blood Glucose regularly", advocating self testing.

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Thanks Martin. Appreciate it. I know not the ideal thing to say, but relieved am not the the first and neither the last and that there are so many kind people out there going through the same thing. I will get there and I guess taking one step at a time

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Thank you Grovesy

 

[RobK]

Welcome Nadira, It is a lot to take in at first but I'm sure things will get better for you as time goes on and you get to understand how this whole things works, I would suggest a metre though, I was advised I didnt need one but got an SD Codefree one anyway, At least now I can see what I can eat and adjust accordingly.

Stick with it and you will be fine, Your in the right place here and there are lots of folks to help you along the way.

 

[Bubbsie]

Thanks Martin. Appreciate it. I know not the ideal thing to say, but relieved am not the the first and neither the last and that there are so many kind people out there going through the same thing. I will get there and I guess taking one step at a time

Nadira...diabetes can be an absolute b***h...she will sap your energy...your confidence...and monopolise your time if you let her...sounds like you had a very similar start to mine...have said before none of us have an easy introduction to diabetes...but...some are more brutal than others...often our health providers fail to give the right support...leave us reeling from the diagnosis...the awful consequences we may face...dismissive in believing we can make positive changes...actually manage/control our conditions...delay complications...even AVOID them!...I don't want to make it sound easy to accomplish that...it isn't easy...however it is possible...with a little hard work...not quite as daunting as you may think...possibly you may need to know a little more about diabetes before you decide what regime/diet will suit you best...when I first started here...I was recommended a book...Type 2 Diabetes The First Year...by Gretchen Becker...herself a type 2 diabetic...who takes you through her first year month by month...explains many of the questions we all ask ourselves...why...how...what to do...easy to read...I got thought it so quickly...and refer to it often...really a great help for me in managing my diabetes...do try to read it if you can...the most important piece of advice was to test my blood glucose regularly...baulked at the prospect of it...now I realise for me it is one of the most valuable pieces of advice I could have had...think about testing when you have got yourself together a little...testing before & after food will show you what effect the food you are eating has on your blood sugar...puts you in control...if what you eat raises your BG...then shows you not suitable for you...try something else...sounds difficult...it's not...I do it now as a matter of routine...almost like second nature...there is a lot to think about...post your questions here...anything you feel you need to ask...you will receive advice...support without any judgement or disapproval...I have looked back at some of my threads...painful for me...but all responded to with support & kindness...enough for now...blimey...didn't realise I'd prattled on so much...keep us updated...be interested to hear your progress...good luck.

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Bubbsie, Rob K, thanks so much for your advice. I have found worrying about everything makes things worse than they are. Perhaps I am in denial. I don't know. On the other side better to know and control it rather than live in ignorance. It's only a case of being eating sensibly and exercising which I should have done in the first place. My biggest fear if I die early from diabetes complication who will look after my daughter. I lost my mum at an early age and my eldest daughter was stillborn. That's were all my fear and anxiety stems from. The 'normal' life I used to know is no more

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Nadira...diabetes can be an absolute b***h...she will sap your energy...your confidence...and monopolise your time if you let her...sounds like you had a very similar start to mine...have said before none of us have an easy introduction to diabetes...but...some are more brutal than others...often our health providers fail to give the right support...leave us reeling from the diagnosis...the awful consequences we may face...dismissive in believing we can make positive changes...actually manage/control our conditions...delay complications...even AVOID them!...I don't want to make it sound easy to accomplish that...it isn't easy...however it is possible...with a little hard work...not quite as daunting as you may think...possibly you may need to know a little more about diabetes before you decide what regime/diet will suit you best...when I first started here...I was recommended a book...Type 2 Diabetes The First Year...by Gretchen Becker...herself a type 2 diabetic...who takes you through her first year month by month...explains many of the questions we all ask ourselves...why...how...what to do...easy to read...I got thought it so quickly...and refer to it often...really a great help for me in managing my diabetes...do try to read it if you can...the most important piece of advice was to test my blood glucose regularly...baulked at the prospect of it...now I realise for me it is one of the most valuable pieces of advice I could have had...think about testing when you have got yourself together a little...testing before & after food will show you what effect the food you are eating has on your blood sugar...puts you in control...if what you eat raises your BG...then shows you not suitable for you...try something else...sounds difficult...it's not...I do it now as a matter of routine...almost like second nature...there is a lot to think about...post your questions here...anything you feel you need to ask...you will receive advice...support without any judgement or disapproval...I have looked back at some of my threads...painful for me...but all responded to with support & kindness...enough for now...blimey...didn't realise I'd prattled on so much...keep us updated...be interested to hear your progress...good luck.

Thanks for taking the time for writing to me

 

[Bubbsie]

Thanks for taking the time for writing to me

Nadira... any of us here would be happy to spend time responding to your thread...most/many of us have been in the same position...like you diagnosed with T2...at diagnosis (DX) I was at 17.4...high Blood Pressure 200/110...in addition to other health issues...BG now down to average 5.3...no longer take blood pressure medication...haven't since Jan this year...it has taken me almost ten months to manage/control my diabetes...occasionally it does for no reason go slightly off track...so important to take your time...it's a life long condition...don't rush...find a routine suitable for you...that way more likely to be sustainable...all at your own pace...have a think about the advice you've been given...please consider testing...there are two ways your BG can be measured...one is self testing...which will give you a spot result...what your BG is at that moment...how what you have eaten affects you...the other is the HbA1c test...usually done every quarter initially...that gives an average BG level for the previous three months...I was advised by my GP & DSN there was no need to test...I did not take that advice...bought a meter...tested...such a great help...think about the advice you've been offered...make any decisions in your own good time...it does/can get better🙂.

 

[Nadira Emjay]

Nadira... any of us here would be happy to spend time responding to your thread...most/many of us have been in the same position...like you diagnosed with T2...at diagnosis (DX) I was at 17.4...high Blood Pressure 200/110...in addition to other health issues...BG now down to average 5.3...no longer take blood pressure medication...haven't since Jan this year...it has taken me almost ten months to manage/control my diabetes...occasionally it does for no reason go slightly off track...so important to take your time...it's a life long condition...don't rush...find a routine suitable for you...that way more likely to be sustainable...all at your own pace...have a think about the advice you've been given...please consider testing...there are two ways your BG can be measured...one is self testing...which will give you a spot result...what your BG is at that moment...how what you have eaten affects you...the other is the HbA1c test...usually done every quarter initially...that gives an average BG level for the previous three months...I was advised by my GP & DSN there was no need to test...I did not take that advice...bought a meter...tested...such a great help...think about the advice you've been offered...make any decisions in your own good time...it does/can get better🙂.

Hopefully it will. At least better to know what I am dealing with.