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Cazpot88

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Type 2
Hi there, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 10 days ago, still getting my head around it, but fairly confident I can manage

How did you cope when you were first diagnosed?
 
Hi, and welcome to the forum. I coped by trying to find out as much as I could about T2 and what I needed to do to manage it, especially as I was aware of what poor control can cause. With an HbA1c of 114 at diagnosis the short answer was 'a lot' but by reading all I could - books, websites and especially this forum - I learned enough to get a handle on it, principally by changing my diet but also by starting to exercise more.

How did you come to be diagnosed, through a routine blood test or were you having symptoms? Were you prescribed medication or was your HbA1c only just into diabetes territory, meaning simple lifestyle changes around diet, exercise and weight loss would be recommended in the first instance?

Sorry for all the questions but knowing a little about your situation means any advice can be tailored.
 
Martin.A said:
Hi, and welcome to the forum. I coped by trying to find out as much as I could about T2 and what I needed to do to manage it, especially as I was aware of what poor control can cause. With an HbA1c of 114 at diagnosis the short answer was 'a lot' but by reading all I could - books, websites and especially this forum - I learned enough to get a handle on it, principally by changing my diet but also by starting to exercise more.

How did you come to be diagnosed, through a routine blood test or were you having symptoms? Were you prescribed medication or was your HbA1c only just into diabetes territory, meaning simple lifestyle changes around diet, exercise and weight loss would be recommended in the first instance?

Sorry for all the questions but knowing a little about your situation means any advice can be tailored.
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Hi Martin, nice to meet you I went originally about my PCOS, which I've since learned can increase the risk of Type 2

My doctor decided to do a blood test while I was there to check for diabetes because it runs in my dad's side of the family

My HbA1c was 127, and I was put on metformin straight away

I joined Slimming World in January this year, and I'd already lost just over 3 stone when I was diagnosed, so the healthy eating part I'm confident with

I've since bought a blood pressure machine and finger prick tester, and I'm a lot more conscious about food labels

No I don't mind, ask as many questions as you like
 
Well done with that weight loss and for addressing your diet. You'll find self-testing a real help in that respect. Post-diagnosis we all become expert on nutrition labels.

With an HbA1c of 48 being the point at which a diagnosis of diabetes is given, 127 is very high so just as well your GP decided to do a blood test. Now that you have your own tester are you following the usual routine of testing on waking, and before meals and 2 hours afterwards, to see if your levels are on their way down?
 
Your Slimming World diet may not be the best for managing blood glucose reduction but it has clearly worked well for you in losing weight but make sure if you are still doing it that you tell your councillor that you are Type 2 diabetic as I have read they do have a dietary program that is tailored.
The main thing is the need to reduce carbohydrates so as long as what you are following is doing that it may suit you. The suggested carbs per day is no more than 130g so have a look and see. Healthy fats and protein do not convert to glucose so are fine basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy with veg and salads and fruit like berries.
I found following the principals in this link was successful https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/ so you may like to take a look for some ideas and see how it compared to your SW regime.
You can be guided by your monitor by testing some of your meals, you would be aiming at no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase after 2 hours.
 
Martin.A said:
Well done with that weight loss and for addressing your diet. You'll find self-testing a real help in that respect. Post-diagnosis we all become expert on nutrition labels.

With an HbA1c of 48 being the point at which a diagnosis of diabetes is given, 127 is very high so just as well your GP decided to do a blood test. Now that you have your own tester are you following the usual routine of testing on waking, and before meals and 2 hours afterwards, to see if your levels are on their way down?
Click to expand...
Thanks so much yeah I feel a lot better for it

I'll admit I haven't done it as regularly yet, but this morning before I ate it was 18.2, I've done it again just now and it was down to 13.7

I'll keep an eye on it over the weekend
 
Leadinglights said:
Your Slimming World diet may not be the best for managing blood glucose reduction but it has clearly worked well for you in losing weight but make sure if you are still doing it that you tell your councillor that you are Type 2 diabetic as I have read they do have a dietary program that is tailored.
The main thing is the need to reduce carbohydrates so as long as what you are following is doing that it may suit you. The suggested carbs per day is no more than 130g so have a look and see. Healthy fats and protein do not convert to glucose so are fine basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy with veg and salads and fruit like berries.
I found following the principals in this link was successful https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/ so you may like to take a look for some ideas and see how it compared to your SW regime.
You can be guided by your monitor by testing some of your meals, you would be aiming at no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase after 2 hours.
Click to expand...
Awesome thank you I'll let her know about it at the next session

Even on plan though I try not to have too many carbs. I have found white rice and pasta makes me bloated so I've swapped to whole grain and wholewheat versions, and feel better already

Love my fruit, and a meal isn't complete without veg for me

I'll defo check out the link you've sent me xx
 
Cazpot88 said:
Awesome thank you I'll let her know about it at the next session

Even on plan though I try not to have too many carbs. I have found white rice and pasta makes me bloated so I've swapped to whole grain and wholewheat versions, and feel better already

