Newly diagnosed Type 2. Overwhelmed and in denial!

[Heleno]

Hello all. After many years of feeling tired and being stabbed by invisible needles, I have been given my Type 2 diagnosis.

Three weeks later I am on Metformin and peeing on sticks. They always seem to go green, dammit.

I suppose, like many other newly diagnosed people, I have light bulbs popping all over the option. "That's why my rotator cuff won't heal or this summers gnat bites were so manky. My vision is blurry because of sugar and not excess floaters in my eyes, Mr Optician. It's not the Menopause that is causing the mood swings, it's the flipping sugar." And to the Dr who told me that the pin stabbing was 'just one of those unexplained things that the body does' I have a special raspberry. Blurghhhh!!

Having said all that...here I am incased in a chrysalis of sugar. The blood test said 96 something
or other and I have to address it. I'm on the baby slopes, impatient, bewildered, scared and hungry.
Looks like I'm in for the long haul.

 

[Northerner]

Hello all. After many years of feeling tired and being stabbed by invisible needles, I have been given my Type 2 diagnosis.

Three weeks later I am on Metformin and peeing on sticks. They always seem to go green, dammit.

I suppose, like many other newly diagnosed people, I have light bulbs popping all over the option. "That's why my rotator cuff won't heal or this summers gnat bites were so manky. My vision is blurry because of sugar and not excess floaters in my eyes, Mr Optician. It's not the Menopause that is causing the mood swings, it's the flipping sugar." And to the Dr who told me that the pin stabbing was 'just one of those unexplained things that the body does' I have a special raspberry. Blurghhhh!!

Having said all that...here I am incased in a chrysalis of sugar. The blood test said 96 something
or other and I have to address it. I'm on the baby slopes, impatient, bewildered, scared and hungry.
Looks like I'm in for the long haul.

Hi Heleno, welcome to the forum 🙂 Don't panic! You can get to grips with this and end up feeling much healthier and happier than you may have done for some time - many people find that their diagnosis provides the push they need to start learning about their body and what it responds well to. There's a bit of learning curve involved, but once you develop a plan and a basic understanding of what it is all about things will become easier 🙂 For starters, I would recommend reading Maggie Davey's letter - it should give you a good grounding in the types of food you need to look out for and start managing your diet so that it is kinder to your blood sugar levels 🙂 Also, you should definitely get a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker - I think a copy ought to be given to every newly-diagnosed person by the NHS, it would certainly be a big improvement on the often sketchy and vague information people tend to be issued with 🙄

Probably the best approach you can take is to try and determine your tolerances to your different food choices. Diabetes is chiefly concerned with carbohydrates, as these all convert to glucose and raise blood glucose levels, so it is helpful to start a food diary, listing the amount, in grams, of carbohydrate in everything you eat and drink each day. You won't need to do this forever, just initially whilst you examine your current diet in detail and try to identify things that you might reduce or replace e.g. less potato and more green veg. In addition to this it's important to determine your tolerance for the different types and quantities of carbs - this can be very individual and is the reason why general advice about eating a 'healthy diet' tends not to be the best advice - what is healthy for one person may affect another person badly.

To determine this you need to be able to test your blood glucose levels. Unfortunately, the pee strips aren't much use in this respect as they don't provide much accuracy - they also only show glucose present when levels are quite high as there is a threshold for each person where the glucose 'spills over' into the urine (usually around 10 mmol/l - normal non-diabetic levels are between 3.3-6.5 mmol/l). If your GP won't issue you with blood strips it is worth finding your own if you can afford it. We usually suggest the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50, as many other brands charge up to £30 for 50 strips, and it is the cost of the strips that is the major consideration. Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S to understand how testing can help you to determine your own tolerances for different things. As a general approach to selecting things to eat you are looking for things that will raise your levels slowly and steadily, instead of 'spiking' them high - one useful book in this respect is The GL Diet for Dummies, so worth looking into.

