Newbie needing a little advice

[Nuttyhamster]

Hi everyone
As a newbie I’m looking for a little advice if anyone can help me.
I was diagnosed type 2 last year and prescribed metaformin to be taken 3 times a day for the foreseeable future. I have continued with this over the past year and had 2 check ups with a diabetic nurse so far. Now I’m not slating my doctors in anyway but when I had my diagnosis and check ups they haven’t really explained how I’m doing in any detail, I have just now got a prick test monitor privately and started testing my bloods, they seem to be a little high from what I’m seeing ie: 17.2 mmol, 16.7 mmol. I just checked myself this morning first thing before any meal and it’s 16.4 mmol, is that normal? as I would of thought not eating while I’m asleep my blood sugar should be lower and I haven’t missed any of my meds. Please forgive me if I’m asking a silly question, as I say the doctors I’m with didn’t really give me any info after my diagnosis apart from “you need to diet “ any help greatfully received

 

[Docb]

No, they are not "normal". They are in a range where your GP should sit up and take notice and be helping you to do something about it. I assume that your GP was reacting to HBA1C results. Do you know what they were?

 

[Nuttyhamster]

I don’t know the results I’m afraid, I should of really made the point of asking when I was diagnosed but it all happened so quick and my head was spinning. I will monitor my levels throughout today and contact my GP first thing in the morning

 

[Docb]

Thats the problem, when your first contact with diabetes is a diagnosis then you don't know the questions to ask! Not helped if your GP does not want to volunteer information or provide explanations for their actions.

Lets assume that your GP will welcome your data, then it might be informative for him for you to measure your blood glucose before a meal and then one and two hours after you started eating together with a record of what you ate. Maybe do that for a couple of meals. Also measure "waking" and "going to bed" blood glucose for a couple of days. That should give a picture of what your diabetes is doing.

Top tip, get a note book or diary and write things down and show results to GP. No chance of faulty memory confusing the issue and the GP might take better notice if he/she is reading rather than listening.

 

[Flower]

Hello @Nuttyhamster and welcome

The target blood sugar range for Type 2 as taken from the Diabetes UK site are as follows

If you have Type 2 diabetes

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

The results you are seeing in the high teens are high and need reducing. Carbohydrates in the diet are what we have to watch, that doesn't mean never touch them again but all carbohydrates turn to glucose in the body sooner or later - refined carbs hit the blood sugar a lot faster and cause a spike - white flour, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cakes, cereals etc, while more complex carbs take longer to be absorbed and make less of a blood sugar spike. A good start is to keep a food diary of what you eat and see what results you get on your meter testing before you eat and a couple of hours afterwards. Have a look at portion size and have a look where you can cut down or substitute some of the refined carbs so you get a reduced glucose spike. Each one of us is different in how our blood sugar responds to foods so it is an ongoing experiment until you find what works for you and start to see in range results.

It doesn't happen overnight but with a meter you can see the effect various meals are having and look to make changes.

The last result to fall into line is usually the waking test result as our liver helpfully starts to trickle out glucose to get our bodies ready for the day ahead. This was fine when we lived in caves and had to hunt for food but in present times and with a diagnosis of diabetes it is a challenge to overcome. There are various posts about breakfast spikes and the ways people have found to prevent them and I'm sure someone will be along to help you with ideas.

Best Wishes with it all 🙂

 

[Drummer]

I find that there is little difference in carbs - the GI index is meaningless for me - I digest carbs efficiently, and my blood glucose levels rise. Perhaps somethings cause a lower spike, but it just goes on for longer.
I stick to foods with no more than 10 percent carbs and that seems to work well.
You seem to have levels as high as I did before diagnosis, eating low carb soon brought them down to normal, but I got absolutely no useful information from my GP or nurses, and the 'education' sessions were laughable.

 

[CathyB]

I agree with the others, low carb is the way to go and will bring your bloods down, testing is key and willl soon show you what foods work best for you. We have all been there and will support you so do stick with us

 

[Madeline]

Like @Drummer I'm really reactive to carbs and try to keep it to under 10g a meal. But that’s me, others can manage far more, it’s a very individual thing. Plus even that varies, I’m fine with a small portion of really good quality ice cream made with heavy cream as it slows the carb digestion down, but a piece of toast, wheeeeee.