Type 2 Newbie - Totally lost

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Bristol*Emma

Bristol*Emma

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello everyone

Last week I received my Type 2 diagnosis at 50. It wasn't a complete shock as I have PCOS.

My GP gave me a prescription of metformin (500mg twice daily, slow release. I've taken it before for PCOS) and told me to expect a call from the diabetic nurse but it would be a couple of months due to availability.

I was given 2 readings, my blood sugar was 17.4 and my ?ketone 0.1 but no explanation as to what they mean.

I've made some immediate changes to my diet, which I knew I needed to make. I've cut right down on diet coke (which I drank far too much of anyway) and am drinking water, swapped breakfast cereals for eggs and cut out crisps as my go to snack.

I am currently feeling completely lost and any advice and guidance is very greatly appreciated.

Thank you all

Emma
 
Bristol*Emma said:
Hello everyone

Last week I received my Type 2 diagnosis at 50. It wasn't a complete shock as I have PCOS.

My GP gave me a prescription of metformin (500mg twice daily, slow release. I've taken it before for PCOS) and told me to expect a call from the diabetic nurse but it would be a couple of months due to availability.

I was given 2 readings, my blood sugar was 17.4 and my ?ketone 0.1 but no explanation as to what they mean.

I've made some immediate changes to my diet, which I knew I needed to make. I've cut right down on diet coke (which I drank far too much of anyway) and am drinking water, swapped breakfast cereals for eggs and cut out crisps as my go to snack.

I am currently feeling completely lost and any advice and guidance is very greatly appreciated.

Thank you all

Emma
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Can you clarify what the 17.4 was as if that was the result of a finger prick at your surgery it would be in mmol/l and is just a spot test and is not usually used for diagnosis. The test used for that would be from a blood sample taken from your arm and sent to the lab, the result would be in mmol/mol and a diabetic diagnosis would be anything over 47mmol/mol. Ketones are produced when blood glucose is high and if high the danger is for somebody to get DKA which would require immediate medical attention, at 0.1 that is low and fine.
You are right that you will need to make some dietary changes as well as taking the metformin. Good swaps of the cereals as they are high carb and also the crisps. There is no need to ditch diet coke as it is zero carb.
This link may help you with some explanation and some menu ideas for a low carb approach https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
There are other ways people manage their condition, low calorie, shakes-based regimes but whatever you choose has to be enjoyable otherwise it will not be sustainable long term. It really has to become a new way of eating.
It is important to find out what your HbA1C is as that will indicate how much work you will need to do. If they have not done that test then request that it be done as just a finger prick test can vary due to lots of factors on the day whereas the HbA1C is an average over the previous 3 months.
 
It was a finger prick. I had a full routine blood test 2 days before but was only told it had shown I was diabetic and had been for a couple of months.

What should I be asking?
 
Bristol*Emma said:
It was a finger prick. I had a full routine blood test 2 days before but was only told it had shown I was diabetic and had been for a couple of months.

What should I be asking?
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You should ask what the result of that HbA1C blood test was. The actual number not just high, a bit high as that really does help you know how much you will need to do from some modest changes to your diet in terms of cutting out some obvious foods like cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks and reducing portions of high carb foods to needing to also cut some of those out.
 
Leadinglights said:
You should ask what the result of that HbA1C blood test was. The actual number not just high, a bit high as that really does help you know how much you will need to do from some modest changes to your diet in terms of cutting out some obvious foods like cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks and reducing portions of high carb foods to needing to also cut some of those out.
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Thank you. On the list for Monday
 
Hope your appointment goes well @Bristol*Emma

Let us know how it goes!
 
Good luck with your appointment, Emma.

When I was first diagnosed I got my HbA1c down from 50 to 39 with diet alone. I believe the HbA1c threshold for diagnosis is 48 and I agree, it is important to know where you are starting from so that you can track how well you are doing when they test next time. ...Sounds like you have got off to a great start: )
 
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Hi Everyone, especially @Ruby/London @Leadinglights and @everydayupsanddowns I've just rung tge doctors, my HbA1c was 108 and I have an appointment with the diabetic nurse at the practice next week.

I can see I have a very long way to go but I have lost 1kg this week.

Any hints and tips are welcome
 
We have had several members who have started with HbA1c in the 90s or 100s who have been able to return to non-D levels by reducing the amount of carbohydrate in their diet to a level their body can cope with (with or without the help of meds).

Well done on the weight loss too! Losing weight - especially around the abdomen / visceral fat - can be a huge help as it can improve insulin sensitivity and in some cases reboot pancreatic function.

