Hi all newly diagnosed type 2 today, due to thirst, peeing loads and recurrent problems down below thought I'd better get sorted. 44 years of age. Run/walk/Zumba every week but my diets rubbish so can't help thinking it's all my own fault. Feeling bit scared espesh as my levels were 18 and should be 3 from blood tests.(
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What do i do now??
- Thread starter Caz73
- Start date
- Status
Ralph-YK
Much missed Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum Caz from a fellow T2.
I don't know of anything diabetes related level that should be 3. Was 18 a HbA1c result, finger prick or something else? Do you know your HbA1c? There are two scales used for HbA1c. A currently one and an old one that some people are still using. There is also the finger prick test, which is completely different (although the results look like one of the scales used for the HbA1c). It makes things less confusing if you actually know whitch test we're talking about.
You could try self testing (finger prick test) and keeping a food diary. If you test before and after eating, this will show you what affect your food has, as well as any changes you make. After a couple of weeks hopefully you'll start to see a pattern.
As diabetics it's carbohydrates that we have to manage.
I don't know of anything diabetes related level that should be 3. Was 18 a HbA1c result, finger prick or something else? Do you know your HbA1c? There are two scales used for HbA1c. A currently one and an old one that some people are still using. There is also the finger prick test, which is completely different (although the results look like one of the scales used for the HbA1c). It makes things less confusing if you actually know whitch test we're talking about.
You could try self testing (finger prick test) and keeping a food diary. If you test before and after eating, this will show you what affect your food has, as well as any changes you make. After a couple of weeks hopefully you'll start to see a pattern.
As diabetics it's carbohydrates that we have to manage.
Ljc
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Hello @Caz73 , welcome to the forum. Like @Ralph-YK I’m somewhat confused about those levels too.
However I would like to reassure you that with the right info , which you will get plenty of here and a bit of work from yourself, Diabetes is a condition that can be well managed.
Once your glucose levels come down you will start to feel much better in yourself, tiredness,thirst , peeing and other problems will clear up.
Their are a lot of misconceptions about diabetes, diabetes is not so much about our sugar intake , though it does play a part , it’s really carbohydrates, especially the fast acting ones, sugar is just one of them.
Now the last thing you need to do is to try and cut carbohydrates out of your diet, for one thing it’s impossible as even a humble lettuce leaf has some carbs in it , for another thing you’ll only be setting yourself up to fail and it’s boring .
We usually have no problems with protein and this is probably going to supprise you, good fats.
Just to give you a few ideas on some good things to eat.
If you eat meat, meat is fine as are high meat content sausages and burgers, cheese, butter, cream, milk, eggs cooked anyway you like, veg that grows above ground tends to be less carby than root veg, mushrooms berries (not grapes) are often tolerated better than other fruits honestly Their is so much more we can eat.
The ones we may need to reduce or find substitutes for are.
Potatoes esp mashed, pasta, rice, bread esp white, breakfast cereals, things made with flour , fruit juice though considered healthy is full of fructose as are grapes we call them little sugar bombs on here, fruit that originated in hot climates often shoots up our blood glucose.
Your now thinking OMG but You’ll be please to know their are good substitutes for some of the above.
Till you find substitutes you like fill up on veg that grows above ground and perhaps bigger portions of those in the first list.
Ask as many questions as you need to.
Have a read of the following links
maggie-daveys-letter-to-newly-diagnosed-type-2s
test-review-adjust by Alan S
This may give you some ideas on what to eat, bear in mind we report our sins here too.
what-did-you-eat-yesterday
However I would like to reassure you that with the right info , which you will get plenty of here and a bit of work from yourself, Diabetes is a condition that can be well managed.
Once your glucose levels come down you will start to feel much better in yourself, tiredness,thirst , peeing and other problems will clear up.
Their are a lot of misconceptions about diabetes, diabetes is not so much about our sugar intake , though it does play a part , it’s really carbohydrates, especially the fast acting ones, sugar is just one of them.
Now the last thing you need to do is to try and cut carbohydrates out of your diet, for one thing it’s impossible as even a humble lettuce leaf has some carbs in it , for another thing you’ll only be setting yourself up to fail and it’s boring .
