Hi my name is Julie, I was diagnosed type2 diabetic yesterday and I am so confused . My blood sugar yesterday was 18.3 my doctor gave me a blood testing kit and 2 different medications one slow acting , 1 fast acting , I am to check my bloods several times a day and the lowest its been is 10.2 it is now 20.1 and I haven't a clue what to do , she told be to limit my water as I have extremely low sodium and I'm just lost xx I hope this is OK as I'm new to all this xx many thanks x
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Newly diagnosed
- Thread starter julie456
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Leadinglights
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Welcome to the forum.
You seem to have been given so little information and really been left in the lurch with what to do.
Is it insulin you have been prescribed as it is important you understand how to use the two, how much and when.
If you say what the specific names of the medications are then people may then be able to help you.
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Welcome to the forum @julie456
Sorry to hear you’ve had a confusing start to your life with diabetes, and haven’t had much information to go on so far.
What are the names of the medications you have been given? Including any letters or numbers?
It is possible they have started you on fairly conservative doses of the medications to prevent your levels dropping too far too fast.
Have you been given any advice about how to balance meals and food with your medication? Finding the right balance between meds and menu can be vital. Especially if the medication has glucose-lowering action.
Sorry to hear you’ve had a confusing start to your life with diabetes, and haven’t had much information to go on so far.
What are the names of the medications you have been given? Including any letters or numbers?
It is possible they have started you on fairly conservative doses of the medications to prevent your levels dropping too far too fast.
Have you been given any advice about how to balance meals and food with your medication? Finding the right balance between meds and menu can be vital. Especially if the medication has glucose-lowering action.
Briefly, focus on your diet. Look at the Remission pages here. Ideally eat protein and vegetables, and cut down as much as you can on everything else.
Then test your bloods again.
Example: https://diabetes-type2-remission.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-harcombe-diet-how-to-eat-your.html
Then test your bloods again.
Example: https://diabetes-type2-remission.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-harcombe-diet-how-to-eat-your.html
silentsquirrel
Well-Known Member
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- Type 2
Cutting right back on carbs if the OP is on insulin could be dangerous.
Martin.A
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- Type 2
@silentsquirrel is right. We can't give advice on diet unless we know what medication someone is on.
Hi the meds I've been put on is Gliclazide 40mg with breakfast and Metformin 500mg with breakfast xx I wasn't given any other info on what to do if my sugar stays high I just feel lost xx
Thank you I'm on Glicazide 40mg with breakfast and Metformin 500mg with breakfast I've had no other advice my sodium is extremely low she said I was at risk of swelling to the brain and my liver is damaged and to just go back at the end of next week I wasn't given any leaflets just a blood testing kit xx
Hi x I had really bad symptoms drinking 5 to 9 litres of water a day , sleeping all the time , dizzy spells , blurred vision , shakes , memory loss, she just gave me metformin 500mg and gliclazide xx
Thank you I will try that xx
Leadinglights
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- Type 2
The gliclazide is a medication which encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin and usually it is taken 30 mins before eating so the insulin you produce can get to work on the carbohydrates you have for breakfast so it important to have some carbs otherwise you risk going to have too low blood glucose, that said it will only enable you to cope with a certain amount of carbs and that will be something you will need to find out by a bit of experimentation and checking your blood glucose with your home testing monitor which you should have been prescribed.
The metformin just works away in the background helping the body to use the insulin you produce more effectively and reduces the amount of glucose the liver releases.
It is early days and it is better to bring down your blood glucose levels gradually as it is less likely to cause issues with your eyes and nerves.
Have you been advised about diet.
@julie456. To add to my post now I have a bit more time. That was rather brief and this is rather long to give you some background.
I am assuming your diagnosis yesterday came without warning, so not surprising you felt lost and confused. I certainly was on 12 December 2022 when a GP rang to say I had T2D (HbA1c 104, BFG 17). They were also alarmed at the level of iron in my blood (Ferritin over 1,200), probably due a hereditary condition called Hemochromatosis. She told me to start on Metformin at once and get up to 4 tablets a day asap, and said she would refer me for a liver scan.
One look at the possible side effects of Metformin convinced me to look for an alternative. One of Michael Mosley's books introduced me to Professor Roy Taylor of Newcastle University. His 2007-8 Counterpoint study had proved too much fat in the liver and pancreas is the cause of T2D. It's the result of consuming too much of the wrong foods over the years: sugar; sugary cakes, biscuits and drinks; carbs like mass produced bread, breakfast cereals and pasta; and starchy vegetables such as chips. His participants stopped all medication on day 1. They consumed Total Meal Replacement shakes and topped up with green vegetables. A surprising result was their blood glucose levels came down to normal in 7 days.The great majority of those who lost 15 kgs or more over 8-13 weeks went into remission. What's more everyone who maintained their low weight stayed in remission. In fact Professor Taylor's guinea pig, another doctor who was desperate to avoid the complications of T2D, has now been in remission for 20 years.
