Newly diagonosed and scared

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sheena76 said:
Dear onyx Try not to upset yourself too much, you are definetly not a rambling fool!, I had my child at 42 and I have had type1 for 21 yrs, yes I do get worried at times, but this is a great place for help and support and people are warm and friendly. Best wishes and take care Sheena🙂
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I am trying to look at it positively 🙂 Very difficult, thank you for saying hi and comforting me 🙂

x
 
Oynx said:
Thanks for the advise northerner, i will take a look on the GL diet, would that be okay for my little boy though?

Hopefully i wont need medication, but if i dont do i still get checked? would i still need to monitor my sugar levels? Could the diabetes go away? **looks hopefull!!**

If i dont need medication - does that mean im not diabetic anymore? I hope so lol

x
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Yes, GL is a healthy diet for everyone, although obviously growing babies may have different requirements - I'm sure the parents here can give you some advoce about the types of meals they prepare for the family 🙂

Unfortunately, diabetes won't go away, it can only be controlled - but it can be controlled successfully, you just need to become more aware of what you are eating.

Getting hold of a meter is a very good idea - you may be able to get a free one from the hospital, so do ask! Reps give hospitals free meters because the companies make money from the testing strips. For the same reason, if the hospital does not give you one, you can probably get one free by ringing up one of the meter companies - they'll be happy to have your business with the strips! You'll need to persuade your doctor to prescribe the test strips for you though, which from the sounds of it might not be easy as they are expensive (around ?25 for 50, cheaper on ebay). By the way, if you are put on ANY medication for your diabetes then you get everything free on prescription whether related to your diabetes or not, so make sure you ask the doctor for a form for an exemption certificate if he predscribes you anything.

Testing is essential if you are put on insulin. However, it is also extremely useful for learning how your blood sugars are affected by the food you eat, which them allows you to modify your diet to include only the foods that your body can best cope with. As time goes on, you will only need to test for unusual foods or circumstances. Read these links for a description of how testing can help.

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5836

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5835
 
Hi Onyx 🙂

Welcome to the forum, I am a newbie too. I'm pregnant and they found out I am diabetic due to that.

Also still waiting to find out which type I am. Was told it can take up to 6 weeks. Hopefully you will get a specialist nurse before then, I found that very helpful, mine phones me every day at the moment.

I totally understand your panic, I spent my first week or so in hospital and so did have some support, but lots of conflicting advice! Was given an insulin pen and told to stick it in my stomach. I spent days crying and panicking, I do feel better about it now, but it does also still hit me hard (usually when I'm tired) and I cry all over again.

I see this as a new start for me, I have 2 boys already and a girl due in 11 weeks, I have to be here for as long as possible.. so missing out on that junk food isn't so hard, though you'll be amazed how many adverts you see for sugar laden food lol

Good luck sweet, you will get on top of this soon 🙂 The people here are very friendly and helpful x
 
I brought a testing machine 6 months ago when i thought i was having some problems, i used all the test strips but i didnt really know what i was looking for :-s .... so ih ave amachine but i dont know were to get the strips. I brought it from a chemist but i dont even know if its any good for diabetes ....

What are the terms for the exception certificate? Will i def pass for one? As my hubby is on a high income band so i dont qualify for much even though i dont work .....

My little boy needs lots of dairy for the calcium so i guess he could use the GL diet as long as i make sure he still has his yogurts, milk and cheese snacks 🙂 But i will ask at his next weigh in 🙂

xx
 
Oynx said:
I brought a testing machine 6 months ago when i thought i was having some problems, i used all the test strips but i didnt really know what i was looking for :-s .... so ih ave amachine but i dont know were to get the strips. I brought it from a chemist but i dont even know if its any good for diabetes ....

What are the terms for the exception certificate? Will i def pass for one? As my hubby is on a high income band so i dont qualify for much even though i dont work .....

My little boy needs lots of dairy for the calcium so i guess he could use the GL diet as long as i make sure he still has his yogurts, milk and cheese snacks 🙂 But i will ask at his next weigh in 🙂

xx
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What is the name of the meter? If it's a popular make the strips shouldn't be too difficult to get hold of. You are exempt from all prescription charges if you are put on medication for your diabetes. If you are put on medication not directly related to your diabetes, for example a statin for cholesterol but nothing to help control your blood sugars, then you will still have to pay.

Regarding milk - skimmed milk contains the most calcium, but I think babies need some fat too, parents or the nurse will know better than me!
 
