-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Newly diagnosed
- Thread starter Melanieb
- Start date
- Status
It is hard, but it does get easier. Especially with the support from this forum. Is there anything In particular that you are struggling with? Maybe we can help? Do you know what your Hba1c number was? This helps to understand what changes to your routine are needed. X
I was a bit shocked when seeing the doctors so didn't ask the questions I needed to, so I don't know my Hba1c. It's just knowing how much I need to cut out, and if I'm doing things so drastic I'm making it harder for myself, portion sizes being another.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It is a shock to get a diagnosis but it would be useful to you to ask what your HbA1C is as that will tell you how much you need to do to start to bring it down, I would suspect it is not disastrously high as you have not been given medication which is good. Your HbA1C will be a number above 48mmol/mol as that is the threshold for diagnosis and is a average over a 3 month period.
It is better to take things slowly and reduce your carbohydrates gradually over a period of a few weeks to avoid any eye or nerve issues that some people can get.
A good start is to make a food diary of everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the amount of total carbohydrate so you know where some savings can be made. If you choose a low carb regime which would be less than 130g per day total carbs then you can base meals on protein, healthy fats, vegetables and salads and fruit like berries with only small portions of high carb foods. The main things to avoid or cut down on are potatoes, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, bread, tropical fruits and of course cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice.
You may find this link useful as well as the Learning Zone here.
Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Melanieb
Glad you have found us!
Getting a diagnosis with diabetes can be really tough, so be kind to yourself and give yourself time to adjust. Some people have a more difficult time and feel more overwhelmed than others, and whatever you are feeling is completely valid.
It’s also very common to feel a bit ‘knocked sideways’ and uncertain about the best way forward. Comparing notes, hints, tips and experiences with the friendly folks on the forum can be really helpful. You will see a whole range of different approaches and strategies, and you will gradually work out your own path with advice from your surgery, GP and practice nurse, perhaps some shared experiences from here, and your own trial and error.
Keeping a food diary can be really helpful. Note down everything you eat and drink for a week or two, and do some packet-squinting, weighing, and measuring to work out an estimate of the carb content in different meals and snacks. Total carbohydrates are a far more helpful number than ’of which sugars’.
It might sound like a bit of a faff, but you will quickly see how the carbs are distributed in your meals, where they lurk unexpectedly, and which meals have the highest carb load. Modifying portion sizes and perhaps trying a few swaps and tweaks can help to gently reduce the likely impact of your ‘big hitters’.
You don’t have to give up all carbs entirely (which isn’t really possible, there are traces of carb in lettuce!), but reducing portion sizes, and choosing the types of carbs that suit your body best can make a huge difference.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂
Glad you have found us!
Getting a diagnosis with diabetes can be really tough, so be kind to yourself and give yourself time to adjust. Some people have a more difficult time and feel more overwhelmed than others, and whatever you are feeling is completely valid.
It’s also very common to feel a bit ‘knocked sideways’ and uncertain about the best way forward. Comparing notes, hints, tips and experiences with the friendly folks on the forum can be really helpful. You will see a whole range of different approaches and strategies, and you will gradually work out your own path with advice from your surgery, GP and practice nurse, perhaps some shared experiences from here, and your own trial and error.
Keeping a food diary can be really helpful. Note down everything you eat and drink for a week or two, and do some packet-squinting, weighing, and measuring to work out an estimate of the carb content in different meals and snacks. Total carbohydrates are a far more helpful number than ’of which sugars’.
It might sound like a bit of a faff, but you will quickly see how the carbs are distributed in your meals, where they lurk unexpectedly, and which meals have the highest carb load. Modifying portion sizes and perhaps trying a few swaps and tweaks can help to gently reduce the likely impact of your ‘big hitters’.
You don’t have to give up all carbs entirely (which isn’t really possible, there are traces of carb in lettuce!), but reducing portion sizes, and choosing the types of carbs that suit your body best can make a huge difference.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on 🙂
Mrs Mimoo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
hiya. really important to know what HbA1C is so you have a target to work against. Mine was 55 at diagnosis, 49 after 6 weeks of dieting. (low carb and low calorie).
I hope it is below 48 now.
I have cut out all beige foods (pasta, rice, bread, cereals, cake biscuits sugary snacks and ready meals). Instead I eat full fat dairy, eggs, proteins, and lots and lots of green veg. I feel much better and am 10.5kg lighter. (ongoing diet). For a treat I have a square of dark chocolate, or some berries and yoghurt.
Steak and a salad is ok. Make celeriac chips now instead of potato.
I got a diagnosis by text message so I was devastated - i could not talk to the doctor. I was panicking and angry. I'm more focused now.
- Status