Newly diagnosed at the beginning of January. If I’m honest still in denial as I have no symptoms at all (something the nurse and GP don’t believe me about). I very rarely go to the doctors and only went cause I was called for a routine health check. After being completely bamboozled by so much negative information I can’t really see a way forward with everything. I’m to scared to eat anything and am not sure what I should be doing.
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New to all this
- Thread starter Sadsac
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I think the GP said it was 114. They wanted to put me on medication for diabetes, blood pressure (which was 127/74) and cholesterol (which fell in normal range). I said no to all of it as I want to try and get the BG under control by diet and as my other two results were in normal range I refused that medication. The GP did mutter that I will be experiencing symptoms soon with results like that.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
That is very high not to be experiencing symptoms but reducing your carb intake gradually over a few weeks will be kinder on your eyes and nerves but do something you must. I am surprised your GP didn't prescribe medication or even send you to A&E with such high level. I would advise getting some urine ketone dip sticks to check for ketones as if high it can be dangerous.
Making a food diary of everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the carbohydrates Not just sugar will give you an idea of your starting point and where you can make some immediate saving by cutting out any very high carb foods. But reducing your intake by a third for a week, then another third etc is kinder on your system and also making sure you drink plenty of fluids.
Have a look at this link for some good explanation, do's and don'ts and recipes and menu plans to suit various tastes and budgets. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Making a food diary of everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the carbohydrates Not just sugar will give you an idea of your starting point and where you can make some immediate saving by cutting out any very high carb foods. But reducing your intake by a third for a week, then another third etc is kinder on your system and also making sure you drink plenty of fluids.
Have a look at this link for some good explanation, do's and don'ts and recipes and menu plans to suit various tastes and budgets. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
I have got myself a glucose monitor since then and my readings have gone down from an average of 17 down to around 9 now.i know this is still high but at least it’s going down. The GP has said they will see what my readings are when they re do my blood in April.
I have started a low calorie diet and cut out all crisps, biscuits, take aways and have so far managed to loose nearly a stone in weight since the beginning of January.
I’m not sure what symptoms I should be looking for apart from thirst, peeing more and losing weight. I hadn’t experienced any of these.
I have started a low calorie diet and cut out all crisps, biscuits, take aways and have so far managed to loose nearly a stone in weight since the beginning of January.
I’m not sure what symptoms I should be looking for apart from thirst, peeing more and losing weight. I hadn’t experienced any of these.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
If you are Type 2 you wouldn't necessarily lose weight, but usually thirst, peeing, UTIs, tiredness, eyesight changes.
Low calorie can work but as it is all carbohydrates that convert to glucose you need to keep an eye on your carb intake. Protein and healthy fats don't convert to glucose.
Many find checking out their tolerance to meals helpful by testing before you eat and after 2 hours when you aim at an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l or once your numbers come down no more than 8-8.5mmol/l post meal
It may be a good plan to see if your low calorie approach gives you those sort of readings.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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Well done on your terrific progress so far @Sadsac
When it comes to managing your diabetes, it’s best to make changes to your menu and activity levels gradually and incrementslly - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels (especially if you have been running quite high for a while). Allowing things to come down more gently will give your body time to adapt and adjust.
How have you been finding things? Is your current approach something you can maintain in the medium-long term, once your levels begin to settle?
Things are sustainable at the moment. I have also began counting my carbs and since reading so much information on this site I have a much better understanding of what I should and shouldn’t eat.
I am sure that when I had my blood test done, it was so high because we had just had Christmas and at the moment I am having building work in the house and don’t have a kitchen. We are living off microwave meals and takeaways. I should have a working kitchen next week which means I will be able to start eating fresh food again.
I feel so overwhelmed by everything though and finding it very hard to accept the diagnosis.
I am sure that when I had my blood test done, it was so high because we had just had Christmas and at the moment I am having building work in the house and don’t have a kitchen. We are living off microwave meals and takeaways. I should have a working kitchen next week which means I will be able to start eating fresh food again.
I feel so overwhelmed by everything though and finding it very hard to accept the diagnosis.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I didn't have symptoms of the usual sort - but once I got my levels down under 8 after meals I realised how old I'd been feeling and how much more lively I'd become.
If your diet is mainly protein and fats with a few carbs for texture, colour and variety by the time you settle on what you can eat, all should be well - but your HbA1c is rather high.
Count the carbs in your normal until now diet and reduce them a little each week would be the safest option. I avoid high carb foods rather than continuing to eat tiny portions, and that way I find I am eating fairly normal looking meals, just without all those 'healthy' carbs which got me to the point of diagnosis in the first place.
I have been in none diabetic numbers for 7 years now and do feel so much better.
If there is a disadvantage to reversing diabetes it is having to replace so many clothes as the waistlines are too large.
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