Overwhelmed Newbie

[BigBirdy!]

Hi

Well I'm a complete newbie to this, overwhelmed to the hilt and in being truthful not accepting and freaking out - all at the same time!! Was told 27th Dec, you have an HbA1c of 52 at 48yrs of age, Type 2, here is metformin and come back see the Diabetic Doc on 16th Jan for all the referrals. The questions I wanted to ask but didn't get the opportunity was - What do I do from this second onwards?

If anyone could help me with a question based on their own experiences - I was originally planning to work on weight and nutrition without taking medication. My Doc has suggested 1 Metformin a day for the cardio / heart risk and that it has been proved people on meds live longer. Sorry for the upbeat woo hoo topic - but now I'm unsure what to do - meds for short term or not. If anyone else had similar thoughts, I'd really appreciate hearing what you decided.

Also I'll say sorry in advance as I'm going to be all over this site for help and information - who knew that nutrition and what to eat could be like a minefield to try and work through and understand - like being at school again.

 

[Felinia]

Hello and welcome. Always a shock on first diagnosis and it will take time to absorb all the information.
Your best starting place is here with us - thousands of years of diabetic experience. We can can offer suggestions, share experiences, no question is too silly - we probably all asked them! We are NOT medical people though.
The Learning Zone is a good starting point. I would suggest you take it one module at a time, so you can take everything in, starting with food, exercise, then the remainder. It sounds like your GP is one of the medication first doctors, without giving you a chance to try diet and exercise first. Many people on this forum have been given that option and successfully gone into remission. It's not a cure, but a change for life.
As you are only just into the diabetic zone, you might wish to tactfully ask to try diet, exercise and if necessary weight loss first. The trouble with Metformin can be the side effects - cramps, bowel problems - which can be disruptive to a working person. They often wear off, but sometimes don't. I can only tolerate 1 slow release a day.
Regarding food, all carbs turn to glucose in the blood, so many of us opt for a lower carb diet to reduce blood glucose. It is suggested less than 130gm carbs a day (counting every item of food and drink consumed including snacks). The first thing I did was purchase an app to measure my daily carbs and calories. I use NutraCheck but there are others - MyFitnessPal and the Cals and Carbs book.
The foods to reduce are things like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, cereals, processed foods, some fruits and of course cakes, biscuits, sweets, pastries. I use some substitutes, like cauliflower instead of potato or rice, edamame bean pasta, beansprouts instead of noodles. I medium slice from a small wholemeal loaf instead of 2 doorsteps! I fill up with more veggies and protein. Lots of recipe/meal suggestions on this Forum, and you might like to look at the Freshwell website. I believe in moderation, not abstinence, as I don't then get tempted to binge.
I also increased my exercise, going to the pool twice a week for aquafit. There are other forms of exercise, such as a daily walk, cycling, classes like Pilates. It needs to be something you enjoy and can fit in with your lifestyle. If you need to, you should build weight loss into your lifestyle changes, as a 10% loss should help reduce your glucose.
This journey is known as a marathon, not a sprint. Many people says it prompts them for a better, healthier life long term.
Best wishes

 

[SB2015]

Also I'll say sorry in advance as I'm going to be all over this site for help and information - who knew that nutrition and what to eat could be like a minefield to try and work through and understand - like being at school again.

No apology needed. That is exactly what the forum is here for.
Read, digest (the info that is), ask away. Loads of experience on here to tap into.

 

[paultrose]

Welcome the forum

First......when i was diagnosed a few months ago my experience with the doctors was exactly the same as yours.....to the letter!.......and from what ive read on here it seems to be approaching the norm

Second......this forum/site has been an incredible resource to me learning about how to aproach T2

One word of advice......lots of people will try to push their fave diets or opinions on to you.....dont listen to everything.....dont ignore it but everyone is different.....what works for one might not be suitable for the next person

Basically its cut down on as much carbs and sugar and fats as you can......eat more veg salad and fruit....and exercise more

Moderation is the name of the game

Third......go back to your doctor and ask to be refered to the 'my desmond' program if your health authority uses it......i learnt lots on there

Good luck on your journey.

 

[Leadinglights]

Firstly do not panic and take time to make a plan. 52mmol/mol is only just over the diagnostic threshold and it should be perfectly possible to reduce it back to normal by dietary changes and getting more exercise if you can without medication.
If you make no improvement after 3 months then may be.
I found the approach in the link very successful and reduced my HbA1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months by following the principals. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Keeping below 130g carbs per day is what is suggested.

 

[Lucyr]

My Doc has suggested 1 Metformin a day for the cardio / heart risk and that it has been proved people on meds live longer.

1 metformin a day won’t do much, may have a minor benefit so i’d give it a go, and will make all your prescriptions free (as you can apply for medical exemption card once on diabetes medication)

 

[BigBirdy!]