Love my fruit, and a meal isn't complete without veg for me

I'll defo check out the link you've sent me xx
Click to expand...
Although wholewheat versions are regarded to be healthier they are essentially the same amount of carbs as the white version and are foods that many who are Type 2 avoid so you may want to find alternatives. When thinking about reducing carbs it needs a different mindset, all those foods which have been pushed as being 'healthy' are not necessarily so if Type 2 diabetic. Be careful with fruit as it is quite high in carbs, berries are the lowest, melon, apples, pears, oranges middleish and grapes, bananas and tropical fruits are the highest.
The levels you are seeing are pretty high which suggests your current regime is rather too high in carbs. Some meal testing would be a good idea and keeping a good record alongside what you are having for your meals, any snacks and drinks. Trying to estimate the carbs, looking at packets, tins and the internet for carb values will give you a good indication of where you can make some savings.
 
Cazpot88 said:
I'll admit I haven't done it as regularly yet, but this morning before I ate it was 18.2, I've done it again just now and it was down to 13.7
Click to expand...
Those numbers suggest that you've come down a little from where you were at diagnosis but they're still high, as were mine in the early stages. It was three weeks before I got a reading in single figures.

The suggestion that we switch to wholegrain rice, pasta and cereal on the basis that they're a healthier option generally comes with the caveat that portion size is reduced. As @Leadinglights says, they may be a little lower in carbs but not by a huge amount.
 
Leadinglights said:
Although wholewheat versions are regarded to be healthier they are essentially the same amount of carbs as the white version and are foods that many who are Type 2 avoid so you may want to find alternatives. When thinking about reducing carbs it needs a different mindset, all those foods which have been pushed as being 'healthy' are not necessarily so if Type 2 diabetic. Be careful with fruit as it is quite high in carbs, berries are the lowest, melon, apples, pears, oranges middleish and grapes, bananas and tropical fruits are the highest.
The levels you are seeing are pretty high which suggests your current regime is rather too high in carbs. Some meal testing would be a good idea and keeping a good record alongside what you are having for your meals, any snacks and drinks. Trying to estimate the carbs, looking at packets, tins and the internet for carb values will give you a good indication of where you can make some savings.
Click to expand...
I'll defo be looking things up a lot more, finding it overwhelming sometimes

I appreciate your advice thanks so much
 
Martin.A said:
Those numbers suggest that you've come down a little from where you were at diagnosis but they're still high, as were mine in the early stages. It was three weeks before I got a reading in single figures.

The suggestion that we switch to wholegrain rice, pasta and cereal on the basis that they're a healthier option generally comes with the caveat that portion size is reduced. As @Leadinglights says, they may be a little lower in carbs but not by a huge amount.
Click to expand...
I really hope they do settle down soon just gotta keep doing what I'm doing, and reducing carbs where I can

Hope you have a great day xxx
 
Welcome to the forum @Cazpot88

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but well done on your impressive weight loss! It’s quite common to feel overwhelmed and knocked a bit sideways by a diagnosis with diabetes - even if you have some family history and it’s not a complete shock. Be kind to yourself, and give yourself time to adjust and adapt.

Great to hear you’ve been making positive changes to your menu and way of eating, and that you’ve been feeling better and less bloated as a result. As @Martin.A suggests, it can be better to make a gradual series of incremental changes to your menu, to gradually bring your levels down over a period of months. Very sudden and big changes from averaging high BGs to being back in range can be quite hard on fine blood vessels and nerve endings, and can even cause short-term damage in some cases, so a more gradual tapering of BG levels is usually a better bet.

Keep going with the tweaks and changes you are making, and your levels should begin to come down gradually in time. 🙂
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Welcome to the forum @Cazpot88

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but well done on your impressive weight loss! It’s quite common to feel overwhelmed and knocked a bit sideways by a diagnosis with diabetes - even if you have some family history and it’s not a complete shock. Be kind to yourself, and give yourself time to adjust and adapt.

Great to hear you’ve been making positive changes to your menu and way of eating, and that you’ve been feeling better and less bloated as a result. As @Martin.A suggests, it can be better to make a gradual series of incremental changes to your menu, to gradually bring your levels down over a period of months. Very sudden and big changes from averaging high BGs to being back in range can be quite hard on fine blood vessels and nerve endings, and can even cause short-term damage in some cases, so a more gradual tapering of BG levels is usually a better bet.

Keep going with the tweaks and changes you are making, and your levels should begin to come down gradually in time. 🙂
Click to expand...
Hi hun, thanks for your message. Sorry for the late reply, things have been hectic

On top of my recent diagnosis, I help look after my uncle who's got vascular dementia and Alzheimers, and my cousin recently had a bleed on the brain, and its affected his speech and his ability to write. His walking is great though so that's a plus

Thank you so much lost another 1.5 pounds this week, so 3st 5lbs in total, another 6 stone till I get to target

Yeah, gradual is definitely the best way. I have noticed them come down bit by bit over the last few days, a couple of them have been in single figures. Fingers crossed they improve even more

Hope you're having a good week so far x
 
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