One word.... Gutted :(

[WILL52]

Hello everyone,

Have been feeling unwell for some time so I went for an MOT at the doctors and have subsequently been diagnosed as having vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes.

I know my weight has increased. I started my own company in 2016; we have a small haulage company and I am part of the driving team doing days, nights whatever... Consequently I have irregular working hours, and work pattern and have basically eaten what I can get at whatever time of the day or night which has inevitably included take away fast food.

I've been asked to give more blood to confirm the original diagnosis so I have no other information. My GP has said that they will treat the vitamin D first and will talk to me about the diabetes but obviously I have to make some lifestyle changes. I'm gutted because I don't know where to start. Have been fighting flu for the past week so I've not had an appetite but I have had some lucozade which my GP tells me is a no no...

Have I got this for the rest of my life... Is there medication I will need to take?

 

[Eddy Edson]

Don't panic! Plenty of people get it controlled with some combination of non-scary meds, weight loss, diet tweaks, exercise. You have plenty of time to get things sorted, plenty of time to read, research and plan a strategy which works for you. Chances are you'll end up healthier than you have been for a long time.

All the best!

 

[WILL52]

Don't panic! Plenty of people get it controlled with some combination of non-scary meds, weight loss, diet tweaks, exercise. You have plenty of time to get things sorted, plenty of time to read, research and plan a strategy which works for you. Chances are you'll end up healthier than you have been for a long time.

All the best!

Its knocked me for 6 at the mo... don't want to tell my partner yet as she has been giving me grief recently about my lifestyle anyway so I'm expecting the 'told you so' .... I'm having to try to fit 26 hrs in to 24 hrs everyday at the minute as it is so I don't know how I'm going to cope with specially prepared meals and meds.... I'm due back at the GP surgery tomorrow. Hopefully they'll have more info for me. Is there a list somewhere of foods to eat and foods to avoid?

 

[Eddy Edson]

Its knocked me for 6 at the mo... don't want to tell my partner yet as she has been giving me grief recently about my lifestyle anyway so I'm expecting the 'told you so' .... I'm having to try to fit 26 hrs in to 24 hrs everyday at the minute as it is so I don't know how I'm going to cope with specially prepared meals and meds.... I'm due back at the GP surgery tomorrow. Hopefully they'll have more info for me. Is there a list somewhere of foods to eat and foods to avoid?

What's a relationship without an I-told-you-so?

List of foods: No, unfortunately. Everybody's different. You'll have to put some work into getting diet sorted, sorry, but it doesn't necessarily mean that meals become more complicated. (Not suggesting myself as a role model, but food prep for me takes about 15 min per day.)

You'll need to start working out what food has what carbs and what those carbs do to you, and you'll probably have to start eating less c**p if in fact you do eat c**p now - but you should anyway 🙂

And meds don't take any time: just pop a tab every now and then.

 

[WILL52]

What's a relationship without an I-told-you-so?

List of foods: No, unfortunately. Everybody's different. You'll have to put some work into getting diet sorted, sorry, but it doesn't necessarily mean that meals become more complicated. (Not suggesting myself as a role model, but food prep for me takes about 15 min per day.)

You'll need to start working out what food has what carbs and what those carbs do to you, and you'll probably have to start eating less c**p if in fact you do eat c**p now - but you should anyway 🙂

And meds don't take any time: just pop a tab every now and then.

Thank you. I've been living with IBS for 15 years anyway... just another problem to deal with... My lifestyle hasn't helped. Grabbing food on the go. When you're working nights and its cold, you grab a cappuccino, a doughnut, a burger or some chocolate to keep you going and I have eaten irregularly...

 

[Eddy Edson]

Thank you. I've been living with IBS for 15 years anyway... just another problem to deal with... My lifestyle hasn't helped. Grabbing food on the go. When you're working nights and its cold, you grab a cappuccino, a doughnut, a burger or some chocolate to keep you going and I have eaten irregularly...

I was like that - understand completely. But I didn't find it that hard or inconvenient to change, when I had to, so you probably won't either (modulo the IBS, which I don't know anything about).

 

[Jodee]

Hi Will

Its good you have had the vitamin D deficiency diagnosed and important to get that back up. I've had vitamin D deficiency previously and since have always taken supplements, an increased dose through the winter months. I am sure your doctor will guide you on the dose you need to take.

When you see your doc ask for the HbA1c test results so you know where you are and can compare with the next test.

Having a glass of lucozade now and then is ok but not so good everyday or more than once a day, that goes for all fizzy drinks really. Whatever you buy for food and drink check the reverse of pack label for Carbohydrates that's what you need to look out for a comparison. Diabetes UK do a good book about carbs and cals you can also buy it on Amazon I think. It shows pictorial on amount of carbs in a portion size.


