Overwhelmed newbie

[Stitch147]

Hi Ali and welcome to the forum. It can be daunting and scary, I was diagnosed last august and its only really now that its hitting me hard. But this forum has been a great help to me.

 

[davie533]

Hi and welcome Ali.I am 4 months since diagnosis and mine at the moment is controlled by diet/exercise.I and many others will know how your feeling right now,it's completely wrong that so many people feel like this after diagnosis.I felt like I was in a daze for the first six weeks and the little I know bout diabetes has been learned from reading books and stuff on diabetes uk web site and these forums.
My region nhs does not do education events and my nearest living with diabetes day is 140 miles away so they are not making it easy for me to learn how to cope with this at all.
Good luck

 

[Ali H]

Hi and welcome Ali.I am 4 months since diagnosis and mine at the moment is controlled by diet/exercise.I and many others will know how your feeling right now,it's completely wrong that so many people feel like this after diagnosis.I felt like I was in a daze for the first six weeks and the little I know bout diabetes has been learned from reading books and stuff on diabetes uk web site and these forums.
My region nhs does not do education events and my nearest living with diabetes day is 140 miles away so they are not making it easy for me to learn how to cope with this at all.
Good luck

Hi Davie,
Golly what a nightmare! That's a long way to travel! I find it astounding that you can get such a massive bombshell thrown at you and then be left floundering and panicking with no help, support or information from the GP. Mine has been completely useless and if it weren't for this forum I'd be in a right state. It's great having the support of everyone on here 🙂

 

[Ali H]

Hi Ali and welcome to the forum. It can be daunting and scary, I was diagnosed last august and its only really now that its hitting me hard. But this forum has been a great help to me.

Thank you, I'm finding it a great help too. I wouldn't have found out any information at all if it weren't for the people on here. It's certainly a shock, I'm only just starting to get used to the idea

 

[Ali H]

Sorry to only just be saying hello but HELLO, I am very pleased to meet you. Loss of appetite and loss of interest are quite common with the condition. It is usually just a temporary phase. Can I suggest that if you are only testing twice a day then not testing at the same time every day might be a good idea so that over a period of a couple of weeks you start to get some kind of overall picture of what your blood sugars are doing throughout the course of a full day. Most meters now hold a database of recordings and managements software is available to allow you to plug the meter into a laptop from which you can permanently record your results. You can then plonk these on your doctors lap and ask for something more than the lip service he or she appears to be giving you. It is a lifelong condition that needs respect and management. With these you hope to avoid complications that affect diabetics mid to long term. You will pick information up as you go along and after a while it kind of becomes second nature. Good luck with your appointment.


Best regards,
Geoff

Hi Geoff,
I'm not testing at all at the moment. I asked at the surgery and was told only people on insulin need to test so I've ordered a testing kit myself. I really want to know what's going on in my body, at the moment I feel completely out of control.
Ali 🙂

 

[Ali H]

Hi Ali and welcome from another newbie recently diagnosed. It is a learning curve for me as well but I am switching to a low carb diet which I hope will make some difference. There is a lot of help from the folks here so just keep asking questions.

Are you testing Val? I was told I don't need to as I'm not on insulin but I've ordered a testing kit myself as I want to know what's going on in my body and regain a bit of control

 

[Ali H]

Hello! I'm new too. It'll all be ok, we can face it together. I had my last gourmet jelly bean today and bought a FitBit to track just how lazy I am hahaha. It tells me I have been upstairs once and done 112 steps. Need to build on that. LOL.

Hi Little G, how's it going with the fit bit? 🙂

 

[Diabeticliberty]

Hi Geoff,
I'm not testing at all at the moment. I asked at the surgery and was told only people on insulin need to test so I've ordered a testing kit myself. I really want to know what's going on in my body, at the moment I feel completely out of control.
Ali 🙂

Some surgeries just don't seem to get it. Of course as a type 2 you should test. The complications associated with poorly controlled type 2 are the same as the complications that can affect type 1 diabetics. How the hell do they expect you to control your condition if they don't provide you any means to monitor your blood sugars? I am sorry to bang on but it doesn't seem fair on you. I hope you manage to get a result with them.

 

[Ali H]

Hi All,
Does anyone else have terrible trouble with bleeding gums??? Mine are particularly bad at the moment. I'm using Corsodyl toothpaste and mouthwash but it's not having an impact. I'm terrified my teeth are going to drop out.

