When will the acceptance kick in?

[Jo121]

You are clearly intelligent. This gives you a great advantage in dealing with your diabetes. What you need now is good information to work on.
Weight: Although your BMI is excellent you may be what is known as a TOFI (thin on outside fat on inside). This means visceral fat surrounding organs whilst having little subcuntaneous fat. Newcastle University has been running a research program on reducing such fat. The research papers are available on line but here is a start: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/researc...ht/research-spotlight-low-calorie-liquid-diet. You do not have to just eat shakes (although a time saver) and can follow the regime using standard foods.
For easier reading try Dr Michael Moseley: https://thebloodsugardiet.com/michaels-story/. For recipe ideas you may find Diet Doctor helpful. The site has a wide range of information as well as on weight loss. It is free but has a join option at 9 dollars a month. https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/u4 It has a shopping list option which can save time and why not then use click and collect to save supermarket shopping time?
Carbs: We are all different. Some on here can eat 130g of carbs other much less. I try to stick to 20 carbs or less - approaching 30 and BG levels go up to unhealthy levels. You must get a monitor so that you can see how you are doing - others will tell you which are recommended and it is useful to get a good book giving carb and cals info - Carbs and Cals Carb and Calories CounterISBN 978-1-9082611-5-1, available on Amazon, is quite good. The quicker you get your BG under control the less chance of damage and the highest chance of reversing diabetes (going into remission) according to the scientific literature.
Greek yoghurt and berries is a lovely breakfast. Some Greek yoghurts are higher carb than others: Fage 5% is the lowest I have found at 3g carbs per 100gs of yoghurt. Since you are quite slim you could also try Aldis Brooklea 10% fat Greek yoghurt 3.7g carbs - very slightly sharper than Fage but also lovely/creamy/filling. For berries do not have many - the lowest carbs is raspberries at 5g per 100gns of fruit.
Although oats are a lovely cereal they do contain quite a few carbs (oat biscuit 10carbs in 16g of biscuit, oat flakes 60g in 100, porridge made with water 9g per 100g).
Foods: sorry to see that you are not a natural carnivore. However cheese, eggs, fish as well as legumes are options altho' legumes range in carbs between 5 and 58 carbs per 100gms so you need to pick carefully. There are numerous companies which will deliver keto friendly foods - a quick google will find them - I haven't tried any of them as I prefer cooking from scratch, do not have your time constraints and am quite happy with steak and salad as a quick meal - still may be worth a quick look. Many people save time by batch cooking and freezing.
Talk to your Dr before going "full keto" as it may alter the amount of drugs he prescribes for you. In the short term avoiding anything containing flour (e.g. bread, pasta, pizza,scones, pancakes), potatoes, rice, will help.
Good luck and do not get too miserable - this thing can be controlled - and, may I suggest, you get your husband to read some of the info so that he gets on your side and not under your feet when you have a bit of a hill to climb. The view is OK from the top and the piddling/thirst/wibbly wobbly problems will go away once you control the BG.

Thank you this is very helpful although does seem impossible. I dont like fish either and I've really been watching carbs for a week and lowest I've got to is 80g. Top and bottom I literally dont like anything that doesnt have carbs and that's what's making me miserable the thought of not eating anything I like. I'd rather not eat whuchbis where I fear I will get to just skipping meals rather than sitting miserable.

Hubby is trying to understand but he doesnt let anything bother him and his mantra is we are only here once so even if it shortened his life if he was diagnosed he wouldnt change alot. I'm also a little resentful as he eats rubbish all day and drinks gallons of full fat coke every day so I feel out of the two of us he should have this. I've gone from looking forward to meals to dreading them. I'm in such a dark place and I dont know how to get out of it. Think if was short term be ok but for life is just seems impossible. If I was 60 I'd be coping better but 40 I feel like live over. Everything just opened up with covid and I've been asked for so many meals out and cocktails with the girls and I've had to refuse them all. I'm not going to sit miserable whilst they have loads of lovely drinks and food and I have to sit with water and salad.

 

[Teaforme]

Thank you this is very helpful although does seem impossible. I dont like fish either and I've really been watching carbs for a week and lowest I've got to is 80g. Top and bottom I literally dont like anything that doesnt have carbs and that's what's making me miserable the thought of not eating anything I like. I'd rather not eat whuchbis where I fear I will get to just skipping meals rather than sitting miserable.