It was a 'no brainer' for me to go on to a real food version of the 'Newcastle Diet'. I informed my GP just before Christmas that I was going to diet instead of taking Metformin. The next day I had my liver scan. The radiographer confirmed I had a fatty liver and said, 'Treat it by diet'. I started the next day. A week later my first and last finger prick test registered 5.8 just as the Newcastle team had found. I continued to lose 22 kg until I could get back into my 32 inch trousers I last wore decades ago.
Anyway it is now abundantly clear that high protein (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, pulses, etc), low carb diets are a route to achieving and sustaining T2D remission for many and a much healthier life for others who still need some medication.
The only way is to try. I would recommend anyone who can to try.
Unfortunately there seems to be is a dearth of simple, easy to follow, guidelines on low carb diets in the public domain. The only one I know is Newcastle Diet leaflet: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/media/wwwnclacuk/newcastlemagneticresonancecentre/files/201809 Sample Recipes & meal plans.pdf
But that's a very low calorie diet. I think that's why Diabetes UK is sponsoring Professor Susan Jebb's New Dawn project to come up with four dietary plans to meet the needs of many more people.
Meanwhile the Harcombe Diet is about the best I have come across. I was at a bit of a loss about what to eat next for the rest of my life after I put my old trousers on. Ian Marber's 'Man Food' and 'How to Not Get Fat Diet' books helped a lot. The Harcombe Diet follows the same basic formula (protein and vegetables) but allows for more satisfying portions by keeping fats and carbs well away from each other (except those in vegetables). The supermarkets are full of packaged foods and meals which combine them. They sell well and create cravings. Our body has no defence against them and asks for more and more. FWIW Zoe Harcombe's rule is don't buy anything with those traffic light symbols on the packaging.
The Harcombe Diet. How to eat your favourite foods and still lose weight (from: prima.co.uk wirh added links)
https://diabetes-type2-remission.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-harcombe-diet-how-to-eat-your.html
A sticky note at the top if this section of the forum says, Readers should assume that no poster has any appropriate medical qualifications to issue advice and they certainly can't carry out a proper medical assessment of your condition, so any changes to treatment should be carried out in discussion with, and with the approval of, your own diabetes medical team. I take it as read that everyone agrees with that.
I co-opted Professor Taylor and the radiographer onto my medical team. My GP had not heard of him or his work. She advised me according to NICE guidelines (which are in need of revision). Nevertheless she acquiesced and gave me an AccuChek.
P.S. Crossed in the post with your reply.
Thank you I don't know what the meds are for metformin 500mg and gliclazide 40mg I just got told to go back at the end of next week xx
No I wasn't given any other information only that my sodium level is extremely low I'm at risk of swelling of the brain and my liver is damaged , no explanations , no diet advice or how to lower them xx
Thank you for the welcome I really appreciate it xx
Inka
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- Type 1
Ah, so not insulin. The Gliclazide can potentially cause low blood sugar though. Hopefully they’ll help you as it sounds like you were really suffering drinking that much water.
Leadinglights
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Generally people manage to reduce their blood glucose and thus their HbA1C by a combination of measures which could be diet only adopting a low carbohydrate or low calorie dietary regime or with the addition of one or more oral medications but with some medication it is wise to be cautious when reducing carbs.
You should have been prescribed a blood glucose monitor ad test strips as the gliclazide has the potential to cause low blood glucose so should enable you to check that is not happening. If you have not then you MUST ask for one.
However the medication can only help you cope with a certain amount of carbs and finding how much that will be will be a bit of trial and hopefully learning rather than error. Keeping a food diary with an estimate of the carbs you are having in everything you eat and drink will help your GP or nurse in adjusting your medication if needed, I think you are on quite a low dose at the moment.
Hi Julie,
Clearly you need to discuss your condition and fluid intake with your doctor and, perhaps, specialists to determine the causes of your low sodium. Excessive water intake might be one and diabetes will not be helping as your doctor has recognised by prescribing those drugs. You may find this 20 minute video of a recent presentation by Roy Taylor informative before your next appointment:
Leadinglights
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- Type 2
Drinking that amount of water is going to upset your electrolyte balance and may be causing some of your symptoms due to water toxicity.
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