OMG!! I hope is okay hun, especially for your little one!! Im sure it will be, the midwives will monitor you constantly as they have been which is excellent! 🙂

We all just need to stay positive and support each other! it must be even more scary for having a little one inside and other children to look after as well as your diabetes but you seem like a strong lady and you will cope 🙂 plus i assume you have a very supporting family which also helps!

We will have to keep incontact as id love to hear about your pregnancy! :0) me and my partner are trying at the mo (well we was until i fdiagonsed!) so im baby mad!!

xx
 
Its called "one touch" .... i have read the instruction leaflet and it says nothing about how to get more strips. But to be honest i dont know were my blood should be?!? lol Im clueless. Is it somehting i have to wait for the doctors to tell me? Or is there a universal Level??

Full fat milk is better for young ones 🙂 as they need the fat. When my bubby turns 2 then i can change it to semi skimmed 🙂 but he needs the fat for the time being 🙂

I will just have to buy 2 lots of milk lol 😛
 
My father in law (who is type 2 diabetic) has just informed me (in a rude manner) that if im not given any medication for my diabetes, that im not a true diabetic and just need to go on a diet for my weight?

Im not sure if he is just being rude or weather he is correct ...

xx
 
Oynx said:
My father in law (who is type 2 diabetic) has just informed me (in a rude manner) that if im not given any medication for my diabetes, that im not a true diabetic and just need to go on a diet for my weight?

Im not sure if he is just being rude or weather he is correct ...

xx
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He's talking nonsense! (sorry FIL!). Thousands of people with diabetes manage their condition using a regime of diet and exercise, but it doesn't mean they are not diabetic - if they were to try eating a packet of jaffa cakes, then this would be come clear! 😱 Tell him his information is out of date. Also, don't believe people who might say you have 'mild' diabetes (or even that you are 'slightly' diabetic, like Jimmy Tarbuck's father, apparently!). Diabetes is diabetes and carries the same risks for all of us if it is not respected and well-controlled. Some people need medications - often through no 'fault' of their own, but simply because their own particular bodies need that extra support.

The One Touch is a popular meter so you should be able to buy the strips in the pharmacy without prescription if your doctor won't prescribe them for you. A non-diabetic person would hope to see a number between 4 and 7 before a meal, and no more than 8.5 two hours after eating. Sometimes it might be higher, depending on various factors, but those are the figures to aim for. Don't be concerned if your numbers are higher than this for now - you've only just been 'half' diagnosed, and things will improve in time 🙂
 
hi Onyx glad to see you are feeling a bit calmer now and getting loads of support here ...when do you go to the hospital ? 🙂
 
Well apparently im waiting for the hospital papers to arrive at the surgery and nopw they use a "book your own appointment" system ..... So i guess im just awaiting the papers so i can call and make my own hospital appoitnment 🙂

My FIL is just making it out to be niot a condition - i think he thinks im faking it lol - god i wish i was faking it i would love to sit and eat alot of jaffa cakes, but when i do im ill .... I think its my FIL being a bit of a jerk tbh.

xx
 
Oynx said:
Well apparently im waiting for the hospital papers to arrive at the surgery and nopw they use a "book your own appointment" system ..... So i guess im just awaiting the papers so i can call and make my own hospital appoitnment 🙂

My FIL is just making it out to be niot a condition - i think he thinks im faking it lol - god i wish i was faking it i would love to sit and eat alot of jaffa cakes, but when i do im ill .... I think its my FIL being a bit of a jerk tbh.

xx
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Oynx, I don't want to alarm you, but do seek immediate help if you start to feel a lot worse - don't wait for an appointment. If you are Type 1 then things can change very quickly and you will need prompt care. There is a form of Type 1 called LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) which can take some time to develop - your supply of insulin gradually decreases and your blood levels get higher, but a virus or illness can accelerate this so you become very ill in a short space of time - this is what happened to me. If you are Type 2 then this is unlikely to happen.

Try to get the earliest appointment you can, pester the doctor if you don't hear anything from them tomorrow!

Your FIL needs a lesson in tact, to say nothing of his need to learn the true facts about diabetes! 😱
 
Funny you should say that northerner im struggling to feel good i have done for the past 4 days to be honest ...... The first time i have felt good in days is when i ate 2 slices of bread before bed and woke up in the morning feeling grand.

