Hello guys I’m new here but I was diagnosed a diabetic a couple of years ago I was on tablets but I managed to get everything down to were I didn’t need tablets an I was doing fine but this past couple of months I’ve had a rollercoaster of a time with different things happening my blood sugars are in the mid to late teens early 20s an I’ve just about hit a wall. Can someone help me please
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Type 2 diabetic need help with food choices
- Thread starter Howie
- Start date
- Status
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Sorry to hear you’re having a difficult time. What kind of things were you eating when you were having blood blood sugars without tablets before, and what kind of things are you eating now? It sounds like you might have access to test strips? When do you test at the moment?
janw
Much Missed Member.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Have you let higher carbs sneak back in to your diet? Be that food, snacks or drinks? Have your portion sizes increased? Are you under extra stress? Are you keeping a food diary as well as testing your BG first thing and before/after meals. There are lots of factors that can affect you, but if it continues to be a mystery go see your DN. When did you last have a blood test or have you one due soon? The more info you can provide, the better for a more experienced member to get you going in the right direction....I'm still fairly new to type 2, so really just absorbing the basics. Best of luck
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your initial diagnosis how that came about (symptomatic or routine blood test) your HbA1c at that time. Those BG levels you are getting now are obviously very worrying and if your diet hasn't changed significantly then I wonder if you might not actually be Type 2 but possible a slow onset Type 1 which is sometimes referred to as LADA. At 30 years old now, you were 28 I guess at diagnosis which is younger than the majority of Type 2 diabetics. Can I ask if you are carrying much if any excess weight?
Have you discussed this increase in BG levels with your GP or Diabetes Nurse?
What sort of things are you typically eating?
Do you test before as well as 2 hours after eating or are these random tests or morning fasting tests?
It might be worth getting some Ketostix from a pharmacy (usually about £5-6) and testing your urine for ketones just in case you have been misdiagnosed..... It happened to the best of us 🙄 . If your BG is regularly mid teens or above, you should test for ketones and if you get a reading of more than 1 then seek medical advice quite urgently.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your initial diagnosis how that came about (symptomatic or routine blood test) your HbA1c at that time. Those BG levels you are getting now are obviously very worrying and if your diet hasn't changed significantly then I wonder if you might not actually be Type 2 but possible a slow onset Type 1 which is sometimes referred to as LADA. At 30 years old now, you were 28 I guess at diagnosis which is younger than the majority of Type 2 diabetics. Can I ask if you are carrying much if any excess weight?
Have you discussed this increase in BG levels with your GP or Diabetes Nurse?
What sort of things are you typically eating?
Do you test before as well as 2 hours after eating or are these random tests or morning fasting tests?
It might be worth getting some Ketostix from a pharmacy (usually about £5-6) and testing your urine for ketones just in case you have been misdiagnosed..... It happened to the best of us 🙄 . If your BG is regularly mid teens or above, you should test for ketones and if you get a reading of more than 1 then seek medical advice quite urgently.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi @Howie and welcome to the forum.
Well, seems to me that either you have changed or your diabetes has changed and it would be a good idea to work out a bit sharpish which it is if your BG's are up in that region.
If it were me I'd start with the very simple question, have I changed anything, particularly my diet, which could account for what has happened.
If the answer to that question was yes, or probably yes, then I would be thinking out how I could get back to what was working before.
If the answer is no, or probably no, then I would be getting on to my GP/DN to get them to do what might be needed to get an explanation for the change and what might be done to get things back under control.
Above all don't ignore it!!
Well, seems to me that either you have changed or your diabetes has changed and it would be a good idea to work out a bit sharpish which it is if your BG's are up in that region.
If it were me I'd start with the very simple question, have I changed anything, particularly my diet, which could account for what has happened.
If the answer to that question was yes, or probably yes, then I would be thinking out how I could get back to what was working before.
If the answer is no, or probably no, then I would be getting on to my GP/DN to get them to do what might be needed to get an explanation for the change and what might be done to get things back under control.
Above all don't ignore it!!
