Newly diagnosed and medicated

[Dilligaff]

Hi
Diagnosed and prescribed meds yesterday - despite the fact that I'd sort of identified the possible issue some time ago and buried my head in the sand, the diagnosis left me a little bit shell shocked and I didn't catch a fraction of the information I was given.

Took the day to absorb the news and now am on a mission to get myself up to speed with what I need to do to get this under control - so while I'm a little bit saddened by the reason I'm here, I am grateful to quickly find an information and support resource.

Not a big chatter on forums more of a lurker but I'm sure I'll be back with questions soon 🙂

Dilli

 

[Felinia]

Hello and welcome. Like you I sort of suspected I might be diabetic, as I'd been pre-diabetic for several years. The best place to start is the Learning Zone (orange tab above), one module a day so you can take it in. I suggest you start by looking at the food module, then the exercise module. Please ask any questions you may have - we've all been where you are, and asked all the questions ourselves.
Are you willing to tell us your HbA1c and medication dose, so we can best advise you? Just into the diabetic zone may need only minor adjustments to your lifestyle, but well into the zone will require more, usually with medication. For example, I was diagnosed with a 57 HbA1c, and my GP gave me 3 months to reduce naturally with a change of diet and increase in exercise - no medication. Some GP's don't give you the opportunity, just go straight in with medication, but if your HbA1c was less than 60 you might want to ask if you can try. I was successful, then became ill, but that's another story.
If you have been given Metformin, it can cause tummy problems for a few weeks, but often settles down. If not, you can ask for the slow release version, or there are other medications.
I actually found this an opportunity to try out lots of new foods, and get into aquafit. Many people have said they end up feeling better than they have for years. Best wishes

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

I think we all know that feeling of being overwhelmed at diagnosis and a lot of stuff just going in one ear and out of the other but the forum her is great for filling in the blanks. Great to gear that you are motivated by your diagnosis to make some lifestyle changes and hopefully kick your diabetes into touch. My diagnosis was the kick up the pants I needed to sort myself out so I can relate to how you are feeling. I used the negative feelings of guilt and embarrassment to motivate me to change and do better and 3.5 years down the line I am fitter and healthier and feel younger than I have for a lot of years, so far from diabetes making me less healthy or shortening my life, I feel like it has actually caused me to improve my health and potentially extend both my life span and quality of life. Yes, it is a pain in the backside at times but on the whole, there have been a lot of positives, so I am not complaining.

Which medication have you been given and do you know your HbA1c result? This is the blood test used to diagnose and monitor your diabetes and will usually be a number in excess of 47. How far above 47 can indicate how stringent the lifestyle changes you need to make are and also what medications you may need. Sometimes it can be managed with dietary changes alone either a very low CALORIE approach like the Newcastle diet usually involving meal replacement shakes to drop weight quickly and reduce the visceral fat around internal organs and in particular the liver and pancreas...
or...
a low CARBOHYDRATE approach which basically puts less glucose into your blood stream enabling the body to manage it's levels better....

Some people use a combination of these approaches and it is very much about finding what works for you as an individual. Home testing of your BG can be a very useful (invaluable) tool, in assessing how well your chosen approach is working on a day by day and meal by meal basis, so that might be something else to consider, especially if you have a scientific sort of mind.

Anyway, best of luck and do feel free to ask any questions that you have or vent any frustrations and of course report any successes as we love to celebrate with people, even the smallest of achievements because it gives us all a boost.

 

[Dilligaff]

Sorry yes maybe I should have given the useful information as well 🙂

HbA1c - 84
Prescribed Metformin 2000mg per day (though advised to start at 50mg and build up weekly to full dosage so took first 500mg this AM)
Was also put on some ACE inhibitors for high BP
We're ignoring the high cholesterol for now.

I've found the Learning Zone thank you and am working my way through it - to be honest I've been aware of the lifestyle changes I need to make for several years but have lacked the self worth to do anything constructive about them.

Now I've finally been got to a stage with my health issues where my husband is aware and worried I need to overcome my issues and start getting myself sorted out.

Now if only that was as easily done as typed!

I have some social anxiety issues so although I work full time and head a team, I'm not good at going to new places or interacting with strangers - we've lived here for 3 years and I only managed to force myself to register with, and visit a GP, in the past few months - to be fair right now I'm less worried about the diabetes than I am the situations it's going to force me into with clinics and reviews etc.

Oh well I'm sure I'll find so big girls pants somewhere to pull on

 

[Leadinglights]

Being aware of the dietary changes you are going to have to make is a good start and maybe this link will help you with a way forward to modifying your diet, having the support of your husband will help also. This is a low carb approach with real foods so may fit in better with family life. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
Metformin will help but dietary changes are just as powerful.
Please make sure you do go for the eye screening and foot checks as they are important but to a large extent managing your diabetes is down to you.
There are people here who will be all too willing to answer your questions, so feel free to ask away.

 

[Drummer]

For me, diagnosed with hba1c of 91 almost 5 years ago now, it was simply a matter of lowering my intake of carbs to the point where I went back to normal blood glucose levels, and that was it.
These days I eat twice a day and have nourishing foods, meat, fish, seafood, eggs, cheese, full fat yoghurts small amounts of berries a couple of times a week but my main intake of carbs is salad, stirfry and casseroles or stews avoiding high starch options. I have coffee with cream once or twice a day.
I still have checks on my eyes and feet, and an annual blood test, but I have been in remission for some time now and diabetes is just not a problem.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Dilligaff, welcome to the forum.

Just popping in to say hi, it's great that you've found us as many of us have been where you are and managed to get things under control.

It can be a bit overwhelming to engage with the various professionals, especially when you experience anxiety, though I've found most to be kind and gentle so I hope you have a similar experience.

You've been some great advice above so do have a look around the site when you get the chance and let us know if we can help in any way.