No idea what I'm doing :(

[GemmaG85]

Hi all,

Diagnosed 31.05.22 T2 diabetes.
No further appointment with HCP until 22nd July. No information or resources provided in the meantime. I joined a support group on FB and from advice purchased a monitor. This Wednesday I was feeling really unwell, my monitor turned up and I tested. My blood glucose was 30.4mmol! I called 111 and was sent to A&E. Lots of tests and observations and was eventually sent home and basically told I need to wait until I get my meds. I had called the nurse that day and she sent the prescription to the pharmacy for me so collected them the next day and I've started to take them (Gliclazide 80). I've no idea how often I dorks be checking my bloods or how long after/before food etc. And everyone does something different? The lowest I've had since the meds started is 9.8, my morning reading are high teens (18.8 this morning). I'm so appalled at the lack of information and support from the GPs and seems I'm not alone in this. Something needs to be done. I've not even been told foods I should avoid or anything. Should I notify DVLA? Do I need a physical examination? Just totally fell lost in all this.
Thanks if you read this far! Just needed to rant xx

 

[benjibutton]

Hi Gemma I don't blame you ranting! I went for a blood test last week and was told I was prediabetes and a diabetes nurse would contact me - heard nothing so found this site, bought a couple of recipe books and got my HBALC from receptionist.
Don't worry really helpful , clever people will advise you here.Sorry I don't know enough to be useful. benjibutton

 

[benjibutton]

Try contacting leading lights, vonny, everyday upsanddowns and drummer - very helpful
benjibutton

 

[Lucyr]

There’s no need to contact the DVLA unless you take insulin. It’s important not to bring your bgs down too fast, as that can cause damage to your eyes. So coming down slowly is best, whilst your readings of 10-20 aren’t ideal, they’re better than 30 and safer than dropping straight down to normal levels. Keep an eye on your levels and go back if they climb though, or if you get any new symptoms.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi all,

Diagnosed 31.05.22 T2 diabetes.
No further appointment with HCP until 22nd July. No information or resources provided in the meantime. I joined a support group on FB and from advice purchased a monitor. This Wednesday I was feeling really unwell, my monitor turned up and I tested. My blood glucose was 30.4mmol! I called 111 and was sent to A&E. Lots of tests and observations and was eventually sent home and basically told I need to wait until I get my meds. I had called the nurse that day and she sent the prescription to the pharmacy for me so collected them the next day and I've started to take them (Gliclazide 80). I've no idea how often I dorks be checking my bloods or how long after/before food etc. And everyone does something different? The lowest I've had since the meds started is 9.8, my morning reading are high teens (18.8 this morning). I'm so appalled at the lack of information and support from the GPs and seems I'm not alone in this. Something needs to be done. I've not even been told foods I should avoid or anything. Should I notify DVLA? Do I need a physical examination? Just totally fell lost in all this.
Thanks if you read this far! Just needed to rant xx

Welcome to the forum, as you say you can get lots of opinions form FB, Google etc and that can leave you very confused and overwhelmed.
The readings you quote from your monitor are spot readings and yes they are pretty high but the medication should start to bring them down but an important thing is also to look at your intake of carbohydrates and start to reduce those in your diet. It is all carbs which convert to glucose so foods like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits as well as the obvious cakes biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice so cutting out or reducing portion size is a good approach. Low carb dietary regime is one many find successful that being less than 130g per day. You need to get used to looking at the carb content of the foods you have, info on the packets, internet or shop websites and that will allow you to make some better choices. As you have a monitor then testing what meals you can tolerate would be useful and testing before you eat and after 2 hours when an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l would be something to aim at and as your levels start to come down then post meal of no more than 8.5mmol/l is good.
As mentioned it is better to bring your levels down slowly as you are less likely to get issues with your eyes or nerves.
If you see very high blood glucose levels and you feel unwell then it would be a good idea to get some ketone urine test strips so you can test for high ketones as if they are high you would need urgent medical attention. You certainly did the right thing in calling 111.
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

 

[Windy]

