• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Newbie and scared

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
D

Danielle27

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi guys
I’m new here. Just been diagnosed with type 2 today and I don’t have a clue on what to do or where to start!!

I was rushed into hospital in a lot of pain 2 weeks ago and they said Ineed to have bloods taken as my sugars was very high
That definitely gave me the wake up call that I need to loose weight and start exercising
I just got told today that I am infact type 2 and that I will have to start taking medication
I have started walking an hour a day since my trip to the hospital and cut out a lot of sugar and eating more healthy
I’m so scared and I hardly know anything about it I’ve tried doing research but I don’t know where to start
Please help!
hope To hear from you
Danielle
 
Hi @Danielle27 as trophywench says above just read the links in the useful threads section and ask any questions you have
Try not to worry too much a combination of diet, exercise and medication when needed can bring t2 diabetes in control for most people.
 
Hi Danielle,
Welcome. And in the words of that great book...

DON’T PANIC!

The diagnosis is scary and throws us all through a loop when we get it but coming here is a great step in learning more and also not feeling quite so alone or overwhelmed.

Have a look around the forum, post any questions you may have and make yourself comfortable. Although we don’t provide medical info what we will do is share our experiences and our own thoughts and feelings about our diabetes and I’ve certainly found that hugely beneficial. I was only diagnosed early this year.

So, pull up a chair, tell us a little more about you and how you came to be diagnosed and ask anything that comes to mind. Meanwhile I’ll put the kettle on and make us all a cuppa.
 
Hi Danielle,

No need to be scared. As the guys above have pointed out, you’re in the right place to help you through. Learn about diabetes, what causes it etc, and then develop a personal plan to enable you to manage it.

Your GP and diabetes nurse will probably give some only partial guidance. The key is to get to grips with the carbs you consume and how your body reacts. We are all different but the method is the same. There are links to resources to help you, and you’ll need a meter.

More experienced members here will be along to fill in the detail. But good luck.

Henry
 
Hello DANIELLE 27 and welcome to the forum!

Most people are scared and worried when they are diagnosed with diabetes, it's a perfectly normal reaction
So don't be worried about being worried, there are lots of things you can do

It helps if you have a basic understanding of diabetes - it is the inability of the body to use & control the carbohydrates we consume
These carbohydrates then accumulate in the blood as glucose, and it is this increased level of blood sugar that causes the problems we call diabetes. By reducing the amount of carb we consume we reduce the level of carb in the blood
Once you've grasped that all the changes and restrictions we need to do just follow on from that, and are easier to understand

There is good news and bad news -

If you make the necessary changes and control your blood sugar levels you can live well
If you've been building up to diabetes you've probably been feeling fairly ill & miserable, and that will improve
In fact many people take the diagnosis as an opportunity & motivation to change their diet, get more exercise, and so on
Nothing in the body happens in isolation, so besides diabetes, things like weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and even worry will improve, and you will generally feel better and livelier

The downside is that although you will get medication and some advice from your doctor, you must do a lot of the control and management of diabetes yourself, which means doing some homework!
This includes things like taking the medication regularly, controlling and changing your diet, and so on
And you must do this all the time, every day - there are no holidays from diabetes!

The main change will be to cut down very much on the carbohydrates you consume; this includes all carbs, so bread, spuds, breakfast cereals, rice & pasta as well as obviously sweet things like cakes, sweets, and biscuits
It's a good idea, too, to cut out processed food, junk food, very fatty meat, and change to good fats, and more veg & salads - all the healthy stuff you hear about!

Have a look through previous Posts & Threads on this forum, especially Newbies
Most of your questions and worries will have been asked before, with lots of advice, encouragement, and answers
But don't feel shy or embarrassed about asking your own questions, we were all Newbies once

Finally, don't be frightened by any horror stories you might hear - Ooohh, so & so's leg fell off, or she went blind - look after yourself and you'll be OK
 
Last edited:
Brilliant post zuludog, hit it just right.
 
Welcome to the forum Danielle from a fellow T2.
You could self test, before and after food. Thiswill show you what affect food has on your BG levels. Along with any changes you make. Keep a food diary and a record of your levels. After a couple of weeks hopefully you'll see a pattern
 
Diabetes sounds scary but have you noticed already the number of us here that cope? It's something that it's more than capable of living with. You'll still always learn more, 10 years in and I made a discovery just a couple of days ago. My advice is stick with the small changes see how things go, too much change at once is like the new year's resolution that gets broken. The walking and cutting down are good steps, stick with that for now- do more later if needed.
 
Hi and welcome.

The first question to ask is are you sure that you are type 2? There are things here which are not typical of type 2; your age, speed of onset and the need go on medication so soon. I just mention that no medication given by mouth will work for a T1.

You had blood tests and these may have proved that you are T2, but they may have NOT have done so. It is far better to demand to know what tests are being done, and to get the result as a figure (rather that high, normal...) and insist that the units be quoted. Such information will mean nothing to you, but there are folk on this site who do know about such things.

Have you got a blood glucose meter - strongly advise that you get one. It will tell you what your BG is at the time of the test and give the result in next to no time.

What medication are you on? Again the name of the medication will mean nothing to you, but there are people who know about graw backs and advantages as they use the same meds themselves.

