New to diabetes

[Shezza]

Hi I’ve only recently been diagnosed with diabetes and it’s all so much to take in , over the weekend I had hypo symptoms that really scared me , the doctor thinks was a bug I got that caused the hypo as I’m still weak today and have just ate my first meal since Saturday. As I said it’s really scared me now as on the Saturday I had couple of alcohol drinks and had only snacked all day as a friend’s birthday weekend away I’m scared that cause didn’t eat properly that day or drink much that that caused the hypo . I’ve now bought blood sugar monitor and hoping that help with me not worrying so much . Any helpful advice on diet and controlling it will be much appreciated.

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum. Infection can cause blood glucose to be erratic but usually it increases rather than being low.
Have you been prescribed any medication or are you being given opportunity to reduce blood glucose with some dietary changes, that will largely depend on what your HbA1C is.
When people start on medication it can cause some stomach issues so that could be a reason for being unwell.
When people make some dietary changes and blood glucose reduces then they can get what feels like hypo symptoms but it is your body adapting to a lower glucose level rather than actually being low. Good that you now have a monitor to check.
Many find a low carbohydrate approach successful that being no more than 130g total carbs per day. This link may point you in the right direction for that. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
It is better to reduce your carb intake gradually over a few weeks as that is less likely to cause issues with your eyes and nerves especially if you have had a high carb diet.
People find keeping a food diary of everything they eat and drink with an estimate of the total carbs not just sugar to see where they are and how close to the 130g per day they are and where some saving can be made.
How much work you need to do will depend on what your HbA1C is indicating how far you are in the diabetic zone.

 

[Shezza]

Hi I started metformin in January they wanted me build up to 4 a day but few weeks of having 3 I started having dizzy spells so they said reduce back to 2 tablets and see how go I got first lot of bloods since being diagnosed in April . Was given leaflets on diet I’ve switched what eating to healthier options but not been carb counting , I have on line session booked through gp but not till middle March .

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi I started metformin in January they wanted me build up to 4 a day but few weeks of having 3 I started having dizzy spells so they said reduce back to 2 tablets and see how go I got first lot of bloods since being diagnosed in April . Was given leaflets on diet I’ve switched what eating to healthier options but not been carb counting , I have on line session booked through gp but not till middle March .

Do you know what your HbA1C was when diagnosed as that will indicate your starting point. Dietary changes are equally if not more important than metformin. Carb counting as such is really more for people who are on insulin but it is more being aware of the carbs in what you are proposing to eat and maybe choosing an alternative which is lower carb or only having a small portion of high carb foods.
For example substituting butternut squash, swede or celeriac for potatoes or cauliflower rice instead of normal rice, 1 slice of toast instead of 2, having more sauce with a small portion of pasta and plenty of veg and salads.

 

[Shezza]

The first reading and starting point is 53 but it means nothing to me at mo not been explained so any advice welcome .

 

[Leadinglights]

The first reading and starting point is 53 but it means nothing to me at mo not been explained so any advice welcome .

This should explain

What is HbA1c?

HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).

www.diabetes.org.uk

53mmol/mol is not desperately high and many would be given the opportunity to try to reduce it by dietary changes before starting on medication, the threshold for diagnosis is 48mmol/mol.

 

[Shezza]

This should explain

What is HbA1c?

HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).

www.diabetes.org.uk

53mmol/mol is not desperately high and many would be given the opportunity to try to reduce it by dietary changes before starting on medication, the threshold for diagnosis is 48mmol/mol.

Oh ok thank you I will read up on this link x

 

[Shezza]

I did my blood sugar count first time ever this morning panic bought it last night it read 4.0 this morning when had nothing to eat and tonight hour and half after pasta and low fat rice pot it’s 12-5 ?

 

[Leadinglights]

I did my blood sugar count first time ever this morning panic bought it last night it read 4.0 this morning when had nothing to eat and tonight hour and half after pasta and low fat rice pot it’s 12-5 ?

The 12.5 mmol/l would be explained by two high carb foods, pasta and rice.
You may get away with one or the other but not both in the same meal, lesson learned.
I made the mistake of having pasta and a pancake.
I now no longer eat normal pasta but have a low carb pasta made from edamame beans or black beans.

 

[Shezza]

Really it was wholemeal pasta and a low fat rice pot pudding that’s interesting and lesson learnt ,

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Shezza

Sounds like your levels might be swinging around quite a bit.

This could have given you the symptoms of a hypo, even if your levels were not below 4.0.

Rapid drops in BG (especially if your body has been running higher for a while) can trigger hypo warning signs.

Good that you now have a meter so that you can check if you get those feelings again.

 

[Shezza]

Thank you I got so much to learn and it’s so scary I feel more I looking into it as in blood sugar levels and carbs what to eat what to avoid etc is making my anxiety worse than normal .

 

[Leadinglights]

Really it was wholemeal pasta and a low fat rice pot pudding that’s interesting and lesson learnt ,

Wholemeal pasta is high carbs, a 100g portion would be about 30g carb so it depends on how much you had and your rice pot again probably 30g carb. That is quite a heavy carb meal.