Recently Diagnosed TYPE 2 & Confused with it ALL!

[shazx63]

😱

Was diagnosed few mnths ago with TYPE 2 but told Im only borderline so sent off to see a Dietition but not findin it much help to be honest.
I was hoping for some MENU PLANNER ideas but didnt get any.

As I am only borderline I have been told to watch my diet, I have had my pnuemonia jab & awaiting my flu jab. I ad my eyes & feet checked etc which made me think I have to take this seriously but yet when I explain that I am still so thirsty, needing loo quite frequent & Im so tired all the time & that I do get the shakes when I dont eat etc...they seem to scratch their heads, look @ me silly & say well your only borderline. Well Im bit confused as to just how serious MY condition is as 1 min Im bein told to take my diet seriously & look after myself which I kno that if I dont then it will get worse but on other hand with me not takin any meds for it & way they dont take on board how tired out I seem to get etc..I feel a bit of a fake!

:0(

 

[Robster65]

Hi Shaz. Welcome 🙂

Your story is quite typical of the way many practices treat newly diagnosed diabetic patients. They don't seem to catch on that if they gave you the right advice and support, you may be able to put off taking meds for a lot longer and save them a lot of money and you a lot of worry and health problems.

What did the dietician advise you ?

Rob

 

[shazx63]

new type 2

Hi Shaz. Welcome 🙂

Your story is quite typical of the way many practices treat newly diagnosed diabetic patients. They don't seem to catch on that if they gave you the right advice and support, you may be able to put off taking meds for a lot longer and save them a lot of money and you a lot of worry and health problems.

What did the dietician advise you ?

Rob

Hi Rob

Thank you for the Welcome.

Just told to cut down on fats, salt & sugar & given some leaflets to read. The more I read the more confused I get :0( Im not too great @ taking things in & remembering stuff either which aint helping matters.

Iv not got a lot of weight to lose I would like to lose a stone & a half but she said to aim for half a stone for now but Im struggling.
Iv bought a cookbook by the Diabetes uk but its knowing how much of what I should have @ any 1 meal etc. Am I making sense?

Shaz 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Hi Shaz, welcome to the forum 🙂 I think the best approach for you is to consider yourself as a Type 2, not as someone who is 'borderline', and modify your diet and activity levels as if you had been properly diagnosed. Several of our members have found themselves in a similar position and the line is very blurred between being a Type 2 who controls their diabetes well with a regime of diet and exercise and someone who is displaying many of the symptoms but not yet passing the tests required to confirm diagnosis.

Do you have a blood glucose meter? I would suggest that you get one so that you can start understanding what your blood sugar levels are like and how you react to different foods and activities. Look at the links in our Useful links thread under the General and Type 2 headings. You will fnd a link to obtain a free meter on there which normally comes with 10 test strips.

The main thing to watch out for is the amount and type of carbohydrate in your meals - things like rice, bread, potatoes, pasta etc, as well as the obvious things like sugary foods. I would suggest starting a food diary, recording everything you eat, when you eat it and how you feel at one or two hours after eating. When you get a meter, you will be able to note directly the effect of each meal on your blood sugar levels. For a guide to one of the most appropriate eating plans for good diabetes management, try and get hold of a copy of The GL Diet for Dummies. Try also to get regular exercise each day - a good walk is a good start, but try and keep as active as you can.

Ask us anything you don't understand! This is something you need to take seriously, so if your doctor or nurse are suggesting you can be relaxed about it then they are not doing their job properly. Many people find that the changes they make improve their health and well-being enormously as a healthy diet and lifestyle for someone with diabetes is also one that anyone would benefit from! 🙂

 

[slipper]

Hi Shazx63, its feels hard to get to grips with it all at first. I am 2 months in now and can understand how you feel. Take your time with it and gradually you will get to know more about diabetes and your particular problems, and soon you will feel more comfortable about what is happening.🙂

 

[shazx63]

Hi

Hi Shaz, welcome to the forum 🙂 I think the best approach for you is to consider yourself as a Type 2, not as someone who is 'borderline', and modify your diet and activity levels as if you had been properly diagnosed. Several of our members have found themselves in a similar position and the line is very blurred between being a Type 2 who controls their diabetes well with a regime of diet and exercise and someone who is displaying many of the symptoms but not yet passing the tests required to confirm diagnosis.

Do you have a blood glucose meter? I would suggest that you get one so that you can start understanding what your blood sugar levels are like and how you react to different foods and activities. Look at the links in our Useful links thread under the General and Type 2 headings. You will fnd a link to obtain a free meter on there which normally comes with 10 test strips.

The main thing to watch out for is the amount and type of carbohydrate in your meals - things like rice, bread, potatoes, pasta etc, as well as the obvious things like sugary foods. I would suggest starting a food diary, recording everything you eat, when you eat it and how you feel at one or two hours after eating. When you get a meter, you will be able to note directly the effect of each meal on your blood sugar levels. For a guide to one of the most appropriate eating plans for good diabetes management, try and get hold of a copy of The GL Diet for Dummies. Try also to get regular exercise each day - a good walk is a good start, but try and keep as active as you can.

Ask us anything you don't understand! This is something you need to take seriously, so if your doctor or nurse are suggesting you can be relaxed about it then they are not doing their job properly. Many people find that the changes they make improve their health and well-being enormously as a healthy diet and lifestyle for someone with diabetes is also one that anyone would benefit from! 🙂

Hi..thanks for the welcome mail.

I havent been told to test my blood so do you think I should? Iv just looked on the site to send for meter but it asks me which 1 I want ...??

Shaz

 

[Northerner]

Hi..thanks for the welcome mail.

I havent been told to test my blood so do you think I should? Iv just looked on the site to send for meter but it asks me which 1 I want ...??

Shaz

They are all pretty much the same and do the same thing. I think the Freestyle Lite is the smallest 🙂 I'd suggest reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter to get a good understanding of the value of testing 🙂

By the way, don't become overwhelmed by all the information - take your time to absorb and understand it, you don't have to know everything straightaway 🙂

 

[shazx63]

Hi

Hi Shazx63, its feels hard to get to grips with it all at first. I am 2 months in now and can understand how you feel. Take your time with it and gradually you will get to know more about diabetes and your particular problems, and soon you will feel more comfortable about what is happening.🙂

Thank You Slipper.

Goodluck to you too 🙂

 

[shazx63]

Hi there

They are all pretty much the same and do the same thing. I think the Freestyle Lite is the smallest 🙂 I'd suggest reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter to get a good understanding of the value of testing 🙂

By the way, don't become overwhelmed by all the information - take your time to absorb and understand it, you don't have to know everything straightaway 🙂

Aww thank you for all your help Northener.. Im looking into all of your info now.

Shaz 🙂

 

[Robster65]

Just to add that you're not alone in being overwhelmed by all the info. A lot of us find that to fully understand our condition we need to study as much as a qualified endocrinologist & dietician and then adapt the information to our own particular needs.

For the first few weeks concentrate on finding out about the different food groups, fat, protein and carbohydrate and how they affect your blood glucose and the role of insulin and why yours isn't doing what it should. That'll take most of your time I should think !

The main thing is to swap notes with everyone on here and try and pick up tips that apply to a type 2 on diet and exercise. The more you read and join in, the more you'll learn and understand.

Hoping to see you around the forum.🙂

Rob