Newly diagnosed type 2 & struggling!

[Trollydolly89]

Hi everyone.
As the title suggests I have just had confirmation Thursday over the phone that I have type 2 - typical diagnoses, no info, no help or support, just here’s your meds and off you pop.
My hbac1 was 74 12 weeks ago, then trying to sort out my diet only brought it down to 66. I have been prescribed Metformin 500mg 1 x daily for a week and then 2 x daily for the second week.
I feel a bit out of control…my eating is a joke!
I was cabin crew & my life was turned upside down losing my flying job due to covid, and my eating just spiralled out of control and I would binge. I know I need to sort myself out but I’m really in denial.
To top it all off I started a new job 2 weeks ago and since starting metformin the side effects are awful, stomach cramps and feel like I’m living on the toilet. Luckily I work from home but in a call centre environment it’s not ideal and they will ask questions. Mentally I feel so anxious & overloaded and like I could burst into tears at any moment. I think I’m going to call in sick & give my weeks notice tomorrow and just take a bit of time to get my head around things because I’m in no fit physical or mental state…I feel like such a failure! How can I move forward and start making the changes I need to make?
Edited to say I’m now 115kg & 5’8 with PCOS…I know where I need to start is losing weight but I’m just so overwhelmed with everything - is this normal?

 

[Inka]

A diabetes diagnosis is a massive shock @Trollydolly89 and it affects your daily life so you’re always having to think about it. It’s normal to be upset.

I don’t take Metformin but many Type 2s have said they find the slow-release one kinder on the tummy.

 

[Felinia]

Hi and welcome
Initially learning to cope with diabetes is hard, but you have made a great start by recognising your issues and asking for help here.

For some people Metformin does cause dreadful side effects, as you mentioned. You can ask to be put on slow release Metformin (Sukkarto) which is kinder on the stomach and I would do that TOMORROW as a matter of urgency - don't be fobbed off. Then there are other diabetic medications. I take 1 x 500mg Sukkarto in the evening (in the middle of my meal) and 1 x 100mg Canaglifloxin in the morning (before breakfast). When I was taking 2 x 500mg Sukkarto I was absolutely doubled up but am fine on one. It did however take a few weeks to settle once I'd switched.

I too am at home all the time (retired) but it does mean I have been able to plan my meals in advance and I only have sensible low carb choices in the house. Lunches for example, HM soups, salads, cooked chicken, tinned tuna, salmon, vegetable crudities. I make a dip with cottage cheese and a teaspoon of seafood sauce, so nibble on the veggies and dip if I get the munchies. And I keep frozen berries for a sweet fix (80gm portion). I don't know if you share your home - I don't - but it would be helpful if there were no temptations in the house, and any other residents understand what you are trying to do and why.

I eat very well and don't feel deprived - in fact I feel less bloated on a low carb diet than I did before. My breakfast is usually a poached egg with grilled mushrooms and tomatoes, or berries and Greek yogurt. I mentioned lunch above - today was chicken salad. Dinner last night was a couple of cauliflower hash browns with fillet steak and salad, followed by strawberries and blueberries. There are lots of ideas in the Food/Recipes part of the Forum.

One thing that might help your mental and physical state is exercise. I have a mini exercise bike at home which I keep in the kitchen and pound away on when boiling a kettle (and it's close to the loo!). Or if you're more confident, a brisk walk. Now my tummy is more settled, I go to the pool 2/3 times a week.

You mentioned you only dropped from 74 to 66 in 12 weeks. That's a good start, and you know how you have been eating. In my first 3 months of low carb eating, I only dropped 9 points. (Then I got ill, but that's another story). But if you do follow the low carb eating plan and medication without bringing down your levels over the next 3 months, it is worth asking if you could be Type 1.5 LADA or Type 1. It's not true that Type 1 only occurs in children - it can develop at any age but hopefully not in your case.

Honestly, it does gat better as you adapt and create a routine. Best wishes

 

[Drummer]

Hi everyone.
As the title suggests I have just had confirmation Thursday over the phone that I have type 2 - typical diagnoses, no info, no help or support, just here’s your meds and off you pop.
My hbac1 was 74 12 weeks ago, then trying to sort out my diet only brought it down to 66. I have been prescribed Metformin 500mg 1 x daily for a week and then 2 x daily for the second week.
I feel a bit out of control…my eating is a joke!
I was cabin crew & my life was turned upside down losing my flying job due to covid, and my eating just spiralled out of control and I would binge. I know I need to sort myself out but I’m really in denial.
To top it all off I started a new job 2 weeks ago and since starting metformin the side effects are awful, stomach cramps and feel like I’m living on the toilet. Luckily I work from home but in a call centre environment it’s not ideal and they will ask questions. Mentally I feel so anxious & overloaded and like I could burst into tears at any moment. I think I’m going to call in sick & give my weeks notice tomorrow and just take a bit of time to get my head around things because I’m in no fit physical or mental state…I feel like such a failure! How can I move forward and start making the changes I need to make?
Edited to say I’m now 115kg & 5’8 with PCOS…I know where I need to start is losing weight but I’m just so overwhelmed with everything - is this normal?

If it is just the Metformin causing you problems, then stop taking them and contact your GP tomorrow - Metformin is the tablet they prescribe for everyone whether they need it or not.
Have you been eating fewer carbs since your diagnosis? Do you know if it has reduced your blood glucose?
For an ordinary type 2 a couple of weeks on a low carb diet should be making changes.
There really is no need to resign from your job just because Metformin is having its usual consequences for those sensitive to it - a few days not taking it and you should feel entirely different.
I was suicidal after trying to take it for 5 weeks, and 6 months later I was back in normal numbers and feeling so much better. Plus I had acquired a really good carpet cleaner so it is an ill wind.....

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear what a tough time you’ve been going through with your diagnosis @Trollydolly89

It’s quite common to feel knocked sideways by a diagnosis with diabetes. Try not make any rash decisions about work and things while you are still in the whirlwind. Things will start to settle down really soon, and hopefully you will be able to put the diagnosis into context of the rest of your life, while at the moment it seems to be blotting everything else out.

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.

Keep us posted with how you are getting on