Where to start!

tiptoptapper said:
So almost two weeks since diagnosis. Still only on 1 x metformin. Will increase to 2 x a day this weekend.
Finger pricks are now between 10 & 12 with a couple of high 9s here and there. They were high teens - day of diagnosis was 23.
I've lost 10lbs in 12 days. Seems a lot but I do have a LOT to lose.
I'm not starving myself but eating 3 good low carb meals a day and not snacking.
Today I hoovered the whole of downstairs and afterwards thought how amazing it was that I wasn't shattered after. Then I realised that I've not hoovered for two months or more- I've been getting family to do it as I was so exhausted I couldn't face it. Today I've done it without thinking and feel great.
I've realised now how utterly wretched I've been feeling over recent months- it just crept up on me.
The only downsides still are my vision had deteriorated and has not improved much as yet, and I think I have neuropathy in my feet - it keeps me awake at night - I've had this for a while. I will speak to the nurse about it when I go next month.
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I have been doing some fasting these last few weeks and I am now scooting up the stairs faster than I have done in years.
At one time (I was really hit by the Covid vaccination) I had a second hand rail fitted so I could drag myself up the stairs. I used Nordic walking poles out of the house, but I was admiring my normal looking feet only this morning.
I noticed that I had a scratch on my ankle on Thursday, so I went back to my regime of hot and cold water in the shower and massaging my legs to get the blood flowing, and it had an almost instant effect - a little bit of mechanical assistance seems to help a lot. It is back to a proper colour now. My father's family were midwives, nurses and herbalists and were credited with almost miraculous recoveries and cures. Dad had a little treasure chest of letters and tokens from grateful families.
Maybe a shower, massage and bed-socks would be some help - though it might mean a few nights where recovery and repair make your feet more painful
 
tiptoptapper said:
Thank you. It definitely feels worse the last few days. Here's hoping it improves at least somewhat.
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The neuropathy sensations in my feet have got worse since my bg has reduced over the last 6 months. Very uncomfortable rather than painful. Mostly at night too. I find if my husband gives my feet a really good massage before I go to bed it seems to help. I am hoping it will improve when bg is stable.
Well done with the weight loss and reducing bg readings. Things will get better. As you say you don't always realise how bad it was until you see improvements. Wishing you all the best on your journey .
 
tiptoptapper said:
Hi all
I've been diagnosed today- had a blood test Fri and called into see nurse practitioner today.
HBA1C of 126
The only reason I didn't get sent to hospital was because my urine didn't have ketones.
Pick up meds in the morning- metformin (increasing dose over 4 weeks) and gliclazide.
Am determined to do what I need to do regarding diet- but just don't know where to start - nurse just said no sugar and avoid cards (including most fruit!)
Can anyone tell me any good resources re diet - I'm scared to eat !
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My level was 100 when diagnosed in February. Dropped to 42 in June. In October dropped to 36. Non diabetic. I watched the carbs and did some running. Cut out rice pasta potatoes noodles cakes crisps and chocolate. All the usual Hugh carbs. Wasn’t hungry once. Also have lost 3 stone since January. Try it It worked for me as I am now non diabetic at this point.
 
@tiptoptapper I have had some issues with my feet before my diagnosis and thought it might be plantar fasciitis but when I got my diagnosis realised it was more likely linked to the diabetes. However, I saw and ad for compression socks which I did not buy, but the blurb suggested that the peripheral neuropathy is reversible if you still have feeling in the foot. Having spoken with my diabetes nurse who confirmed this, I have been using a tennis ball to massage the sole and toes of my feet and have seen a good improvement in a short period of time. I no longer get the burning paid and my feet don't feel as swollen either.
 
JimmyBlue said:
@tiptoptapper I have had some issues with my feet before my diagnosis and thought it might be plantar fasciitis but when I got my diagnosis realised it was more likely linked to the diabetes. However, I saw and ad for compression socks which I did not buy, but the blurb suggested that the peripheral neuropathy is reversible if you still have feeling in the foot. Having spoken with my diabetes nurse who confirmed this, I have been using a tennis ball to massage the sole and toes of my feet and have seen a good improvement in a short period of time. I no longer get the burning paid and my feet don't feel as swollen either.
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Thank you- that sounds positive - I will try that for sure
 
Whenever you happen to have an operation that severs nerves on the way to get to the bit/those bits of your insides that need operating on (eg a broken bone that needs pinning and plating or a hysterectomy, or whatever) it can be painless for months once the outer skin has healed then suddenly gets really painful again, with no visible outer sign of 'why' - well - that's because all those nerve endings are now in the course of joining up again and they ruddy well do hurt!
 
tiptoptapper said:
Thank you Barbara.

I wear prescription glasses already (quite a strong prescription) but will hold off getting my eyes tested and new specs until the new year I think.

