Newly diagnosed with type 2 - what a mind field!

[LoobyLou77]

Hello everyone, I've recently been diagnosed with type 2 and I'm finding it to be quite the mind field, in fact I think I've had a pretty much permanant headache since finding out as I attempt to take in all the information.
My diabetic nurse has been fantastic and I have been looking on this website an awful lot.
One question I do have is whether its worth investing in a blood sugar level meter? I'm struggling to work out what foods affect me and I'm avoiding carbs as much as possible as advised to but find that I then get really tired so I'm worried that I'm not eating enough. I thought that maybe getting a meter would help. I believe that its a neccessity for Type 1 diabetics but am unsure as to whether I need one.

Would really appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you and take care 🙂

 

[Drummer]

By having a way to test I discovered that I can get more out of peas and beans than is listed, by about 80 % - so it is a good idea to be able to check levels after eating to discover any anomalies. With any luck you might find that you can eat some things without spiking, so it is well worth the effort.
I do not go for the avoid all carbs approach, even though I can only cope with a small amount, as I find that salad, stirfry and low carb veges along with herbs and spices introduces a lot more variety into the menu for the week, so the last of a big chicken served with a salad and flavoured mayonnaise or coleslaw is just as eagerly anticipated as the meat straight from the oven. I am intending to eat this way for a long time so want to keep it interesting.

 

[Jenny65]

By having a way to test I discovered that I can get more out of peas and beans than is listed, by about 80 % - so it is a good idea to be able to check levels after eating to discover any anomalies. With any luck you might find that you can eat some things without spiking, so it is well worth the effort.
I do not go for the avoid all carbs approach, even though I can only cope with a small amount, as I find that salad, stirfry and low carb veges along with herbs and spices introduces a lot more variety into the menu for the week, so the last of a big chicken served with a salad and flavoured mayonnaise or coleslaw is just as eagerly anticipated as the meat straight from the oven. I am intending to eat this way for a long time so want to keep it interesting.

I agree with this, by testing I could see whilst bananas were a no no, potatos didnt spike me, so definitely worth getting one.

 

[Leadinglights]

Absolutely without doubt it is worth getting a blood glucose monitor, it gives you the tools to manage your diabetes and puts you in control.
The Gluconavii or TEE 2 are monitors with the cheapest test strips available on line.
Many find a low carb approach successful but that does not mean NO carb. Less than 130g per day is suggested and that can be a good starting point. That includes everything you eat and drink, but your monitor will tell you how much and what carbs your body will tolerate at one meal.
This link might help you with some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @LoobyLou77

Many forum members find a BG meter extremely helpful in tweaking and tailoring their menu to be more BG friendly. Partly because you can simply start where you are, with the things you currently eat. And through a process of experimentation and investigation, adjust and adapt your meals, sources of carbs, and portion sizes, to suit your body better. The really tricky thing is that blood glucose responses to various foods are highly individual, and it can be impossible to say which types and amounts of carbohydrate will ‘spike’ your BG without checking for yourself.

You can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and again 2hrs after eating, to see what the differences are, to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking BG (initially in a way the numbers themselves matter less than the differences between them). Ideally you would want to see a rise of no more than 2-3mmol/L at the 2hr mark. Once you can see how you respond to different meals you can begin experimenting with reducing portion sizes of the carbs where you see bigger rises. You might find that you are particularly sensitive to carbohydrate from one source (eg bread), but have more liberty with others (eg oats or basmati rice) - It’s all very individual! You might even find that just having things at a different time of day makes a difference - with breakfast time being the trickiest.

Over weeks and months of experimentation you can gradually tweak and tailor your menu to find one that suits your tastebuds, your waistline, your budget and your BG levels - and a way of eating that is flexible enough to be sustainable long-term. 🙂

If you are interested in this approach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework too.

Not all GP surgeries and practice nurses encourage self monitoring for people with T2. If you need to self fund your BG meter, the most affordable meters members here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2 - which both have test strips at around £8 for 50

Good luck, and let us know what you find out 🙂