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Newbie saying hello
- Thread starter sheridan
- Start date
- Status
After several years of putting off the "MoT" from my GP surgery, I decided to take the plunge and not really to my surprise the blood test came back with Type 2 Diabetes. I say not surprisingly as a couple of my close family either have Type 2 or are/were prediabetic, I'm also overweight and very inactive (desk job). Since being diagnosed I've really started to look at what I eat and getting more active. Gyms have never worked for me so I've been looking for some local walking groups I can join but all of the ones I've found so far meet during weekdays and office hours and there's only so many times I can walk around town during my lunch hour without getting bored and giving up, again, been there done that! I live a beautiful part of the country with quick and easy access to moors, coast and open spaces and I know that having arrangements with other people on a regular basis will make me get out and be more active.
In the last week I've done a fair amount of research, I signed up here the day after I was diagnosed, and a couple of days ago to my local council run service that offers help and advice on diet and exercise amongst other things and started walking during my lunch hour and keeping a note of what I eat.
I do feel a little bit of "left hanging" from my GP's Surgery at the moment, a magazine from Diabetes UK was given to me which is why I'm here now. I know the NHS is under tremendous pressure, but I came home feeling lost and bewilder with a bag of tablets and an "I'll call you in a couple of weeks to see how you're getting on" from the Nurse.
I'm hoping in the next few weeks I'll have a clearer view of what I need to do to ideally come off the tablets and hopefully reverse my diabetes.
In the last week I've done a fair amount of research, I signed up here the day after I was diagnosed, and a couple of days ago to my local council run service that offers help and advice on diet and exercise amongst other things and started walking during my lunch hour and keeping a note of what I eat.
I do feel a little bit of "left hanging" from my GP's Surgery at the moment, a magazine from Diabetes UK was given to me which is why I'm here now. I know the NHS is under tremendous pressure, but I came home feeling lost and bewilder with a bag of tablets and an "I'll call you in a couple of weeks to see how you're getting on" from the Nurse.
I'm hoping in the next few weeks I'll have a clearer view of what I need to do to ideally come off the tablets and hopefully reverse my diabetes.
Many of us newly DX (I'm borderline T2) get a blood glucose monitor off the Internet (mine cost around £16, but you need to buy refill strips routinely, around £20 a time) (I think that's for 50 strips?).
That way we really start to see 'inside' our bodies, and find out what happens to our BG levels when we eat, what we eat, what we do/exercise etc etc. It gives us a real handle on how to manage our conditions.
Hopefully, too, as the readings improve as we improve our lifestyles it also helps to cheer us up.
This whole site is brilliant, and the forum is packed with people who know so, so much about diabetes in general, and according to type as well.
Foodwise, shifting from 'high carbs' to 'lower carbs' and substituting protein and fibre (and then, when we have lost enough weight to want to stabilise, taking on more fat), does seem to have a good impact on BG levels.
You say you don't suit a gym, but as you lose weight and get fitter anyway, you might find that gyms become an atractive option after all. Certainly, if you are fortunate in your place of living, with countryside and coast, taht is brilliant for walking.
That way we really start to see 'inside' our bodies, and find out what happens to our BG levels when we eat, what we eat, what we do/exercise etc etc. It gives us a real handle on how to manage our conditions.
Hopefully, too, as the readings improve as we improve our lifestyles it also helps to cheer us up.
This whole site is brilliant, and the forum is packed with people who know so, so much about diabetes in general, and according to type as well.
Foodwise, shifting from 'high carbs' to 'lower carbs' and substituting protein and fibre (and then, when we have lost enough weight to want to stabilise, taking on more fat), does seem to have a good impact on BG levels.
You say you don't suit a gym, but as you lose weight and get fitter anyway, you might find that gyms become an atractive option after all. Certainly, if you are fortunate in your place of living, with countryside and coast, taht is brilliant for walking.
Hi @sheridan and welcome to the forum.
You mention exercise quite a bit, but nobody ever out ran a poor diet (and by diet I men 'way of eating' not something designed to lose weight).
The vast majority of the energy we use is consumed by our resting metabolism (mainly by our brain and digestive system) - so losing weight through doing more exercise often fails because A). Exercise tends to make us hungry and B). hunger is mostly regulated by hormones.
Since Type 2 Diabetes is the inability to process dietary carbohydrates efficiently because all carbohydrates turn into sugars when digested, I suggest you look into reducing the amount of carbohydrates you are eating (starches like bread and potato as well as sugars like fruit juice and honey etc.)
Weight loss (at least through a low carb way of eating) gives many benefits including normalised blood pressure apart from T2 diabetes remission. Plus with Low Carb, people can lose as much weight as with cutting calories, without needing to feel hungry - just eat proteins and fats to satiation instead of so many carbs!
You mention exercise quite a bit, but nobody ever out ran a poor diet (and by diet I men 'way of eating' not something designed to lose weight).
The vast majority of the energy we use is consumed by our resting metabolism (mainly by our brain and digestive system) - so losing weight through doing more exercise often fails because A). Exercise tends to make us hungry and B). hunger is mostly regulated by hormones.
Since Type 2 Diabetes is the inability to process dietary carbohydrates efficiently because all carbohydrates turn into sugars when digested, I suggest you look into reducing the amount of carbohydrates you are eating (starches like bread and potato as well as sugars like fruit juice and honey etc.)
Weight loss (at least through a low carb way of eating) gives many benefits including normalised blood pressure apart from T2 diabetes remission. Plus with Low Carb, people can lose as much weight as with cutting calories, without needing to feel hungry - just eat proteins and fats to satiation instead of so many carbs!
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Diet is going to be the most important thing you can do to improve your blood glucose level, how much change you will need to make will depend on how high your HbA1C is, if you know that it would be useful if you could post it, if not do ask.
This link may help you with some ideas for meals as well as some do's and don'ts which are fundamental. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
A blood glucose monitor will give you the tool to know if your are able to tolerate particular foods, but like checking your speedometer when you are driving.
Two that have the cheapest strips are the GlucoNavii or Spirit TEE2 but do shop around as strips can vary in price, cheapest can be as little as £10 for 50 to anything 4x that.
You may also find the book or app Carbs and Cals useful as it gives carb values for various portion sizes of a whole range of foods and meals, some will be a shock but it certainly helps with making better food choices.
This link may help you with some ideas for meals as well as some do's and don'ts which are fundamental. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
A blood glucose monitor will give you the tool to know if your are able to tolerate particular foods, but like checking your speedometer when you are driving.
Two that have the cheapest strips are the GlucoNavii or Spirit TEE2 but do shop around as strips can vary in price, cheapest can be as little as £10 for 50 to anything 4x that.
You may also find the book or app Carbs and Cals useful as it gives carb values for various portion sizes of a whole range of foods and meals, some will be a shock but it certainly helps with making better food choices.
This was exactly my feeling after my first appointment at the surgery.
Barrowman
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @sheridan and welcome to the forum from me too.
I use a Spirit TEE2 Glucose tester which was supplied free of charge by my surgery including test strips on a
repeat prescription I'm pleased to say, it might be worth asking your surgery next time you speak with them.
As a matter of interest Tesco pharmacy was selling the test strips at £9.95 for a tub of fifty.
I use a Spirit TEE2 Glucose tester which was supplied free of charge by my surgery including test strips on a
repeat prescription I'm pleased to say, it might be worth asking your surgery next time you speak with them.
As a matter of interest Tesco pharmacy was selling the test strips at £9.95 for a tub of fifty.
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