Well another health problem to overcome!

[Rachelmax]

Hi everybody I don’t know about you but after a year and a half of massive health problems it was the final straw for me to be diagnosed with Type II diabetes. However the same I have met head-on the other problems I will deal with this one!
It would be great to hear about other peoples problems learning to cope with the diagnosis.

 

[SueEK]

Welcome Rachel, a number of us have other health issues, some chronic and others that are hopefully temporary and being dealt with (in my case VERY slowly). The thing with diabetes is that YOU can really help yourself and that is the one thing I concentrate on, I can make this better or worse for myself, it’s certainly not an easy ride but I’m determined to do all I can to improve my chances. Other things I have no control of whatsoever and feel very frustrated at times.
I’m sorry to hear you have had a lot of other problems and we all wish you well and if we can help in any way just post away xx

 

[KARNAK]

Hello Rachel welcome to the forum.🙂 Glad you found us and ask any question you like, can you let us know what your HbA1c figure was and also any figure of finger prick tests you may have?, are you on any medication for your Diabetes?

 

[Rachelmax]

Hi thank you for your responses. I was diagnosed about a month ago and I think it was 10.6 but to be truthful I don’t remember I am due another blood test in September and see what is happening but I have a Blood monitor it and it’s ranging from 7.2 to 14.1 I have been dieting and lost 16lb and have been very careful with what I am eating so do not know why it is so variable.

A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and within a week An operation to remove it which should have been very successful but within an hour I was back on the operating table as I had a massive bleed which resulted in a complete right-handed/right-sided stroke. I woke up paralysed on my right side could not speak read no with no mobility could not spell or do even simple sums. Since then I am now walking I do use a wheelchair for longer trips and work with my animals breeding Cocker spaniels and pedigree cats .
It has been a long road and I still do not have feeling on my right side but movement has come back and also speech reading for short periods and working within my Pet breeding business.

I would be very happy to receive advice on nice things to eat I have cut out all sweet things love salad Eat meat chicken et cetera and enjoy vegetables. Look forward to hearing from you all.

 

[Rachelmax]

Ps not on medication at the moment

 

[CathyB]

Hi Rachel, welcome. I’ve been type 2 for around 15 months now with a starting bg of 22, I also have heart disease so found it all overwhelming at the start, convinced I would starve to death with all the ‘dont eat’ foods! Thanks to the help I got here, I soon got the hang of a low carb diet, I try to stick between 50 to 100 carbs a day. It took a while to get the hang of it, I kept a food diary and tested before and 2 hours after meals, using the readings to tweak my meals to bring my bg down. Exercise was a big problem because of my heart so I started just going to the end of the road and back, as I built my stamina up, I borrowed my neighbours dog to walk, that way when the dog stopped to pee, I could catch my breath without looking and feeling like an idiot! Within 3 months I was walking for half an hour and my bloods were back in normal range. Within 6 months I was walking for up to an hour and had not had any angina pain for a while, now I am 4 stone lighter, happier and still in normal range, off my metformin and diet controlled, my heart is stronger and I’ve never felt better

 

[Rachelmax]

Hi, Rachel

What an awful experience, and now diabetes on top.

Fresh meat, chicken, fish, eggs, salad and green veg are all good meal choices as they are almost carb free. Fruit can be a challenge as things like bananas are high carb. I don't eat them any more. Berries (blackberries, strawberries, raspberries for example) are low carb, if you can tolerate them - some members can't. Starchy foods like pasta, bread and potatoes are also bad choices although wholegrain versions of pasta and bread are considered better as they are absorbed more slowly. If I have pasta it's a half-portion of wholegrain spelt pasta, and my bread is generally one of the low carb varieties although I use wholegrain granary bread for toast. I also snack on nuts, mainly cashews and almonds and occasionally walnuts.

One book worth reading is Can I Eat That? by Jenefer Roberts, which is aimed specifically at Type 2s. It's not a diet book, although there are some recipes at the end, but it explains what happens when you eat different foods.

If you want to check out the carb content of items that don't come with a nutrition information panel I'd recommend the following websites:-

www.ditchthecarbs.com and www.healthline.com (the latter has lots of dietary advice too).

Wishing you well.

Martin

 

[Rachelmax]

Hi Martin thank you for your reply and helpful information I will certainly look at the book are use an app on my phone which is quite useful good carbs and Cals my doctor recommended it. Hope you have a good day.

 

[Rachelmax]

Hi Rachel, welcome. I’ve been type 2 for around 15 months now with a starting bg of 22, I also have heart disease so found it all overwhelming at the start, convinced I would starve to death with all the ‘dont eat’ foods! Thanks to the help I got here, I soon got the hang of a low carb diet, I try to stick between 50 to 100 carbs a day. It took a while to get the hang of it, I kept a food diary and tested before and 2 hours after meals, using the readings to tweak my meals to bring my bg down. Exercise was a big problem because of my heart so I started just going to the end of the road and back, as I built my stamina up, I borrowed my neighbours dog to walk, that way when the dog stopped to pee, I could catch my breath without looking and feeling like an idiot! Within 3 months I was walking for half an hour and my bloods were back in normal range. Within 6 months I was walking for up to an hour and had not had any angina pain for a while, now I am 4 stone lighter, happier and still in normal range, off my metformin and diet controlled, my heart is stronger and I’ve never felt better

 

[Rachelmax]

Hi Cathy great to hear your story and success. Because I am working with my dogs cats and puppies I do a lot of the exercise around the property but cannot walk very far without tiring as I am still completely numb on my right hand side and fall if I don’t watch my right foot closely. However
However most mornings I take my dogs down to the river which is on my land and is on the hill so I’m pleased I can do that. Well I hope your story continues to be a good one And it’s great to hear from people that have similar problems to me.