Waves - Type 2 tree frog checking in

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rn1980

rn1980

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi,

my name's rachel - thought I'd say hello.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last week and I'm still sort of getting my head around it. I've been prescribed metaformin by a wonderful diabetic nurse and she talked me through the condition and what to expect.

I'd just started trying to eat healthier after christmas as weight has always been an issue for me. I thought I was being well behaved just drinking Volvic touch of fruit - because I was drinking 4 litres of water a day that way. Jeez louise, I've just seen how much sugar was in those puppies. 😱

Anyhoo. Got my prescription to begin taking tomorrow - have done the sample thang and due to go back this week to get my tootsies checked. Going to scout the supermarket tomorrow night for fruit and veggies. Any hints and tips of ranges of products to look for or recipe's to try would be very welcome.

x
 
Hi Rachel!

Try to eat things with a LGI like porridge etc.
Fruit wise just be careful coz some fruits are very sugary (I don't know if you have an appointment with a dietician to go through things). I find pineapple, grapes spike my blood sugars & I need extra insulin.

There is a thread on here (ill have a look & tell you) where northerner recommended books to a newly diagnosed T2, Which might help you.

I can vaguely remember a recipe for chicken fijitas from a cooking with diabetes cookbook, if you like I'll pm you it 🙂
 
The thread is the one called hi guys - newbie type 2 (it's currently below your thread)
 
Hello Rachel and welcome. Fortunately there's a lot you can do to improve your lot, and there are lots of us out there who can anser the multitude of questions you'll have. If you think weight loss will help, have a browse through the Weight Loss threads. And there's the Food/carbs thread for help with what to eat.
 
Hi Rachel, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but the good news is that, now you have been diagnosed you can tackle this thing and there is no reason why you shouldn't end up feeling happier and healthier than you may have done for some time. Diabetes is a seriosu condition, but it is manageable, and it's great that you have found us so quickly as there is a wealth of experience here for you to draw on should you have any questions - so fire away!

I would suggest starting by reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter, and getting hold of a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. These will give you an excellent introduction to diabetes, and hopefully by feeling better informed it won't seem quite so scary. There is lots more good information in our 'Useful Links' thread. As for diet, what you need to concentrate on is making sure your meals are not overloaded with carbohydrate, and what you eat releases its energy slowly and steadily so has less of an impact on your blood sugar levels. This is known as a low GI/GL diet (Glycaemic Index/Glycaemic Load) - The GL Diet for Dummies is a good introduction to get you started 🙂

Try not to become overloaded with information though, take your time to absorb and understand things, and if there is anything that is confusing you, please ask - no question is considered 'silly'! 🙂 Hope things go well with the medication, what have you been given?
 
Welcome to the forum! (I'm liking the avatar). 🙂

When I was diagnosed in October 2009, the first thing I did when I left hospital was to factor in a walk every day (and I mean every day!). I took it slow at first and not too long, but gradually built it up to a regular 1hr brisk walk.

At first it was difficult because I was getting very weak towards the end of a walk (probably because my blood sugar levels were lower than before causing what they call a "false hypo"). To counter-act that, I kept a small packet of glucose tablets in my pocket, but only had one or two if I really felt bad! The feelings of false hypo eventually faded after a few months.

Within three months (and after sorting my diet out) I was able to stop all medication and was able to control my diabetes with diet and exercise only. By the way, this is a decision you need to make for yourself because metformin is understood to have certain additional medical benefits which you may want to take advantage of. I've talked too much already, so if you want to know more, I'm sure that others can take up the 'cudgel' so to speak!

Good luck with everything,

Andy 🙂
 
rn1980 said:
Hi,

my name's rachel - thought I'd say hello.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last week and I'm still sort of getting my head around it. I've been prescribed metaformin by a wonderful diabetic nurse and she talked me through the condition and what to expect.

x
Click to expand...

Hi there,

you shouldn't actually have been prescribed Metformin so early.
The recommendation over the last four years and now enshrined in NICE T2 Guidelines is that new T2s should be given a 3 or 6 month trial of Diet and Exercise only because they need to understand the absolute necessity for Lifestyle changes before meds are used as props.

Having said that there is no definite Programme of Diet and Exercise for new T2s just vague references to Heart-healthy diets.

Specific diets that have been suggested in the past for T2s include Weight Watchers and Slimming World.

In general the NHS and DiABETES UK recommend a low GI, Mediterranean style diet with between 45 and 60% of the calories coming from Carbs depending on physical activity/job.

But start by reading Maggie Davey's Open Letter to a Newly Diagnosed T2 which has already been recommended to you.

"Carbohydrate Awareness" is now the buzz word for T2s. The X-Pert Patient T2 Diabetes Course ( try get onto that course if you can ) suggests we treat 15 grams of Carbohydrate as a "Carb Portion" and have been between 8 and 15 CPs per day depending on how physically active you are.

