New to diabetes

[Jammie]

Hi

I've joined as my husband who has been Type 2 for about 2 years has just been told after a recent review that his pancreas isn't performing well and he is reluctant to talk about it with me and obviously his nurse won't talk to me about his issues. Could anyone shed any light on this and advise me if a change of diet and lifestyle could help and if yes, then what should we be doing?

 

[Poppy460]

Hi Jamie,
I was diagnosed nearly two years ago now and cannot believe the difference diet and exercise had made. It can be difficult to accept that changes need to be made. My son and daughter handle and support me far more than my husband who still doesn't get the idea of protein and vegetables good, carbs not. I think this is because he is worried he will end up with it. Anyway, I had an original diagnosis of 93! Off the scale, literally there wasn't enough room on my paper chart for my score. In three months through changing my diet and starting an exercise class, I reduced it to 63. Then 50, three months ago it was 44, 4 points off " being normal". I also cut my medication by half. I am not super woman, down at the gym all day. I work full time and a mum, have a stressful job and work in the evenings, but the difference just a few changes make is quite unbelievable. I suggest you start with cutting unnecessary sugars out first, cakes and biscuits, try gullon sugar free ones from Poundland or Amazon. Then use a food diary and code free glucose monitor to work out what spikes the sugar levels. I have found I can still have a glass of wine but potatoes and bread are not good. You will not be able to do things all at once but the realities of the dangers we face if we don't change are too horrible to mention. Just before my diagnosis I didn't know how I was going to cope with the next week let alone the next few years, now I know it sounds like a cliche but I am a new woman.

 

[Drummer]

I was diagnosed in November 2016 and went straight back to low carb eating, and in 6 months I got normal readings. I am lucky as it seems that I was making too much insulin, so I just needed to calm that down.
If your husband's pancreas is failing then he might well need insulin which is quite a lot to learn, but if that is not yet on the cards changing to low carb is a good option for many type twos as it lowers blood glucose levels and restores some balance to the metabolism.
Have you any idea about your husband's test results?

 

[Jammie]

Hi Jamie,
I was diagnosed nearly two years ago now and cannot believe the difference diet and exercise had made. It can be difficult to accept that changes need to be made. My son and daughter handle and support me far more than my husband who still doesn't get the idea of protein and vegetables good, carbs not. I think this is because he is worried he will end up with it. Anyway, I had an original diagnosis of 93! Off the scale, literally there wasn't enough room on my paper chart for my score. In three months through changing my diet and starting an exercise class, I reduced it to 63. Then 50, three months ago it was 44, 4 points off " being normal". I also cut my medication by half. I am not super woman, down at the gym all day. I work full time and a mum, have a stressful job and work in the evenings, but the difference just a few changes make is quite unbelievable. I suggest you start with cutting unnecessary sugars out first, cakes and biscuits, try gullon sugar free ones from Poundland or Amazon. Then use a food diary and code free glucose monitor to work out what spikes the sugar levels. I have found I can still have a glass of wine but potatoes and bread are not good. You will not be able to do things all at once but the realities of the dangers we face if we don't change are too horrible to mention. Just before my diagnosis I didn't know how I was going to cope with the next week let alone the next few years, now I know it sounds like a cliche but I am a new woman.

Thanks for your advice, it looks like I’m going to change our eating habits. He doesn’t have a sweet tooth though so it’s the carbs that I’m going to look at.

 

[Jammie]

I was diagnosed in November 2016 and went straight back to low carb eating, and in 6 months I got normal readings. I am lucky as it seems that I was making too much insulin, so I just needed to calm that down.
If your husband's pancreas is failing then he might well need insulin which is quite a lot to learn, but if that is not yet on the cards changing to low carb is a good option for many type twos as it lowers blood glucose levels and restores some balance to the metabolism.
Have you any idea about your husband's test results?

Thanks for replying. If we can stop it early hopefully all will be good. Lots of hard work ahead for him and I.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi

I've joined as my husband who has been Type 2 for about 2 years has just been told after a recent review that his pancreas isn't performing well and he is reluctant to talk about it with me and obviously his nurse won't talk to me about his issues. Could anyone shed any light on this and advise me if a change of diet and lifestyle could help and if yes, then what should we be doing?

Welcome & good luck Jammie. Keep at it pls 🙂

 

[AdeleTurner72]

Thanks for your advice, it looks like I’m going to change our eating habits. He doesn’t have a sweet tooth though so it’s the carbs that I’m going to look at.

Welcome @Jammie. You'll find lots of help and support on this forum. Take a look at the food and recipes threads for ideas for lower carb eating. Good luck to you both.

 

[CathyB]

Welcome Jammie, I was convinced I was going to starve to death but to be honest it’s been much easier than I expected, I love a good salad with avocado & coleslaw or a stir fry with asparagus, mushrooms, courgettes.....it’s fun to think of different meals without starchy carbs! Bloods nice and steady and weight is also coming down slowly