Newbie Type 2 !

[MissDaisy]

Hello Diabetes UK members!

Newly diagnosed Type 2 (Nov) - Metformin 500mg X 2 Twice a day however still running high.

Looking for support, tips on GI diet and weight loss (put on as have Fibromyalgia pain & severe fatigue)

Also, I have a mystery skin condition that DRs are baffled by as bloods fine - got zinc stockings for arms, legs and they are thinking what to do about torso. I am in my 40s and my body image has been affected by all this and so private counselling starting next week.

If I could get my diabetes under control the wounds heal better obviously but what is causing them nobody knows!

Anyway that’s a little about me .......I look forward to reading, commenting and chatting with you all.

Sending you all the best Miss

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @MissDaisy

Sorry to hear that you are having to deal with a variety of issues.
You mention that you are generally running high and that often happens at the star until you are able to find out what it is that raises your levels. I am not sure how much you have been told so my apologies if I end up telling you what you already know.

The rise in glucose levels is due to all the carbohydrates that you eat, not just sugar. This includes the more obvious ones such as rice potatoes, rice and pasta, but also things like cereal (for which I like the description of a bowl of sugar in disguise). Once inside us the carbs are changed to glucose and enter our blood stream. These can then be used by our muscles if there is enough insulin in the system. However if we have Diabetes there is not enough insulin (or no insulin in the case of T1) or the insulin released by our Pancreas does NT work properly. It is then important to match the amount of carbs eaten to the amount of insulin available.

You can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and 2 hrs after eating to see how food is affecting you as an individual (everyone is different, and it’s important to understand your own tolerances and ‘safe choices’). The numbers themselves don’t matter so much at the beginning, it is the difference between them - the ‘meal rise‘ which you want to keep as near to 2-3mmol/L as you can. If you happen to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking your BG, you can then experiment with reducing amounts or swapping types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference) and/or increasing levels of activity. If you are interested in this approach you may have to fund your own meter (they are often not prescribed for those with T2). If so a key factor is the ongoing cost of the stips - One of the most affordaoble meters members here have found is from SD, and has been recently updated to the SD Gluco Navii which has test strips at around £8 for 50

For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes. Members on here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points.

 

[Drummer]

I'm afraid that if you are hoping to eat low GI foods and control either blood glucose or weight, it could be a bit disappointing. I find that low GI is no advantage at all and I need to follow a low carb way of eating in order to have normal levels of glucose and to have lost some of the weight gain inflicted by high carb diets.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Miss Daisy and welcome.

There is lots of help and advice available here so make yourself comfortable, get a cuppa and start reading...

Basically you need to change the way you eat and increase your activity levels but this needs to be done gradually, so small sustainable changes.
Low GI is not necessarily the answer. Glycaemic index is an average measure of how quickly the carbohydrates in food will be released, it does not tell you how quickly or slowly your body will break them down and as with everything in life, there can be a lot of variation between one person and another. Eating less carbohydrates on the other hand is much more likely to be successful in lowering your Blood Glucose (BG) levels and is easier to assess, because carbohydrate content is listed in the nutritional info on the back or side of all packaging.... ignore the traffic light system info on the front as that just lists sugar and fat and isn't any help to us diabetics.

You are looking to gradually reduce your consumption of carb rich foods and these are not just the obvious cakes, biscuits sweets and chocolate but also bread, pasta, rice, couscous, breakfast cereals particularly and potatoes. Even otherwise healthy foods like porridge and fruit (in all its forms ie fresh, dried and juiced) can cause us a problem as diabetics and need to be restricted if you want to manage your blood glucose levels effectively.

That may sound like there isn't much left to eat but a low carb diet can be surprisingly filling and enjoyable.... For instance I often have a 2 egg mushroom, onion,courgette, bacon and cheese omelette for breakfast with a salad of lettuce leaves, pea shoots, a couple of cherry tomatoes, some cucumber and a good dollop of cheese coleslaw..... That will usually keep me going until my evening meal without needing any lunch. Or I might skip breakfast other than a cup of coffee made with cream and have an omelette or an egg/meat/fish salad for lunch.
A light breakfast might be a couple of good dollops of Creamy Greek Natural yoghurt (not low fat versions as they are higher in carbs) with 5 or 6 raspberries and some mixed seeds and chopped nuts.