Hubby is trying to understand but he doesnt let anything bother him and his mantra is we are only here once so even if it shortened his life if he was diagnosed he wouldnt change alot. I'm also a little resentful as he eats rubbish all day and drinks gallons of full fat coke every day so I feel out of the two of us he should have this. I've gone from looking forward to meals to dreading them. I'm in such a dark place and I dont know how to get out of it. Think if was short term be ok but for life is just seems impossible. If I was 60 I'd be coping better but 40 I feel like live over. Everything just opened up with covid and I've been asked for so many meals out and cocktails with the girls and I've had to refuse them all. I'm not going to sit miserable whilst they have loads of lovely drinks and food and I have to sit with water and salad.

It made me feel a lot better when I found out the carb levels for dry sherry and dry white wine were actually really low. I don't drink much, but it is nice to know I can have something when I am out.

 

[PattiEvans]

When I'm eating I feel awful dizzy after. To be honest I felt better when I was undiagnosed as now I'm worried, stressed and down as well as thirsty all the time, peeing all the time, feeling dizzy after eating. It's making me feel like I just dont want to eat

Being dizzy is often a sign of high BGs. Given the symptoms you describe, that have apparently developed since diagnosis it sounds a bit like it's getting progressively worse. I'm rather inclined to agree with @helli and @EllsBells that you need to push for proper diagnostic testing. I missed your comment earlier that you have had Covid and I am reading else where that Covid is increasingly being associated with T1 developing afterwards. If that is the case then you need completely different treatment. Unfortunately a lot of GPs nurses "who see the diabetics" only have the most basic training in the disease and aren't really up to scratch other than dealing with T2. If things continue to get worse then I would certainly push to be seen at the hospital clinic by a proper Endocrinologist.

 

[Jo121]

Being dizzy is often a sign of high BGs. Given the symptoms you describe, that have apparently developed since diagnosis it sounds a bit like it's getting progressively worse. I'm rather inclined to agree with @helli and @EllsBells that you need to push for proper diagnostic testing. I missed your comment earlier that you have had Covid and I am reading else where that Covid is increasingly being associated with T1 developing afterwards. If that is the case then you need completely different treatment. Unfortunately a lot of GPs nurses "who see the diabetics" only have the most basic training in the disease and aren't really up to scratch other than dealing with T2. If things continue to get worse then I would certainly push to be seen at the hospital clinic by a proper Endocrinologist.

My monitor should arrive today so hopefully this will let me know what my sugars are doing. I just feel like I was eating all the carbs running up to diagnosis and didnt feel anywhere near as bad as I feel now but maybe medication and the sudden huge drop in the carbs is causing the issue. I will mention this to my nurse this week

 

[Jo121]

Ok I've got my monitor. Before my lunch 5.3. Is this good/bad? Then I need to see in 2 hours if this jumps up too much- what number is too high of a jump 2 or 3? Thanks

 

[TinaD]

Non-diabetic normal before meals the range is 4.0 - 5.9 and an OK range for a Type 2 is 4 - 7 - so I would call that good as it is in the normal range. 90 mins to 2hrs after your meal you are hoping for a rise of around 2 to 3. The advised ranges post prandial are : normal non-diabetic under 7.8. Type 2 under 8.5. Do not panic if you are a bit over - meters are useful but not 100% accurate.

 

[Teaforme]

I'm sorry to sound like a party pooper but even in remission we're unlikely to be able to eat "normally" unless we want to take a risk on being right back where we started.

I'm not ready to hear that yet. I love baking. The idea of not being able to enjoy a slice of crusty bread again, or a slice of cake is too difficult to deal with. So I'm going to put my fingers in my ears and pretend I will still be able to do my usual Christmas baking next November/ December.
If it turns out I can't I will deal with it then. But being diagnosed with 2 chronic illnesses within 3 months + menopause is quite enough for me to deal with for now.

 

[TinaD]

I'm sorry to sound like a party pooper but even in remission we're unlikely to be able to eat "normally" unless we want to take a risk on being right back where we started.

It is arguable where the line between good BG control and remission lies. Equally what is "normal" eating must differ considerably person to person. Further there appears to be, over the long term, greatly different carb tolerances amongst T2s. However getting the BG into consistent normal levels does at least open the future prospect of being able to enjoy some carbs without doing oneself lasting harm. The Newcastle research is showing 36% of participants remaining in remission at 2 years...it does, however, anticipate a degree of caution and weight monitoring. Once normal levels are achieved then cautious and monitored inrtoduction of more carbs a bit at a time should indicate whereabouts one's natural set point is - mine is drearily low but others on here seem to have found they can tolerate quite reasonable levels of carb consumption.