Hello and welcome. Always a shock on first diagnosis and it will take time to absorb all the information.
Your best starting place is here with us - thousands of years of diabetic experience. We can can offer suggestions, share experiences, no question is too silly - we probably all asked them! We are NOT medical people though.
The Learning Zone is a good starting point. I would suggest you take it one module at a time, so you can take everything in, starting with food, exercise, then the remainder. It sounds like your GP is one of the medication first doctors, without giving you a chance to try diet and exercise first. Many people on this forum have been given that option and successfully gone into remission. It's not a cure, but a change for life.
As you are only just into the diabetic zone, you might wish to tactfully ask to try diet, exercise and if necessary weight loss first. The trouble with Metformin can be the side effects - cramps, bowel problems - which can be disruptive to a working person. They often wear off, but sometimes don't. I can only tolerate 1 slow release a day.
Regarding food, all carbs turn to glucose in the blood, so many of us opt for a lower carb diet to reduce blood glucose. It is suggested less than 130gm carbs a day (counting every item of food and drink consumed including snacks). The first thing I did was purchase an app to measure my daily carbs and calories. I use NutraCheck but there are others - MyFitnessPal and the Cals and Carbs book.
The foods to reduce are things like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, cereals, processed foods, some fruits and of course cakes, biscuits, sweets, pastries. I use some substitutes, like cauliflower instead of potato or rice, edamame bean pasta, beansprouts instead of noodles. I medium slice from a small wholemeal loaf instead of 2 doorsteps! I fill up with more veggies and protein. Lots of recipe/meal suggestions on this Forum, and you might like to look at the Freshwell website. I believe in moderation, not abstinence, as I don't then get tempted to binge.
I also increased my exercise, going to the pool twice a week for aquafit. There are other forms of exercise, such as a daily walk, cycling, classes like Pilates. It needs to be something you enjoy and can fit in with your lifestyle. If you need to, you should build weight loss into your lifestyle changes, as a 10% loss should help reduce your glucose.
This journey is known as a marathon, not a sprint. Many people says it prompts them for a better, healthier life long term.
Best wishes

Thank you so much for the reply, I really do appreciate it.

The Doc did say it was my choice whether to go without meds or not – but that whole – you are at risk of heart / stroke almost terrifies the life out of you.

I fond the learning zone – thank you! I will go through that.

The diet started prior to them diagnosing me and I’ve been doing good at that, now adding the what to eat to it and increasing the movement. The list you sent was OK until I got to the potatoes, rice and pasta part I like you, love a good doorstep sandwich.

Whilst I’m not keen on this, I have to say the positive is that it will make me live a better life, reducing stress and looking after me more that I have done due to looking after others.

I really liked when you said moderation and not abstinence. The binge temptation is real especially when chocolate around.

 

[BigBirdy!]

No apology needed. That is exactly what the forum is here for.
Read, digest (the info that is), ask away. Loads of experience on here to tap into.

Thank you so much! Relief to actually find this forum!

 

[saffron15]

@bigbirdy welcome to the forum. Was 51 your second reading? I asked to be tested as I was peeing a lot. My result was 69. I was told I wouldn't officially be diabetic until second test. 4 weeks later I was disappointed having made dietary changes it had only dropped to 64.
Make a list of what you eat and check carbs in it. Obvious baddies are potatoes pasta rice bread. Try and stop processed meat and don't add sugar to anything. Your palate will ch&ange. You may realise there is a particular high carb food or a sweet treat you've been eating a lot of, either eat an alternative, stop it or have a smaller portion with extra veg. Just moving a bit more and stopping those items will be enough. I was put on metformin three weeks after my diagnosis starting on one tablet increasing to 4. 5 weeks later my reading was 51.

Diabetes & Metabolic Health | New Forest PCN

newforestpcn.co.uk

This site which also links to Freshwell and excellent site will give you good info as will the Diabetes UK site. I cut out pastry crisps sweets things and ate lots of fish and veg before my second reading and was amazed when my trousers fell down having been a confirmed fatty. I lost almost a kilogram a week. Metformin bunged me up for the first two weeks but when I got to 4 it was the opposite. I'm now on 2 a day. I'm on slow release metformin.
Be calm ask questions.
You can probably get to remission soon. It is your decision whether to take metformin. See if you have any side effects, if you don't it will be quicker with medication and you have a review with a nurse. I don't know the state of your health. I was told some of the medication was good for cardiovascular health
Good luck

 

[BigBirdy!]