Is it likely neuropathy may improve ? I'm finding it quite debilitating at the moment.
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tiptoptapper said:
So almost two weeks since diagnosis. Still only on 1 x metformin. Will increase to 2 x a day this weekend.
Finger pricks are now between 10 & 12 with a couple of high 9s here and there. They were high teens - day of diagnosis was 23.
I've lost 10lbs in 12 days. Seems a lot but I do have a LOT to lose.
I'm not starving myself but eating 3 good low carb meals a day and not snacking.
Today I hoovered the whole of downstairs and afterwards thought how amazing it was that I wasn't shattered after. Then I realised that I've not hoovered for two months or more- I've been getting family to do it as I was so exhausted I couldn't face it. Today I've done it without thinking and feel great.
I've realised now how utterly wretched I've been feeling over recent months- it just crept up on me.
The only downsides still are my vision had deteriorated and has not improved much as yet, and I think I have neuropathy in my feet - it keeps me awake at night - I've had this for a while. I will speak to the nurse about it when I go next month.
Click to expand...
tiptoptapper said:
So almost two weeks since diagnosis. Still only on 1 x metformin. Will increase to 2 x a day this weekend.
Finger pricks are now between 10 & 12 with a couple of high 9s here and there. They were high teens - day of diagnosis was 23.
I've lost 10lbs in 12 days. Seems a lot but I do have a LOT to lose.
I'm not starving myself but eating 3 good low carb meals a day and not snacking.
Today I hoovered the whole of downstairs and afterwards thought how amazing it was that I wasn't shattered after. Then I realised that I've not hoovered for two months or more- I've been getting family to do it as I was so exhausted I couldn't face it. Today I've done it without thinking and feel great.
I've realised now how utterly wretched I've been feeling over recent months- it just crept up on me.
The only downsides still are my vision had deteriorated and has not improved much as yet, and I think I have neuropathy in my feet - it keeps me awake at night - I've had this for a while. I will speak to the nurse about it when I go next month.
Click to expand...
I was misdiagnosed with type 2 last October, finally 7 months later 3 stone lighter and exhausted was diagnosed with type 1. My eyesight really suffered as my bg was 30, my eyesight is now back to what it was before diagnosed. Don’t rush to get new glasses like I did as waste off money. I have been told I have neuropathy, but didn’t start to get it till after diagnosed, doctor said can take 2-3 years to improve
 
Woodywoodpecker said:
I was misdiagnosed with type 2 last October, finally 7 months later 3 stone lighter and exhausted was diagnosed with type 1. My eyesight really suffered as my bg was 30, my eyesight is now back to what it was before diagnosed. Don’t rush to get new glasses like I did as waste off money. I have been told I have neuropathy, but didn’t start to get it till after diagnosed, doctor said can take 2-3 years to improve
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Thank you - that's positive. How long did it take for your eyesight to return to normal?
 
So today is 3 weeks since diagnosis.

My finger prick readings have gone from 23 on diagnosis to 14 - 17 (week one) to between 9 & 11 this last week.

I've even had a 8.7 fasting reading.

My carbs are averaging 40-50g a day.

I've lost 12lbs (lots more to go).

I'm on 2 x metformin a day now and often feel bloated and nauseus. So I'm planning on not increasing anymore until I see the nurse next week for my 4 week check up.

My blood pressure is out of the "pre high blood pressure" range and into the normal for the first time in years.

It's not been easy but I'm feeling positive and so much less unwell than I was.

I hope the nurse is OK with me as she will be expecting me to be taking max dose metformin plus glicazide when I see her. I decided to do low carb instead. Hope she agrees with me !

My HBA1C was 127 on diagnosis - with readings of between 9&11 this should be reducing my hba1c significantly now shouldn't it ?

Thank you - you've all been so kind
 
Absolutely @tiptoptapper - your latest readings should give you an HbA1c well below the 127. I don't think you will be quite out of the woods but keep doing what you are doing and you will get there before long, without doubt. Just be patient with your nurse if she is a bit perturbed at you not building up the medication. Just show her your results.

Well done!!!!!
 
Many congratulations on your excellent progress so far and I very much hope your nurse will be impressed and supportive of your approach and if she isn't then she is not doing her job properly and adopting an individual approach.

Going low carb isn't easy at first, but it does get easier with time and building up a repertoire of low carb tasty meals and snacks. The biggest challenge for me was finding ways to eat without bread as it is such a convenient carrier for so many foods and culturally, bread and tatties are a staple of the diet we have been brought up on, or at least I have, but once I overcame that, it has become increasingly easier and the odd time I have bread I actually wonder why I thought I loved and needed it. There are plenty of other tasty foods.

I had tuna and mayonnaise on thick slices of cucumber last night with the odd cherry tomato cut in half on top and I was very satisfied with that. You do get used to eating less bulk and on the occasion that I eat out, I forget that I can't eat as much as I used to, even with low carb foods like at a carvery for example where I pile my plate with veggies and then struggle to eat it all and have a chunk of meat left that I take home and have the next day. It shocks me to think back and realise how much excess food I was eating pre diagnosis.
 
@tiptoptapper that is fantastic progress and well done for pushing yourself.

I have managed to avoid having to use medication (although it was prescribed) due to my improvements and it is possible that the diabetes nurse or doctor might decide that a part of your improvement is down to the medication which is possible as it is designed to reduce the blood glucose levels. But you may be able to persuade them, especially if you continue to see improvements, that perhaps no increase in metformin is necessary.

Doctor's surgeries some time have the odd CGM hanging around which can be good for your fingers by removing the need to finger prick every few hours. Might be worth asking them as it will add evidence to your self testing to show how well you are doing.
 
JimmyBlue said:
Doctor's surgeries some time have the odd CGM hanging around which can be good for your fingers by removing the need to finger prick every few hours. Might be worth asking them as it will add evidence to your self testing to show how well you are doing.
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Or you could simply apply for the free trial of Libre 2+ from the Freestyle Libre website.
 
Welcome tiptotapper - you are heading in the right directions, well done.
 
Very impressive results @tiptoptapper in such a short time. Hoping your appointment with the nurse leads to an outcome you are happy with. If you do end up taking Gliclazide you may need to increase your carbs. I was going low carb around 100 to 130g carbs per day but had to increase to around 150 when the dose was increased as I felt really rough. I wasn't trying to lose weight so my diet reflects this. Lower carbs than previously but keeping calories around 2000 per day.
Let us know how you progress.
 
Great stuff @tiptoptapper

Great to hear you are feeling positive about your results and the changes you’ve been making. Keep going!
 
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