Newly Diagnosed

[Kerryc1968]

Hi all, I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 (overweight, unfit and loves food) mmol of 68 (whatever that means!) Not been to the clinic yet so I have no idea what I am dealing with yet. Very daunted and upset with myself as I made the decision not to worry about weight a few years ago. But this is a wake up call and hopefully I can get my head round everything. There's a lot to take in!

 

[Vonny]

Hi Kerry, it's a huge thing to take in. I was diagnosed 4 years ago as a T2 (overweight, unfit and loving food!) I thought my life was pretty much over...the idea that I finally had to stop the carb-fest was daunting to say the least.
Now I'm 5 stones lighter, healthier, happier and still enjoying food!
I was put straight onto metformin as my reading was 76 and the GP refused to entertain the idea of trying to control it by diet alone. If you are prescribed metformin, be aware of Metformin-tummy. I had just a couple of weeks of dodgy tum, but some people seem very affected by it. If this happens, please be aware there is slow release version you can request which seems to be less harsh on the tum.
Besides cutting down on the obvious cakes and biscuits, it's a good idea to reduce your carb intake, ie potatoes, bread, rice and pasta.
I managed by taking it one day at a time rather than looking at the long haul
I'm sure others will be along soon to help...it's a fab forum! Very best of luck x

 

[Martin.A]

Hi all, I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 (overweight, unfit and loves food) mmol of 68 (whatever that means!) Not been to the clinic yet so I have no idea what I am dealing with yet. Very daunted and upset with myself as I made the decision not to worry about weight a few years ago. But this is a wake up call and hopefully I can get my head round everything. There's a lot to take in!

An HbA1c blood test of 68 is high but some of us have been diagnosed in 3 figures but have still, through a combination of low carb diet, increased exercise, weight loss and medication managed to get that back into normal range and even been able to dispense with the meds. Hopefully you'll learn more from your appointment at the clinic but in any case there's plenty of help and advice here on the forum from people managing their T2 day-by-day, so welcome aboard.

 

[Kerryc1968]

Thanks for your replies and support. Especially about the tummy issues. I can lose weight as I've done it before (lots and lots of times...yo-yo dieter) it's just getting used to what I will be able to have and not. We've just battled my husband's cancer for a year so now it's my battle

 

[Jessica Rabbit1]

Its a lot to take in, and when I was diagnosed as T2 5 years ago I felt like I was in 'food prison', and just literally stopped eating. Of course thats not practical, and I ended up trying keto, which worked, but was restrictive, and then joined the gym, got a personal trainer and started counting calories. Lost over 5 stones. I was originally diagnosed with an HbA1C of 65, but got that down to 47 in 4 months and lost 2 stones, and then lost a further 3 stones. Sadly my pancreas is not playing ball, and after a HBA1C in October last year of 104, was on metformin and glicazide. I go to the gym 3 Tims a week, and ride my horse 4-5 times a week, and walk my dog every day, so that helps keep the weight off. There is loads of advice on here to help you, and Im sure your doctor or diabetic nurse will be helpful. Plus its a big old thing to take in, just take one day at a time.

 

[Kerryc1968]

Its a lot to take in, and when I was diagnosed as T2 5 years ago I felt like I was in 'food prison', and just literally stopped eating. Of course thats not practical, and I ended up trying keto, which worked, but was restrictive, and then joined the gym, got a personal trainer and started counting calories. Lost over 5 stones. I was originally diagnosed with an HbA1C of 65, but got that down to 47 in 4 months and lost 2 stones, and then lost a further 3 stones. Sadly my pancreas is not playing ball, and after a HBA1C in October last year of 104, was on metformin and glicazide. I go to the gym 3 Tims a week, and ride my horse 4-5 times a week, and walk my dog every day, so that helps keep the weight off. There is loads of advice on here to help you, and Im sure your doctor or diabetic nurse will be helpful. Plus its a big old thing to take in, just take one day at a time.

So sorry to hear what you are going through, thanks for taking the time to support others x

 

[Leadinglights]

Having been prediabetic for a while I found myself over the threshold for a diagnosis but was terrified of having to take medication as I don't tolerate meds very well so opted for a low carbohydrate approach being guided by the principals in this link https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/.
I found it very easy to just cut out those high carb food and make lower carb substitutions. I found the book Carbs and Cals really useful, there is also an app, as it show the carb value for various portions of a whole range of foods and sample meals.
My low carb regime is now my new way of eating as that is what it needs to be.

