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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
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- Thread starter lkc1963
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Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum, it is usually a bit of a shock when people get a diagnosis but sometimes it is a relief as it can explain symptoms that people have been getting.
Good that you realize you need to change your lifestyle and that is going to be changing your diet. How much you need to do depends on how far into the diabetic zone you are and what medication you have been prescribed.
Anything over 47mmol/mol for your HbA1C will give you a diabetic diagnosis. If it is very high, then medication may be prescribed immediately but if you are just into the zone then making dietary changes should be sufficient as will losing weight if you need to. Also increasing exercise will help.
Many people find a low carbohydrate approach successful, and this link may help you with that https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Other people find that a low calorie or 'shakes' based regime will give them a kick start. But whatever approach you choose has to be one you enjoy otherwise it is not sustainable for the long term.
Good that you realize you need to change your lifestyle and that is going to be changing your diet. How much you need to do depends on how far into the diabetic zone you are and what medication you have been prescribed.
Anything over 47mmol/mol for your HbA1C will give you a diabetic diagnosis. If it is very high, then medication may be prescribed immediately but if you are just into the zone then making dietary changes should be sufficient as will losing weight if you need to. Also increasing exercise will help.
Many people find a low carbohydrate approach successful, and this link may help you with that https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Other people find that a low calorie or 'shakes' based regime will give them a kick start. But whatever approach you choose has to be one you enjoy otherwise it is not sustainable for the long term.
Thank you, very much appreciated...
I do have a question.
Because I'm new to all this I find I'm testing myself often.
I'm testing myself before meals breakfast, lunch and dinner then about 40mins after eating each meal and again before bed.
I'm just making sure I'm keeping control of it but am i over doing the testing and is 40mins after meals suffice to see a correct sugar level.
Many thanks.
I do have a question.
Because I'm new to all this I find I'm testing myself often.
I'm testing myself before meals breakfast, lunch and dinner then about 40mins after eating each meal and again before bed.
I'm just making sure I'm keeping control of it but am i over doing the testing and is 40mins after meals suffice to see a correct sugar level.
Many thanks.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Thanks for the link,
I've been told I'm type 2 and been put on metformin 3 times a day..
Great at least i know I'm in the right lines I'll just adjust the time for testing during and after meal.
Thank you
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You are testing too soon after meals, 2 hours is the usual time. Once you have established which meals are OK then you will find you can reduce the testing. What you are looking for is no more than 2-3mmol/l increase after 2 hours and as your levels start to come down then no more than8-8.5mmol/l 2 hors post meal.
Right ok, all understood.
I'll have a look at that link too.
Thank you for your advice
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Metformin is a medication which helps the body use the insulin it produces rather than acting directly on the food you eat so dietary changes are just as if not more important.
What is you HbA1C as that gives a good idea of how much you need to do.
I've just had a quick look at the test result on the My GP app and it only says Haemogloblin A1c - IFCC Standardised 57mmol
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
That is not too bad, and some GP would have given you the opportunity to make dietary changes before prescribing medication. Many have brought it down from that level without medication. But some people will just need a helping hand.
A word of caution it is better to reduce your carb intake gradually as it is less likely to give you problems with your eyes and nerves especially if you previously had a very high carb diet.
If you go the low carb route than a max of 130g per day TOTAL carbs is what is suggested. Some people need to go lower but that is a good starting point. Remember you are looking at the Total carbs in foods not just the 'sugars'
That's great advice thanks.
I'm in a bit of a viscous circle at the moment I've put weight on because i can barely walk
(Having right hip replacement next week)
Plus had 3 hip replacements on the left side so mobility has been terrible. So I've gradually put weight on too.
This has given me the kick i needed to be honest. I am now looking at carbs and sugars and totally eliminated sweet things.
I'm also going to do exercising sitting down or just standing.
The doctor did say the fat around my tummy will hinder the insulins efficiency and that I may be able to reverse the diabetes with weight loss too, which in certainly going to try and do.
I'm in a bit of a viscous circle at the moment I've put weight on because i can barely walk
(Having right hip replacement next week)
Plus had 3 hip replacements on the left side so mobility has been terrible. So I've gradually put weight on too.
This has given me the kick i needed to be honest. I am now looking at carbs and sugars and totally eliminated sweet things.
I'm also going to do exercising sitting down or just standing.
The doctor did say the fat around my tummy will hinder the insulins efficiency and that I may be able to reverse the diabetes with weight loss too, which in certainly going to try and do.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I fully sympathise with your mobility issue; I had surgery for a ruptured patellar tendon nearly a year ago now and still not back to previous level of walking.
Thank you very much for your advice, very kind of you to take the time to advise me.
Best wishes
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @lkc1963
Glad you’ve found us! Hope you find the forum a helpful and encouraging place to offload, ask questions, ponder, and compare experiences. No questions will be considered too obvious or ‘silly’
There are two different schools of thought for the timing of after meal checks. Most forum members use 2hrs after the first bite as their guide. This is partly because in T2 the first phase insulin response can be compromised, which can lead to a short-lived high level which only lasts a short time. Additionally former T2 guidance gives a target value of 8.5mmol/L by 2hrs after eating, which can be helpful to aim for once levels have returned towards the normal range.
An alternative strategy is to try various timings between 45mins and 2hrs after eating to try to find the ‘spike time’. The time at which most of your meals tend to give their peak reading (though this can vary a little between meals!). Once you’ve attempted to find your ‘spike time’ you can work on tweaking and tailoring your menu to reduce the maximum BG level that meals give you.
Both methods work well, and both have their own limitations, so it depends which you prefer really - it’s just personal preference 🙂
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