I have been eating small regular meals like, salad for lunch, vegtable lasangne for dinners and some fruit in between meals, but i cant get rid of the dizzy ness this is why i am disappointed my gp didnt give me anything to stop the symptoms. .....

The reason i have come back onto the forum is to ask a question .....

I ate my vegtable lasagne (home made no sugar) about 45 minutes ago .... any now i feel light headed woozy and have slight shakes ... is there anything i can eat to stop this?
 
Also im sweating like nothing, i have all the windows open, but still sweating badly really hot!
 
Hi onyx ... drink lots of water ...if these symtoms do not subside i would call NHS direct or get down to the hospital ...as Northe said its difficult as they not sure what type you are ... have you been having these symtoms long ? it is riduciously muggy here aswell with no breeze so it doesnt help x🙂
 
Oynx, I suspect that the reason may be that your blood sugar levels have climmbed high after your recent meal. Without a meter to test with it's difficult to know whether your symptoms are because your levels are high or low as they can sometimes appear similar (this is typical of diabetes!). There's also the possibility, if you have been 'good' with your food recently, that your blood sugar levels are now lower than you have been used to before diagnosis and your body can misinterpret this as your levels being low when they aren't really - they're just low for you (if you can follow that!).

Without being able to test it's so hard for me to say what the problem is or how to treat it.

Don't be afraid to 'pester' your doctor, however poor his response is, if you find this is becoming a problem for you before the hospital appt. Diabetes can be unpredictable, so be a bit selfish and make sure you get proper attention if you feel you need it.
 
Oynx - pasta is high in carbohydrates and I think your lasagne may have contirubutes to a high in your blood sugars. As a T2, I am no expert on the immediate effects carbs can have - if you were on insulin you could take some to bring your levels down. The only advice I can give is to drink plenty of water- this could help to flush your system of keytones which may have accumulated - water can do you no harm while you wait can it?
 
I get these symptoms everyday for the past week and a half - i went to A&E with these symptoms on wednesday (after i did the glocuse tolerance test) and the triage nurse said there was nothing wrong with me, so i went home, went to the doctors friday to get my blood results and he said i was diabetic but i have been having this for the past week and ahalf now, they seem to be more frequent that i get them, yesterday they were so bad when i woke up at 8am - i had to go back to bed, i didnt wake up til 12pm and i felt as though i had a bad hang over, i was tired, didnt want to do much, had a headache, was shaky, it was horrible.

Theres no pint me going to the hospital because they wont treat me and my gp isnt open today.

I will try drinking the water, sometimes water does help i find but to be honest the symptoms are getting more frequent i think its not working much anymore ... but will get ion it now 🙂

As for the sweating my hubby said he is hot so it must be the weather 🙂
The symptoms i have now will get worse i will go to sleep for a little then wake up have some toast and about an hour after i feel better again, just tired of feeling like this!
 
when my blood sugars fall i know as i feel hungrey get weak ..feel sick sweat and feel numb/faint ...when they rise i feel sick and more bloated and very sleepy and sluggish ....if its T2 you have, the only thing you can really do is drink water if its high ...eat if its low ..
but we are all different and thats why its good to be able to test ....
as northe says also if you are used to running high you body sends alert signals out when you get lower readings for example now my HbA1c is 6.4 ...if my Bs test shows drops below 5.6 i experience hypo feelings ....others can go lower before they get those feelings ... others whos HbA1c is higher, say 11, might experience those feelings at say 8 ....
This is why on this forum we suggest testing is very important for T2 's though alot of gps dont think it ....
so i would suggest tommorrow go and get some strips from your chemist they are costly ..take your meter with you to make sure you get the right ones and start testing ..pre meal and then 1hr and 2hrs after food and keep a diary of what you are eating ... you'll soon see a pattern that will show you how to make adjustments to your diet to stablise those sugars ...dont worry we'll be here to help you through it x🙂
 
Oynx, I'm concerned if your symptoms are getting worse. What I'd suggest is trying to cut down on your carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes) until you can see the doctor again, or at least get some strips for your meter so you can see what your levels are like when you feel this way. Eat vegetables instead to fill you up, like carrots broccoli etc. - these should have less of an effect on your blood sugars.

I'd recommend that you go back to your doctor and speed him along. There have been many tales on here where doctors don't act quickly enough because they assume that an adult has type 2 and there is no big rush (wrong, but true). If you are type 1 you can go downhill very quickly, so prompt action is essential.
 
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