Newly Diagnosed with both Type 2 Diabetes and Fatty Liver Disease.

[mlonghurst]

Hi, Thanks for allowing me to join the Forum.

My name is Mike, I am 69 years of age and I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes which came as a big surprise to both myself and my Doctor.

My Blood Sugar was 15.0 mmol/L on 22nd Jan 2023 and I have already got this down to 8.7 mmol/L by the 1st Feb 2024 and so hopefully it will continue its rapid decline as I progress with my diet and exercise regime.

I look foreword to reading the advice people have to give to make life better.

Thanks again.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi, Thanks for allowing me to join the Forum.

My name is Mike, I am 69 years of age and I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes which came as a big surprise to both myself and my Doctor.

My Blood Sugar was 15.0 mmol/L on 22nd Jan 2023 and I have already got this down to 8.7 mmol/L by the 1st Feb 2024 and so hopefully it will continue its rapid decline as I progress with my diet and exercise regime.

I look foreword to reading the advice people have to give to make life better.

Thanks again.

Welcome to the forum
Was your diagnosis from a HbA1C blood test as that is what is normally used for diagnosis rather than a spot test which is what the 15mmol/l looks as if it is (the clue is in the units) and will vary throughout the day and night mainly in response to the food you eat and drink. Whereas the HbA1C is an average over the previous 3 months and the result of that if over 47mmol/mol will indicate that you are diabetic and how high will indicate how much work you will need to do.
What dietary approach have you adopted as it obviously is making some difference.
However this link may give you some more ideas for menu changes.
https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[mlonghurst]

Welcome to the forum
Was your diagnosis from a HbA1C blood test as that is what is normally used for diagnosis rather than a spot test which is what the 15mmol/l looks as if it is (the clue is in the units) and will vary throughout the day and night mainly in response to the food you eat and drink. Whereas the HbA1C is an average over the previous 3 months and the result of that if over 47mmol/mol will indicate that you are diabetic and how high will indicate how much work you will need to do.
What dietary approach have you adopted as it obviously is making some difference.
However this link may give you some more ideas for menu changes.
https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

My HbA1C results were 9.4%

 

[Leadinglights]

My HbA1C results were 9.4%

OK you have been given the result in old money, that converts to 79mmol/mol so yes, you are a fair way into the diabetic zone.
Have you been given any medication as that would be likely with an HbA1C that high.
As you have a monitor then people find a useful strategy is to test before you eat and after 2 hours to enable you to make dietary adjustments to keep the increase from your meal to no more than 2-3mmol/l or when levels come down, to no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours post meal.

 

[mlonghurst]

OK you have been given the result in old money, that converts to 79mmol/mol so yes, you are a fair way into the diabetic zone.
Have you been given any medication as that would be likely with an HbA1C that high.
As you have a monitor then people find a useful strategy is to test before you eat and after 2 hours to enable you to make dietary adjustments to keep the increase from your meal to no more than 2-3mmol/l or when levels come down, to no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours post meal.

I am British but live in France which is why the readings are as they are. I have been subscribed Metaformin, but have only taken 2 doses thus far. I do not have any form of monitor as yet but will be buying myself a Constant Glucose Monitor once I have had my next doctors appointment because I will need something I can monitor on the fly as I will be up some very high scaffolding most of the day repointing stone walls.

 

[Leadinglights]

I am British but live in France which is why the readings are as they are. I have been subscribed Metaformin, but have only taken 2 doses thus far. I do not have any form of monitor as yet but will be buying myself a Constant Glucose Monitor once I have had my next doctors appointment because I will need something I can monitor on the fly as I will be up some very high scaffolding most of the day repointing stone walls.

Sorry I assumed you had a monitor as you had quotes readings in mmol/l which are from a finger prick blood sample.
CGMs are fairly expensive unless you qualify for one for free which you wouldn't in the UK, you would be lucky to even get a home testing finger prick monitor so many self fund those. They are relatively inexpensive if you choose one with the cheaper strips.
If you are only on metformin then the likely hood of low blood glucose is not high so you may not really need to monitor that closely. People can sometimes over react to the information from a CGM and it can be open to misinterpretation. However people can find it useful to eliminate danger foods and ascertain what they can tolerate.
I hope the quality of the advice you get from your doctor will be better than many get here in the UK.

 

[mlonghurst]

Sorry I assumed you had a monitor as you had quotes readings in mmol/l which are from a finger prick blood sample.
CGMs are fairly expensive unless you qualify for one for free which you wouldn't in the UK, you would be lucky to even get a home testing finger prick monitor so many self fund those. They are relatively inexpensive if you choose one with the cheaper strips.
If you are only on metformin then the likely hood of low blood glucose is not high so you may not really need to monitor that closely. People can sometimes over react to the information from a CGM and it can be open to misinterpretation. However people can find it useful to eliminate danger foods and ascertain what they can tolerate.
I hope the quality of the advice you get from your doctor will be better than many get here in the UK.

The French Laboratories still do blood test results in mmol/L. I am very fortunate in that money for a CGM is not a problem and I have already informed my doctor that I will happily pay for them myself and do not need to try and claim money back from the Health system or my medical Assurance here. I have my next appointment with my Doctor next Tuesday and he will review the latest blood test results and we will then discuss next steps. 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @mlonghurst

Hope you find the glucose monitor gives you helpful information that you can use to optimise any changes you are considering to your menu.

Sounds like you are keeping fit and active with your work, so activity shouldn’t be a problem!

It will be tricky in France to resist the glory of a freshly baked baguette, but hopefully your CGM data will help you understand what sort of portion-size your metabolism can cope with, and how your physical activity / work might offset some of the potential blood glucose rise.

You might find this thread about some common experiences with CGM, and the ways that sensor glucose can sometimes differ from fingerstick glucose

CGM limitations and precautions

Moderator Note: This helpful reply was copied from another thread as it details some of the commonly experienced limitations of continuous glucose sensors. My blood sugar has been in perfect range for days now, but although I haven't changed anything, I'm starting to get very short periods of...

forum.diabetes.org.uk

Let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[snowball12]

Welcome to the forum. You are doing well reducing your sugar levels. I don't know how you resist those gorgeous French pastries but well done