 

[PattiEvans]

Ok I've got my monitor. Before my lunch 5.3. Is this good/bad? Then I need to see in 2 hours if this jumps up too much- what number is too high of a jump 2 or 3? Thanks

5.3 doesn't look like you are T1 at least. So that is good.

 

[Jo121]

Thank you

Non-diabetic normal before meals the range is 4.0 - 5.9 and an OK range for a Type 2 is 4 - 7 - so I would call that good as it is in the normal range. 90 mins to 2hrs after your meal you are hoping for a rise of around 2 to 3. The advised ranges post prandial are : normal non-diabetic under 7.8. Type 2 under 8.5. Do not panic if you are a bit over - meters are useful but not 100% accurate.

Was 7.3 90 mins after eating so assume that's good? I assume because I'm on metformin
That's keeping me right and it's not my diet been correct? Does this also mean what I was eating is ok and hasnt given me a spike?

5.3 doesn't look like you are T1 at least. So that is good.

 

[Jo121]

If you were 5.3 beforehand and 7.3 90 minutes later that's a good result. I'd be happy if I got those numbers.

Metformin improves the way your body handles insulin but on its own won't bring your HbA1c down to where it needs to be. You still need to look at your carb level.

Thank you.

 

[Drummer]

Rather than keep on eating the high carb foods, why not make and eat a low carb foods. There is the option to make 'fat head' pizza, have cheese waffles rather than wraps, low carb pancakes are just as simple to make as ones with flour, make crusty bread from low carb ingredients and a curry with chopped cauliflower seems fine (the cauliflower rice doesn't suit me). Even non diabetics like my cauliflower cheese.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you

Was 7.3 90 mins after eating so assume that's good? I assume because I'm on metformin
That's keeping me right and it's not my diet been correct? Does this also mean what I was eating is ok and hasnt given me a spike?

Those numbers look good so you need to keep a meticulous record of what you had to eat, any exercise you had against your before and after result.
A couple of things occur to me as those readings don't suggest your HbA1C would be as high as it is so have you had any tests for anaemia as that can affect the accuracy of the HbA1C. Also if you have had COVID then that can elevate blood glucose levels as can the stress of it and now the anxiety of your diagnosis.
Now you have your meter you can look at some of the meals you like but maybe avoid some of the very high carb foods and test to see what portion you can tolerate looking for the 2-3mmol/l increase after 2hrs.
I would suggest you ask for some advise from a dietician or counselling to help you come to terms with your food anxiety. Your employer may be able to offer some counselling help.
Getting things back on track will be a gradual journey and as you are fit and active that will help hugely.
I hope you will excuse me for saying this but you need to be careful not to project your food fear onto your children.
You presumably had some symptoms which prompted the HbA1C test in the first place, how soon was that after you had Covid, it might be worth asking for a repeat test.

 

[Jo121]

Those numbers look good so you need to keep a meticulous record of what you had to eat, any exercise you had against your before and after result.
A couple of things occur to me as those readings don't suggest your HbA1C would be as high as it is so have you had any tests for anaemia as that can affect the accuracy of the HbA1C. Also if you have had COVID then that can elevate blood glucose levels as can the stress of it and now the anxiety of your diagnosis.
Now you have your meter you can look at some of the meals you like but maybe avoid some of the very high carb foods and test to see what portion you can tolerate looking for the 2-3mmol/l increase after 2hrs.
I would suggest you ask for some advise from a dietician or counselling to help you come to terms with your food anxiety. Your employer may be able to offer some counselling help.
Getting things back on track will be a gradual journey and as you are fit and active that will help hugely.
I hope you will excuse me for saying this but you need to be careful not to project your food fear onto your children.
You presumably had some symptoms which prompted the HbA1C test in the first place, how soon was that after you had Covid, it might be worth asking for a repeat test.

I dont mind you saying this at all as it is my fear that I affect their relationship with food so it is a concern.
I had medical attention for covid as was quite poorly with it (end of march). They did a blood glucose spot test as part of checking me over and it was over 15 (I had just had 2 spoons of sugary cough medicine) so advised I got checked for diabetes. Before covid I had been feeling a slight dry mouth but nothing major.

