Newbie

[Winifreds child]

I am 68 next and just diagnosed with type two I was actually expecting that I had beaten pre diabetes as I have been losing weight walking more feeling better…so I was gutted that my result was the opposite and am now diabetic…feeling a bit lost although I bought a couple of books to put me on the right road …and yet after reading them seems I need to lose at least one and a half stone …quickish ….I don’t eat a lot of carbs and no sugar recently lost 5 kilos gave up processed food 8 months ago and have been feeling good 6 days a week walk 10000 steps a day also physio for knees one hour every day I do need new knees but think I cope well by getting fitter ….not sure if I can change much to help me succeed losing weight is the obvious but I seem so slow with that but always aim for that love to here ant success stories to inspire me..

 

[mashedupmatt]

Hi @Winifreds child and welcome to the forum - well done with the weight loss so far - It's not easy but you can achieve it - you will find many recipe and menu ideas on here to help - ask any questions you may have - there is a wealth of experience on this forum who will be happy to help

 

[Leadinglights]

Do you know about how many carbs you are having as there may be some tweaking you could do there. Many find having a home testing blood glucose monitor to test before eating and after 2 hours can be very revealing as to how well your body is coping with the carbohydrates in your meal. The aim would be for no more than a 2-3mmol/l increase or be less than 8-8.5mmol/l after 2 hours.
This link may give you come menu ideas for low carb approach which many have found successful in losing weight and bringing down HbA1C.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com

Inexpensive monitors can be bought on line which are cheaper than the pharmacy, GlucoNavii, TEE2 and Contour Blue are ones with the cheaper test strips.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Winifreds child

Well done on the terrific weight loss, and in getting yourself so active with that impressive step count.

Sorry to hear your HbA1c had gone up, when you were hoping it had gone down, but hopefully the positive changes you have been makingith ditching the processed foods will start to turn things around in time.

Have they said when you are next due a check?

 

[Winifreds child]

Thankyou for the message I’m not great at this kind of interaction on the internet so I apologise if I don’t answer sooner I’ve a lot to learn not sure if I can make it work for me yet….I see my doctor tomorrow for the details a bit nervous since I read t2 is otherwise known as the lifestyle illness as I have been pre diabetes for 5 years lost weight several times and put it back on slowly I get it’s my own fault but I want to be positive now to get a way forwards and will see a dietitian on New Year’s Day I am active and walk between 4 and 6 miles a day6 days a week I have been looking on my pedometer log and hadn’t realised…I have never lost beyond a stone I could do with 2 stone to go I eat too much possibly but absolutely no junk food even make my own bread my husband and I stopped eating processed food months ago and both feel better but the numbers don’t lie…a bit lost at the moment a bit scared to eat and of the future I need to feel a bit more in control I don’t know if anyone else felt like this

 

[Lucyr]

I want to be positive now to get a way forwards and will see a dietitian on New Year’s Day

Are you sure you’re got your appointment details right with that? New Year’s Day is a bank holiday.

 

[Winifreds child]

Thanks I mean New Year’s Eve I was surprised with that appointment but would have been more so with New Year’s Day I will have time to think of all the questions I need to ask for example about fruit apples and kiwis must I cut them out .

 

[Winifreds child]

Are you sure you’re got your appointment details right with that? New Year’s Day is a bank holiday.

Thanks I mean New Year’s Eve 9 am that’s good for me

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks I mean New Year’s Eve I was surprised with that appointment but would have been more so with New Year’s Day I will have time to think of all the questions I need to ask for example about fruit apples and kiwis must I cut them out .

There are some things you will probably will want to cut out but others just reduce the portions size to make it fit is with the amount of carbs you want to have for the day or meal so if a kiwi or apple fits it with that then that is fine but some fruits are much higher carbs, mango, pineapple, grapes and dried fruit for example which are better avoided. Berries are the best fruits but you do need to take portion size into account. The book or app Carbs and Cals is very useful for giving example portion sizes and carb values of a whole range of foods.
If you haven't already looked then this link is good for ideas about what foods are good or not so good and is based on the suggested no more than 130g carbs per day not just the vague advise that is often give by GPs to just cut down of sugary foods when it is much more than just those. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[Drummer]

I am active and walk between 4 and 6 miles a day6 days a week I have been looking on my pedometer log and hadn’t realised…I have never lost beyond a stone I could do with 2 stone to go I eat too much possibly but absolutely no junk food even make my own bread my husband and I stopped eating processed food months ago and both feel better but the numbers don’t lie…a bit lost at the moment a bit scared to eat and of the future I need to feel a bit more in control I don’t know if anyone else felt like this

I'm afraid that many people are led to believe that there are good and bad carbs, but unless your home made bread is a low carb recipe, and is made in small rolls or cut into small slices and frozen so you are not tempted to over indulge, (voice of experience here) reducing blood glucose levels could be problematic.
Losing weight always seemed just about impossible for me when I was being encouraged to eat all those healthy carbs. When I was diagnosed I concentrated on reducing blood glucose and found I had almost nothing to wear.