Welcome the forum

First......when i was diagnosed a few months ago my experience with the doctors was exactly the same as yours.....to the letter!.......and from what ive read on here it seems to be approaching the norm

Second......this forum/site has been an incredible resource to me learning about how to aproach T2

One word of advice......lots of people will try to push their fave diets or opinions on to you.....dont listen to everything.....dont ignore it but everyone is different.....what works for one might not be suitable for the next person

Basically its cut down on as much carbs and sugar and fats as you can......eat more veg salad and fruit....and exercise more

Moderation is the name of the game

Third......go back to your doctor and ask to be refered to the 'my desmond' program if your health authority uses it......i learnt lots on there

Good luck on your journey.

Hi

Thank you for the reply!

You really have to trust the Doctors that what they are saying is right when they tell you to take a tablet. I’m on the fence whether to take it or not.

You’ve summed it up really well – more veg, salad and fruit and exercise!

Thank you for the advice on the My Desmond Program, I looked it up and we have it over here online. Really good tip thank you!

 

[BigBirdy!]

Firstly do not panic and take time to make a plan. 52mmol/mol is only just over the diagnostic threshold and it should be perfectly possible to reduce it back to normal by dietary changes and getting more exercise if you can without medication.
If you make no improvement after 3 months then may be.
I found the approach in the link very successful and reduced my HbA1C from 50mmol/mol to 42 in 3 months by following the principals. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Keeping below 130g carbs per day is what is suggested.

Thank you for replying. Finding this site has made me feel a lot better and not as alone. When you don’t know anyone else going through it you feel a bit out there on own.

Well done on 50 to 42 in 3 months! That is fantastic!! I would be hoping to follow that path! Can I ask did they give you any meds or was that by food and movement?

 

[SB2015]

4 weeks later I was disappointed having made dietary changes it had only dropped to 64.

It is unusual to agree to a second test so soon after the first. An HbA1c is based on glucose levels from the past three months so a test just 4 weeks after you had made the changes to your diet would still be influenced by your levels prior to those changes. That could be quite dispiriting and why so many places I sit on waiting at least three months before repeating a test. Your drop to 64 indicates that the changes had already had some impact and will no doubt continue to do so.

 

[BigBirdy!]

1 metformin a day won’t do much, may have a minor benefit so i’d give it a go, and will make all your prescriptions free (as you can apply for medical exemption card once on diabetes medication)

Thank you - I might actually give the 1 a day a go.

 

[pjgtech]

Hi and welcome. Lots of good advice already given.
I'd ask how many blood tests have you had? as normally you would need two blood tests, separated by three months, both testing your HbA1c levels, which is basically an average of your blood glucose levels over that time, (simplistic explanation).
41 and under is not diabetic.
42 to 47 is pre diabetic.
48 and over is diabetic.
Lots of peeps on here have started with very high numbers, well over 100+, (me included), but you can still bring the numbers down, every a little bit helps....
General advice, as far as I know, is that a GP will want to see two HbA1c levels in the diabetic range before diagnosing, unless your levels are really high!
Also, if you can give a bit more info, that may help, for example are you overweight or not? are you physically active or fairly sedentary? and if you can give a few examples of what you tend to eat, we may be able to suggest better alternatives.
As above though its basically reduce carbs (all carbs not just sugars) and exercise more.
Good luck with it and keep us updated on your progress.
Cheers

 

[BigBirdy!]

@bigbirdy welcome to the forum. Was 51 your second reading? I asked to be tested as I was peeing a lot. My result was 69. I was told I wouldn't officially be diabetic until second test. 4 weeks later I was disappointed having made dietary changes it had only dropped to 64.
Make a list of what you eat and check carbs in it. Obvious baddies are potatoes pasta rice bread. Try and stop processed meat and don't add sugar to anything. Your palate will ch&ange. You may realise there is a particular high carb food or a sweet treat you've been eating a lot of, either eat an alternative, stop it or have a smaller portion with extra veg. Just moving a bit more and stopping those items will be enough. I was put on metformin three weeks after my diagnosis starting on one tablet increasing to 4. 5 weeks later my reading was 51.

Diabetes & Metabolic Health | New Forest PCN

newforestpcn.co.uk

This site which also links to Freshwell and excellent site will give you good info as will the Diabetes UK site. I cut out pastry crisps sweets things and ate lots of fish and veg before my second reading and was amazed when my trousers fell down having been a confirmed fatty. I lost almost a kilogram a week. Metformin bunged me up for the first two weeks but when I got to 4 it was the opposite. I'm now on 2 a day. I'm on slow release metformin.
Be calm ask questions.
You can probably get to remission soon. It is your decision whether to take metformin. See if you have any side effects, if you don't it will be quicker with medication and you have a review with a nurse. I don't know the state of your health. I was told some of the medication was good for cardiovascular health
Good luck

Thank you for the reply. 52 was my 1st reading.

I have to say from what I’ve been reading about the test, from 69 to 64 within 4 weeks is really really good and I wouldn’t be disappointed with that. If you did that in 4 weeks, imagine what you’d do in 3 months!

