hi all I've been reading lots of messages on here over the last few weeks and it seems I could get a lot of help and tips on here.I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four weeks ago and my diabetic nurse suggested looking on this site,I have to say I am finding everything very confusing and I'm not really sure what I should be doing,I've been advised to eat low fat low sugar and low salt but many people say to eat low carbs not sure what to do for the best.I am taking metformin twice a day at the moment but will be on three times a day,I've also been put on blood pressure tablets and cholesterol tablets.The nurse did say I will get to see a dietician.I've been told I don't need to test sugar levels but I'm not show how I'm meant to know if I'm doing things right or wrong lol any tips or advice would be greatly recieved it would be nice to talk to others who are also dealing with diabetes xxx
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New to diabetes
- Thread starter Hayth22
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Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Hayth22, welcome to the forum 🙂 It can be very confusing, partly because, with diabetes, there is no one-size-fits-all that will suit everyone. One very basic principle though, is that it is chiefly carbohydrates that will raise your blood sugar levels the most, and the quickest. So, it makes sense to keep your consumption of carbohydrates to a moderate or low level - how low will depend to a large extent on your own particular tolerances to the items you are eating.
To determine this you really do need to test, otherwise, as you say, how can you possibly know? I would suggest having a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S in order to understand the approach to take and what it can tell you. If your GP/nurse hasn't given you a meter then it can be worth self-funding initially whilst you are getting to understand how the different aspects of your diet affect you. The cheapest option we have come across here is the SD Codefree Meter with test strips at around £7-£8 for 50. Once you have gathered evidence of how you are using the information to help you understand and control your levels then your GP/nurse may realise that it is beneficial to you and prescribe some strips. I would definitely recommend it. Any questions you have, we will be happy to help! 🙂
To determine this you really do need to test, otherwise, as you say, how can you possibly know? I would suggest having a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S in order to understand the approach to take and what it can tell you. If your GP/nurse hasn't given you a meter then it can be worth self-funding initially whilst you are getting to understand how the different aspects of your diet affect you. The cheapest option we have come across here is the SD Codefree Meter with test strips at around £7-£8 for 50. Once you have gathered evidence of how you are using the information to help you understand and control your levels then your GP/nurse may realise that it is beneficial to you and prescribe some strips. I would definitely recommend it. Any questions you have, we will be happy to help! 🙂
Thank you very much for your reply northerner I think I may ask the nurse when I see her Thursday I will also check out that book,I will probably ask quite a few questions on here as there seems to be a lot of help and support once again thank you for advice x🙂
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
No problems. Ask any and every question you have - nothing is considered 'silly' (I once asked a question about nostrils!
), so if it is bothering you, please let us know. There are lots of links to good resources in our 'Useful Links' thread, so do have a browse 🙂
stephknits
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum Hayth22, good to have you on board 🙂
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well as far as Chol is concerned, if you lower carbs the balance should improve - cos really it's the balance between HDL, LDL and Trigs which is important, not just the total. Unfortunately this message doesn't seem to get passed to many GPs and their staff.
For instance, to try and put this into perspective I actually know a Type 2 whose total chol is over 11, she has 'familial' hypercholesterol. She has also got a heart effect (she was born with it) so has been under cardiac specialists all her life, none of whom have ever been concerned about her chol level because the balance was correct and eventually last year they decided to operate on it. One of the pre-op tests for that op was a scan of her cardiac arteries to see how much they had furred up. They were bound to have some plaque - after all - she's over 60!
Nope - not a hint of scale on them!
Cholesterol levels on their own don't indicate anything - except your cholesterol level. And even to measure that - it should a fasting blood test, not a random one. They never actually measure your LDL in the ordinary course of blood tests either - only calculate it.
There are lots of things the rank and file of the NHS will trot out which, when one investigates them, turn out to be a bit wrong or even a lot wrong. But if someone at the top decides black is white, then the GPs better start telling their patients that, otherwise they won't be able to tick the right boxes and meet their targets. Doctors can advise us to do this that or the other - just as we can on here.
However - it's entirely up to YOU whether you believe either of us !
For instance, to try and put this into perspective I actually know a Type 2 whose total chol is over 11, she has 'familial' hypercholesterol. She has also got a heart effect (she was born with it) so has been under cardiac specialists all her life, none of whom have ever been concerned about her chol level because the balance was correct and eventually last year they decided to operate on it. One of the pre-op tests for that op was a scan of her cardiac arteries to see how much they had furred up. They were bound to have some plaque - after all - she's over 60!
Nope - not a hint of scale on them!
Cholesterol levels on their own don't indicate anything - except your cholesterol level. And even to measure that - it should a fasting blood test, not a random one. They never actually measure your LDL in the ordinary course of blood tests either - only calculate it.
There are lots of things the rank and file of the NHS will trot out which, when one investigates them, turn out to be a bit wrong or even a lot wrong. But if someone at the top decides black is white, then the GPs better start telling their patients that, otherwise they won't be able to tick the right boxes and meet their targets. Doctors can advise us to do this that or the other - just as we can on here.
However - it's entirely up to YOU whether you believe either of us !
Amigo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Hayth,
I'm a newbie too having been diagnosed Type 2 probably the same time as you. I was sent away with a monitor (bits missing) and a booklet to read. No idea when I was to be reviewed and no access to a specialist nurse.
I spent the next 5 days reading and researching everything I could on diabetes including this site which I've found invaluable in terms of telling it how it is and not how the 'experts' seem to think it is. I do appreciate that the situation is very different for Type 1's though. That's how it seems to me at this early stage anyway. Just telling me to eat a 'balanced diet' was a bit meaningless. And I wrongly thought a specialist diabetic nurse would have very advanced training but I'm not so sure now! The links Northerner gave me were really helpful.
I sent for the book by Dr.David Cavan 'Reversing Type 2 Diabetes' and have found it to be excellent. Informed but no sensationalist claims. It helped me.
Hope you manage to get your head round it, I'm still learning bit by bit.
I'm a newbie too having been diagnosed Type 2 probably the same time as you. I was sent away with a monitor (bits missing) and a booklet to read. No idea when I was to be reviewed and no access to a specialist nurse.
I spent the next 5 days reading and researching everything I could on diabetes including this site which I've found invaluable in terms of telling it how it is and not how the 'experts' seem to think it is. I do appreciate that the situation is very different for Type 1's though. That's how it seems to me at this early stage anyway. Just telling me to eat a 'balanced diet' was a bit meaningless. And I wrongly thought a specialist diabetic nurse would have very advanced training but I'm not so sure now! The links Northerner gave me were really helpful.
I sent for the book by Dr.David Cavan 'Reversing Type 2 Diabetes' and have found it to be excellent. Informed but no sensationalist claims. It helped me.
Hope you manage to get your head round it, I'm still learning bit by bit.
Thank you all for replying it will be good to go through this journey with people who understand what it's like to live with diabetes I'm beginning to realise that the more information I can find and advice I can get gives me more hope of controlling diabetes the best I can,thank you again x🙂
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