I visited the GP surgery to see the Diabetes Nurse specialist today. She confirmed that my Hba1C of 59 means that I am a T2 diabetic. I feel overwhelmed by what I have to do now in terms of lifestyle changes and dietary changes and medications. I'm afraid of getting it wrong and making myself iller than I'm already feeling. I just feel this deep sense of loss and shame because I'm a Nurse and 'should know better'
Newly diagnosed
- Thread starter Zorro61
- Start date
Welcome! I totally sympathise with your feelings of shame but many of us know all about the theory and haven't put it into practice and have been given the dreaded diagnosis. For a good number of us a review of diet and lifestyle will produce good results so hang in there and there will be some advice coming from many experienced T2s to point you in the right direction. You will have to make some changes but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Good luck!
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @Zorro61 
Don’t feel overwhelmed - this is a marathon not a sprint. Every little change you make will help.
A good place to start is to make a food diary of your current food intake for a day, and then look for places where you can tweak things. Think about exercise too. Even walking is good - and pleasurable too.
Don’t feel shame. Feel determination. You can do this!
Don’t feel overwhelmed - this is a marathon not a sprint. Every little change you make will help.A good place to start is to make a food diary of your current food intake for a day, and then look for places where you can tweak things. Think about exercise too. Even walking is good - and pleasurable too.
Don’t feel shame. Feel determination. You can do this!
Vonny
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @Zorro61 and welcome from a fellow type 2 who also should probably have known better! It's not so easy to apply things to yourself, plus as a nurse I bet you are extremely overworked and probably have to snack your way through the day as and when you can. At least that's what the nurses where I work do (I'm just admin btw).
I was lucky in that I was diagnosed during lockdown and am mostly working from home so I could put a stop to the snacks and butties from Greggs. You probably won't have that luxury, so yes it will be difficult for you to start on a healthy eating pattern but you can do it. My colleagues have been super supportive and never laugh at me if I'm in the office and tucking into a box of nuts instead of the team donuts!
There are several threads here about what to eat at lunchtimes, what you had for tea yesterday etc, which are full of examples of healthy eating. I thought I'd never manage to give up carbs, but not eating spuds, bread, rice and pasta has meant I am no longer hungry. Previously, 2 hours after a bacon butty I'd be craving more food but not any more.
There is no shame in having diabetes. And no way you "should have known better". You can do this and we are all right behind you x
I was lucky in that I was diagnosed during lockdown and am mostly working from home so I could put a stop to the snacks and butties from Greggs. You probably won't have that luxury, so yes it will be difficult for you to start on a healthy eating pattern but you can do it. My colleagues have been super supportive and never laugh at me if I'm in the office and tucking into a box of nuts instead of the team donuts!
There are several threads here about what to eat at lunchtimes, what you had for tea yesterday etc, which are full of examples of healthy eating. I thought I'd never manage to give up carbs, but not eating spuds, bread, rice and pasta has meant I am no longer hungry. Previously, 2 hours after a bacon butty I'd be craving more food but not any more.
There is no shame in having diabetes. And no way you "should have known better". You can do this and we are all right behind you x
Paulbreen
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome Zorro, (great name by the way)
as the others have said take it a step at a time, it’s a lot to absorb but you’ll wonder what you were worried about in a few weeks.
Check out the learning zone in the main page I’m using it and it’s full of great advice for all shapes and sizes of diabetic people
as the others have said take it a step at a time, it’s a lot to absorb but you’ll wonder what you were worried about in a few weeks.
Check out the learning zone in the main page I’m using it and it’s full of great advice for all shapes and sizes of diabetic people
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
If you are an ordinary uncomplicated type two in 6 months you could easily be back in the normal range by cutting back on the carbohydrate you eat. That would lower your blood glucose levels and restore order.
I reduced from a Hba1c of 91 and felt a lot better for it.
I reduced from a Hba1c of 91 and felt a lot better for it.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @Zorro61
Sorry you have to be here, but glad you have joined us
It is perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed after your diagnosis, and to feel lost and bewildered by either a lack of information, or an avalanche of it! Be kind to yourself, and take things steadily - diabetes is a marathin, not a sprint. You have time to adjust and come to terms with things.
Members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very good starting points.
For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes
Ask away with any questions. There are no ‘silly’ ones
Sorry you have to be here, but glad you have joined us
It is perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed after your diagnosis, and to feel lost and bewildered by either a lack of information, or an avalanche of it! Be kind to yourself, and take things steadily - diabetes is a marathin, not a sprint. You have time to adjust and come to terms with things.
Members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter and Gretchen Becker’s book, as very good starting points.
For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes
Ask away with any questions. There are no ‘silly’ ones