Newbie here

[Buffy61]

Hi, I have recently joined. I was diagnosed with type 2 a couple of years ago, but have spent the interim dealing with 3 different cancer diagnosis, so only now really feeling up to dealing with the diabetes. I have only seen the diabetes nurse twice in the last two years and feel that the information I have received (basically none), has not helped me to deal with the condition. Should I be checking my sugar levels daily, and how do i know when they're too high? Thanks

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Buffy61 🙂 Sorry to hear about the difficult time you’ve had over the last couple of years.

I’m Type 1 not Type 2 so I have no choice about testing my blood sugar, but if I were Type 2 I’d still test anyway so I could keep an eye on things and so I could see how certain foods affect me. Personally I think it’s a good thing to do, and many Type 2s here do test at home.

These are the target levels:

If you have Type 2 diabetes​

• before meals: 4 to 7mmol/l
• two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @Buffy61 and welcome to the forum.
Yes, testing of your own (we are all different) body's reaction to the carbohydrates in our food, is the key step toward getting Type 2 diabetes. It's the carbohydrates we eat (all of then except for fiber) which convert to glucose and if more than we can handle cause our Type 2 Diabetes. And when I say all I mean all - even so called healthy ones like fruits and whole grains - even oats. Fortunately (for Type 2's, Fats have no effect on Blood Glucose (and don't even make us fat like carbohydrates do, and Protein has only a small delayed effect on Blood Glucose. Out of the 3 macro nutrients (Carbs, Proteins and Fats) the only one we can live without is carbohydrates.

Step 1: As a Type 2 your GP is extremely unlikely to provide a Blood Glucose Meter and test strips on prescription. Those on Insulin or glic do get them because those medications can cause dangerous ultra low Blood Glucos esituations called 'hypos'. So get yourself a BG meter.
These are the most popular ones in both the 2 main UK based Diabetes Forums:
SD Gluco Navii
Spirit Healthcare TEE2
They are similar prices and the test strips cost around £8 per pot of 50. Since you will be testing most meals initially, you will almost certainly need 3 pots (150 test strips) to start with.

Step 2. Test just before each meal and then 2hrs after 1st bite. The increase from the meal (at that point) should be less than 2.0 mmol. Also if possible the after meal readings should be no more than 8.0mmol. Don't concern yourself with readings at other times.

Step 3. Adjust your portion sizes of the higher carbohydrate food items based upon the BG spikes you see in your testing. Or make substitutions to lower carbohydrate foods.

Cereals are carbohydrates, so make a poor choice for breakfast. Eggs (without bread/toast) have only minute traces, the same with hard cheeses, meat or fish. Of all the fruits, berries have lower/lowest carbohydrates and tropical fruits (banana, mango, pineapple, grape, orange) have the highest. Thus almost all of us are OK with a handful of berries with some full fat greek style yogurt either as a breakfast or as a desert, you might try adding some seeds to that .

 

[Buffy61]

Welcome @Buffy61 🙂 Sorry to hear about the difficult time you’ve had over the last couple of years.

I’m Type 1 not Type 2 so I have no choice about testing my blood sugar, but if I were Type 2 I’d still test anyway so I could keep an eye on things and so I could see how certain foods affect me. Personally I think it’s a good thing to do, and many Type 2s here do test at home.

These are the target levels:

If you have Type 2 diabetes​

• before meals: 4 to 7mmol/l
• two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l

Thank you very much for the information.

 

[Buffy61]

Hi @Buffy61 and welcome to the forum.
Yes, testing of your own (we are all different) body's reaction to the carbohydrates in our food, is the key step toward getting Type 2 diabetes. It's the carbohydrates we eat (all of then except for fiber) which convert to glucose and if more than we can handle cause our Type 2 Diabetes. And when I say all I mean all - even so called healthy ones like fruits and whole grains - even oats. Fortunately (for Type 2's, Fats have no effect on Blood Glucose (and don't even make us fat like carbohydrates do, and Protein has only a small delayed effect on Blood Glucose. Out of the 3 macro nutrients (Carbs, Proteins and Fats) the only one we can live without is carbohydrates.

Step 1: As a Type 2 your GP is extremely unlikely to provide a Blood Glucose Meter and test strips on prescription. Those on Insulin or glic do get them because those medications can cause dangerous ultra low Blood Glucos esituations called 'hypos'. So get yourself a BG meter.
These are the most popular ones in both the 2 main UK based Diabetes Forums:
SD Gluco Navii
Spirit Healthcare TEE2
They are similar prices and the test strips cost around £8 per pot of 50. Since you will be testing most meals initially, you will almost certainly need 3 pots (150 test strips) to start with.

Step 2. Test just before each meal and then 2hrs after 1st bite. The increase from the meal (at that point) should be less than 2.0 mmol. Also if possible the after meal readings should be no more than 8.0mmol. Don't concern yourself with readings at other times.

Step 3. Adjust your portion sizes of the higher carbohydrate food items based upon the BG spikes you see in your testing. Or make substitutions to lower carbohydrate foods.

Cereals are carbohydrates, so make a poor choice for breakfast. Eggs (without bread/toast) have only minute traces, the same with hard cheeses, meat or fish. Of all the fruits, berries have lower/lowest carbohydrates and tropical fruits (banana, mango, pineapple, grape, orange) have the highest. Thus almost all of us are OK with a handful of berries with some full fat greek style yogurt either as a breakfast or as a desert, you might try adding some seeds to that .

Thanks. That is really useful information. I obviously need to read up more on the subject and start to change my diet.