Also, regular exercise can really help you with blood glucose control, so whatever you can manage - preferably on a daily basis - will be highly beneficial 🙂 It also makes you feel good! High and fluctuating levels can affect mood, so getting things under good control can improve the 'feel good' factor 🙂

You're right about things not healing as well when your blood glucose levels are out of control, so this aspect should improve for you. Regarding your eyesight - high blood glucose levels can result in a distortion of the lens of the eye, leading to the blurriness - once your levels start improving then your sight should also, so don't go buying any expensive glasses! 🙂

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and we will be very happy to help! 🙂

 

[Heleno]

Thanks Northerner.
Yes. A big learning curve ahead and a lot of reading.
At the moment all food looks like Snow White's poisoned apple and I hate the idea that I am having to think about it all the time.

 

[HOBIE]

The sooner you find out you are diabetic the better it is, welcome 🙂

 

[Drummer]

I just need to eat low carb foods and I get normal readings - my pee never turned the stick green, and my first test at 80 days showed under diabetic numbers, at 6 months I got normal results. It is the most unexacting problem I have ever needed to deal with.
My biggest trouble was the Metformin and statin I was prescribed - I was so ill - I gave up on them whilst I still had two brain cells to rub together, but it has taken so long to get over them. The side effects were just dreadful.
I don't quite understand why you need to think about food all the time. I eat twice a day and have what I need in the fridge and freezer - meat, fish, shellfish, lots of salad stuff lots of low carb veges - I drink real coffee with cream, eat berries and cream, lots of eggs and some cheese - not a lot of processed foods, but I get some good sausages from the butcher when I order the meat, which is once in 2 or 3 months - there's just the two of us at home.

 

[Amigo]

Thanks Northerner.
Yes. A big learning curve ahead and a lot of reading.
At the moment all food looks like Snow White's poisoned apple and I hate the idea that I am having to think about it all the time.

Drummer says they don’t know why you have to think about food all the time but I don’t think that’s what you meant. It’s what kind of food you’re allowed that challenges a new food regime and way of living. I’ve been there and still living the challenge every day because it can be a challenge for many of us.
However, it can be done and you will feel so much better once you get into a different way of eating. Learn as much as you can, read the excellent links northerner has posted and if you get the chance, take a look at Dr. David Cavan’s ‘Reverse your diabetes’. It really helped me at diagnosis and is written in a way that doesn’t make you want to run and hide in the hills with a stash of choccie bars.

Your levels have started high there’s no denying that and you need to be over 10 to get the pee sticks to register glucose so take action and you’ll get there. It’s not always just a matter of completely controlling type 2 solely with low carb food...sometimes our pancreatic function is impaired but it makes a tremendous difference as does losing weight and exercise. Even a walk after meals can impact on the glucose levels following meals.

You may be on the nursery slopes now but soon you’ll be hurtling down the advanced slopes with your vision clearer, the loo visits reduced and the invisible needles banished. Can’t guarantee the rotator cuff will heal though...mine is still playing up and my Hba1c is 42 at the moment! 🙄

Wishing you every success Heleno 😛

 

[Martin Canty]

At the moment all food looks like Snow White's poisoned apple and I hate the idea that I am having to think about it all the time.

Once you adapt your diet & learn which foods affect you & which don't it actually becomes second nature and you don't really think about food much.

