Hi everyone thank you for letting me join.I had a blood test that was 107( Doc said it should be between 20-40) He said I am type 2 diabetic and put me on 2 x 500mg Metformine. Yesterday I had my first apt with the Diabetes Nurse. She wanted to double my meds,but Iv had a few tummy problems! To say I’m confused about all the information is a wild understatement and a little sorry for myself too. My main problem is Nurse told me to completely cut out carbs. Now apart from salad and veg Im wondering what I can eat.Also I asked the nurse if I could be type 1, because of the high score(107) she said we will find out in the next 6 months? If anyone can give me a little help,I would be very grateful.
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Newbie confused
- Thread starter Calypso
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum
It is a shock to receive a diabetes diagnosis and yes your HbA1C is high at 107mmol/mol ( normal is below 42 and diabetic anything over 48) so certainly at a level to need to do something about.
Some people do get stomach issues with the metformin and so the dose is usually started slowly then increased gradually but there is a slow release version which causes less problems.
The main thing is to address your diet in reducing carbohydrates but your nurse was being rather extreme in saying cut out all carbs as that is very hard to do. But reducing them to what is suggested for a low carb approach is less than 130g per day. You will need to start looking at food packets for the TOTAL carbs or google a food item and make your choices wisely.
Avoiding the high carb foods like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits, pastry, as well as the obvious cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice or at least having much reduced portions.
There is plenty you can eat as meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full fat dairy are all zero or low carb and good choices of veg and salads and fruit like berries still gives you plenty that you can eat.
This link may help you with ideas for meals, it is a low carb approach. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
I'm not sure about the remark about finding out in 6 months whether you are Type 1 as unless you have had the blood tests for that, those being c-peptide and GAD antibodies you are still not necessarily going to know, high HbA1C is a pointer but sudden weight loss would be the other thing.
It is a shock to receive a diabetes diagnosis and yes your HbA1C is high at 107mmol/mol ( normal is below 42 and diabetic anything over 48) so certainly at a level to need to do something about.
Some people do get stomach issues with the metformin and so the dose is usually started slowly then increased gradually but there is a slow release version which causes less problems.
The main thing is to address your diet in reducing carbohydrates but your nurse was being rather extreme in saying cut out all carbs as that is very hard to do. But reducing them to what is suggested for a low carb approach is less than 130g per day. You will need to start looking at food packets for the TOTAL carbs or google a food item and make your choices wisely.
Avoiding the high carb foods like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits, pastry, as well as the obvious cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice or at least having much reduced portions.
There is plenty you can eat as meat, fish, eggs, cheese, full fat dairy are all zero or low carb and good choices of veg and salads and fruit like berries still gives you plenty that you can eat.
This link may help you with ideas for meals, it is a low carb approach. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
I'm not sure about the remark about finding out in 6 months whether you are Type 1 as unless you have had the blood tests for that, those being c-peptide and GAD antibodies you are still not necessarily going to know, high HbA1C is a pointer but sudden weight loss would be the other thing.
Hi @Leadinglights
Thank you so much for your reply.
The information you have given me is the best Iv had. I’m really grateful.
A year ago I had some sort of virus. I had sickness and diarrhoea for a week. I felt really ill.I had hallucinations. But the main thing was I lost 20kgs in that week and it has stayed off since.without diet or exercise. I did tell the nurse and she changed my appointment to a week earlier.
If I was type 1 ,would reducing carbs make any difference?
Thank you so much for your reply.
The information you have given me is the best Iv had. I’m really grateful.
A year ago I had some sort of virus. I had sickness and diarrhoea for a week. I felt really ill.I had hallucinations. But the main thing was I lost 20kgs in that week and it has stayed off since.without diet or exercise. I did tell the nurse and she changed my appointment to a week earlier.
If I was type 1 ,would reducing carbs make any difference?
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It was a gastric virus that they think brought on my T1. This happened a few months before I started having symptoms. It's commonly caused by viruses, there has been a spate of people diagnosed T1 after having Covid.
However - what diabetes symptoms have you actually had or do you have now ? - what caused your doc to ask for your blood to be tested for diabetes?
Oh, lettuce cucumber and other salad veg also contain carbohydrate! Very very little it's true. But NOT zero!
