Welcome to the forum
@Bente
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and that you’ve not received any information from your GP as yet.
One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits. That’s not to say that you can’t eat any of those things, but portion control is a very helpful strategy to ensure that your metabolism can successfully process the food you are eating.
Many new members find it can be really helpful to keep a food diary for a week or two. Be brutally honest! Note down everything you eat and drink. Along with a reasonable estimate the amount of total carbohydrate (not just ‘of which sugars’) in your meals and snacks. This will give you an idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu, and may help identify some ‘easy wins’ of things you could swap, or ditch to reduce your overall carb load.
Unfortunately there’s no simple answer to ‘how much carbohydrate can I eat’ as it’s very individual, and people have very different tolerances, so it’s something you pretty much have to work out as you go along, but your HbA1c at diagnosis can give an indication of how difficult a time your metabolism has been having with your pre-diagnosis menu - if you aren’t far above 48mmol/L then it’s likely some fairly modest tweaks may be enough. If youare in 3 figures, then perhaps more dramatic changes may be needed, with or without the support of meds.
Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. Try not to be disheartened about your diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.
Often you don’t realise how weary, worn down and lethargic you have been feeling. Erratic and elevated blood glucose levels can be exhausting and are linked with low mood, but this may have come on quite gradually. Making a few positive changes can give you more energy, a clearer mind, and a brighter outlook. Plus the regular checks you get after a diagnosis with diabetes mean that any potential problems may be spotted earlier, and can be sorted out sooner.
For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information -
useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes
Good luck, and keep asking questions!