We usually have no problems with protein and this is probably going to supprise you, good fats.
Just to give you a few ideas on some good things to eat.
If you eat meat, meat is fine as are high meat content sausages and burgers, cheese, butter, cream, milk, eggs cooked anyway you like, veg that grows above ground tends to be less carby than root veg, mushrooms berries (not grapes) are often tolerated better than other fruits honestly Their is so much more we can eat.
The ones we may need to reduce or find substitutes for are.
Potatoes esp mashed, pasta, rice, bread esp white, breakfast cereals, things made with flour , fruit juice though considered healthy is full of fructose as are grapes we call them little sugar bombs on here, fruit that originated in hot climates often shoots up our blood glucose.
Your now thinking OMG but You’ll be please to know their are good substitutes for some of the above.
Till you find substitutes you like fill up on veg that grows above ground and perhaps bigger portions of those in the first list.
Ask as many questions as you need to.
Have a read of the following links
maggie-daveys-letter-to-newly-diagnosed-type-2s
test-review-adjust by Alan S
This may give you some ideas on what to eat, bear in mind we report our sins here too.
what-did-you-eat-yesterday
Last edited:
Hi @Caz73, welcome 
Lin has said it really, all I would add is take some time to read through the posts here and you will see we have all been where you are now and all lived to talk about it 🙄 The diet changes are honestly not as bad as you think, I chose to go low carb and feel so much better now, I fact my daughter was so impressed with the difference it made for me that she has also switched to the same and she isn’t diabetic 🙄
Lin has said it really, all I would add is take some time to read through the posts here and you will see we have all been where you are now and all lived to talk about it 🙄 The diet changes are honestly not as bad as you think, I chose to go low carb and feel so much better now, I fact my daughter was so impressed with the difference it made for me that she has also switched to the same and she isn’t diabetic 🙄Jojo catwoman
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi, I was diagnosed last June and I have already learnt a lot. But this is for life so I think you never stop learning.
As already mentioned, it's the carbs you have to watch. With myself, I am trying to get rid of belly fat. I have already lost weight and I know if I lose more, it will improve things for me.
My original reading on diagnosis was 17, three days later it was 24.5, as I was unwell. Thankfully, I haven't been that high since and after being at 12 - 14 for a while, I am now averaging at 6 - 9 presently.
It's great that you already are exercising. I didn't do much, but try to do some now. A reading of 3 seems low to me, but perhaps someone here can advise you on that. I was told I must not drop below 4. But when you are much higher, that seems impossible. 🙂
Ralph-YK
Much missed Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
On the finger prick test, anything under 4 is a hypo and not good. (Some people have used the phrase "4 is the floor".) The general advice is keep above 4, or even 5. There are requirements for drivers on insulin or gliticide, including a minimume lever from a finger prick test of 5 I believe.
Many thanks for your reply Ive got my first appointment with the nurse next week so will get more info then. Just all a bit scary at the moment trying to read up as much as possible and also started the metaformin today too. X
Hey thanks everyone good to have advice on food too, I've just been overloading on carbs too much in the last few years so it's a big change. I feel slightly ashamed as there is such a cliche with saying you're type 2 as ppl. automatically assume you're obese and unfit. I've just finished couch to 5 k this year! But I come home after runs and eat c**p that's my problem. Thanks all yet again I'll have a good read of this page xx
Loulou23
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Caz73
I’m not sure but I have lots of interesting meds for various things and metformin doesn’t seem to interact with them. I think it’s one of the positives of metformin
I would say if it’s upsetting your tummy watch the ibuprofen on top as both can irritate your stomach
I’m not sure but I have lots of interesting meds for various things and metformin doesn’t seem to interact with them. I think it’s one of the positives of metformin
I would say if it’s upsetting your tummy watch the ibuprofen on top as both can irritate your stomach
Thanks Lou it's all very strange and new to me x
AdeleTurner72
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Caz.
Welcome to the forum. I take ibuprofen and paracetamol if I need to. Neither seems to interact or affect my metformin.
Good luck xxx
Eddy Edson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- In remission from Type 2
Same here.
- Status