Hello everyone Thankyou for your replied. My diet had changed a small bit a couple of months ago an then I started getting really tired an pains in legs at night I was checking my blood sugars as often as I should an then I’ve started to check them on a daily basis morning before breakfast, 2hours after breakfast before lunch after lunch before tea in evening an then before bed at night an then I’ve noticed this past few days I can’t keep them down at all like at night before bed it’s reading 25 an then in morning it’s down to 18 then I have cereal bran flakes an crushed chai seeds an then tested again before my morning tea break an it’s up to 28.5. I was very very stressed in the couple of weeks passed an it’s only really started to settle down if that makes sense. I only just turned 30 an I’ve already had two diabetic cateracts moved from each eye annum afraid of something else happening thanks Howard
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You need to get in touch with your doctor ASAP Howard. Those levels in the high 20s are dangerous.
Whilst Bran Flakes can be quite high in carbs, you should not be going that high and I really think it is likely that you are a misdiagnosed Type 1 in need of insulin. If you start to feel unwell with stomach pains or respiratory problems or your breath smells like pear drops or your levels go above 30, get yourself to A&E straight away. If you can get some Ketostix from the chemist/pharmacy and test your urine in the mean time, then do so. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life threatening complication of high BG levels in Type 1 diabetics and can put you in a coma if not detected and treated soon enough, so please push to see your GP or nurse sooner than later. In the mean time drink plenty of plain water to help flush some of the glucose out of your system.
I might be wrong but much better to play it safe and check for ketones and see your health care professionals.
So sorry to hear about your cataracts. You are very young to be suffering from those complications and it suggests that high BG levels may have been a problem for longer than the 2 years of your diagnosis. Please get checked out ASAP.
Whilst Bran Flakes can be quite high in carbs, you should not be going that high and I really think it is likely that you are a misdiagnosed Type 1 in need of insulin. If you start to feel unwell with stomach pains or respiratory problems or your breath smells like pear drops or your levels go above 30, get yourself to A&E straight away. If you can get some Ketostix from the chemist/pharmacy and test your urine in the mean time, then do so. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life threatening complication of high BG levels in Type 1 diabetics and can put you in a coma if not detected and treated soon enough, so please push to see your GP or nurse sooner than later. In the mean time drink plenty of plain water to help flush some of the glucose out of your system.
I might be wrong but much better to play it safe and check for ketones and see your health care professionals.
So sorry to hear about your cataracts. You are very young to be suffering from those complications and it suggests that high BG levels may have been a problem for longer than the 2 years of your diagnosis. Please get checked out ASAP.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
@Howie, I don't want to be a doom merchant but it would seem that the answer to the question I posed is that it is probable that your blood glucose changes are not due to anything you are doing. More likely that something in your system has changed.
At those levels you need to get onto your GP urgently and they should be ringing the alarm bells. Let us know how you get on.
At those levels you need to get onto your GP urgently and they should be ringing the alarm bells. Let us know how you get on.
Hello again yea I’m going to try an get something organised with my doctor with the whole covid thing it’s hard getting appointments here in Northern Ireland an hospitals are on the brink of breaking point. I tested my blood sugar level again there an it was down to 20 before lunch I had a small yellow pepper cut up into slices and a small banana for my tea break at 10.30
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
@Howie From the moment I was diagnosed five years ago high carb foods have been off my menu other from a few small trials when I first got my blood glucose meter.
Can I ask why you are eating the cereal and high carb foods rather than the usual low carb choices type twos make to control their levels?
Can I ask why you are eating the cereal and high carb foods rather than the usual low carb choices type twos make to control their levels?
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
People are often more sensitive to carbohydrates in the morning so breakfast which is protein and healthy fats are a better option. Eggs in any form, with bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, or full fat Greek yoghurt with berries and nuts or seeds and some people can get away with a small amount of a low sugar cereal like granola or all bran just for the crunch.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Looking at the thread What did you eat Yesterday in the food/recipes forum might give you some ideas for your meal plan and shopping list.
You will probably spend a lot of time looking at labels to start with but looking at the product nutritional information on the supermarket web site can save you time. Make sure you look at the TOTAL carbohydrate and not just the sugars. The traffic light system is pretty useless for diabetics.
Thankyou for that information I just haven’t really got to look into this website I signed up late last night an then been busy with work today hoping to get a good look at the site an what all is in it if that makes sense an hopefully go from there also
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Although your glucose levels are rather high, it is better to get an understanding of what you need to go rather than rush into things. But you should make time as soon as you can.
- Status