Panic stricken

[Annie H]

Hi
Diagnosed type 2 last week by GP not slept properly since - can't get my head around it!!
Prescribed Metformin and have to wait another 3 weeks before I see diabetes nurse.
So much information to take in and making me frightened everytime I eat anything.
Is this a normal reaction?

 

[scottishlass]

Hello Annie. Yes! Your reaction is absolutely normal - lots of posts here reflect my own experience of (initially) disbelief and then feeling totally overwhelmed. I'm new to this club too so won't presume to give advice but lots will be forthcoming from more experienced members and everyone will be here to support you - you aren't alone! Take care, remember it's a marathon and not a sprint and be assured that it will get easier.

 

[Annie H]

Thank you so much for your reassurance and kind words. Nice to know there are likeminded people out there and I'm not alone.
No one in my circle of family and friends have diabetes so this forum will help I hope.

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, Annie H. There is plenty for you to learn about managing your diabetes, but panic is normal, and generally wears off as you gain knowledge and skills.
You've been given metformin - have you read the patient information leaflet, which includes useful information about things like ensuring you take with or after food. Side effects, particularly bowel gurgling, wind (farting) etc, are pretty common, but usually wear off gradually, and that's why doses are increased gradually. If side effects remains a serious problem, there are slow release metformin tablets or dissolvable powder or other types of tablet to try. Other formations of metformin are much more expensive, so it's understandable that NHS wants to try cheapest first. By the way, assuming you are under retirement age and live in England, have you been told about Medical Exemption Certificate, so that you don't pay for prescription?
In the 3 weeks until you see the diabetes nurse, you can make progress with your diet - mainly reducing carbohydrate content (if currently high) and reducing calorie intake (if currently overweight) and increasing activity levels (if not currently very active).

 

[Robin]

By the way, assuming you are under retirement age and live in England, have you been told about Medical Exemption Certificate, so that you don't pay for prescription?

Welcome to the forum. I see you're 61, Annie, same age as me, so we get them free over 60 anyway. One less thing to worry about!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi
Diagnosed type 2 last week by GP not slept properly since - can't get my head around it!!
Prescribed Metformin and have to wait another 3 weeks before I see diabetes nurse.
So much information to take in and making me frightened everytime I eat anything.
Is this a normal reaction?

Hello Annie and welcome to the forum.
Yes it's a normal reaction so take a deep breath and take one day at a time.

 

[Mark Parrott]

Welcome to the forum.🙂

 

[Ljc]

Hi Annie, welcome to our friendly forum. You reaction is perfectly normal ok. How much info if any did the doc give you about diabetes and how to manage it.

Firstly I’d like to try and reassure you that with the right info, a change in diet and if able some exersize, Diabetes is a condition that can be well managed, in fact some of us have become fitter/healthier because of it.
I know that probably sounds strange to you right now.

Many of us on here have been living with various types of diabetes for decades, we have a wealth of info of what has worked for us, so feel free to ask questions we’ll do our best to help.
None of us lives on a lettuce leaf and fresh air, we have a good varied tasty diet.

Regardless of what you may have heard or been told, it’s carbohydrates our bodies can’t handle too well, sugar in all its forms is just another carbohydrate, so you can ignore the sugar content on all the food labels, just check the total carbohydrates! On the label at the back.

As @scottishlass has said this is a marathon not a sprint ! the worst thing you can do right now is go mad and try to cut out or down too much on the fast acting carbohydrates, as you’ll only be setting yourself up to fail.
Instead cut down a bit on them (don’t worry I’ll mention the main ones soon) and till you find suitable substitutes fill up on veg.

As said earlier we don’t live on lettuce leaves and fresh air, here is a small selection of what we do live on and is by no means exhaustive.
If you eat meat, all meat is fine as are high meat content sausages and burgers, eggs cooked anyway you like, cheese, milk, mushrooms veg that grows above ground , diet drinks, tea, coffee, sweeteners, some nuts are low carb, butter, cream.
Believe me their are plenty of other things that’s fine for us too.

The worst things to watch out for are
Potatoes esp mash, rice, bread esp white, pasta, most cereals are high carb , fruit juice

I think I’ve given you enough to think about for now as I don’t want to overload you with too much info.
Others will be along soon with more advise, books and links to read.
In the meantime as said before ask any questions you need to

 

[Annie H]

Thanks for your kind words of encouragement. My biggest problem is I'm a chocaholic and have struggled with that for a long time. Thinking of buying a BG meter thought it might help. So far the metformin hasn't upset me too much so that's one good thing....I think lol.

 

[Ljc]

I am very pleased to hear you’re thinking of getting a glucose meter as it really is the only way to find out how carbohydrates affect you, as we are all different in this and it’s unlikely that your practice will provide you with one or if they do, enough test strips to test properly.
It’s the ongoing cost of the test strips you need aware of. High street brands range between £15 to £35 for a pot of 50
The SD Codefree meter that many self funders here use are around £8 for 50.
It’s available from Homehealth
http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/
We use the mmol/l measurement in the uk.
Your entitled to claim VAT relief for diabetes

Or from Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-G...fm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003

You’ll need to buy more test strips and lancets as they only proved 10 In starter pack

Have a read of, Test review adjust by Alan S
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

 

[Ljc]

do you like dark chocolate, I mean at least 85 % , if so a couple of squares are often fine.

 

[Grogg1]

Thanks for your kind words of encouragement. My biggest problem is I'm a chocaholic and have struggled with that for a long time. Thinking of buying a BG meter thought it might help. So far the metformin hasn't upset me too much so that's one good thing....I think lol.

Hello from a fellow chocoholic! Good news is you can still eat chocolate and desserts but now you have to consider what else you have eaten and impact on blood sugar. I do it by looking at total carbs so if a high protein meal I can have a small dessert if out for dinner as I know through testing I tolerate carbs better later in the day. So yesterday for example two sausage for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch and then dinner out of meatballs starter, chicken in pepper sauce with veg and small amount of rice and dessert of ice cream. Three glasses of wine and my BG two hours later 7.6 - happy days (diabetics should aim for under 8.5 two hours after food) .

Testing is the way to go as once you find out impact of food on your it's easier to find out what impact food has on you. You can eat anything, nothing is banned, but you have to know consequences that's all.

I initially panicked and severely cut carbs and reduced my hba1c by almost 70, I assume you've been told your hba1c, to "pre diabetic levels in 3 month. Over the next 6 months I calmed down I eat carbs, I eat chocolate, I eat desserts and my level has remained constant. I just do all this in moderation. I aim for max 10g of carbs in snack and that 10g can be slice of high protein bread or 1 bar from bounty, a small Bueno chocolate bar or a packet of crisps or a generous handful of nuts. Today I had a veg wrap (hot in white sauce) and the wrap would be about 35g -45g of carbs so no snack for me this afternoon. Tonight will be chicken curry with no rice or chips so I may treat myself to a popadom!

 

[Ditto]

Hello Annie, welcome to the forum. 🙂