Hi @GemmaG85, sorry to hear about your diagnosis and lack of support from your health care people.
The first thing I'd do is start a food diary - you've got a BG monitor, and can track what each meal does to your BG. So if you have a meal, you test your BG before the first bite, and then two hours afterwards, and record that in your food diary. That way, you can see if there's meals which help with your BG levels, and which don't. So you could have omelette for breakfast, and see what that does, and the next day try a bacon sandwich (or whatever) and see what that does, and record it in a notebook. There's more on testing here.
I'm not medically trained, but my understanding is that you get glucose from sweet stuff like cakes etc, but also from carbohydrates like bread/pasta/potatoes. Your body also makes glucose in the liver, and converts fat and protein into glucose, but loads slower than it does with sugar and other carbs.
You don't need to give up all the foods that you like, but be mindful of portion size and let your meter guide you on what gives you big BG spikes and what doesn't.
As for the rest of your care, your GP surgery should be referring you for eye screening at the hospital, maybe more blood tests at the GPs, foot screening (usually done by the nurse at the GPs), perhaps a referral to a diabetes course so you can learn more about it, and probably other stuff too, it's a whirl of appointments at first.
Also, sign up to the Learning Zone and find out more about diabetes.
And keep asking questions, we're all happy to help, Sarah

 

[Windy]

Try contacting leading lights, vonny, everyday upsanddowns and drummer - very helpful
benjibutton

Hi @benjibutton if you put the @ sign before people's user names, it notifies them. Sarah

 

[benjibutton]

@Windy Thanks Sarah Didn't know that benjibutton

 

[Inka]

@GemmaG85 Test as often as you need to. You’ll find it particularly useful to check before meals and two hours after the start of the meal. This will show you if the meal works for your blood sugar.

Your morning readings are pretty high. Have you tested just before bed so you can see if/how they change overnight?

Basically, you need to watch your carb intake. Cut it down gradually by looking at what you ate prediagnosis, then reducing gradually. Losing weight will help too, as will exercise. If you’d like to post an average days food here, you’ll get suggestions as to how to improve them - generally by reducing carbs and upping green veg. That is, changing the proportions of goods on your plate.

 

[trophywench]

Hi @GemmaG85 - what actually led to your diagnosis? - was diabetes on the cards previously?

 

[Flower]

Hi @GemmaG85 and welcome

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and lack of support.

Gliclazide can cause low blood sugar when your blood sugar level drops below what is normal causing a hypo - you can feel shaky, weak, hungry, panicky, start sweating and you need to use glucose asap to raise your blood sugar to normal levels again. When driving test before you drive and make sure to keep glucose sweets/jelly babies/cereal bar etc to hand in case your levels start to drop. This information is on Gliclazide from the Diabetes UK site

Sulphonylureas - Uses, How it Works and Side Effects

Sulphonylureas are a type of medication you might need to take if you have type 2 diabetes.

www.diabetes.org.uk

This is about Type 2 diabetes https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/types-of-diabetes/type-2

and blood sugar target levels

If you have type 2 diabetes​

• before meals: 4 to 7mmol/l
• two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l

It is early days for you and as said above go cautiously at reducing your sugar levels, it is kinder on the body/blood vessels and gives you time to adjust to the lower levels without feeling unwell.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @GemmaG85

Hope you find comparing notes and sharing experiences with others on the forum helpful.

You’ve had lots of suggestions, and recommendations of things to read already, so I’ll just say keep asking questions! Nothing will be considered too obvious or silly here - and we completely understand how overwhelming a diagnosis with diabetes can be in the begginning.

It does get easier, honest!

 

[goodybags]

Hi @GemmaG85
Certainly sounds like you’ve been thrown in the deep end
shocking the way you were initially sent away by GP
awaiting referral to HCP in a few months time.

A very wise decision on your behalf to get and start monitoring your own blood sugars
as your taking Glicazide your GP should be prescribe testing strips rather than you needing to self fund the self testing as most T2 seem to need to, they might give you a different monitor for this as the cost of strips varies drastically as you might’ve heard.