Getting yourself a BG meter with plenty of test strips will be really helpful too. Most of us find a meter invaluable in tailoring our diet to our body's ability to release glucose from food. They are rarely prescribed to Type 2 diabetics these days unless you are on medication which can cause hypos, so most people have to self fund, but they are relatively inexpensive to purchase with a basic meter being about £15. The cost of supplying test strips for it can drain the finances though and for that reason we recommend people buy one of the meters with the cheapest test strips.... either the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Healthcare Tee2 blood glucose meters as the test strips for these work out at £8 for a pot of 50 as oppose to 2x or even 3x+ for some other meters.

Anyway, this gives you a little idea of how to move forward but take your time... perhaps just change one small thing every few days. Perhaps start by changing any snacks you eat to low carb alternatives... eat a piece of cheese or some olives or some veggie sticks and sour cream and chive dip (not low fat version) or a boiled egg with some mayonnaise if you feel hungry instead of a biscuit or crisps or sweets. Or choose one meal and half the carbs in that meal, but remember to bulk it out with other low carb foods.... no need to go hungry just because you can't cope with carbs.

Most of us keep a food diary along with our readings before and 2 hours after eating each meal. This shows us how much that meal affected our BG levels and then we can see if it raised it too much, we know for next time we have that meal that we need to reduce the amount of carbs in it and test again.

Hope all that hasn't bamboozled you too much. It is a lot to take in. The key is to slowly reduce the amount of carbs you eat and build up your activity levels.... a brisk daily walk is the ideal exercise for diabetics if you are able, so it doesn't have to be anything strenuous.

We are here to support you all the way and answer any questions you have.

Good luck with your journey! Many of us feel far better for getting this wake up call to sort our lives out and I have had some surprising health benefits from changing my diet.

 

[MissDaisy]

Hi Miss Daisy and welcome.

There is lots of help and advice available here so make yourself comfortable, get a cuppa and start reading...

Basically you need to change the way you eat and increase your activity levels but this needs to be done gradually, so small sustainable changes.
Low GI is not necessarily the answer. Glycaemic index is an average measure of how quickly the carbohydrates in food will be released, it does not tell you how quickly or slowly your body will break them down and as with everything in life, there can be a lot of variation between one person and another. Eating less carbohydrates on the other hand is much more likely to be successful in lowering your Blood Glucose (BG) levels and is easier to assess, because carbohydrate content is listed in the nutritional info on the back or side of all packaging.... ignore the traffic light system info on the front as that just lists sugar and fat and isn't any help to us diabetics.

You are looking to gradually reduce your consumption of carb rich foods and these are not just the obvious cakes, biscuits sweets and chocolate but also bread, pasta, rice, couscous, breakfast cereals particularly and potatoes. Even otherwise healthy foods like porridge and fruit (in all its forms ie fresh, dried and juiced) can cause us a problem as diabetics and need to be restricted if you want to manage your blood glucose levels effectively.

That may sound like there isn't much left to eat but a low carb diet can be surprisingly filling and enjoyable.... For instance I often have a 2 egg mushroom, onion,courgette, bacon and cheese omelette for breakfast with a salad of lettuce leaves, pea shoots, a couple of cherry tomatoes, some cucumber and a good dollop of cheese coleslaw..... That will usually keep me going until my evening meal without needing any lunch. Or I might skip breakfast other than a cup of coffee made with cream and have an omelette or an egg/meat/fish salad for lunch.
A light breakfast might be a couple of good dollops of Creamy Greek Natural yoghurt (not low fat versions as they are higher in carbs) with 5 or 6 raspberries and some mixed seeds and chopped nuts.

Getting yourself a BG meter with plenty of test strips will be really helpful too. Most of us find a meter invaluable in tailoring our diet to our body's ability to release glucose from food. They are rarely prescribed to Type 2 diabetics these days unless you are on medication which can cause hypos, so most people have to self fund, but they are relatively inexpensive to purchase with a basic meter being about £15. The cost of supplying test strips for it can drain the finances though and for that reason we recommend people buy one of the meters with the cheapest test strips.... either the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Healthcare Tee2 blood glucose meters as the test strips for these work out at £8 for a pot of 50 as oppose to 2x or even 3x+ for some other meters.

Anyway, this gives you a little idea of how to move forward but take your time... perhaps just change one small thing every few days. Perhaps start by changing any snacks you eat to low carb alternatives... eat a piece of cheese or some olives or some veggie sticks and sour cream and chive dip (not low fat version) or a boiled egg with some mayonnaise if you feel hungry instead of a biscuit or crisps or sweets. Or choose one meal and half the carbs in that meal, but remember to bulk it out with other low carb foods.... no need to go hungry just because you can't cope with carbs.