 

[Winifreds child]

I'm afraid that many people are led to believe that there are good and bad carbs, but unless your home made bread is a low carb recipe, and is made in small rolls or cut into small slices and frozen so you are not tempted to over indulge, (voice of experience here) reducing blood glucose levels could be problematic.
Losing weight always seemed just about impossible for me when I was being encouraged to eat all those healthy carbs. When I was diagnosed I concentrated on reducing blood glucose and found I had almost nothing to wear.

Thanks for this information I definitely have a lot to learn on cabs previously I had concentrated on leaving out sugar I hope it becomes second nature eventually instead of being afraid to eatyour story is very interesting I like the sound of feeling 30 years younger …and the fitter you get the more life you have in you lots to look forwards to

 

[Winifreds child]

I have been reading that eating a small amount of green veg before eating anything else can stop spikes does any one do this I would love to know

 

[Winifreds child]

There are some things you will probably will want to cut out but others just reduce the portions size to make it fit is with the amount of carbs you want to have for the day or meal so if a kiwi or apple fits it with that then that is fine but some fruits are much higher carbs, mango, pineapple, grapes and dried fruit for example which are better avoided. Berries are the best fruits but you do need to take portion size into account. The book or app Carbs and Cals is very useful for giving example portion sizes and carb values of a whole range of foods.
If you haven't already looked then this link is good for ideas about what foods are good or not so good and is based on the suggested no more than 130g carbs per day not just the vague advise that is often give by GPs to just cut down of sugary foods when it is much more than just those. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

Thanks very much this is so useful to me and that book sound’s just what I am needing I start to see where I have gone so wrong in the past

 

[silver minion]

Hello @Winifreds child and welcome to the forum. Well done on the weight loss. Don't be disheartened that on previous occasions it has returned. Your recent move to less processed food and a reduction in your carbs will certainly help. My husband bakes lovely bread but not often these days as it is just too tempting and I end up eating far too much in one go. Very impressive step count there. You put me to shame. Wishing you all the best on your journey to manage diabetes. Share your successes and your frustrations. That's what this forum is all about. People who understand what living day to day with diabetes means.

 

[Drummer]

@Winifreds child and @silver minion I experimented with lowering the carb content of bread by adding in all sorts of stuff, milled seeds, coconut flour, psyllium flour, almond flour, and found they made the dough rather fragile, but with patience and abandoning the bread maker as it knocked all the puff out of the risen dough I made some decent enough bread - but then realised that I didn't really need it in my diet.
I used to eat cream cheese with cream crackers, out of habit - now I eat it rolled around salad stuff inside a crispy lettuce leaf or two or on discs of cucumber or inside sticks of celery and probably enjoy it more than with the crackers.

 

[Winifreds child]

Hello @Winifreds child and welcome to the forum. Well done on the weight loss. Don't be disheartened that on previous occasions it has returned. Your recent move to less processed food and a reduction in your carbs will certainly help. My husband bakes lovely bread but not often these days as it is just too tempting and I end up eating far too much in one go. Very impressive step count there. You put me to shame. Wishing you all the best on your journey to manage diabetes. Share your successes and your frustrations. That's what this forum is all about. People who understand what living day to day with diabetes means.

Thankyou for the message I am grateful for any advice I have been reading books but they’re nothing really like talking with someone in the same boat …anyway don’t worry about step count my doctor this morning told me my walking counts for nothing and it’s too low intensity and as I do have arthritis low intensity is all I can do but may as well not bother it’s all about weight I need to lose 2 stone and although my reading was slightly lower than 49 he’s put me on medication it was a shock as the nurse said below 54 would be treated with diet it was a shock he said after that it will be insulin I have to get my feet checked with the nurse and have an hospital appointment to check my eyes I asked if I could reverse it and then come off meds he said no more or less I’m on the slippery slope and was prediabetic for 5 year I was told that first year then thought I’d overcome it as they didn’t mention it we have the test without a follow up appointment and they let you know if there is a problem but they didn’t get in touch ….has any one heard of reversing and coming off medication…I would love to know …because the books say it is very possible ….sorry for moaning on though I’ll have to pull myself together

 

[Winifreds child]

@Winifreds child and @silver minion I experimented with lowering the carb content of bread by adding in all sorts of stuff, milled seeds, coconut flour, psyllium flour, almond flour, and found they made the dough rather fragile, but with patience and abandoning the bread maker as it knocked all the puff out of the risen dough I made some decent enough bread - but then realised that I didn't really need it in my diet.
I used to eat cream cheese with cream crackers, out of habit - now I eat it rolled around salad stuff inside a crispy lettuce leaf or two or on discs of cucumber or inside sticks of celery and probably enjoy it more than with the crackers.