The term healthy diet means nothing much. The best diet is one that suits you. You should cut down on starch as well as sugars. And take more fat. hardly everyone's idea of healthy.

First things first: ask if a c-peptide and a GAD test were done, and if no then ask "Why do you think me T2?"
 
zuludog said:
Hello DANIELLE 27 and welcome to the forum!

Most people are scared and worried when they are diagnosed with diabetes, it's a perfectly normal reaction
So don't be worried about being worried, there are lots of things you can do

It helps if you have a basic understanding of diabetes - it is the inability of the body to use & control the carbohydrates we consume
These carbohydrates then accumulate in the blood as glucose, and it is this increased level of blood sugar that causes the problems we call diabetes. By reducing the amount of carb we consume we reduce the level of carb in the blood
Once you've grasped that all the changes and restrictions we need to do just follow on from that, and are easier to understand

There is good news and bad news -

If you make the necessary changes and control your blood sugar levels you can live well
If you've been building up to diabetes you've probably been feeling fairly ill & miserable, and that will improve
In fact many people take the diagnosis as an opportunity & motivation to change their diet, get more exercise, and so on
Nothing in the body happens in isolation, so besides diabetes, things like weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and even worry will improve, and you will generally feel better and livelier

The downside is that although you will get medication and some advice from your doctor, you must do a lot of the control and management of diabetes yourself, which means doing some homework!
This includes things like taking the medication regularly, controlling and changing your diet, and so on
And you must do this all the time, every day - there are no holidays from diabetes!

The main change will be to cut down very much on the carbohydrates you consume; this includes all carbs, so bread, spuds, breakfast cereals, rice & pasta as well as obviously sweet things like cakes, sweets, and biscuits
It's a good idea, too, to cut out processed food, junk food, very fatty meat, and change to good fats, and more veg & salads - all the healthy stuff you hear about!

Have a look through previous Posts & Threads on this forum, especially Newbies
Most of your questions and worries will have been asked before, with lots of advice, encouragement, and answers
But don't feel shy or embarrassed about asking your own questions, we were all Newbies once

Finally, don't be frightened by any horror stories you might hear - Ooohh, so & so's leg fell off, or she went blind - look after yourself and you'll be OK
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for this! This put my mind at ease I am starting off to cut a lot of sugars out of my food and I’m trying to lower my carb intake witch is very hard
I have started doing a lot of walking about an hour every day to loose some weight I haven’t started on the medication just yet as I’m waiting for my prescription! Just worried that I’m not doing enough to sort it and I don’t know what else to do
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi @Danielle27

I can’t add anything to all the helpful responses you’ve had already, so just here to say welcome to the forum. I’m sorry your diagnosis has left you feeling scared, it can be overwhelming to begin with but you‘ll soon get to grips with it all. 🙂
 
Hello DANIELLE27 -- I'm glad you're feeling happier!

As you've read these replies I hope you're feeling less scared and more confident

You've already done the most important thing, which is admitting you have diabetes and are doing something about it
Some people won't admit this until they get serious problems and side effects

An expression often used on this forum is that diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint

There is a lot to take in and do, seemingly all at once
You will have to understand a bit of biology; change your shopping habits; change your diet and the meals you make; and learn about your medication and blood sugar testing
Plus you've already started doing some exercise
If you try to do this all at once it can be confusing and overwhelming
Some people can do this almost overnight, but most of us take a few weeks to adjust, and gradually make more changes and understand more

Carry on with exercise and cutting down on carbs; and do some homework
You've been given a couple of links. Also read old Threads especially in Newbies, Food & carbs, and Weight Loss if you need to
But pace yourself! just read a small amount at a time and take it all in

Cutting out carbs is difficult, but believe it or not gradually your taste changes, and you learn to make meals without them
You find that sweet things taste really sweet, sickly, and unpleasant, and you learn to shop and make carb free meals without thinking about it much

I suggest you sit down for a quiet hour or so each evening (or whenever suits you) with a cup of tea (no sugar!) Understand what you've read, and make a list for shopping, and any questions you have
 
Last edited:
You have already had loads of useful advice @Danielle27
It is indeed scary at the start but as you will have seen that there is loads of useful advice available on here. Fire away with any questions that you have.
 
People often report that eating low carb is difficult and takes time.
It took me about half a second from being told the diagnosis to going back to low carb.
Note I said going back - as it has always been the best way for me to eat, but was always disparaged for decades, and I have not spoken to a doctor since due to my being naughtily in the not diabetic ranges.
Loads of encouragement from the diabetes education team from the local hospital. Eat carbs they are healthy they told me. Baked potato and beans for a good lunch. Yeah, right. Didn't do that either.
Now I have lost weight and take no medication as I don't need it. Something is obviously broken as I would seem to have blood glucose levels which would mean a lower hba1c number than I get, but it is top end of normal. I can live with that (and intend to do so from now on) but if the low carb diet doesn't help then don't be worried about pestering the doctor for more tests - they can just assume type two and it isn't so they need to be alerted to their error. Politely but firmly - of course.
 
Another welcome to the forum @Danielle27

Glad to see you getting such a warm and informative welcome.

We have literally centuries of lived diabetes experience on the boards here, so ask away with any question you may have - however obvious or ‘silly’ you may worry that it is. There are no silly questions here, and all of us are learning week by week and month by month how to manage our diabetes better. 🙂
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top