 

[Vince_UK]

Hi Heleno.
Firstly welcome to the forum.
Just over 1 month ago I was a Newbie.
I was diagnosed Sept 28th, 2 days before I left for 3 months in Shanghai and I was punch drunk and stunned.
However, if I may share my experience to date with you and hope to show that rather than viewing this diagnosis from a negative viewpoint that I viewed it strangely as a positive and a wake up call.
A lifestyle change for the better.
I had no assistace from my GP and no time to find out anything before I left other than pick up my Metformin Prescription.
Found this forum and have never looked back.
I put myself on a High Protein, High Fat Low Carb Diet and immediately felt improvement.
Bought a BG Meter and started testing
I was amazied at what I can actually eat. Meat, FIsh, Eggs, Cheese, Veg grown above ground.
The trick is to watch the carb level in foods and not worry to much about fats.
Cut out bread, rice, noodles, pasta, potatoes any starchy vegs and watch your fruit intake.
There is a treasure trove of excellent advice and guidance on this forum and everyone wlll willingly help with any questions you may have at all.
My current status just over 6 weeks into the mission is:-
My weight down from 98 kilos on Sept 28th to 86.7 this morning.
My BG levels range constantly bewteen 4 and 6 the lowest being 4.2 and the highest recorded 7.1 both on single occasions, I target a spread between 4 and 7mmol/l
Walk everyday, weather permitting, about 6 kms.
Feel great, no exaggeration. Should have done it years ago.
Stick in, a little will power and you will be fine just takes a little getting used to.

 

[Beck S]

Hi Heleno. Welcome to the forum. If you ever need advice or a rant, this is a great place to come!

Like Vince, I was diagnosed just over two months ago and the first few weeks were just a blur of feeling stunned, and having way more information than I thought I could ever cope with. But even after only a couple of months it has come together and I feel way more confident about doing what I need to. it's still up and down, but it's better.

Everybody seems to be affected differently by carbs than others. I basically went cold-turkey on all the starchy carbs from the beginning, and began looking at my portion sizes, taking solace in the fact that I could still eat cheese and bacon without much issue. My Hba1c was 107, which was really high and the medical staff got me through the diagnosis, prescribing medication stage, and equipped me with my testing kit within 24 hours, which scared me a lot, even talking about insulin and that they weren't sure if I was type 1 because my levels were so high. But I got my head down and worked on the food because I didn't know what else to do. After a few weeks, my blood sugar readings had come down from the 16-18 range, to the 5-8 range, and I was feeling a lot less panicky. I could start to reintroduce small portions of carby food to see if they affected me. Mash potato does, fish fingers do not. It's all about testing it out occasionally. I find I don't even miss potatoes much any more, and I cried at the thought of not having them when I was first diagnosed.

Focus on your food to start. Definitely keep a food diary if you can because it'll help you identify foods that you both like to eat, and don't raise your blood sugars. The guys on here often have excellent suggestions on what is good to eat, even if some of us can't tolerate what they can. It's a slow process but you'll get there and you have to find out what works for you, just don't rush it. If your readings don't come down quickly, or you have a day where they're high, don't lose hope. None of us have a perfect BG level all day every day.

Good luck 🙂

 

[Heleno]

The sooner you find out you are diabetic the better it is, welcome 🙂

Hello Hobie. Yes, I wish I had known earlier.

 

[Heleno]

I just need to eat low carb foods and I get normal readings - my pee never turned the stick green, and my first test at 80 days showed under diabetic numbers, at 6 months I got normal results. It is the most unexacting problem I have ever needed to deal with.
My biggest trouble was the Metformin and statin I was prescribed - I was so ill - I gave up on them whilst I still had two brain cells to rub together, but it has taken so long to get over them. The side effects were just dreadful.
I don't quite understand why you need to think about food all the time. I eat twice a day and have what I need in the fridge and freezer - meat, fish, shellfish, lots of salad stuff lots of low carb veges - I drink real coffee with cream, eat berries and cream, lots of eggs and some cheese - not a lot of processed foods, but I get some good sausages from the butcher when I order the meat, which is once in 2 or 3 months - there's just the two of us at home.

HI Drummer. I'm glad that you are feeling better and have your numbers under control. The Metformin seems to be ok and I'm not taking Statins, so hopefully the side effects will be minimal.