Losing weight is very important, losing just 10% of your body weight can significantly reduce Insulin Resistance ( what you are chielfy suffering from ).

"Test,test,test" and "Eat to your Meter" are the mantras of many T2s with good control.
 
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Lauras87 said:
Hi Rachel!

Try to eat things with a LGI like porridge etc.
Fruit wise just be careful coz some fruits are very sugary (I don't know if you have an appointment with a dietician to go through things). I find pineapple, grapes spike my blood sugars & I need extra insulin.

There is a thread on here (ill have a look & tell you) where northerner recommended books to a newly diagnosed T2, Which might help you.

I can vaguely remember a recipe for chicken fijitas from a cooking with diabetes cookbook, if you like I'll pm you it 🙂
Click to expand...

I've started the day with a banana and the metformin tablet. The DN has referred me for a dieticians appointment at the local hospital and I'm waiting for that to come through before I start planning my diet fully. For the moment though I'm going to try to go for low fat, low sugar foods if I can. I have a trip to make to Morrison's tonight to get the weekly shop in so I guess I'll spend a little longer than normal and work out a general meal plan for the week with light options and salady bits and bobs. I believe morrisons do a range of sugar free flavoured waters and, as for fizzies, I could definitely stock up with some coke zero. Om nom nom.

I generally find that i sort of slump mid afternoon and need a little pick me up at that point to power through as feel very sleepy. I'm not sure if this is what's known as a hypo - have so much reading to do (thanks all for the suggestions for books)... I'm thinking should plan ahead and make sure to take fruit to work. Are nuts okay as a snack? have a bag of pecans that seem to be shouting my name right now.

I guess it's a case really of finding out what's going to work for me long term and not letting it define me. Someone mentioned that the DN shouldn't have put me on medication straight away but as I'm around 18 stone I wonder if it was done due to my weight being what it is.

x
 
oh and yes please to the fajita recipe. :D
 
Hi Rachel, the metformin prescription could have been for its weight loss properties, best ask about that. For me, the metformin combined with Slimming World (original plan, which is lower carb than the others) and increased exercise has got me down from 17st 6 to 12st 4.5 in 10 months. Blood glucose levels good now. Let's hope that low fat/carb works just as well for you.

P.S. It's all about total carbs, not just sugar.
 
rn1980 said:
I've started the day with a banana and the metformin tablet.

I generally find that i sort of slump mid afternoon and need a little pick me up at that point to power through as feel very sleepy. I'm not sure if this is what's known as a hypo - have so much reading to do (thanks all for the suggestions for books
x
Click to expand...

The sleepy feeling in the afternoon is probably the opposite of a hypo... its a hyper (hyperglycemia) - highly raised blood glucose levels. At this stage of the game your battle is with hypers not hypos.

Don't focus on sugar so much, its about Carbohydrates ( Spuds, Rice, Pasta, Bread, Cakes, Cereal, Fruits) and sugar is only involved because it is a fast acting carbohydrate. Start to moderate carbs in your diet,you have lost the ability to biochemically process them effectively.

Bananas are not such a great idea for breakfast, they raise bgs quickly in most people.Many diabetics would keep a banana as emergency rations for a hypo.
 
rn1980 said:
I've started the day with a banana and the metformin tablet. The DN has referred me for a dieticians appointment at the local hospital and I'm waiting for that to come through before I start planning my diet fully. For the moment though I'm going to try to go for low fat, low sugar foods if I can. I have a trip to make to Morrison's tonight to get the weekly shop in so I guess I'll spend a little longer than normal and work out a general meal plan for the week with light options and salady bits and bobs. I believe morrisons do a range of sugar free flavoured waters and, as for fizzies, I could definitely stock up with some coke zero. Om nom nom.

I generally find that i sort of slump mid afternoon and need a little pick me up at that point to power through as feel very sleepy. I'm not sure if this is what's known as a hypo - have so much reading to do (thanks all for the suggestions for books)... I'm thinking should plan ahead and make sure to take fruit to work. Are nuts okay as a snack? have a bag of pecans that seem to be shouting my name right now.

I guess it's a case really of finding out what's going to work for me long term and not letting it define me. Someone mentioned that the DN shouldn't have put me on medication straight away but as I'm around 18 stone I wonder if it was done due to my weight being what it is.

x
Click to expand...

when i was diagnosed & first went supermarket shopping it took us 3 times longer due to reading labels for calculations for insulin.
i dont have a clue about nuts i'm afraid - i dont like them (they are evil!)
i will try to remember the recipe coz so far all i have is 2 peppers, 1 red onion, 1 lime, chicken, chili flakes & wraps
 
Nuts are fine, as most will have little impact on your blood sugar levels. Walnuts are amongst the best as they have other beneficial qualities 🙂 The only real drawback with nuts is that they are high calorie, so you need to be careful if you are trying to lose weight.
 
Welcome to the forum Rachel 🙂
 
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