Your doc can also refer you to attend a Desmond course to learn more about diabetes type2 or you can refer yourself to attend an Xpert course https://www.xperthealth.org.uk/ the xpert course you get a really good book for free and the course is free too.

diabetes.org.uk and diabetes.co.uk have tips of diet, foods as well.

Lastly try and reduce the stress you are dealing with, stress can affect blood glucose levels, so taking good care of yourself in that way is good too. play relaxing music, whenever you feel stressed, look at mindful techniques etc.

Its always daunting to begin with on initial diagnosis but in time you will get the hang of things and feel much more relaxed about managing your BG.

All good wishes

 

[WILL52]

Hi Will

Its good you have had the vitamin D deficiency diagnosed and important to get that back up. I've had vitamin D deficiency previously and since have always taken supplements, an increased dose through the winter months. I am sure your doctor will guide you on the dose you need to take.

When you see your doc ask for the HbA1c test results so you know where you are and can compare with the next test.

Having a glass of lucozade now and then is ok but not so good everyday or more than once a day, that goes for all fizzy drinks really. Whatever you buy for food and drink check the reverse of pack label for Carbohydrates that's what you need to look out for a comparison. Diabetes UK do a good book about carbs and cals you can also buy it on Amazon I think. It shows pictorial on amount of carbs in a portion size.


Your doc can also refer you to attend a Desmond course to learn more about diabetes type2 or you can refer yourself to attend an Xpert course https://www.xperthealth.org.uk/ the xpert course you get a really good book for free and the course is free too.

diabetes.org.uk and diabetes.co.uk have tips of diet, foods as well.

Lastly try and reduce the stress you are dealing with, stress can affect blood glucose levels, so taking good care of yourself in that way is good too. play relaxing music, whenever you feel stressed, look at mindful techniques etc.

Its always daunting to begin with on initial diagnosis but in time you will get the hang of things and feel much more relaxed about managing your BG.

All good wishes

Thank you... I got the call yesterday at about 4.30 pm with the results. I'm back again Thursday. Its blown my mind a bit... sat here now wondering what I can eat for lunch i'm preparing for work this afternoon, knowing I'll finish 9-10 pm tonight, wondering what I can eat later and where I'll get it from. Glad that they have found something. I've been run down for a while and now struggling with man flu which I don't normally get (if I do I can bat it off in a few days but had this now for 10 days..)... Guess I need to learn how to eat again... Thank you

 

[Jodee]

Thank you... I got the call yesterday at about 4.30 pm with the results. I'm back again Thursday. Its blown my mind a bit... sat here now wondering what I can eat for lunch i'm preparing for work this afternoon, knowing I'll finish 9-10 pm tonight, wondering what I can eat later and where I'll get it from. Glad that they have found something. I've been run down for a while and now struggling with man flu which I don't normally get (if I do I can bat it off in a few days but had this now for 10 days..)... Guess I need to learn how to eat again... Thank you

Bacon and Eggs and cooked tomatoes with 1 slice of brown bread or 2 at the very most. (maybe have the 2nd slice with egg or bacon in it later for a snack. Also cooked mushrooms in butter is also good.

All is not lost, if you can't do bacon just double up on the eggs.

Enjoy 😛

You need to build yourself up from the man flu Will, getting your vitamin D levels up will help, I am inclined to take natural foods as supplments myself but they would not suit every one. Inulin powder sprinkled into drink or on food, bee pollen, ground nuts, Nuts are also a good snack in moderation (wallnuts I go for but have to have a change occasionally, pro biotics also good to help build the immune system I use Bio Kult. Eat plenty of greens and rainbow veg, protein, chicken fish, (salmon) etc.

 

[Docb]

Meals don't always have to be a pile of something cooked in lots of cardboard packaging - despite what the fast food lot would have you believe. When I go out and will not be able to eat at home I take a plastic box which I load up with whatever is in the fridge, making sarnies for example with low carb bread. If you think about it, loading a box will take far less time than you will spend finding a takeaway in a strange place and eating whatever splurge they sell. Its also much more relaxing.

 

[Brando77]

Will, I was gutted too but to tell you the truth, I'm kinda happy (yep, weird huh?) I was diagnosed. It gave me a kick up the Arse and now I'm 2stone lighter, more energy and fitter. I eat better, swerve away from c**p fast food and exercise is good. Takes a bit of doing, self control and asking questions on here.
Ask any question and read the posts....this place is better than Wikipedia when it comes to Diabeetus 🙂

 

[Drummer]

I take a van off to various folk festivals, I have a box with two small camping stoves and all I need to cater for myself and am often aware of envious looks or even comments as I cook my steak and mushrooms or bacon and eggs, or other simple meals whilst heating up some coffee and eating berries and cream - having dessert first seems logical, it saves time.
A bit of planning is usually all it takes. and it can be less time consuming than finding a place to buy food.