This morning I saw my GP who confirmed that my HBA1C was 52 and that I definitely have type 2 diabetes, she has run some more blood tests to get actual confirmation and also check my vitamin D levels! She has started me on 1 500mg metformin tablet after my evening meal until we get the results. I asked her about my struggle to loose weight and she suggested it may be insulin resistance that is causing this. I haven't had any of the normal diabetic symptoms and I'm curious if anyone else has been this way?
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Newly Diagnosed
- Thread starter JaqT
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Leadinglights
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- Type 2
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- She/Her
As you are only just over the threshold I am surprised, well not actually surprised but more disappointed that your GP didn't give you the opportunity to get your level down by dietary changes for 3 months without immediately prescribing medication. It is very possible with some adjustments to the carbohydrates you are having to make a substantial difference and you will need to do that anyway as metformin is not a magic bullet that removes the carbs from foods you are eating, it only helps the body use the insulin it produces more efficiently.
Thanks Martin for your reply, I have a very sedentary job, even more so since i started working from home when we went into lock down! my exercise is very sporadic so will work on pushing this to a more regular routine! Seems like you have done a fab job in getting yours under control! 🙂
she did ask if i was ok taking a small dose as she thought if i was having some insulin resistance it may help to kick start my weight loss again, I have been struggling to get results even though i am sticking to a diet!
Leadinglights
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I think the question is 'what diet' as many foods regarded as healthy are not so for people with Type 2 diabetes so a review of the diet may be needed. Have a look at the Learning Zone (orange tab at the top) but you may also find this link useful.she did ask if i was ok taking a small dose as she thought if i was having some insulin resistance it may help to kick start my weight loss again, I have been struggling to get results even though i am sticking to a diet!
Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome
It comes as a bit of a shock to all of us, but the good news is you are only just in the diabetic range as MartinA says. When I was first diagnosed with an HbA1c of 57 I didn't think I'd had any symptoms either. But with hindsight I realised I had been more tired than usual, which I put down to gaining weight!
Many people just in the diabetic range are offered the opportunity to reduce their HbA1c by lifestyle changes for 3 months (ie changing what you eat and doing some/more exercise), rather than go straight in with medication. I did this and got my HbA1c down to 48 in 3 months. It's worth asking. Then I was ill, but that's a different story.
Metformin can have some unpleasant side effects (cramps, diarrhoea, urgency) which can be tricky for a working person. If your nurse deems medication essential, and you have these side effects, you can ask for the slow release version, Sukkarto, which is kinder on the inner workings!
You have done the right thing by joining here. I suggest you work your way through the Learning Zone (orange tab) one module a day, so you can take it all in. Then I suggest you look at what you are eating. It is suggested that Type 2 diabetics can help themselves by eating less carbs (under 130gm a day). By carbs, I mean bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, cereals, pastry, cakes, biscuits, sweets, many fruits (berries are the lowest carb fruit) - it's not just about sugar. There are carbs in most foods except unprocessed meat and fish - even the humble lettuce has some.
But swapping out the high carb foods for fresh vegetables will reduce your carb intake and should help you with your weight loss journey. I use cauliflower as a substitute for potato and rice. Then there is courgetti and boodles as pasta substitutes. I suggest you keep a food diary, monitoring calories and total carbs. There are free ones like MyFitBit online, and you will be surprised at how high in carbs some foods are, and how small the portion sizes are. Everyone is different, so it will need trial and error to find out what suits you. Some people have a very low carb tolerance, but others can manage more. I experimented between 50gm and 130gm carbs a day, settling on 90gm per day, and I eat very well.
Regarding exercise, initially can you take the time out of your working day to go for a walk? It refreshes the brain as well as help with the exercise. I have a mini bike at home, plus exercise bands as well. Being retired I can go to daytime aquafit classes, but my pool does do an evening class for working people. It's good fun and great for flexibility and inch loss! Then there are all sorts of evening fitness classes like Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, if pounding away on exercise machines is not your thing. Hope you have a supportive partner if childcare is needed.
Best wishes
It comes as a bit of a shock to all of us, but the good news is you are only just in the diabetic range as MartinA says. When I was first diagnosed with an HbA1c of 57 I didn't think I'd had any symptoms either. But with hindsight I realised I had been more tired than usual, which I put down to gaining weight!
Many people just in the diabetic range are offered the opportunity to reduce their HbA1c by lifestyle changes for 3 months (ie changing what you eat and doing some/more exercise), rather than go straight in with medication. I did this and got my HbA1c down to 48 in 3 months. It's worth asking. Then I was ill, but that's a different story.
Metformin can have some unpleasant side effects (cramps, diarrhoea, urgency) which can be tricky for a working person. If your nurse deems medication essential, and you have these side effects, you can ask for the slow release version, Sukkarto, which is kinder on the inner workings!