Now I’m reading on 51 in 5 weeks – that was amazing! I’m going to be looking at the website to try and at least get a 1 week of food listed to be able to chop and change with!

If my trousers fell down with also being a confirmed fatty – my trousers and I would be happy!

 

[goodybags]

Hi @BigBirdy! If newly diagnosed its really great that you found the forum so early on after your diagnosis, and wow you already have an appointment to see a DiabeticDoctor later in the month to refer you to who you should now be referred to as part of your ongoing care, that’s a great start

FYI if I recall correctly, those referrals are likely to include things like
some healthy eating advice
Possibly Diet advice (depending on your current BMI)
Retinal Screening
as we call them scheduled visits to the Toe Ticker

I think someone has already recommended the freshwell program (for some great food ideas)
this forum has loads of shared experiences

 

[BigBirdy!]

Hi and welcome. Lots of good advice already given.
I'd ask how many blood tests have you had? as normally you would need two blood tests, separated by three months, both testing your HbA1c levels, which is basically an average of your blood glucose levels over that time, (simplistic explanation).
41 and under is not diabetic.
42 to 47 is pre diabetic.
48 and over is diabetic.
Lots of peeps on here have started with very high numbers, well over 100+, (me included), but you can still bring the numbers down, every a little bit helps....
General advice, as far as I know, is that a GP will want to see two HbA1c levels in the diabetic range before diagnosing, unless your levels are really high!
Also, if you can give a bit more info, that may help, for example are you overweight or not? are you physically active or fairly sedentary? and if you can give a few examples of what you tend to eat, we may be able to suggest better alternatives.
As above though its basically reduce carbs (all carbs not just sugars) and exercise more.
Good luck with it and keep us updated on your progress.
Cheers

Hi, thank you!

This was my first blood test done.

I am overweight and not as physically active as I was a few years back due to caring roles over the last few years. Particularly the last 8 months have been horrendous and I looked after everyone else neglecting myself (I’m cross about that one).

I love overnight oats in the morning with almond milk, fage 0%, peanut butter, blueberries and some almonds sprinkled over them. Lunch would have been a tuna / chickpea and anything in the fridge thrown in and dinner would have been veg with a protein. That was all before I let the ball drop and then it was stress, eating 1st meal at 2pm and lifting whatever I got my hands on.

I could and have eaten gherkins and pickled beetroot out of the jar and now I’m afraid to even look to see if they are a no no!

 

[BigBirdy!]

Hi @BigBirdy! If newly diagnosed its really great that you found the forum so early on after your diagnosis, and wow you already have an appointment to see a DiabeticDoctor later in the month to refer you to who you should now be referred to as part of your ongoing care, that’s a great start

FYI if I recall correctly, those referrals are likely to include things like
some healthy eating advice
Possibly Diet advice (depending on your current BMI)
Retinal Screening
as we call them scheduled visits to the Toe Ticker

I think someone has already recommended the freshwell program (for some great food ideas)
this forum has loads of shared experiences

Thanks for replying – how are you doing with being recently diagnosed?

Straight away I saw toe ticker and thought – aww no! I can’t be doing with feet at all lol!! They may pin me down.

My Doc surgery is good at getting the ball moving and I know I’m fortunate with that (my mind is still on the toe thing lol)

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you for replying. Finding this site has made me feel a lot better and not as alone. When you don’t know anyone else going through it you feel a bit out there on own.

Well done on 50 to 42 in 3 months! That is fantastic!! I would be hoping to follow that path! Can I ask did they give you any meds or was that by food and movement?

No medication, I was terrified of taking something like metformin having read about potential side effects as I am not very tolerant of medications. By continuing with what I regarded as my new way of eating, HbA1C was down to 36 in another 6 months, where it remains 3 plus years on.
I was doing well with exercise until I had an accident and sustained a knee injury which makes walking any distance at pace difficult.

 

[saffron15]

It is unusual to agree to a second test so soon after the first. An HbA1c is based on glucose levels from the past three months so a test just 4 weeks after you had made the changes to your diet would still be influenced by your levels prior to those changes. That could be quite dispiriting and why so many places I sit on waiting at least three months before repeating a test. Your drop to 64 indicates that the changes had already had some impact and will no doubt continue to do so.

The hcp emailed me and said I seemed shocked at the reading of 69. As I had been peeing more it was obvious to me i was diabetic without a second test. I had made changes to lower my cholestral but hoped second test would be much lower. I didn't join this forum until mid August after an uninspiring DCN appointment. I found the freshwell site and improved my choices. I also found so much help and advice from other members. I havent worked out my way forward yet. I'm due to discuss my results with hcp next week. The DN is off sick. 44 is nice but I am on medication.