Newly diagnosed

[Nursemee]

Hi everyone
My names Beverley, I'm 46 a nurse and just been diagnosed as type 2 diabetic and they've commenced me on metformin
Feel really silly being a nurse but not having a clue about diabetes
I'm on the weight watchers diet so if anyone else is and can advise me that would be fab
And really anything do's and dont's
Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially as I work 13 hour days and nights so I'm worried how to best control it
Thank u in advance
Beverley

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi Beverley...welcome to the forum...like you I was clueless at diagnosis...one of the best things I did was to buy a book...'Type 2 Diabetes The First Year' by Gretchen Becker...great read...will tell you so much...can't recommend it highly enough...and the other invaluable tool I use to control my diabetes is this forum...lots of support...advice...and no question is off limits...are you testing your blood glucose levels...Type 2's not generally given meters...they are great demonstrating what foods raise and lower your BG...believe it's worthwhile investing in one...and more activity...not really that physical myself...but after lots of dog walking...noticing the difference...no need to feel silly...no doubt lots of people will be along to offer help and support...you've come to the right place.

 

[Stitch147]

Hi Beverley and welcome to the forum. I was following weight watchers before diagnosis and lost 7 stone in total over 2 years. Unfortunately for me because of the meds that I take it stopped working for me so I stopped going a few months ago.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome! The Gretchen Becker book is an excellent book!

 

[Owen]

Hi everyone
My names Beverley, I'm 46 a nurse and just been diagnosed as type 2 diabetic and they've commenced me on metformin
Feel really silly being a nurse but not having a clue about diabetes
I'm on the weight watchers diet so if anyone else is and can advise me that would be fab
And really anything do's and dont's
Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially as I work 13 hour days and nights so I'm worried how to best control it
Thank u in advance
Beverley

I would not worry there are plenty of nurses, a retired GP (he is a foreigner mind) and an ex paramedic. We are all learning.

 

[Mark Parrott]

Welcome to the forum.🙂

 

[Marsbartoastie]

Hi Beverly and welcome I was in your shoes and have managed to wrestle with my diagnosis...so I'm here to help. Any questions...just ask away.

 

[Martin Canty]

Hi Beverly, welcome to the forum

 

[Lindarose]

Welcome to the forum Beverley. You'll find lots of advice and help here so anything you aren't sure about just ask 🙂

 

[stephknits]

Hello, welcome and glad you found us! 🙂

 

[Ralph-YK]

Hello and welcome from a fellow T2. I've heard that we've to control carbohydrates.

 

[Andy HB]

Welcome to the forum Beverley.

First of all, don't eat any NHS meals! I remember when I was diagnosed I was in St Mary's hospital in London for a few days and was amazed (even in my general ignorance) the meals that they gave me. Carb laden with potatoes and puddings like you wouldn't believe! Anyhow, it sounds like you're on the right path. It starts with diet and cutting down on the carbohydrates. I also was given a meter (a long time ago now, they're harder to come by these days, it seems. Unless you self-fund) which helped enormously in working out which foods I could tolerate and which I had to avoid (I had two bowls of granola once and ended up with a reading around 15mmol/L .... never again!!).

Also, don't under-estimate what simple exercise can do for you. 30mins a day brisk(ish) walking will do wonders long term.

I was also enrolled pretty quickly on a Diabetes Xpert course. That helped too.

Good luck with everything,

Andy 🙂

p.s. Even after putting some of my weight back on, I'm still diet and exercise only and still feeling so much healthier than before diagnosis. I'm back on the weight loss trail again though.