You have done the right thing by joining here. I suggest you work your way through the Learning Zone (orange tab) one module a day, so you can take it all in. Then I suggest you look at what you are eating. It is suggested that Type 2 diabetics can help themselves by eating less carbs (under 130gm a day). By carbs, I mean bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, cereals, pastry, cakes, biscuits, sweets, many fruits (berries are the lowest carb fruit) - it's not just about sugar. There are carbs in most foods except unprocessed meat and fish - even the humble lettuce has some.
But swapping out the high carb foods for fresh vegetables will reduce your carb intake and should help you with your weight loss journey. I use cauliflower as a substitute for potato and rice. Then there is courgetti and boodles as pasta substitutes. I suggest you keep a food diary, monitoring calories and total carbs. There are free ones like MyFitBit online, and you will be surprised at how high in carbs some foods are, and how small the portion sizes are. Everyone is different, so it will need trial and error to find out what suits you. Some people have a very low carb tolerance, but others can manage more. I experimented between 50gm and 130gm carbs a day, settling on 90gm per day, and I eat very well.
Regarding exercise, initially can you take the time out of your working day to go for a walk? It refreshes the brain as well as help with the exercise. I have a mini bike at home, plus exercise bands as well. Being retired I can go to daytime aquafit classes, but my pool does do an evening class for working people. It's good fun and great for flexibility and inch loss! Then there are all sorts of evening fitness classes like Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, if pounding away on exercise machines is not your thing. Hope you have a supportive partner if childcare is needed.
Best wishes
harbottle
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Well mine was 83 and I wasn't getting the normal symptoms - all I had was a pain in my thigh and stress & pain was preventing me from sleeping.
Spangle0581
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi JaqT . I was diagnosed about a month ago . My HBAIC was 57 and was put on twice a day metformin. my vit d was very low so was put on tablets for that as well. I am hoping by my next check up that this number will be down. I have cut carbs and sugar dramatically . good luck x
Leadinglights
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- She/Her
If you look at the thread 7-Day waking Average you will see peoples morning readings are all over the place and can vary day to day. But your 6 mmol/l is well in range.
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Mrs Mimoo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I had this - doc threw metmormin at me and won't see me. I took control myself and got on the Newcastle Diet. My HBa1c fell from 55 at diagnosis to 49 in 6 weeks. I hope it's now even lower. I have now lost 10.5kg. I want to lose another 10 and then I'm continuing the low carb diet for ever. I feel much better now - no thirst any more.
I'm three months into my journey and would suggest not jumping in too deep.
I found all the (sometimes conflicting) information about what to eat and not eat very confusing.
The five obvious steps are:-
These seem to be the "low hanging fruit" and should help tame your BG level!
Information is vital - start off with the Learning Zone films on this site.
Good Luck!
I found all the (sometimes conflicting) information about what to eat and not eat very confusing.
The five obvious steps are:-
- cut down or remove items with added sugar (in tea, office and fizzy drinks). Avoid fruit juice - it's concentrated.
- Avoid and reduce chocolate and sweet thing like cakes and ice cream
- Stop smoking if you do!!!!!
- Avoid or reduce alcohol intake.
- Move more - even an extra ten minutes walking a day pays dividends.
These seem to be the "low hanging fruit" and should help tame your BG level!
Information is vital - start off with the Learning Zone films on this site.
Good Luck!
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
And for someone who doesn't have sugar in their drinks, no fruit juice chocolate cake or ice cream, doesn't smoke, doesn't drink and is a morris dancer - what are the obvious steps then?
I can get a bit tart when people make assumptions about the lifestyle of type 2 diabetics.
It really is NOT self imposed and when diagnosed I had been following a 'healthy' diet for almost 2 years - from a GP with a fixed idea that complex carbs are healthy.
@Felinia
Greetings to you from a new member.You speak of exercise, well only yesterday a Nurse Practitioner specialising in Diabetes (I am type 2) told me to lose weight, amongst other things. I told her that due to a Coccyx issue, for which I have Tramadol (rarely used) I really can't do much exercise. She told me that exercise will not make me lose weight, and that she runs 10k daily just for fitness, it makes no difference to her weight at all.
She said that the only thing that affects weight is 'what you put in your mouth', and referred me to a specialist in the surgery who will explain foodstuffs to me in detail...I look forward to that, it should be in a couple of days.
Meantime, Kind Regards, Rab
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You might find this link useful for basic information about diabetes management and some dietary suggestions.
Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home
lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk
Any exercise you can do does help a bit but food intake is more important.
I have been pretty immobile for the last4 months due to knee surgery and felt I had put weight on by not being able to do the 3miles per day walk but to my surprise hadn't, not lost anything either but I did reduce the quantity of food by a bit and stuck with my low carb less than 70g per day.
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