Sorry...a lot of questions!

[Nemesis]

Hi all...sorry a lot of questions!

First HbA1c blood test 9th March 59

Second HbA1c blood test 27th April 55 at which point I was advised my target was 53, I didn't even know I had a target!

Based on the results it is assumed I have type 2 based on age and lifestyle,

So far my GP has given me 1x 5mg tablet of Folic Acid daily for 4 months then reducing to 1 tablet per week and directed me to this website.
I am also managing my diabetes by diet only...I am attempting to reduce carbs and up protein based on what I have read here and recording my meals on an app so I can show it to a dr/ nurse when I get to see one.

I have no monitor so assume I am 'doing ok' as I have also lost over a stone in weight with just the change of diet.

I attended eye clinic last week and await results but have to wait 3 to 6 months to see a nurse to advise me on diet, check my feet and take my blood pressure.

Should I get a monitor to see if my diet is having any effect? Or am I so 'borderline' diabetic that I would not really benefit?

I get some intense headaches at times but not sure if it is due to diabetes ie. Low or High blood glucose levels or not enough carbs? How would I know?

What is the best app to use to log meals and track weight, carbs and protein? I have been using MyFitnessPal but its not worked for the past couple of weeks so just winging it currently!

I feel as though I have been overheating in the hot weather we have had the past couple of days, foggy head too despite trying to drink plenty of water..is this normal? Difficult to stay cool as I share an office with someone that says they are cold when the window is open and we get the occasional breeze

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum. Most people have lots of questions when first diagnosed. Your HbA1C of 55 puts you at the lower end of the diabetic zone which is anything over 48mmol/mol so getting below that really should be your aim as anything over that does still put you at risk of complications. You are doing the right thing in reducing carbohydrates either by reducing portion size or cutting some of the higher carb foods out completely. Getting a blood glucose monitor will help you in your journey to getting the glucose levels down, would you drive your car without a speedometer and expect to avoid a speeding fine.
Sometimes when people reduce their carb intake they suffer flu like symptoms due to the sudden reduction of those things the body has been having too much of to cope with, doesn't really seem logical. The body need time to adjust. Drinking plenty will help.
If you give an idea of the sort of meals you have then people can make suggestions where you could save on carbs with some substitutions.
Have a look at the thread What did you eat Yesterday for ideas of what Type 2 folk have for meals. Some people choose to follow low or very low carb route and have higher fat and protein which works for them. Also the Learning zone will have useful information to get you started.
I'm sure a few other people will be along and point some links out for newly diagnosed.
I nearly forgot to say that I was also given folic acid as my blood test showed low folate which surprised me as I eat lots of foods which have folic acid, but my theory is that by cutting out/down on things like bread and cereals which are fortified with folic acid had resulted in low folate.

 

[EllsBells]

Hi and welcome! Congratulations on your weight loss to date. That will definitely be helping your system cope better with blood glucose and lowering insulin resistance.

Getting a spot glucose meter is really helpful in learning what you react to - I find it keeps me honest too - and a seriously useful tool. I chose to go diet and exercise and my surgery lent me a machine to help with that. Just learning what foods and quantities you can cope with will set you up for the years ahead.

 

[Drummer]

Based on the results it is assumed I have type 2 based on age and lifestyle,

So far my GP has given me 1x 5mg tablet of Folic Acid daily for 4 months then reducing to 1 tablet per week and directed me to this website.
I am also managing my diabetes by diet only...I am attempting to reduce carbs and up protein based on what I have read here and recording my meals on an app so I can show it to a dr/ nurse when I get to see one.
I have no monitor so assume I am 'doing ok' as I have also lost over a stone in weight with just the change of diet.
I attended eye clinic last week and await results but have to wait 3 to 6 months to see a nurse to advise me on diet, check my feet and take my blood pressure.
Should I get a monitor to see if my diet is having any effect? Or am I so 'borderline' diabetic that I would not really benefit?

Hello and welcome.
If you get a meter which is fairly low cost and use it to sort out what you can eat, then by the time you see the nurse you could very well not need to.
I found it a very useful tool to find out what I can and can't eat, setting aside advice and opinions which didn't fit my personal situation. We are all different.
Increasing protein is possibly a good idea if you were not eating much before, and if you are eating the fats which come along with it, all the better. The two essential elements of our food are protein and fats.

 

[Ljc]

Hi , welcome I just used a notebook to log everything in. Tbh I find the log books available and ones that come when you get a glucose monitor unsuitable as the space for notes ect are far too small.
I don’t use apps.
I liken trying to control diabetes without a glucose meter as trying to drive in the dark without lights.
Imo having to wait 3 or 6 months to find out if what your doing is working or not is just not good enough.

If your Gp won’t provide a glucose meter and testing strips (most likely they won’t ) this meter

You searched for Gluco navii | Home Health UK

homehealth-uk.com

Is the one many with T2 buy as it’s the ongoing cost of the testing strips you have to watch out for as most brands sold in chemists use strips that cost in excess of 15 for a pot of 50 , where the Gluco Navii uses test strip that cost £8 for a pot of 50, it a huge difference and when you are initially testing , on waking, just before eating then two hours after starting to eat , you get through the pots quickly.
We use the mmol/L measurement in the uk .you will need to buy more pots of strips , I suggest two to start with and a box of lancets as starter packs only come with 10 oe. You are entitled to claim Vat relief .

If you have suddenly gone very low carbohydrate, that could be causing your headache.
If it persists do see your Gp.
You can feel pretty rough when hyper (high blood glucose ) or hypo , our symptoms when hypo or hyper can vary somewhat. , when hypo I can get an extremely urgent need for a wee and you won’t see that in any official list of hypo signs lol.

Aprox how many carbohydrates are you having each day .

Also ask all the questions you need to about diabetes , no question is silly , it’s just a question you need an answer to, we will reply based on what has worked for us individually.

 

[goodybags]

Hi @Nemesis
Welcome to the forum and well done on the initial stone lost

I would definitely recommend self funding a tester
but watch the cost of the strips you will need on a ongoing basis,
regular testing will help you learn how different foods affect your levelsand manage everything well,
ask all the questions you have someone will know the answer.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Good to see you again @Nemesis

Well done on your great progress so far!

It might be worth remembering that the HbA1c reflects glucose concentrations in the blood over the previous 120ish days (3-4 months) so your March result would have included red blood cells which were circulating during roughly November, December, January and February, while your April result would have included red blood cells that were circulating during January, February, March and April.

So while HbA1c is slightly skewed towards the more recent months, there is a degree of overlap between them which predates the changes you have been making