Newly diagnosed

[Kevsterman]

Hi everyone. I'm Kevin, 48 from Liverpool and I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I'd noticed that I was a bit thirstier than usual and was up a good 3 or 4 times in the night going for a wee so I asked my GP for a blood test. The results came back and were pretty shocking. It showed my HbA1c level is 74, I've got very high cholesterol, liver disease and possibly dodgy kidney function too. To top it off I was also diagnosed with something called Lichen Planus which is an autoimmune disease. Oh and I'm type 2 bipolar too. So not the greatest start to December. I'm 5' 11" and weigh 16st 9lbs so I've got a fair bit to lose.

I spoke to the nurse the other day and she said I don't need to do the fingerprick tests as I'm now on Metformin and that should do the job. I was surprised by this as I was expecting to have to keep track of my levels. I'm thinking I might go ahead and do them anyway just so I can get an idea of what my levels are and how they change.

In terms of diet I've cut out all sugary food (of which I ate a lot) and I've replaced breakfast and lunch with Huel which is a meal replacement shake and suitable for diabetics apparently. I've done this because its quick and easy and I hate preparing food. I don't have the patience for it. Thats why I've always had such a bad diet. I'll go to toast, cereal, sandwich etc just because its really quick. For dinners I'm making a veg stew in the slow cooker and that'll do me for several meals.

In terms of advice from you guys I'd like to know if you think drinking the Huel shakes is an okay thing to do or should I be eating proper food. Also on the scale of badness where does a HbA1c level of 74 fall? It sounds like its really bad. Will just losing weight lower the level?

Is there anything else you'd like to know? 🙂

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi everyone. I'm Kevin, 48 from Liverpool and I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I'd noticed that I was a bit thirstier than usual and was up a good 3 or 4 times in the night going for a wee so I asked my GP for a blood test. The results came back and were pretty shocking. It showed my HbA1c level is 74, I've got very high cholesterol, liver disease and possibly dodgy kidney function too. To top it off I was also diagnosed with something called Lichen Planus which is an autoimmune disease. Oh and I'm type 2 bipolar too. So not the greatest start to December. I'm 5' 11" and weigh 16st 9lbs so I've got a fair bit to lose.

I spoke to the nurse the other day and she said I don't need to do the fingerprick tests as I'm now on Metformin and that should do the job. I was surprised by this as I was expecting to have to keep track of my levels. I'm thinking I might go ahead and do them anyway just so I can get an idea of what my levels are and how they change.

In terms of diet I've cut out all sugary food (of which I ate a lot) and I've replaced breakfast and lunch with Huel which is a meal replacement shake and suitable for diabetics apparently. I've done this because its quick and easy and I hate preparing food. I don't have the patience for it. Thats why I've always had such a bad diet. I'll go to toast, cereal, sandwich etc just because its really quick. For dinners I'm making a veg stew in the slow cooker and that'll do me for several meals.

In terms of advice from you guys I'd like to know if you think drinking the Huel shakes is an okay thing to do or should I be eating proper food. Also on the scale of badness where does a HbA1c level of 74 fall? It sounds like its really bad. Will just losing weight lower the level?

Is there anything else you'd like to know? 🙂

74 is quite high but not a total catastrophe. I was 89 at diagnosis, got it down to normal levels within 6 months via weight loss. Plenty of others have done the same kind of thing, some starting a lot higher. No guarantees, but no apparent reason why it shouldn't work for you.

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum, many people find it a shock to get a diagnosis but it is sometimes a relief as it explains symptoms they are having.
An HbA1C of 74mmol/mol is a fair way into the diabetes zone, the threshold for diagnosis is over 47mmol/mol but many are in 3 figures at diagnosis but with a combination of dietary changes and medication they reduce it into normal range of below 42mmmol/mol.
The shakes you are proposing can be a good way to start the process of losing weight and blood glucose. There are ones which are specifically targeted at diabetics, because of the carbohydrate content and I know a few people have used those, basing their regime on the Newcastle diet. I'm not sure about the ones you mention.
Monitoring your blood glucose does give you a good tool to manage blood glucose on a day to day basis and many find it useful to test the effect of food on their level. Disappointingly the NHS does not see fit unless you are very lucky to fund a blood glucose monitor so many self fund. Monitors with the cheapest test strips are the GlucoNavii or Spirit TEE 2 which can be bought on line.
For a low carb approach based on real food if that is what you could try alongside or instead of the shakes have a look at this link https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/, it also has some good explanation of the condition as does the Learning Zone here.