Most of us keep a food diary along with our readings before and 2 hours after eating each meal. This shows us how much that meal affected our BG levels and then we can see if it raised it too much, we know for next time we have that meal that we need to reduce the amount of carbs in it and test again.

Hope all that hasn't bamboozled you too much. It is a lot to take in. The key is to slowly reduce the amount of carbs you eat and build up your activity levels.... a brisk daily walk is the ideal exercise for diabetics if you are able, so it doesn't have to be anything strenuous.

We are here to support you all the way and answer any questions you have.

Good luck with your journey! Many of us feel far better for getting this wake up call to sort our lives out and I have had some surprising health benefits from changing my diet.

Hi and thanks for your reply

All information is invaluable at this point from you guys who have been living with Diabetes for a while . I have a bit of knowledge as my late Father was Steroid Induced Diabetes and was on insulin to begin with & then eventually diet controlled.

I have a meter as I was given one & have strips on prescription etc - maybe got one for free due to my wounds to help to try to control levels.

I will read all the replies with interest. Is there anyway of tagging other members who’ve answered above so they can read this reply or will they see it automatically?

Much appreciated Miss

 

[MissDaisy]

I'm afraid that if you are hoping to eat low GI foods and control either blood glucose or weight, it could be a bit disappointing. I find that low GI is no advantage at all and I need to follow a low carb way of eating in order to have normal levels of glucose and to have lost some of the weight gain inflicted by high carb diets.

Hi and thank sure for your valuable input

I guess as you say it’s finding out what foods are good and what you’re readings are pre & post. Lots of food diaries and BMs for me then!

Much appreciated Miss

 

[rebrascora]

Hi
They should get an alert to say that you have replied to the thread without tagging them.

No need to reply to individual posts unless you want to be very polite or there is something particular you want to address in the content.

Great that you have a meter and test strips. What sort of readings are you getting?
What was your HbA1c at diagnosis and have you had a follow up blood test?

Hope you don't mind me asking a personal question but do you need to lose much/any weight?
Have you lost any weight recently and if so, how easy was it?

These questions help us to have an idea of where you are with your diabetes.

 

[MissDaisy]

Welcome to the forum @MissDaisy

Sorry to hear that you are having to deal with a variety of issues.
You mention that you are generally running high and that often happens at the star until you are able to find out what it is that raises your levels. I am not sure how much you have been told so my apologies if I end up telling you what you already know.

The rise in glucose levels is due to all the carbohydrates that you eat, not just sugar. This includes the more obvious ones such as rice potatoes, rice and pasta, but also things like cereal (for which I like the description of a bowl of sugar in disguise). Once inside us the carbs are changed to glucose and enter our blood stream. These can then be used by our muscles if there is enough insulin in the system. However if we have Diabetes there is not enough insulin (or no insulin in the case of T1) or the insulin released by our Pancreas does NT work properly. It is then important to match the amount of carbs eaten to the amount of insulin available.

You can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and 2 hrs after eating to see how food is affecting you as an individual (everyone is different, and it’s important to understand your own tolerances and ‘safe choices’). The numbers themselves don’t matter so much at the beginning, it is the difference between them - the ‘meal rise‘ which you want to keep as near to 2-3mmol/L as you can. If you happen to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking your BG, you can then experiment with reducing amounts or swapping types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference) and/or increasing levels of activity. If you are interested in this approach you may have to fund your own meter (they are often not prescribed for those with T2). If so a key factor is the ongoing cost of the stips - One of the most affordaoble meters members here have found is from SD, and has been recently updated to the SD Gluco Navii which has test strips at around £8 for 50

For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes. Members on here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points.

Hi and thanks for your informative reply.

It seems I have a lot to read about and lots of food diaries & BMs to be done. I have a machine from the GP 🙂

Thank You again much appreciated Miss

 

[rebrascora]

I know some people refer to BG readings as BMs (not entirely sure what actual word the M stands for) but it rather makes me giggle as I read BM as Bowel Movement and it seems you have a lot to do!! Sorry not making fun of you... just having a laugh which is something we tend to do because if you don't try to see the funny side sometimes, it can make you want to cry! Hope I haven't offended you and if I have please accept my apologies ... just couldn't resist sharing the thought that made me giggle!

 

[MissDaisy]

Hi
They should get an alert to say that you have replied to the thread without tagging them.

No need to reply to individual posts unless you want to be very polite or there is something particular you want to address in the content.