I was exhausted as well after covid but just put that down to covid. My test was 4 weeks after covid. I'm getting the bloods redone on tues as well as cholesterol and urine tests. I assume been on metformin this is what is controlling my numbers now though?

What's baffling me is how bad I'm feeling now I'm on medication and trying hard with my food. Before I found out I was a little tired. Since I've started clean eating and drop my carbs I'm thirsty and have a dry mouth all the time, I'm peeing constantly and I'm often dizzy. Just did blood before tea and it was 6.1 (did have a nibble of stuff whilst cooking then remembered I shouldnt have)

 

[Leadinglights]

I dont mind you saying this at all as it is my fear that I affect their relationship with food so it is a concern.
I had medical attention for covid as was quite poorly with it (end of march). They did a blood glucose spot test as part of checking me over and it was over 15 (I had just had 2 spoons of sugary cough medicine) so advised I got checked for diabetes. Before covid I had been feeling a slight dry mouth but nothing major.

I was exhausted as well after covid but just put that down to covid. My test was 4 weeks after covid. I'm getting the bloods redone on tues as well as cholesterol and urine tests. I assume been on metformin this is what is controlling my numbers now though?

What's baffling me is how bad I'm feeling now I'm on medication and trying hard with my food. Before I found out I was a little tired. Since I've started clean eating and drop my carbs I'm thirsty and have a dry mouth all the time, I'm peeing constantly and I'm often dizzy. Just did blood before tea and it was 6.1 (did have a nibble of stuff whilst cooking then remembered I shouldnt have)

As you did have a diet that was quite high in carbs you could be experiencing 'Keto flu' which is much like getting withdrawal symptoms. I should mention the symptoms you are getting to your G P. People are underestimating the time it takes to recover from Covid so you are probably still suffering from that.
I really was worried about what I said, so thank you.

 

[pm133]

Hi @Jo121,

Acceptance takes some time and will kick in when you realise that your top priority is sorting out your health. Above your husband, your kids and absolutely your work.

You need to focus on your health right now. The sooner you develop a feel for how to control your blood glucose levels, the sooner you can get back to those other priorities. If you don't sort your health, all those other priorities will suffer hugely as you are finding out. That might take a few weeks or months depending on how you get on. There are no shortcuts to this I'm afraid.

Everyone on here will probably have a different story about their acceptance journey but we've all been through the process. Mine was accepting the drugs needed to control my neuropathic pain. Those drugs cause fogginess which have effectively ended my career in science because I struggle to work with maths now. Without those pills I couldn't function at all though because of the pain. Personally, it took me a few months to fully accept I was limited and I still get frustrated from time to time but I'm in a better place now.

Good luck with your journey.

 

[Nayshiftin]

I'm now a week and 2 days past diagnosis and I just cant accept it. I start the day ok but by tea time I'm just sad. By sad I mean I just stand cooking our meals and cry my heart out. This is then me down and upset crying on and off for the night. Its causing huge arguments between me and my husband as he doesnt understand. I feel like I'm mourning my own life. It's so overwhelming and it's also affecting my kids as I'm struggling to hide it from them. My 7 year old is playing up and I feel like I've no fun left in me for them as feel like the joy has been sucked from me.

Hi, Hang in there and keep talking to everyone here eventually you will really if you are anything like me feel well supported. I am going through the angry stage I think of grief and unlike yourself, I need to lose loads of weight. It is a huge change and I am sure you will settle. Some things I am really enjoying others I feel very angry. Gone are the days when I can just eat and not think. However, I am thinking that is positive as I spent so long thinking this would just disappear and that no I'd not have diabetes. I thought it was because I was fat they were picking on me as a pre-diabetic if I had done something then maybe I'd have felt better and in remission now. Good luck it will come and you will get to the point where you see the journey and with so many others you will not be alone

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thank you

Was 7.3 90 mins after eating so assume that's good? I assume because I'm on metformin
That's keeping me right and it's not my diet been correct? Does this also mean what I was eating is ok and hasnt given me a spike?

Those look like great results @Jo121

You really are going through the mill at the moment. Be kind to yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint... and things will get easier. You are making big changes, and it feels like these do not seem sustainable to you. Hopefully with a little experimentation you can strike a balance between moderating your carb intake for improved results, and allowing yourself enough freedom give you a menu you can enjoy long term.