Afternoon all,Thank you for accepting me I’m newly diagnosed today with type 2 and wow a big shock & still can’t get my head around it all so here looking for help and advice and been prescribed metaformin to take so I’m in for a change of life style I look forward to reading and picking up tips Regards Tazly72
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- Thread starter Tazly72
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Been prescribed metaformin and result was 57 which means nothing to me
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Ok 🙂 57 isn’t too bad. Anything above 48 is diabetic, but lots of people have HbA1Cs higher than yours and have achieved good results🙂
I recommend keeping a food diary for a few days so you can spot places where you could make some simple changes. Most Type 2s find keeping an eye on the amount of carbs they eat helps a lot - all carbs not just sugar.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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- She/Her
Hi and welcome from me too.
I think we all found it pretty overwhelming at first but it can be the door to a fitter, healthier and possibly smaller (if weight loss is applicable) and happier you once you get your head around it and make the necessary changes. I certainly feel far better 2.5 years down the line from my diagnosis than I have for the past 20+years and at 57yrs old, that is not a bad thing at all.
Starting with an honest food (and drink) diary of what you normally consume now is a good starting point. Look particularly at all the foods high in sugars and starchy carbohydrates and not just the unhealthy ones but the healthy ones too, so fruit and wholemeal bread and brown rice and wholemeal pasta and even hummus and pulses etc. These foods all contain quite high levels of carbs and portion size will become important, so list x slices of bread and y pieces of potato and z serving spoons of rice etc. This will give you a starting point to see where you can cut the least healthy options and then reduce portion sizes of others. Your tastes will play a part in this as you find that you have to trade off one lot of carbs that you may not be that fussed about for something that you particularly enjoy.
It is a little disappointing that they have started you on Metformin straight away without giving you the opportunity to see if you can reduce your levels through lifestyle changes alone when your HbA1c is not too far into diabetes territory... 48 or above gets you the diabetes label and some of us were 3 figures at diagnosis. That doesn't say that it is any less important to make those changes but hopefully they will need to be less radical than if you had a higher number.
As regards the Metformin, the best advice is to take it mid meal with a substantial amount of food as it can cause gastric upset. Hopefully they have started you off on just one tablet and build up to a higher dose if necessary as that is kindest on the body and with your levels not being hugely high there should be no great rush to get you up to max dose.
Exercise is another aspect of diabetes management and if you can incorporate a daily walk into your schedule if you are able, that will also make a worthwhile difference.
Anyway I hope you find the forum as hugely beneficial as I have over the past couple of years. Do read other posts as you will pick up lots of tips and knowledge from them and anything you don't understand or are not sure about, just ask. It can be a bit confusing as Type 1 diabetes is slightly different to Type 2 so some advice is more applicable to one type than another, but you will soon get the hang of it.
I think we all found it pretty overwhelming at first but it can be the door to a fitter, healthier and possibly smaller (if weight loss is applicable) and happier you once you get your head around it and make the necessary changes. I certainly feel far better 2.5 years down the line from my diagnosis than I have for the past 20+years and at 57yrs old, that is not a bad thing at all.
Starting with an honest food (and drink) diary of what you normally consume now is a good starting point. Look particularly at all the foods high in sugars and starchy carbohydrates and not just the unhealthy ones but the healthy ones too, so fruit and wholemeal bread and brown rice and wholemeal pasta and even hummus and pulses etc. These foods all contain quite high levels of carbs and portion size will become important, so list x slices of bread and y pieces of potato and z serving spoons of rice etc. This will give you a starting point to see where you can cut the least healthy options and then reduce portion sizes of others. Your tastes will play a part in this as you find that you have to trade off one lot of carbs that you may not be that fussed about for something that you particularly enjoy.
It is a little disappointing that they have started you on Metformin straight away without giving you the opportunity to see if you can reduce your levels through lifestyle changes alone when your HbA1c is not too far into diabetes territory... 48 or above gets you the diabetes label and some of us were 3 figures at diagnosis. That doesn't say that it is any less important to make those changes but hopefully they will need to be less radical than if you had a higher number.
As regards the Metformin, the best advice is to take it mid meal with a substantial amount of food as it can cause gastric upset. Hopefully they have started you off on just one tablet and build up to a higher dose if necessary as that is kindest on the body and with your levels not being hugely high there should be no great rush to get you up to max dose.
Exercise is another aspect of diabetes management and if you can incorporate a daily walk into your schedule if you are able, that will also make a worthwhile difference.
Anyway I hope you find the forum as hugely beneficial as I have over the past couple of years. Do read other posts as you will pick up lots of tips and knowledge from them and anything you don't understand or are not sure about, just ask. It can be a bit confusing as Type 1 diabetes is slightly different to Type 2 so some advice is more applicable to one type than another, but you will soon get the hang of it.
Cherrelle DUK
Much missed Online Community Coordinator
Hi Welcome to the forum.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It's a big shock for many but things do ease up once you've got the right info.
You've got some great advice above so I'll just share this page which helps you to understand the numbers and how to check your blood sugar levels https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing.
This one talks about what to eat as that's one of the key things that needs to be adjusted so that your blood sugar numbers can stay within a healthy range. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/i-have-type-2-diabetes.