I see you are in remission does that mean you are off medication….it sounds like you are having a good life ….as for the bread I bake it once a week now but don’t actually eat any at first that was hard but it’s got easier….I understand why you tried to make a lower carb bread it was a good idea…you are obviously getting something right

 

[Leadinglights]

Thankyou for the message I am grateful for any advice I have been reading books but they’re nothing really like talking with someone in the same boat …anyway don’t worry about step count my doctor this morning told me my walking counts for nothing and it’s too low intensity and as I do have arthritis low intensity is all I can do but may as well not bother it’s all about weight I need to lose 2 stone and although my reading was slightly lower than 49 he’s put me on medication it was a shock as the nurse said below 54 would be treated with diet it was a shock he said after that it will be insulin I have to get my feet checked with the nurse and have an hospital appointment to check my eyes I asked if I could reverse it and then come off meds he said no more or less I’m on the slippery slope and was prediabetic for 5 year I was told that first year then thought I’d overcome it as they didn’t mention it we have the test without a follow up appointment and they let you know if there is a problem but they didn’t get in touch ….has any one heard of reversing and coming off medication…I would love to know …because the books say it is very possible ….sorry for moaning on though I’ll have to pull myself together

I'm sorry but I am appalled by the attitude of your doctor, putting you on medication when you are only just over the diagnostic threshold and discouraging you from doing exercise is incredibly negative and very outdated.
From where you are dietary changes should be all that is needed and he should certainly have given you three months to do that without the medication.
As far as insulin is concerned there are many other options before that would be needed.
There are many here who have reduced HbA1C to normal from higher level than you are with diet only and from much higher in three figures with diet and medication which they have been able to come off as HbA1C has come down to normal.
Following the principals in the link I reduced my Hba1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months and to below 40 in another six where I have remained for 3 years so far. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[Winifreds child]

I'm sorry but I am appalled by the attitude of your doctor, putting you on medication when you are only just over the diagnostic threshold and discouraging you from doing exercise is incredibly negative and very outdated.
From where you are dietary changes should be all that is needed and he should certainly have given you three months to do that without the medication.
As far as insulin is concerned there are many other options before that would be needed.
There are many here who have reduced HbA1C to normal from higher level than you are with diet only and from much higher in three figures with diet and medication which they have been able to come off as HbA1C has come down to normal.
Following the principals in the link I reduced my Hba1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months and to below 40 in another six where I have remained for 3 years so far. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

Hello thank you so much for this information after a most miserable day it feels like I might have a flicker of hope after all I can’t even describe how deflated and shocked I was and I think I need now to ask for a second opinion and see a different doctor and see if I can get that chance to wait 3 months because the nurse had already told me at that level I wouldn’t need medication…not sure how they will take it though normally I just would do what they say but it felt all wrong you have done so well haven’t you and really got it down I would be so pleased if I could get anywhere close to your results I have will power and feel with the right information and advice I could do it …how often do you get tested it’s once a year at my doctors…I feel much better now thanks very much and I will go to the low carb link again

 

[Drummer]

I see you are in remission does that mean you are off medication….it sounds like you are having a good life ….as for the bread I bake it once a week now but don’t actually eat any at first that was hard but it’s got easier….I understand why you tried to make a lower carb bread it was a good idea…you are obviously getting something right

I stopped taking the tablets, Metformin and Atorvastatin as 8 years ago this month I was suicidal I had a very bad reaction to them. I took the tablets for 5 weeks, then it was Christmas, and then at the 80 day mark I had a second test which showed that I had dropped from 91 to 47, so was no longer officially diabetic, and by eating the same meals I dropped even lower.
I still take Thyroxine for my thyroid stopped working some time ago, but it seems better than it was.
At the moment I am struggling a bit as I went on the shakes diet to try to improve things, fasting 22 hours a day, low calorie, but it wasn't much of a success as although I lost some weight, after 2 months of that my HbA1c was higher this year than at any time since diagnosis 'only' 48 but that is back in the type 2 range.