 

[Drummer]

Hi all, I have just been diagnosed with Type 2 (overweight, unfit and loves food) mmol of 68 (whatever that means!) Not been to the clinic yet so I have no idea what I am dealing with yet. Very daunted and upset with myself as I made the decision not to worry about weight a few years ago. But this is a wake up call and hopefully I can get my head round everything. There's a lot to take in!

Honestly - it might be really simple.
I get a bit cross that people are given a diagnosis and then just face a blank wall when they have to carry on for an unknown amount of time with no help or reassurance.
If you are a plain unexciting type 2 then all it might take is reducing your intake of carbs.
That is it - job done.
Some people are a bit more complicated, but nothing too drastic. That is for the GP and nurses to sort out as it becomes apparent over time, but basically - it's the carbohydrate in the modern diet which is the problem. Nothing to do with anything our fault.
We can eat bacon and eggs for breakfast with a clear conscience. I have steak and mushrooms, or a pork chop, in the hot weather salad with boiled eggs and cheese.
I fixed type 2 in 6 months. I am still eating low carb, still in normal numbers.
I don't eat anything with over 10%carbs, that is starch and sugar, other than the high cocoa chocolate, but I don't eat much of that.
I avoid low fat versions of things, and seed oils, preferring natural fats.

 

[Kerryc1968]

Honestly - it might be really simple.
I get a bit cross that people are given a diagnosis and then just face a blank wall when they have to carry on for an unknown amount of time with no help or reassurance.
If you are a plain unexciting type 2 then all it might take is reducing your intake of carbs.
That is it - job done.
Some people are a bit more complicated, but nothing too drastic. That is for the GP and nurses to sort out as it becomes apparent over time, but basically - it's the carbohydrate in the modern diet which is the problem. Nothing to do with anything our fault.
We can eat bacon and eggs for breakfast with a clear conscience. I have steak and mushrooms, or a pork chop, in the hot weather salad with boiled eggs and cheese.
I fixed type 2 in 6 months. I am still eating low carb, still in normal numbers.
I don't eat anything with over 10%carbs, that is starch and sugar, other than the high cocoa chocolate, but I don't eat much of that.
I avoid low fat versions of things, and seed oils, preferring natural fats.

My appointment is on 18th April so hopefully I'll know more then. If it is just carbs then it's going to be hard for me because I'm used to planning meals around potatoes, rice, pasta etc, some great advice here though x

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

My appointment is on 18th April so hopefully I'll know more then. If it is just carbs then it's going to be hard for me because I'm used to planning meals around potatoes, rice, pasta etc, some great advice here though x

Welcome to the forum @Kerryc1968

It’s really common to feel overwhelmed and knocked sideways by the news of your diagnosis, so be kind to yourself in the coming weeks, and try not to fall into the couldawouldashoulda trap - not everyone can avoid T2 in the current socio-economic environment, and there is a significant genetic component in terms of satiety, food preferences, propensity for fat storage, and a host of other factors.

In terms of alternative meal-bases, you might find some of the suggestions at the start of this A-Z of veg interesting. It’s a variety of different lower-carb options that can take the place of the standard carbier options (either entirely as a straight swap, or mixed 50:50 or whatever)

The A to Z of Vegetables (from DSF)

Kindly shared from the former DSF (diabetes support forum) with permission from @Pattidevans

forum.diabetes.org.uk

 

[Martin.A]

If it is just carbs then it's going to be hard for me because I'm used to planning meals around potatoes, rice, pasta etc, some great advice here though x

You can make low-carb swaps for potatoes, rice and pasta, though - instead of potatoes you could try mashed cauliflower or mashed celeriac, or celeriac cut into chunks or into chips and baked, riced cauliflower instead of rice and switching to one of the many non-grain pastas. For us it means family meals are still family meals as everyone else can continue to have the potato, rice or pasta components as before.

 

[Maz2]

Hello Kerryc1968 and welcome to the Forum. 68 is high but I have seen people on here get down to good readings with that sort of hba1c and even higher.

I am not going to pretend that I have had to battle with anything like because I haven't. I was told a few years back I was pre-diabetic at hba1c 42 which is just the start of it. I got it down to the higher side of normal and it has now crept back up to 42 again.

