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This is a really confusing time and feeling awful

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
L

Luna15

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi
Diagnosed with type 2 in October 2017, told to control it by losing weight and lifestyle (joke as I don't smoke, hardly drink and get lots of walking already) - no advice on diet whatsoever, told get in touch with DESMOND's and another review in 6 months.
Took a while to get my DESMOND's appointment and in the meantime had my review, only lost a stone so put on METFORMIN (2 x 500mg), Totally disagreed with me, so put on slow release METFORMIN and that was little better. Constant urine infection and feeling yuck so taken off it.
Went back to the diabetes nurse for my blood results, down from 64 to 52, said I could manage without meds, another review in 3 months and no dietary advice - just told to make sure I kept my DESMOND's appointments. Asked for a meter to test my blood and told not cost effective and doesn't help anyway with type 2 - contradicts with what I've already read here so will be getting one.
Felt worse since I had METFORMIN for two weeks, can't now get rid of the urine infections and also started with a really painful middle ear infection - believe this is also probably connected to the diabetes - put on Clotrimazole - not helping yet, but doctor did say that..
Did try the 8-week blood sugar diet recipe book, but got so hungry that I was feeling ill.
I'm trying to help myself, but don't seem to be doing very well and so little help out there. Really fed up.
Can anyone give me some good news !!!
 
Yes I can - you'll get on a lot better once you get your meter and strips and start testing to see what this that and the other foods, are actually doing to your BG. I really want you to do that because repeating UTIs are a feature of too high BG too often. The idea is to try not to have any too high ones - although most people can cope with occasional ones but only as long as they are at OK levels for much longer periods every day.

Have you read 'Test, Review, Adjust' to explain the sensible way of doing that, ready for when you get your meter?
 
Why so much emphasis is put on weight, when it is the blood glucose which is the problem seems very strange to me, and it is such a waste of time as getting BG under control usually means weightloss in the following months.
Can you tell us what your typical way of eating consists of? I'm afraid that if there are lots of 'healthy' carbohydrate laden foods you might well be advised to stop them - as that is the cause of high BG levels.
 
Hi Luna15, I can’t imagine any eating plan working that leaves you hungry? I find with a low carb diet I’m eating more than I did before, but better foods, I’m rarely hungry and when I get a snack attack I go for almonds and walnuts or I do sometimes have sugar free biscuits. Testing really is the key to see what your body reacts to and what it doesn’t, I bought the code free kit as recommended here, it was on,y £12.99 and the replacement strips are only £7.99 for 50. There are some great threads on here about food, so many ideas to try but do get testing first. Ask any questions as everyone here is willing to help.
 
Hi Jenny
Thanks for that, just ordered my meter,lancets and test strips as recommended on here and will start as soon as they arrive. You've given me some hope and encouragement - was feeling so low. I haven't read the Test, Review etc yet but will be doing this evening and be ready to go as soon as they arrive.
Jill
 
Hi Cathy & Drummer
Thanks, the positivity is so helpful and is lifting me. My husband and I have come away for a week in our caravan and have been starting to get a grip of things this afternoon as we've got peace at last - the best step is joining this forum and we're already looking at diet and have ordered the test kit. The knowledge on here seems to far outweigh what the so called experts think they know.
The "healthy" carbs, as suggested on DESMOND's are already in the bin - or will be when we get home.
Jill
 
Hi Luna welcome to the forum. It doesn’t sound as though your nurse is being very helpful. It’s posdibke that your infections are caused by high BG (blood glucose) levels even though your Hb1ac is pretty good, the trouble is ,it’s an average of the glucose that sticks to our blood cells over the past 12 or so weeks, so it’s possible that your BG levels has spent time higher than it should be. The pesky little blighters adore sweet urine and it’s often harder for our bodies to fight infections. I hope the antibiotics start working soon as I know from experience you must be feeling rough right now (yes I’ve got the T shirt 🙂 .

I’ve not read the blood sugar diet book so I won’t comment on it.
As has already been said, it carbohydrates that our bodies can’t handle to well now. The trouble is some things that are considered healthy are not good for us, fruit is often problematic, grapes are little sugar bombs and fruit juice is a wonderful hypo treatmeant because it’s full of fructose, veg that grows below ground can be more carby that veg that grows above ground.

Protein and good fats are not our problem, so you needn’t cut them out of your diet, also the good fats will help you feel full and won’t raise your Cholesterol level, I know this is contrary to all the dietary info we’ve been given over the years , so you’ve no need to cut out, things like cheese , butter, cream , some nuts are lower in carbs .

If you give us an idea of your usual meals and snacks we can cast our eyes over it and suggest changes.
If you haven’t read the thread what-did-you-eat-yesterday I suggest you take a look and see what we T2s eat.
 
I like stir-fries of courgette, mushrooms and sweet peppers to liven up the colour - great with any meat or bacon and eggs for breakfast.
I make smoked fish with cauliflower and broccoli, plus a small serving of peas, and huge salads, ready made sweet and crunchy mixed salad, radishes tomato celery coleslaw celeriac, with boiled eggs and sliced or grated cheese - or a tin of tuna.
I only eat twice a day now, I just don't need anything more than a cup or two of good coffee with cream.
When my Hba1c was 91 that was how old I felt, when it got down to 41 the years had definitely rolled back for me.
 
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