 

[Heleno]

Drummer says they don’t know why you have to think about food all the time but I don’t think that’s what you meant. It’s what kind of food you’re allowed that challenges a new food regime and way of living. I’ve been there and still living the challenge every day because it can be a challenge for many of us.
However, it can be done and you will feel so much better once you get into a different way of eating. Learn as much as you can, read the excellent links northerner has posted and if you get the chance, take a look at Dr. David Cavan’s ‘Reverse your diabetes’. It really helped me at diagnosis and is written in a way that doesn’t make you want to run and hide in the hills with a stash of choccie bars.

Your levels have started high there’s no denying that and you need to be over 10 to get the pee sticks to register glucose so take action and you’ll get there. It’s not always just a matter of completely controlling type 2 solely with low carb food...sometimes our pancreatic function is impaired but it makes a tremendous difference as does losing weight and exercise. Even a walk after meals can impact on the glucose levels following meals.

You may be on the nursery slopes now but soon you’ll be hurtling down the advanced slopes with your vision clearer, the loo visits reduced and the invisible needles banished. Can’t guarantee the rotator cuff will heal though...mine is still playing up and my Hba1c is 42 at the moment! 🙄

Wishing you every success Heleno 😛

Thanks Amigo. I think I will be ok when I stop panicking and give myself a chance to absorb fully the changes I need to make.

Once you adapt your diet & learn which foods affect you & which don't it actually becomes second nature and you don't really think about food much.

Thanks Martin. That's encouraging.

 

[Heleno]

Hi Heleno.
Firstly welcome to the forum.
Just over 1 month ago I was a Newbie.
I was diagnosed Sept 28th, 2 days before I left for 3 months in Shanghai and I was punch drunk and stunned.
However, if I may share my experience to date with you and hope to show that rather than viewing this diagnosis from a negative viewpoint that I viewed it strangely as a positive and a wake up call.
A lifestyle change for the better.
I had no assistace from my GP and no time to find out anything before I left other than pick up my Metformin Prescription.
Found this forum and have never looked back.
I put myself on a High Protein, High Fat Low Carb Diet and immediately felt improvement.
Bought a BG Meter and started testing
I was amazied at what I can actually eat. Meat, FIsh, Eggs, Cheese, Veg grown above ground.
The trick is to watch the carb level in foods and not worry to much about fats.
Cut out bread, rice, noodles, pasta, potatoes any starchy vegs and watch your fruit intake.
There is a treasure trove of excellent advice and guidance on this forum and everyone wlll willingly help with any questions you may have at all.
My current status just over 6 weeks into the mission is:-
My weight down from 98 kilos on Sept 28th to 86.7 this morning.
My BG levels range constantly bewteen 4 and 6 the lowest being 4.2 and the highest recorded 7.1 both on single occasions, I target a spread between 4 and 7mmol/l
Walk everyday, weather permitting, about 6 kms.
Feel great, no exaggeration. Should have done it years ago.
Stick in, a little will power and you will be fine just takes a little getting used to.

Well done on the weight loss Vince. I definitely need more exercise. I think that my anaemia is resolving a little so I'm hoping to stay awake past 7 at night!

 

[Heleno]

Hi Heleno. Welcome to the forum. If you ever need advice or a rant, this is a great place to come!

Like Vince, I was diagnosed just over two months ago and the first few weeks were just a blur of feeling stunned, and having way more information than I thought I could ever cope with. But even after only a couple of months it has come together and I feel way more confident about doing what I need to. it's still up and down, but it's better.

Everybody seems to be affected differently by carbs than others. I basically went cold-turkey on all the starchy carbs from the beginning, and began looking at my portion sizes, taking solace in the fact that I could still eat cheese and bacon without much issue. My Hba1c was 107, which was really high and the medical staff got me through the diagnosis, prescribing medication stage, and equipped me with my testing kit within 24 hours, which scared me a lot, even talking about insulin and that they weren't sure if I was type 1 because my levels were so high. But I got my head down and worked on the food because I didn't know what else to do. After a few weeks, my blood sugar readings had come down from the 16-18 range, to the 5-8 range, and I was feeling a lot less panicky. I could start to reintroduce small portions of carby food to see if they affected me. Mash potato does, fish fingers do not. It's all about testing it out occasionally. I find I don't even miss potatoes much any more, and I cried at the thought of not having them when I was first diagnosed.

