-
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.
-
Learn more about joining the Diabetes UK Support Forum team here: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/volunteering-opportunities-why-dont-you-join-us.112862/
Newbie
- Thread starter Janefg
- Start date
- Status
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum, for many people it is a shock but often explains symptoms that have been troubling them. The test that would have given you the diagnosis is an HbA1C and how much over the threshold of 47mmol/mol will indicate how much work you will need to do, if very high you may have been prescribed medication but if at the lower end of the diabetes range then making some lifestyle changes should be sufficient.
I found this link has good explanation and some ideas for modifying your diet, it is a low carb approach which many have found successful. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Whether this is suitable may depend on any medication so if you would like to give a bit more information about your diagnosis that would help people make appropriate suggestions.
I had a blood test (first in years) and from that I was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol! I had no symptoms so it was a shock and upsetting - my first thought was, no more chocolate 🙄.
I was told I would have retinal screening every year and 3 blood tests and any other information I could find on the internet. That was all the advice.
I was just on the threshold of diabetes, 48. Thank you the link. I’ll have a look
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
If they did not tell you your HbA1C result then you should ask as this tells you were your starting point is. Yes you should get retinal eye screening and foot check. You should also get another HbA1C after 3 months to check that the lifesyle changes are being effective in reducing your blood glucose.
Martin.A
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
If you're starting from there you should be able to turn things around through a few simple lifestyle changes - your diet, being more active and (if you need to) shedding some weight. Many of us have done so starting from much higher levels, often 3 figures. Presumably you haven't been prescribed any diabetes medication at this stage?
Be aware that 'healthy' is a misleading term. Food considered 'healthy' for those who have Type 2 diabetes is usually considered unhealthy for the general population and vice versa. All it takes isa few Blood glucose measurements of the effects to show that carbohydrates, even whole grains and tropical fruit are unhealthy for us!
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Janefg
At a starting point of 48mmol/mol, which is only just over the borderline of a T2 diagnosis, like @Martin.A I suspect a few fairly modest changes to cut out the obvious sweet and sugary things, and gently reduce your portion size of starchy carbohydrates could see significant improvements to your HbA1c.
Whatever changes you make, it can help to make them gradually and in a way which is sustainable for you. Many find it's better to make smaller incremental changes, than to suddenly try to ditch a whole load of stuff all at once only to 'fall off the wagon' later because it feels like you are denying yourself everything all the time.
Give yourself time, and allow your palate to adjust, and you may return to an occasional 'treat' later only to find it rather sickly and unappetising.
At a starting point of 48mmol/mol, which is only just over the borderline of a T2 diagnosis, like @Martin.A I suspect a few fairly modest changes to cut out the obvious sweet and sugary things, and gently reduce your portion size of starchy carbohydrates could see significant improvements to your HbA1c.
Whatever changes you make, it can help to make them gradually and in a way which is sustainable for you. Many find it's better to make smaller incremental changes, than to suddenly try to ditch a whole load of stuff all at once only to 'fall off the wagon' later because it feels like you are denying yourself everything all the time.
Give yourself time, and allow your palate to adjust, and you may return to an occasional 'treat' later only to find it rather sickly and unappetising.
- Status