As you mention autoimmune condition, keep in mind that you may be Type 1 or LADA which are also autoimmune conditions as often autoimmune conditions go hand in hand

 

[bulkbiker]

Hi Kevin
My HbA1c on diagnosis was 87 mmol/mol (October 2015) so quite a bit higher than yours.
I cut out almost all carbohydrates form my diet and within three months was down at 36 mmol/mol
Nowadays I'm usually around 30.
I also lost a shedload of weight most of which loss I have maintained over 7 years.
If you are happy eating meat, fish and green veg then try a keto diet which can be very powerful.
Personally I stopped having food in the morning and replaced breakfast with coffee with double cream.

 

[ianf0ster]

Eggs are Low carb, low calorie and stuffed full of protein and good fat. They can take as little preparation as toast does but with none of the carbohydrates, They were my go to breakfast after T2 diagnosis until I became 'fat adapted' and so was no longer hungry before noon.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Hi everyone. I'm Kevin, 48 from Liverpool and I've just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I'd noticed that I was a bit thirstier than usual and was up a good 3 or 4 times in the night going for a wee so I asked my GP for a blood test. The results came back and were pretty shocking. It showed my HbA1c level is 74, I've got very high cholesterol, liver disease and possibly dodgy kidney function too. To top it off I was also diagnosed with something called Lichen Planus which is an autoimmune disease. Oh and I'm type 2 bipolar too. So not the greatest start to December. I'm 5' 11" and weigh 16st 9lbs so I've got a fair bit to lose.

I spoke to the nurse the other day and she said I don't need to do the fingerprick tests as I'm now on Metformin and that should do the job. I was surprised by this as I was expecting to have to keep track of my levels. I'm thinking I might go ahead and do them anyway just so I can get an idea of what my levels are and how they change.

In terms of diet I've cut out all sugary food (of which I ate a lot) and I've replaced breakfast and lunch with Huel which is a meal replacement shake and suitable for diabetics apparently. I've done this because its quick and easy and I hate preparing food. I don't have the patience for it. Thats why I've always had such a bad diet. I'll go to toast, cereal, sandwich etc just because its really quick. For dinners I'm making a veg stew in the slow cooker and that'll do me for several meals.

In terms of advice from you guys I'd like to know if you think drinking the Huel shakes is an okay thing to do or should I be eating proper food. Also on the scale of badness where does a HbA1c level of 74 fall? It sounds like its really bad. Will just losing weight lower the level?

Is there anything else you'd like to know? 🙂

Sounds like me.
I lost 5 stone, on a low fat diet and the shake based Newcastle diet.
I reversed my diabetes and can now eat normally, no need to mess about now on cutting good groups out permanently.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Kevsterman

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but good to hear you have leapt into action!

As you can see different members have had success with different approaches. Some choose minor modifications to their diet with moderate or low carb (less than 130g of total carbohydrate per day). Some concentrate on weight loss through calorie restriction. And still others opt for a very low carb ketogenic diet.

There’s no one approach that will work (or appeal) to everyone. You just have to pick the approach that feels right to you and then adjust and adapt it based on the results you are looking for.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on. 🙂

 

[Kevsterman]

Thanks for your replies everyone. Very pleased to say that I'm already a couple of pounds down and its only been a few days. The Huel shakes are keeping me filled up and I've not felt hungry yet but I'm craving food in the evenings (although thats nothing new) Last night I decided to skip the last shake of the day and have a meal instead so I foragged into the depths of the freezer and cooked possibly the worst dinner I've ever had. My own fault for using a veggy burger that was 18 months out of date lol.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Thanks for your replies everyone. Very pleased to say that I'm already a couple of pounds down and its only been a few days. The Huel shakes are keeping me filled up and I've not felt hungry yet but I'm craving food in the evenings (although thats nothing new) Last night I decided to skip the last shake of the day and have a meal instead so I foragged into the depths of the freezer and cooked possibly the worst dinner I've ever had. My own fault for using a veggy burger that was 18 months out of date lol.

Usually the craving goes after a few days, it is a bit irritating, but if you can set the routine up and stick to it.
I think that was the greatest benefit to me.
I realised feeling hungry was normal, but I also quickly realised it wasn't actually hunger, it was habit, and once you get past it, it's very easy to make it stick.

 

[Kevsterman]

With christmas coming up I've got a couple of meals to go to. How dangerous would it actually be if I just had a blow out? Am I likely to experience any symptoms from the wine, carbs and dessert? I'm not sure I've got the willpower to say no when they hand out the puddings menu.

 

[Leadinglights]

With christmas coming up I've got a couple of meals to go to. How dangerous would it actually be if I just had a blow out? Am I likely to experience any symptoms from the wine, carbs and dessert? I'm not sure I've got the willpower to say no when they hand out the puddings menu.

Some places now do a mini pudding and a coffee as an option, profiteroles are not as bad as some other puddings or choose cheese but go easy on the biscuits.
If you can look at a menu beforehand and check the nutritional info you may find something not too carby or ask for extra veg instead of the potatoes, rice etc. It may be more of not being able to manage the portion size you might be presented with having been on shakes for a while.