Focus on your food to start. Definitely keep a food diary if you can because it'll help you identify foods that you both like to eat, and don't raise your blood sugars. The guys on here often have excellent suggestions on what is good to eat, even if some of us can't tolerate what they can. It's a slow process but you'll get there and you have to find out what works for you, just don't rush it. If your readings don't come down quickly, or you have a day where they're high, don't lose hope. None of us have a perfect BG level all day every day.

Good luck 🙂

Hi Beck S. Yes. My head is reeling at the moment. I really don't really like to think about my own needs so this is a huge psychological change for me. That's probably how this happened in the first place but I have to put myself first for a while now.

 

[Wirrallass]

Hi Heleno S welcome ~ sorry to hear of your dx ( diagnosis) but glad you found us ~ this supportive forum has a wealth of knowledge and experience so if anything should come to mind that you need to know, then do feel free to ask. Someone will always know the answer. Being dx does come as a shock doesn't it and is overwhelming ~ that's how I felt when I was dx and others too so don't feel you are alone because you aren't. We will accompany you on your diabetes journey and help you as much as we can🙂 Believe it or not but within a few short months you will find yourself giving advice to other Newbies🙂

I can highly recommend the book CARB & CALORIE COUNTER ~ Amazon £10.49. It is the perfect support tool for carborhydrate counting in diabetes ~ weight management ~ portion control and general healthy eating. It has over 1700 coloured photo's of a wide range of popular food and drink items. The carborhydrate ~ calorie ~protein ~ fat ~ saturated fat ~ and fibre values are clearly displayed in colour-coded circles below each photo. Having all this information at your fingertips will help to give you greater control over your condition. There is also a pocket version £6.99 which is handy to take with you when you're out and about.
Click to expand.

I wish you lots of good luck Heleno ~ do please stay in touch and update us as to your progress, take care x

 

[Mark Parrott]

Welcome to the forum.🙂

 

[Drummer]

You really do need to think about your needs - because ignoring them, becoming really ill and suffering the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes is a real, and horrible possibility.
I am just a year from diagnosis, and I feel really well - I've not needed to see a doctor all year, I've lost weight regained energy and have to show people my bus pass to prove I'm in my mid 60's.
I've done low carbing for a long time, but my doctors have always railed against it - demanded that I abandon it for a healthier way of eating - well I think that I have the evidence to shut them up once and for all.
All I need to do is stick to the lists of foods in Atkins New Diet Revolution and I am just fine. Absolutely fine.

 

[Vince_UK]

You really do need to think about your needs - because ignoring them, becoming really ill and suffering the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes is a real, and horrible possibility.
I am just a year from diagnosis, and I feel really well - I've not needed to see a doctor all year, I've lost weight regained energy and have to show people my bus pass to prove I'm in my mid 60's.
I've done low carbing for a long time, but my doctors have always railed against it - demanded that I abandon it for a healthier way of eating - well I think that I have the evidence to shut them up once and for all.
All I need to do is stick to the lists of foods in Atkins New Diet Revolution and I am just fine. Absolutely fine.

Me to Drummer, exactly the same and I am 67 diagnosed Sept 28th. Feel and look 20 years younger and have lost around 2 stones since then. BG levels between 4 and 6.5 hightest hit was 7.1 and that was after a huge steamed sweet bum so even that was not bad. Eating much better than I was before my Diagnosis.
Try to keep my carbs below 60gr daily but usually around 75. Try to walk everyday.
Only problem I have is that all my clothes are now to large, my rings and watches need altering, and I cannot keep still always need to be on the go.🙂