Newbee and advise plz!!!

[mistress78]

hi all i got diagnosed with type 2 last week. was a hell of a shock as i had no symptoms at all!! i was angry with myself blamed everyone i could for the week. anyway i had my first appointment yesterday with the diabetic nurse. she was very nice explained loads of things. she also gave me metformin told me to increase weekly until i was on 4 a day. today i have totally cut my sugars all round but the problem i got is im feeling so ill i am very shaky a seriously bad headache and when i stand it feels as though im going to pass out. is this normal please? im overweight and used to eating loads of sugar. my body feels as thou i have not eaten today. all i wanna do is reach for he chocolate and coke. any advise is greatly welcomed

 

[Steff]

Hi Mistress and welcome to the site, id say your body like many of ours has been so used to the sugar and now that your cutting it down it will take abit of time to get used to it, I would say it is not necsesary to cut it out all together but you can and it will proberbly do you more good then harm , your body is having sugar withdrawel.

But please bear in mind im no medical expert, if your concerned contact a medical expert or nhs direct .

 

[Old Holborn]

hi all i got diagnosed with type 2 last week. was a hell of a shock as i had no symptoms at all!! i was angry with myself blamed everyone i could for the week. anyway i had my first appointment yesterday with the diabetic nurse. she was very nice explained loads of things. she also gave me metformin told me to increase weekly until i was on 4 a day. today i have totally cut my sugars all round but the problem i got is im feeling so ill i am very shaky a seriously bad headache and when i stand it feels as though im going to pass out. is this normal please? im overweight and used to eating loads of sugar. my body feels as thou i have not eaten today. all i wanna do is reach for he chocolate and coke. any advise is greatly welcomed

Hi Mistress and welcome.
Have you read the leaflet that came with the Metformin for any possible side affects. When I started taking it did get a headache for a few days.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Mistress, welcome to the forum 🙂 What may be happening is that, now you are on medication and reducing your sugar intake, your blood sugar levels are falling closer to 'normal' levels. However, because you have probably had quite high levels for some time before diagnosis, your body thinks that you are 'running low' and sends out little panic signals which result in the symptoms you describe. Don't worry, you will soon adjust and begin to feel much better.🙂

If you'd like to read about what can be expected during your first year and how best to handle it, and excellent book is Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year - An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Gretchen Becker - recommended by many of our members.

If you have any questions, please ask! There are no 'silly' questions here (I once asked one about nostrils!)

 

[PhilT]

Hi Mistress, welcome to the forum.

 

[Peter C]

hi all i got diagnosed with type 2 last week. was a hell of a shock as i had no symptoms at all!! i was angry with myself blamed everyone i could for the week. anyway i had my first appointment yesterday with the diabetic nurse. she was very nice explained loads of things. she also gave me metformin told me to increase weekly until i was on 4 a day. today i have totally cut my sugars all round

Hi there,
Don't focus on Sugar as such, diabetic control is about your relationship with CARBOHYDRATES ; sugar is only involved because it is a simple, fast acting carbohydrate. Your pancreas has lost the ability to manage the glucose from carbs.You need to start moderating carbs - potatoes, flour, bread, pasta and rice.
Strange that you were put onto metformin so quickly- the emphasis over the last few years has been on giving new T2s a trial period on Diet and Exercise ( not that there is a serious programme of D&E for new T2s 😡).This is because they have to understand the absolute necessity for diet and lifestyle changes.
Kick off by reading Maggie Davey's Open Letter to Newly Diagnosed T2 Diabetics. It is in our LINKS section.
And if you have been told you do not need to test, that advice is crap.

 

[C*5_Dodger]

hi all i got diagnosed with type 2 last week. was a hell of a shock as i had no symptoms at all!! i was angry with myself blamed everyone i could for the week. anyway i had my first appointment yesterday with the diabetic nurse. she was very nice explained loads of things. she also gave me metformin told me to increase weekly until i was on 4 a day. today i have totally cut my sugars all round but the problem i got is im feeling so ill i am very shaky a seriously bad headache and when i stand it feels as though im going to pass out. is this normal please? im overweight and used to eating loads of sugar. my body feels as thou i have not eaten today. all i wanna do is reach for he chocolate and coke. any advise is greatly welcomed

Dear mistress78,

Welcome the the club we all wish we were not members of. 🙂 I can't offer any advice in addition to what has already been said except to say that the bad feelings will surely pass. Think of diabetes as condition whereby you cannot process carbohydrates properly and so what you have to do is work out how you are going to handle them. One thing is for certain - we are all different and so you need to learn how and what carbs you can tolerate. In the books thread you will find books by Jenny Ruhl and Gretchen Becker that will help you to learn to live with your condition. Also, have a look at this website.

Warmest Regards Dodger

 

[choccy72]

Hi Mistress, sorry you're feeling so naff at the moment but i hope i can offer a bit of support.

I was diagnosed Type 2 at the end of january and although i did have the symptoms i was still shocked but knew it was the kick up the ar*e i needed to sort out my eating habits and lifestyle.