Great that you have a meter and test strips. What sort of readings are you getting?
What was your HbA1c at diagnosis and have you had a follow up blood test?

Hope you don't mind me asking a personal question but do you need to lose much/any weight?
Have you lost any weight recently and if so, how easy was it?

These questions help us to have an idea of where you are with your diabetes.

Hi

No worries, happy to answer questions!

Due to chronic pain, severe fatigue and medication I went from size 6-8 to size 16 over 13years or so plus not knowing I was diabetic didn’t help.

HCP from surgery shocked that blood test you mention wasn’t taken in Nov whilst in hospital. They’ve now taken it, don’t know result yet. BM always between 12-15 and sometimes higher - diet not that bad so I am wondering if the wounds infection is playing a part?! I notice when on antibiotics they were between 9-12.
Buy as they have no clue what the mystery condition is I have no treatment for it.

They thought it might be Sweets Syndrome a very rare autoimmune condition (irony I know!!) but biopsy was negative.

I feel like both conditions are battling against one another. I feel a little in limbo until they treat the mystery condition TBH but I thought I’d come here for advise & support until they can work out what it is!

Thank you again MissDaisy

 

[MissDaisy]

I know some people refer to BG readings as BMs (not entirely sure what actual word the M stands for) but it rather makes me giggle as I read BM as Bowel Movement and it seems you have a lot to do!! Sorry not making fun of you... just having a laugh which is something we tend to do because if you don't try to see the funny side sometimes, it can make you want to cry! Hope I haven't offended you and if I have please accept my apologies ... just couldn't resist sharing the thought that made me giggle!

LOL They say BMs I’m hospital and stands for meter I think ..... but if they use BGs here I can use this too Ha Ha !
Bowels in hospital is usually BO for bowels open or BNO if not.

 

[MissDaisy]

Welcome to the forum @MissDaisy

Sorry to hear that you are having to deal with a variety of issues.
You mention that you are generally running high and that often happens at the star until you are able to find out what it is that raises your levels. I am not sure how much you have been told so my apologies if I end up telling you what you already know.

The rise in glucose levels is due to all the carbohydrates that you eat, not just sugar. This includes the more obvious ones such as rice potatoes, rice and pasta, but also things like cereal (for which I like the description of a bowl of sugar in disguise). Once inside us the carbs are changed to glucose and enter our blood stream. These can then be used by our muscles if there is enough insulin in the system. However if we have Diabetes there is not enough insulin (or no insulin in the case of T1) or the insulin released by our Pancreas does NT work properly. It is then important to match the amount of carbs eaten to the amount of insulin available.

You can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and 2 hrs after eating to see how food is affecting you as an individual (everyone is different, and it’s important to understand your own tolerances and ‘safe choices’). The numbers themselves don’t matter so much at the beginning, it is the difference between them - the ‘meal rise‘ which you want to keep as near to 2-3mmol/L as you can. If you happen to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking your BG, you can then experiment with reducing amounts or swapping types (sometimes just having things at a different time of day makes a difference) and/or increasing levels of activity. If you are interested in this approach you may have to fund your own meter (they are often not prescribed for those with T2). If so a key factor is the ongoing cost of the stips - One of the most affordaoble meters members here have found is from SD, and has been recently updated to the SD Gluco Navii which has test strips at around £8 for 50

For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes. Members on here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very helpful starting points.

Hi

How do you update profile to hide personal details and/or add signature please?

Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[rebrascora]

I can imagine it must be really frustrating and upsetting for you, especially with something so apparent like a rash. BG levels that high will be feeding the infections in your skin, so I would concentrate on reducing your carbs to reduce your BG. It is the only thing you really have any personal control over. I appreciate you say your diet isn't bad but if you don't put carbs in, the glucose levels have to come down... unless you are Type 1, but then you would expect to see sudden weight loss... which was why I asked.

Would you like to give us an idea of the sort or things that you currently eat for breakfast, lunch and evening meal on an average day and suggest areas where you might make a few small changes to get things moving.
In my early days of starting low carb I really hadn't a clue, so I was eating dried fruit in my porridge and no added sugar beans on wholemeal toast and wholegrains with my evening meal thinking I was doing the right thing. It was a surprise to find that even butter beans and kidney beans as well as those foods I mentioned above cause me problems.