However - what diabetes symptoms have you actually had or do you have now ? - what caused your doc to ask for your blood to be tested for diabetes?
Oh, lettuce cucumber and other salad veg also contain carbohydrate! Very very little it's true. But NOT zero!
Trophywench thank you so much for your reply.
I was drinking like a fish couldn’t quench my thirst.Then weeing for England.I felt rotten and was exhausted. My eye sight was different. I had sweating episodes too.
I needed to have routine Bloods , I have lots of other conditions and I thought at first it was connected to them. I sort of realised it was diabetes. I just asked for a diabetes test myself.
I was drinking like a fish couldn’t quench my thirst.Then weeing for England.I felt rotten and was exhausted. My eye sight was different. I had sweating episodes too.
I needed to have routine Bloods , I have lots of other conditions and I thought at first it was connected to them. I sort of realised it was diabetes. I just asked for a diabetes test myself.
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
If you are Type 2 then reducing carbs to a level your body is able to tolerate with or without oral medication should help but if Type 1 then it would be important to start insulin as soon as possible. That is a massive weight loss in a week and that it has stayed off could be a pointer to Type 1 so I would push for those tests.
Thank you Leadinglights I really appreciate your help.
There is so much to learn about Diabetes,tbh I’m overwhelmed with it all.
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This is also very useful to me, thank you.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
PS generally - Calypso's nurse wasn't being 'rather extreme' - what she was suggesting would be almost impossible! Hence my opinion is that she's clearly no expert !
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hope you get some clarity over your diabetes classification soon @Calypso
It’s perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed and shocked by a diagnosis of diabetes, whatever the type - so give yourself time to adjust and adapt, and be kind to yourself.
Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy.
Hopefully ‘Metfartin’ will begin to settle down before long. Gastric upheaval is not uncommon in the beginning. Some find it quietens down after a while, and others find the slow release SR versions are gentler on the tum.
Let us know how things go over the next few weeks, and whether the carb reductions and metformin help to reduce your levels.
It’s perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed and shocked by a diagnosis of diabetes, whatever the type - so give yourself time to adjust and adapt, and be kind to yourself.
Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy.
Hopefully ‘Metfartin’ will begin to settle down before long. Gastric upheaval is not uncommon in the beginning. Some find it quietens down after a while, and others find the slow release SR versions are gentler on the tum.
Let us know how things go over the next few weeks, and whether the carb reductions and metformin help to reduce your levels.
Hi @everydayupsanddowns thank you so much for your reply.It is very much appreciated.
Iv been struggling over food all weekend. Thinking about carbs! I am worried that I may be Type 1. With my score being so high and my rapid weight loss( 20kg). Injections really worry me. But I know Iv just got to get on with it if I am.
Iv been struggling over food all weekend. Thinking about carbs! I am worried that I may be Type 1. With my score being so high and my rapid weight loss( 20kg). Injections really worry me. But I know Iv just got to get on with it if I am.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Those are all very common feelings in the beginning, and perfectly valid and sensible ones!
Do you have anyone in your close family with diabetes?
Try not to fret about injections, they are nothing like as ‘medical’ as your imagination would be conjuring, modern insulin pens are very discreet, and the needles used are very short (usually only 4mm) and virtually pain free.
If you do end up being T1, before long you will be injecting at the table when out with friends and it will be so quick and unobtrusive that no one will even notice - even if you are mid-conversation at the time!
Thank you @everydayupsanddowns .
I now have a newfound respect for Type 1 injection diabetics. Me,I’m a baby and I don’t mind saying it. I wince using the prick pen thing Iv recently brought!
I dont have any relatives with any type of diabetes.what difference would this make @everydayupsanddowns ?
I now have a newfound respect for Type 1 injection diabetics. Me,I’m a baby and I don’t mind saying it. I wince using the prick pen thing Iv recently brought!
I dont have any relatives with any type of diabetes.what difference would this make @everydayupsanddowns ?
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It can form part of the picture. There are fairly strong genetic components in most types of diabetes, such that having a close relative (or multiple relatives) with one type or other can make it more likely that you go on to develop the condition.
It’s not at all uncommon for folks to join here who don’t have any diabetes in the family though, so it can also come out of the blue.
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