I too was started on Metformin but only 500mg twice daily. I think they skipped just diet control as both my parents have type 2 and i'd been suffering with symptoms for around 6 months. The Gp i saw gave me some printed info then that was it......i felt alone, confused and like you angry.

My first week was a rollercoaster of emotions ....i broke down sobbing after 2 days having done the weekly shop and not exactly knowing what to buy for the best. My partner couldn't really understand why i felt so miserable and i encouraged him to read up on the condition.

Feeling better the 2nd week i decided to go swimming but overdid it with 40 lengths....i felt terrible and now know i was probably in need of food sooner than i ended up eating!

Now i feel i have found a good balance......its early days but i'm learning when i need to eat more and what certain foods do to me (white bread is now a definite no, no as it makes me too bloated and sluggish)

I too was a chocoholic and although i've had cravings i've managed well by substituting the chocolate for fruit. Try lots of different ones with a bit of yoghurt but spread them out through the day. I also make sure i eat lots of veg and have to say that i feel much healthier because i've stopped eating all the processed junk i used to.

Each person is different ....for me i deny myself chocolate because one bite would get me eating the lot.......take each day as it comes....be prepared to have good and bad days but it does get easier.

I've found the best thing is to read lots of info about diabetes.....you won't be able to take it all in but it does help answer those questions day by day.

I started off with blood glucose readings of 8-15 and am proud that at the moment they are 5-6.

Hope some of this helps....sorry its so longwinded but i know how i felt 3 weeks ago!!

ask anything


p.s......the metformin gave me terrible diarrhoea for the first 4 days but i'm fine now!

 

[wallycorker]

Hi Mistress78,

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I'm a Type 2 myself diagnosed just over nine years ago and I'm just fine. I've normalised my blood glucose levels recently mainly by changing my diet.

As well as cutting out the sugar in your food and drinks. The other main lesson to get to learn is to cut back on the starchy carbohydrates that you eat - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta and rice. That usually leads to a big improvement in blood glucose levels - and quickly too.

Testing is a good idea too so that you can learn what effect different foods have on your blood glucose levels.

Good luck and best wishes - John

 

[Dray]

Hi Mistress78,

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I'm a Type 2 myself diagnosed just over nine years ago and I'm just fine. I've normalised my blood glucose levels recently mainly by changing my diet.

As well as cutting out the sugar in your food and drinks. The other main lesson to get to learn is to cut back on the starchy carbohydrates that you eat - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta and rice. That usually leads to a big improvement in blood glucose levels - and quickly too.

Testing is a good idea too so that you can learn what effect different foods have on your blood glucose levels.

Good luck and best wishes - John

I'd go with that, particularly the testing bit. Testing at least once a day aside from the scheduled check will help you keep your sugars in check.

However, I found that testing too soon after a meal meant I got a false positive - the mmol dropped soon after, but rose later. Same with alcohol.

In the end, as a type two, a little of what you fancy won't hurt you as long as it's a little I've found. It's very much a balancing act.

Best wishes, Dray xx

 

[mayflie52]

Headaches & feeling very shaky on Metformin.

I was give metformin by my diabetic nurse just before christmas & from the time I started taking it I had a terrible headach & was feeling very unwell. I went back to the nurse who changed it & the headaches stopped after afew days. If I was you then I would go back to the nurse or doctor & explain your problems. The nurse did say that it wasn't one of the known side affects but she trusted me enough to know that I understand my body. Hope this helps. Regards myflie52.

hi all i got diagnosed with type 2 last week. was a hell of a shock as i had no symptoms at all!! i was angry with myself blamed everyone i could for the week. anyway i had my first appointment yesterday with the diabetic nurse. she was very nice explained loads of things. she also gave me metformin told me to increase weekly until i was on 4 a day. today i have totally cut my sugars all round but the problem i got is im feeling so ill i am very shaky a seriously bad headache and when i stand it feels as though im going to pass out. is this normal please? im overweight and used to eating loads of sugar. my body feels as thou i have not eaten today. all i wanna do is reach for he chocolate and coke. any advise is greatly welcomed

 

[Catherine]

Fruit

hi all i got diagnosed with type 2 last week. was a hell of a shock as i had no symptoms at all!! i was angry with myself blamed everyone i could for the week. anyway i had my first appointment yesterday with the diabetic nurse. she was very nice explained loads of things. she also gave me metformin told me to increase weekly until i was on 4 a day. today i have totally cut my sugars all round but the problem i got is im feeling so ill i am very shaky a seriously bad headache and when i stand it feels as though im going to pass out. is this normal please? im overweight and used to eating loads of sugar. my body feels as thou i have not eaten today. all i wanna do is reach for he chocolate and coke. any advise is greatly welcomed

Hi mistress, me new too.. So no expert, try fresh fruit to help wi the sugar shortage in your body. Your body will be able to process fruit sugar lots better.