As a precaution I would suggest making any changes gradually, and trying to reduce your levels gently over a few months rather than trying to go at it ‘all guns blazing’. If your levels have been high for a while it can be gentler on the fine blood vessels and nerve endings to bring things down gradually over a longer time period.
 
I was 150 at diagnosis. Diet and losing weight sorted it for me. The last 3 HbA1c results were 37 (I think). So your doing the right things in sorting your diet as best you can. Losing 'internal' fat also helps.

Has anyone suggested reducing your carb intake and increasing your protein and fats intake at any point?

Do you test your own blood to get an idea what foods affect you adversely?
 
Gwynn said:
Has anyone suggested reducing your carb intake and increasing your protein and fats intake at any point?

Do you test your own blood to get an idea what foods affect you adversely?
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Re the Carbs, I picked that up from this forum. My doctor just sent me away with metformin and I chased up with the practice for an appointment with the DN which is now next week.


Luckily I don't like potatoes (apart from crisp and chips), root vegetables, biscuits or cakes, pasta (but love courgetti), and only like small servings of rice. My downfall is sweets, chocolate, ice cream, cereals, and crisps.

So fortnight one change has been cutting out crisps and eating a healthier breakfast (usually an omelette with a small bit of cheese, tomatoes, onion and mushrooms - which I love)

Fortnight two change is going to be getting back to making making my own pasta sauce and soups but low carb versions.

I will raise testing on my appointment next week
 
Bristol*Emma said:
I've just rung the doctors, my HbA1c was 108
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That's high but not as high as mine was (114) but by exercising more (walking & swimming), losing some weight (15kgs) and sticking to a max 130g of carbs per day my HbA1c results dropped below pre-diabetes level and I've managed to keep them there.

Despite what most HCPs say, testing has helped me enormously, especially the pre-meal and post-meal checks in the early days which enabled me to fix my diet. Fortunately my DN was more enlightened. When I got my diagnosis she told me to pick up a test kit from Reception on my way out, even though I was only prescribed Metformin. That doesn't always happen, so be prepared to be told you don't need to test when you raise it at your appointment.
 
Hi a quick.update from me. I had my appointment with the practice, but it a diabetic screening appointment not with the diabetic nurse. This apparently is a annual appointment which will take bloods, urine and check my feet. Going forward this will happen in my birthday month, so 9 months until the next one.

They were clear with me that they couldn't answer any questions at that appointment, however did book me a telephone appointment with the DN for Tuesday next week so I can finally talk to someone.

The good news is I am loosing about 0.75kg a week and I am feeling a lot better in myself and the nurse was very pleased with my weight loss.
 
Well done!
 
Bristol*Emma said:
Hi a quick.update from me. I had my appointment with the practice, but it a diabetic screening appointment not with the diabetic nurse. This apparently is a annual appointment which will take bloods, urine and check my feet. Going forward this will happen in my birthday month, so 9 months until the next one.

They were clear with me that they couldn't answer any questions at that appointment, however did book me a telephone appointment with the DN for Tuesday next week so I can finally talk to someone.

The good news is I am loosing about 0.75kg a week and I am feeling a lot better in myself and the nurse was very pleased with my weight loss.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update @Bristol*Emma

Well done on your progress so far, and good to hear that you’ve got an appointment next week to chat things through. Let us know how that goes!
 
Bristol*Emma said:
Hello everyone

Last week I received my Type 2 diagnosis at 50. It wasn't a complete shock as I have PCOS.

My GP gave me a prescription of metformin (500mg twice daily, slow release. I've taken it before for PCOS) and told me to expect a call from the diabetic nurse but it would be a couple of months due to availability.

I was given 2 readings, my blood sugar was 17.4 and my ?ketone 0.1 but no explanation as to what they mean.

I've made some immediate changes to my diet, which I knew I needed to make. I've cut right down on diet coke (which I drank far too much of anyway) and am drinking water, swapped breakfast cereals for eggs and cut out crisps as my go to snack.

I am currently feeling completely lost and any advice and guidance is very greatly appreciated.

Thank you all

Emma
Click to expand...
Hi Emma. I was diagnosed T2 sometimes 4 years ago. Metformin is the drug we all take. The first time you get scared like i did. Then you get tired and all become normal. Make a balance in food. Drink lot of water and value will drop. Keep value under 10. Avoid as much as you can stress. Eat 3 times a day at least. Change some food habit. Quit smoking. Talk here with peoples and you will see that there is life with T2 diabetes if you are looking after you. We keep in touch if you like. Big hug
Gabby
 
Gabriela said:
Eat 3 times a day at least.
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Whilst that might be something you choose to do, it’s not a requirement for managing diabetes.
 
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