Im a great believer of self testing and recording BS levels
it helped me reduce my HbA1c by understanding how different foods affect me

I’ve found the advice from this forum a vital tool to help me manage my diabetes.
Good luck on your journey.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

Welcome to the forum, as you say you can get lots of opinions form FB, Google etc and that can leave you very confused and overwhelmed.
The readings you quote from your monitor are spot readings and yes they are pretty high but the medication should start to bring them down but an important thing is also to look at your intake of carbohydrates and start to reduce those in your diet. It is all carbs which convert to glucose so foods like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits as well as the obvious cakes biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice so cutting out or reducing portion size is a good approach. Low carb dietary regime is one many find successful that being less than 130g per day. You need to get used to looking at the carb content of the foods you have, info on the packets, internet or shop websites and that will allow you to make some better choices. As you have a monitor then testing what meals you can tolerate would be useful and testing before you eat and after 2 hours when an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l would be something to aim at and as your levels start to come down then post meal of no more than 8.5mmol/l is good.
As mentioned it is better to bring your levels down slowly as you are less likely to get issues with your eyes or nerves.
If you see very high blood glucose levels and you feel unwell then it would be a good idea to get some ketone urine test strips so you can test for high ketones as if they are high you would need urgent medical attention. You certainly did the right thing in calling 111.
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

I really support this advice from my own experiences and from listening to the people on this site. You can start to cut carbs using Freshwell for advice on what to eat. Also check out myfitness pal app as this records the amount of food you eat (try weighing things for portion sizes) and you can then start to measure what carbs you eat and begin to cut down gradually. Myfitnesspal has a barcode scanner so if you eat a bag of green veg, or a sausage, you can scan the barcode and imeediatly record what you ate. good luck. I lost 11kg on low carb and am now in normal blood glucose levels. Need to lose antoher 5kg and will go back on the newcastle diet in July. xx

 

[GemmaG85]

Welcome to the forum, as you say you can get lots of opinions form FB, Google etc and that can leave you very confused and overwhelmed.
The readings you quote from your monitor are spot readings and yes they are pretty high but the medication should start to bring them down but an important thing is also to look at your intake of carbohydrates and start to reduce those in your diet. It is all carbs which convert to glucose so foods like potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, tropical fruits as well as the obvious cakes biscuits and sugary drinks including fruit juice so cutting out or reducing portion size is a good approach. Low carb dietary regime is one many find successful that being less than 130g per day. You need to get used to looking at the carb content of the foods you have, info on the packets, internet or shop websites and that will allow you to make some better choices. As you have a monitor then testing what meals you can tolerate would be useful and testing before you eat and after 2 hours when an increase of no more than 2-3mmol/l would be something to aim at and as your levels start to come down then post meal of no more than 8.5mmol/l is good.
As mentioned it is better to bring your levels down slowly as you are less likely to get issues with your eyes or nerves.
If you see very high blood glucose levels and you feel unwell then it would be a good idea to get some ketone urine test strips so you can test for high ketones as if they are high you would need urgent medical attention. You certainly did the right thing in calling 111.
This link may help you with some ideas for modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

Thank you very much for the info xx

 

[Mraw90]

Hi all,

Diagnosed 31.05.22 T2 diabetes.
No further appointment with HCP until 22nd July. No information or resources provided in the meantime. I joined a support group on FB and from advice purchased a monitor. This Wednesday I was feeling really unwell, my monitor turned up and I tested. My blood glucose was 30.4mmol! I called 111 and was sent to A&E. Lots of tests and observations and was eventually sent home and basically told I need to wait until I get my meds. I had called the nurse that day and she sent the prescription to the pharmacy for me so collected them the next day and I've started to take them (Gliclazide 80). I've no idea how often I dorks be checking my bloods or how long after/before food etc. And everyone does something different? The lowest I've had since the meds started is 9.8, my morning reading are high teens (18.8 this morning). I'm so appalled at the lack of information and support from the GPs and seems I'm not alone in this. Something needs to be done. I've not even been told foods I should avoid or anything. Should I notify DVLA? Do I need a physical examination? Just totally fell lost in all this.
Thanks if you read this far! Just needed to rant xx

Hey! I feel your frustration and confusion! Only notify DVLA if your taking insulin due to hypo risk. Loads of cheap diet books on Amazon for type 2
Walking is a good start to exercise if it’s new to you
Hope you feel better just for ranting x

 

[Windy]

Hey! I feel your frustration and confusion! Only notify DVLA if your taking insulin due to hypo risk. Loads of cheap diet books on Amazon for type 2
Walking is a good start to exercise if it’s new to you
Hope you feel better just for ranting x

Morning Mraw90, Gemma was prescribed Gliclazide, which can also cause hypos. There's more information on diabetes and driving here. Be careful out there! Sarah