 

[Robin]

High blood sugars and bleeding gums can go hand in hand. My dentist has this theory.- It's a bit chicken and egg. Too much glucose sloshing round in your bloodstream gives bacteria plenty to go on, and too many bacteria in your gums for your body to fight off can cause high blood glucose levels. Unfortunately if the bacteria are deep seated in your gums, no amount of brushing and mouthwashing the surfaces is going to cure it ( though it will help. so keep on!) You really need to enlist the help of a good dentist, who can assess your gums and give you advice and if necessary, treatment. Nobody likes the dentist, but needs must, (and consider the consequences of neglect) so pluck up courage and make an appointment.

 

[Ali H]

High blood sugars and bleeding gums can go hand in hand. My dentist has this theory.- It's a bit chicken and egg. Too much glucose sloshing round in your bloodstream gives bacteria plenty to go on, and too many bacteria in your gums for your body to fight off can cause high blood glucose levels. Unfortunately if the bacteria are deep seated in your gums, no amount of brushing and mouthwashing the surfaces is going to cure it ( though it will help. so keep on!) You really need to enlist the help of a good dentist, who can assess your gums and give you advice and if necessary, treatment. Nobody likes the dentist, but needs must, (and consider the consequences of neglect) so pluck up courage and make an appointment.

Thank you Robin, I will definitely take your advice, and although my GP isn't up to much, my dentist is brilliant, so I have hope! 🙂

 

[Lynn Davies]

Regarding the mouthwash - dump the Corsodyl and buy the generic Chlorhexidine Gluconate. Same stuff only much cheaper. My DH suffered with mouth ulcers when he stopped smoking. Was recommended this stuff by his dentist.

http://www.wilko.com/mouthwash/chlorhexidine-gluconate-pmint-mwash-30/invt/0432815

Also available in Home Bargains for the same price. I think in Superdrug as well under their own brand.

 

[Ali H]

Regarding the mouthwash - dump the Corsodyl and buy the generic Chlorhexidine Gluconate. Same stuff only much cheaper. My DH suffered with mouth ulcers when he stopped smoking. Was recommended this stuff by his dentist.

http://www.wilko.com/mouthwash/chlorhexidine-gluconate-pmint-mwash-30/invt/0432815

Also available in Home Bargains for the same price. I think in Superdrug as well under their own brand.

That's brilliant Lynn, thank you 🙂

 

[sarah tuplin]

I was told Tuesday i have diabetes the nurse gave me a prescription and told me to join this forum.I had to ring gp reception to ask what type i had! It's 2.Im tototally overwhelmed.

 

[Superheavy]

I was told Tuesday i have diabetes the nurse gave me a prescription and told me to join this forum.I had to ring gp reception to ask what type i had! It's 2.Im tototally overwhelmed.

You're not alone Sarah - that first meeting I had with the doctor I was told I was a diabetic, no mention at all of what type it was, but there was the referral on to the Diabetic Nurse, and that's where I got a whole lot more info, and then a second test to confirm that they are 95% sure its type 2. To be honest, I assumed type 2, and it was only when someone on here asked me that I realised they hadn't told me which type it was!

 

[Ali H]

I was told Tuesday i have diabetes the nurse gave me a prescription and told me to join this forum.I had to ring gp reception to ask what type i had! It's 2.Im tototally overwhelmed.

Hi Sarah,
It's a shock isn't it? I was diagnosed a week ago and it's taking a while to get my head around it. Everyone on here is lovely though, it's great having the support and advice from people who know what it's like. You're not alone 🙂

 

[Ali H]

Another question. I'm going on a girls night out on Saturday, am I still allowed to drink vodka and diet coke???

 

[Alan.tnh]

Yes have a drink and enjoy yourself, make sure all your drinks are diet coke, bottles are best especially when your not buying them.
And when you get in it maybe worth having a light snack before bed as you can go a bit low in the night, Its the way your liver prioritises alcohol.
Have a good night

 

[Ali H]

Yes have a drink and enjoy yourself, make sure all your drinks are diet coke, bottles are best especially when your not buying them.
And when you get in it maybe worth having a light snack before bed as you can go a bit low in the night, Its the way your liver prioritises alcohol.
Have a good night

Thanks, it's great to get the thumbs up for something - All is not lost 😉

 

[Alan.tnh]

We have to enjoy ourselves as well, its just we have to give it a bit of thought, I'm off to spain tomorrow to play golf for 3 days, but I know I need to take snacks, gluco tabs, lucozade. As well as lots of test strips.