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Oh my

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sheepie

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Type 2
Hey folks,

I have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes with an hba1c reading of 48 / 51 / 55 respectively and the doctor has started me on metformin.

Although I thought I could do this with diet changes + medication I have been reading doom and gloom about complications / vision loss and mortality.

I am 28/29 years of age and the thought of going blind scares me, If I reached retirement I could probably learn to accept some degree of vision loss but loosing my vision by the age of 40 is causing me concern.

Anyone else the same age as me at Diagnosis?
If I literally stop all sugars can I stop blindness?

I am scared that my hba1c is going to keep growing and not knowing for 3 months what it actually is - scares me is there a way to have it measured daily?
 
sheepie said:
Hey folks,

I have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes with an hba1c reading of 48 / 51 / 55 respectively and the doctor has started me on metformin.

Although I thought I could do this with diet changes + medication I have been reading doom and gloom about complications / vision loss and mortality.

I am 28/29 years of age and the thought of going blind scares me, If I reached retirement I could probably learn to accept some degree of vision loss but loosing my vision by the age of 40 is causing me concern.

Anyone else the same age as me at Diagnosis?
If I literally stop all sugars can I stop blindness?

I am scared that my hba1c is going to keep growing and not knowing for 3 months what it actually is - scares me is there a way to have it measured daily?
Click to expand...
Hi Sheepie
Warm welcome to the forum.
Some good advice should come your way shortly from some of our experienced members
I was diagnosed last October and my hba1c was 78 ish and with a bit of work have them halfed inside 3 months . All I can tell you is that your readings seem quite low so try not to worry . Exercise also is of great benefit for reducing numbers and stress .
 
Hi Sheepie, Welcome. I would like to reassure you that with the right info , the right support and some work on your part all that you fear may well not happen. Many of us on here have lived with diabetes for decades without problems.
We can help with the info and cyber support, so feel free to ask questions.

How did you come to be diagnosed with T2
 
Actually the results of the three Hb1ac tests you've had , aren't actually too bad, don't believe me Have a look at this chart. When I was first diagnosed 22yrs ago I was at 15% more than 119 mmol, which is off the chart.
http://baspath.co.uk/Hba1c_table.pdf
 
I was diagnosed after a routing blood test Is there anything I can do to bring the glucose down. The biggest culprut in my diet was High Juice and from today I have decided to swap that out for Lemon with Water or flavoured teas. It will be tough going but outside of that is mainly weight loss that should also help.

Though right now I need my hba1c down - anyone ideas how to get this down within the 3 month window?
 
Hi Sheepie. It's scary at first and being so young, I can understand your concerns. Firstly, as others have said, your levels are not mega high. Diabeties is diagnosed at the 48 level. It would be pointless having your Hba1c measured daily because it captures the past 10-12 weeks of glycated haemaglobin which is the glucose which sticks to your red blood cells. There needs to be at least 10 weeks because whilst the rate may change slightly weekly, it's not really telling you anything new daily.
What will tell you all you need to know is home testing! If you don't already have a meter, get yourself one and test your waking levels (should be under 7) and before and after meals. Ideally you wouldn't rise more than 2-3 after meals and it's recommended we stay under 8.5. By testing you'll work out what you can eat and how much. Even if your GP says you don't need to test, consider it anyway. It gives control and knowledge.

Yes there is certainly something you can do to halt and even reverse this. Keep your glucose levels under control by limiting carbs. So reduce pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, cakes, sweets, crisps, full sugar drinks etc. and find alternatives. Try to walk after meals to use up the glucose and take more exercise generally.
The metformin takes a while to get into your system but it will help. Whilst we may always be considered diabetic, we can be in control diabetics. Losing excess weight is the single biggest and best thing you can do too. Losing visceral fat from around the organs allows the insulin to work more productively.

I started at a Hb of 52 two years ago. I'm doing it by exercise only and regular home testing. My last Hb was 40. I still eat fairly normally but with much less carb in my diet.

This is doable and controllable. It doesn't have to have long term bad consequences so stop reading Dr. Google or listening to pessimistic medics.

The thing that really helped me at diagnosis was reading Dr. David Cavan's book, 'Reversing Diabetes'. It's certainly worth a read and taught me masses!

Don't panic, this is something you can do something about and not all conditions give us the chance. Good luck! 🙂
 
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Don't worry Sheepie, we have plenty of ideas that will help you. We are probably goin to supprise you ok.
Firstly and most importantly, whatever regime you follow it must be sustainable, diabetes is a marathon not a sprint .

Ready for it Here goes :D
Its carbohydrates our bodies can't handle to well, sugar in all its forms including natural is just another carb.
Try easing up on the starchy carbs, potatoes, pasta, rice and bread especially white. Till you find substitutes fill up with veg .
We often have to be careful with fruit berries are often tolerated better, grapes are little sugar bombs.

Just to give you a few ideas. If you eat meat, meat of all colours is fine for us as are high meat content sausages and burgers, cheese, some nuts are low carb , some here have Lidle high protein rolls or Bergen bread, I have wholemeal. peanut butter hummus.
 
Hi Sheepie and welcome. Lots of good advice here. Limiting the carbs you eat as much as you can and testing is the best way forwarded . Plus exercise when you can. Walking is the thing I find easiest to incorporate into my day but we all like different things. Good luck.
 
Can someone describe what an average day food wise is like for them. When I work i often cannot make my own meals so I am wondering what I can do for lunches?
 
sheepie said:
I have been reading doom and gloom about complications / vision loss and mortality.
Click to expand...
Hi Sheepie, that was one of my first thoughts when I was diagnosed.... Fortunately, if you control D, it is not inevitable, as said many people live their whole life without complications.

sheepie said:
Can someone describe what an average day food wise is like for them
Click to expand...
We do have a thread "What did you eat yesterday?" which can give you meal suggestions..... My personal approach is to eat pretty much what I did before but Cut the Bread, Pasta, Rice, Cereals & starchy vegetables (replacing them with green leafy vegetables).
Dinner tonight will probably be chicken breast on a bed of Spinach with a side of Brussel Sprouts
Lunch is pretty easy as I work from a home office & is usually more like a brunch, if I didn't then I would more than likely skip lunch
 
I'm not one for preparing and cooking much so my meals tend to be fairly quick to prepare and can be bland. Alpro vanilla yoghurtwith raspberries is a good breakfast though not as filling as porridge which I love but my BG's don't! Lunch often crackers and cheese. Should be more adventurous and add carb free salad. Evening meal can be chicken with green veg or eggs and bacon (I know it's most people's breakfast but I don't make time in the mornings) Any meat is fine with veg just reduce the spuds or rice/pasta to lower the carbs.
 
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