We're here to help every step of the way so feel free to ask any questions you may have and we'll be happy to help.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It's a big shock for many but things do ease up once you've got the right info.
You've got some great advice above so I'll just share this page which helps you to understand the numbers and how to check your blood sugar levels https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing.
This one talks about what to eat as that's one of the key things that needs to be adjusted so that your blood sugar numbers can stay within a healthy range. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/i-have-type-2-diabetes.
We're here to help every step of the way so feel free to ask any questions you may have and we'll be happy to help.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Tazly72
Glad you have found us so soon.
It can really help to have others to share worries, concerns and experiences with. And fire away with any questions.
As well as the great resources and links that have been suggested already, you might find Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, a really good starting point.
There are also loads of useful modules in the Learning Zone (highlighted link in the main menu above) which you can work through at your own pace.
Glad you have found us so soon.
It can really help to have others to share worries, concerns and experiences with. And fire away with any questions.
As well as the great resources and links that have been suggested already, you might find Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, a really good starting point.
There are also loads of useful modules in the Learning Zone (highlighted link in the main menu above) which you can work through at your own pace.
Hi ive been started on 500mg once a day for a week then 500mg twice a day I am worried about starting as been told that this gives you an upset stomach could be awkward in my job working with the public here’s hoping I can get on top of this,I haven’t been told much regarding what or how to go about it only sent two links and here I am on the one link.
That. Sounds like a good plan
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome. Rebrascora has given you excellent advice. 57 is really not that high and was what my initial reading was. I spoke to my diabetic nurse and asked if I could try food changes and exercise before medication. In 3 months my level was down to 48, so it can be done. The Learning Zone will give you lots of tips on eating. Then came lockdown, and that's another story!! The moral is, it's a change of lifestyle, for life. So no harm in asking.
If you have to stay on Metformin, and it affects your bowels, there is a slow release version you could request, stating it is affecting your ability to work. I take my 2 slow release tablets in the middle of my evening meal. I initially had side effects, but they wore off and now I'm OK. Best wishes
If you have to stay on Metformin, and it affects your bowels, there is a slow release version you could request, stating it is affecting your ability to work. I take my 2 slow release tablets in the middle of my evening meal. I initially had side effects, but they wore off and now I'm OK. Best wishes
Jacinta (Australian)
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello lovely , welcome aboard where no one wants to be at all .
I’m currently undiagnosed at the moment (doctor and nurse are pointing at type 2 because of what I said to them ) but I’m on the slow release mertformin 500mg a day but I take it at night with dinner , as my doctor said you don’t get side affects if your asleep . I only got the side affects 1 time and it disappeared the next day . I’m in the same boat my doctor and nurse wouldn’t let me just do it with diet and exercise as my HBA1c was 66 even me trying to convince them but yeah I didn’t win that battle at all but it’s all good , I’m on the low carb diet and it has helped me tremendously and I’m slowly loosing weight , I’ve gone from 80.2 kg to 79.1kg but I jumped to yesterday to 79.3 kg which isn’t worrying me. Im also exercising and strength training to which I feel hell a lot better and I don’t have those nasty cravings anymore either which I’m thankful for .
I’m currently undiagnosed at the moment (doctor and nurse are pointing at type 2 because of what I said to them ) but I’m on the slow release mertformin 500mg a day but I take it at night with dinner , as my doctor said you don’t get side affects if your asleep . I only got the side affects 1 time and it disappeared the next day . I’m in the same boat my doctor and nurse wouldn’t let me just do it with diet and exercise as my HBA1c was 66 even me trying to convince them but yeah I didn’t win that battle at all but it’s all good , I’m on the low carb diet and it has helped me tremendously and I’m slowly loosing weight , I’ve gone from 80.2 kg to 79.1kg but I jumped to yesterday to 79.3 kg which isn’t worrying me. Im also exercising and strength training to which I feel hell a lot better and I don’t have those nasty cravings anymore either which I’m thankful for .
Can I ask what diet are you using was this something your doctor found or you found I’ve looked on line and looking for all sorts of food to avoid
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
The doctor said you don't get side effects when you're asleep.
Sigh
I used to sleep wrapped in two towels and changed the bed every morning - no side effect - what planet are they on?!!?
Just saying - that is so very wrong.
Jacinta (Australian)
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I’m on the low carb diet that I found on this forum 🙂 and then I looked more into it and started getting cooked books . Foods to avoid pasta, rice, bread, starchie vegetables, cakes , biscuits there are others but I can’t remember some fruits but berries are safe the most for us . There’s a spot on this forum that has what did I eat yesterday that is helpful . Hopefully someone will provide links for you 🙂 .
Jacinta (Australian)
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Yeah she did say that , I thought that was wrong to say too drummer , all it did the night I first took it was making me have that feeling I needed the toilet and a massive naseaur headache. When I did end up going to the toilet nothing happened , It did disappear the next day then nothing .
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Metformin seems to affect people in different ways - some report no side effects - it tried to turn me inside out, I was so ill with it and Atorvastatin together, but it took some time to even get it on my notes, never mind reporting it on a yellow card - I felt like finding a hole to creep into some days it was so horrible.
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