When I was first told I came here and got very good advice from Forum members who took the time to help me. I had no idea that my diet of muesli and toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, potatoes, pasta, rice were so bad for me. I gave them all up and cooked other things from Michael Moseley's books and other lower carb books. I found I was never hungry and did not miss all the starchy stuff.

What I am really trying to say I suppose is that there are lovely things to eat without having to eat all the high glycaemic foods.

Good luck with the clinic. I saw our Diabetic Nurse today as I was upset at going back to 42 hba1c. GPs just decided to re-check next year and were not overly concerned as everything else is fine and I do not carry weight, never have done. Mine, they think, is insulin resistance due to age - 70. As I was so upset they arranged for me to see the DN who was very reassuring although she cannot really say why it has happened.

Someone has mentioned on here I have probably just overdone the carbs which I suspect I have. I did mention to the DN that I had taken over the last few months to drinking cappuchinos and lattes a lot. Not Costa and Starbucks I hasten to add, just cups of them in cafes and restaurants. However, they have been quite frequent. The DN said it is a possibility something as simple as that could cause me problems. I didn't test against them so have no idea whether they caused spikes. I am cutting them down now.

 

[trophywench]

I have never ever based a meal on spuds, pasta or rice - those are merely a portion of appropriate stodge to accompany whatever far nicer tasting thing (normally being protein) we decide to have.

 

[Kerryc1968]

Hello Kerryc1968 and welcome to the Forum. 68 is high but I have seen people on here get down to good readings with that sort of hba1c and even higher.

I am not going to pretend that I have had to battle with anything like because I haven't. I was told a few years back I was pre-diabetic at hba1c 42 which is just the start of it. I got it down to the higher side of normal and it has now crept back up to 42 again.

When I was first told I came here and got very good advice from Forum members who took the time to help me. I had no idea that my diet of muesli and toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, potatoes, pasta, rice were so bad for me. I gave them all up and cooked other things from Michael Moseley's books and other lower carb books. I found I was never hungry and did not miss all the starchy stuff.

What I am really trying to say I suppose is that there are lovely things to eat without having to eat all the high glycaemic foods.

Good luck with the clinic. I saw our Diabetic Nurse today as I was upset at going back to 42 hba1c. GPs just decided to re-check next year and were not overly concerned as everything else is fine and I do not carry weight, never have done. Mine, they think, is insulin resistance due to age - 70. As I was so upset they arranged for me to see the DN who was very reassuring although she cannot really say why it has happened.

Someone has mentioned on here I have probably just overdone the carbs which I suspect I have. I did mention to the DN that I had taken over the last few months to drinking cappuchinos and lattes a lot. Not Costa and Starbucks I hasten to you've find add, just cups of them in cafes and restaurants. However, they have been quite frequent. The DN said it is a possibility something as simple as that could cause me problems. I didn't test against them so have no idea whether they caused spikes. I am cutting them down now.

You sound like you've done really well x I'm sure this is just a blip for you. Thank you for your advice xx

 

[Kerryc1968]

Just another question, does everyone with diabetes have to do the blood checks where you prick your finger?

 

[harbottle]

Just another question, does everyone with diabetes have to do the blood checks where you prick your finger?

It's up to you.
I was diagnosed with a hba1c of 83 and didn't do any checks for 3 months. It was 36 at the next blood test.
I just changed diet and lost weight to see what happened.

It is useful to see how food affects you, and to get an idea for how many carbs you can tolerate.

 

[Leadinglights]

Just another question, does everyone with diabetes have to do the blood checks where you prick your finger?

Unless you are taking medication which could cause low blood glucose and you would need to to allow you to drive then it is up to the individual whether to test of not. It is a useful tool to enable you to determine what foods to avoid or only have in reduced portions or occasionally and also what food you can safely eat. However just testing randomly doesn't tell you much so a sensible strategy is to test before eating and after 2 hours when an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l indicates your meal is OK, once levels come down the 2 hour post meal reading should be no more than 8-8.5mmol/l.
You are aiming at 4-7mmol/l before meals and fasting.
Otherwise testing in the morning can help monitor progress day to day, week to week etc. Also testing if you feel unwell as that can indicate low or high blood glucose.
Most GPs don't prescribe monitors to those who are Type 2 not on medication likely to cause low blood glucose so many self fund and choose monitors with the cheaper test strips. A couple which can be bought on line are the GlucoNavii or TEE2.