 

[MissDaisy]

Hi

Today I’ve had no sugar/low salt baked beans on brown bread at lunch and evening meal chicken, salad with 2 new potatoes - and done 30 mins exercise 10 warm up exercise and 20mins walking exercises. BG was 15.1 after lunch and after exercise 14.3. Only drink water & tea with no sugar.

I think I need to get a food diary and start meticulously writing everything down! It sounds like I need to really change diet and GP suggested low GI however you guys mention it’s not the answer for all.

They’ve just upped my metformin from 3 to 4 a day, I don’t know how long before it starts to make a real difference?

Many Thanks again Miss Daisy

 

[rebrascora]

Baked beans (even low/no sugar) on brown bread is a double whammy carb attack.... two lots of carbs on the one plate!
How many slices of bread? Half a can of beans? Just trying to figure out how many grams of carbs in that one meal...
Did you have low fat spread or butter or none?

 

[rebrascora]

Baked beans are 20g carbs for half a tin of no sugar variety plus 15g carbs each per slice of bread, so that is 50g carbs just on that plate assuming 2 slices of medium wholemeal... more if thicker. Quite a few people restrict themselves to a max of 30g of carbs a meal and some people have less than 30g carbs all day to keep their BG in check.
New potatoes are better than mature potatoes. Hope you had plenty of butter on them! Size of potatoes would determine how many carbs in that meal.

Did you have any breakfast? Any dessert or snacks?

Do you use skimmed, semi skimmed or whole milk.... the latter is the lowest carb so the best choice for a diabetic or cream but not sure even I could drink tea with cream in it... might have a try though! 😉

Trying to think of a similar type of low carb food to beans on toast is difficult. There are low carb breads that you can buy but with beans it will still be carb heavy. How about scrambled eggs on a low carb toast as an alternative or sardines?

 

[MissDaisy]

Hi

Thanks for your reply and understanding about my skin issues & the distress it causes - forgot to say that in last reply as was eager to send my meals for today!

So much conflicting info online as baked beans and toast is recommended online as slow release but I hear what you’re saying. So would I have 1/2 slice of bread & 1/2 tin of beans or would that be too much do you think?

It’s so difficult to control your sugars and makes you appreciate how the body does a fantastic job when it is working properly 🙂

MissDaisy

 

[MissDaisy]

Baked beans are 20g carbs for half a tin of no sugar variety plus 15g carbs each per slice of bread, so that is 50g carbs just on that plate assuming 2 slices of medium wholemeal... more if thicker. Quite a few people restrict themselves to a max of 30g of carbs a meal and some people have less than 30g carbs all day to keep their BG in check.
New potatoes are better than mature potatoes. Hope you had plenty of butter on them! Size of potatoes would determine how many carbs in that meal.

Did you have any breakfast? Any dessert or snacks?

Do you use skimmed, semi skimmed or whole milk.... the latter is the lowest carb so the best choice for a diabetic or cream but not sure even I could drink tea with cream in it... might have a try though! 😉

Trying to think of a similar type of low carb food to beans on toast is difficult. There are low carb breads that you can buy but with beans it will still be carb heavy. How about scrambled eggs on a low carb toast as an alternative or sardines?

Hi

Yes I had new potatoes and generally have butter however we have green top milk (semi -skimmed) I often have egg or sardines on toast especially smoked salmon & scrambled. I like having porridge or oat based museli sometimes too. I was going to try All bran or weetabix as I haven’t had these for a while.

No snacks or breakfast as lunch was more brunch - lay in as Sat !

All the best MissDaisy

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Hi @Miss Daisy just wanted to say welcome to the forum. I can see you're already getting lots of advice about your diet. I hope its all useful and that you are able to get to the bottom of your other health problems too.

 

[rebrascora]

You could try just half a slice of toast with the beans and see what it does to your BG levels, testing before and 2 hours after and have plenty of real butter on the half slice of toast and/or have some scrambled egg or cheese with it to bulk it out and fill you up. Fat and protein is the key to eating low carb. Don't be frightened of it.
Eggs are almost equal portions of fat and protein with no carbs so a great food for us diabetics and sardines are a good choice... again all protein and fat.

The idea is to make small changes, so whilst I am tempted to say ditch the beans and bread as they are both carb rich foods, you need to bring things down slowly, so half a slice of bread with the beans is a good first step. The egg or cheese don't add any carbs so you can take them or leave them but if you end up feeling hungry later and wanting to snack then it is not beneficial, even if you resist, because it just makes the changes harder to stick to. I am all for making things easy and enjoyable. If you do need to snack, a low carb option like I listed in a post above is best.