Worried fiance of newly diagnosed t2 diabetic

[Digression]

Hi everyone
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. My partner and I got engaged last Wed, and he was diagnosed t2 on the Friday. He is yet to see nurse as appt this Fri. He doesn't eat rubbish or drink much but has a bit of weight around his middle. So that's all going to change with exercise and more controlled diet etc. Early days, and no treatment plan yet. He bought a blood test kit, he was 9.8 prior to tea, 15 couple hours after. He's in his 50s..I'm just having a panic as feel so low and confused. Any words of encouragement welcomed ☺️

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum, there are lots of people not diabetic themselves but here giving support to partners. It is often difficult to know how much you can influence what they will take on board with their own diabetes management without being too pushy.
He will obviously have had an HbA1C test to give the diagnosis and it is useful to know that as it will indicate howmuch work need to be done, but fantastic to have a blood glucose monitor and to start doing some testing of meals.
The level at 9.8 is a lot higher than you really want it to be and certainly the post meal reading show the meal was far too carb heavy. You want to be looking at no more than 2-3mmol/l increase from the meal.
There needs to be some changes to the amount of all carbohydrates, no need to cut then out completely but look to reducing them to no more than 130g per day.
Making a food diary is a good start of everything he eats and drinks and estimating the carbs. You then can see how much you need to do to be near to the 130g. It is better to reduce carbs slowly over a few weeks to avoid issues with eyes and nerves that some people can experience.
This link may give you some ideas of way of modifying diet https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ as well as some background information

 

[Digression]

Welcome to the forum, there are lots of people not diabetic themselves but here giving support to partners. It is often difficult to know how much you can influence what they will take on board with their own diabetes management without being too pushy.
He will obviously have had an HbA1C test to give the diagnosis and it is useful to know that as it will indicate howmuch work need to be done, but fantastic to have a blood glucose monitor and to start doing some testing of meals.
The level at 9.8 is a lot higher than you really want it to be and certainly the post meal reading show the meal was far too carb heavy. You want to be looking at no more than 2-3mmol/l increase from the meal.
There needs to be some changes to the amount of all carbohydrates, no need to cut then out completely but look to reducing them to no more than 130g per day.
Making a food diary is a good start of everything he eats and drinks and estimating the carbs. You then can see how much you need to do to be near to the 130g. It is better to reduce carbs slowly over a few weeks to avoid issues with eyes and nerves that some people can experience.
This link may give you some ideas of way of modifying diet https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ as well as some background information

Thank you.
He will get more Info once he sees the nurse. He is keen to do everything he needs to. We realise those readings are too high. He did have pasta for tea, but he said half portion he normally would, so is cutting down gradually. I am vegetarian and eat carbs a lot, but will cut down with him much as possible. We love eating out..I guess I'm bit she'll shocked, and find it hard thinking life is not going to be as simple as hoped

 

[Eddy Edson]

Hi everyone
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. My partner and I got engaged last Wed, and he was diagnosed t2 on the Friday. He is yet to see nurse as appt this Fri. He doesn't eat rubbish or drink much but has a bit of weight around his middle. So that's all going to change with exercise and more controlled diet etc. Early days, and no treatment plan yet. He bought a blood test kit, he was 9.8 prior to tea, 15 couple hours after. He's in his 50s..I'm just having a panic as feel so low and confused. Any words of encouragement welcomed ☺️

That sounds like he might be around the same state as I was when diagnosed - a bit of podge around the middle tho not officially "overweight", similar kinds of BG levels, in my 50's etc.

I zapped it over ~6 months by losing some weight, mainly just by cutting out obvious c**p (around 10kg loss from starting point of around 84kg, the I kept going to lose another 10kg or so because I found being skinny is fun 🙂. My BG levels have been completely normal in the 3 1/2 years or so since then, and all the other "metabolic syndrome" bugs went away as well - BP, lipids completely normal etc.

If he's like me, losing weight is the main thing, and carbs (despite the Internet) are entirely secondary. I reduced portion sizes of fruit, grains etc a bit to start with & it does improve your post-eating levels when getting things under control. But if the weight loss approach works you probably don't need to restruct carbs long term. Anyway, I don't.

 

[Digression]

Thank you. He needs to lose weight but he's not obese, mainly round his tum. His reading was 11.5 this morning, but mornings stressful with his job so won't help?

 

[Eddy Edson]

Thank you. He needs to lose weight but he's not obese, mainly round his tum. His reading was 11.5 this morning, but mornings stressful with his job so won't help?

Around the tum is where it counts, because it's a marker for the likelihood of a build-up of visceral fat, around the liver and pancreas, resulting in screwed-up blood glucose regulation => diabetes.

Whether or not somebody is "officially" obese, overweight or normal weight, is pretty much irrelevant. Eg: I was normal weight at diagnosis, but I had too much visceral fat, which caused my diabetes.

Stress doesn't help but 11.5 is simply too high, whatever. But like I say, dealing with this doesn't have to be more than a matter of losing a few kilo's. Eg: My morning reads were 14 or 15 at diagnosis, down below 5 after a few months with weight loss.

The weight loss approach seems to work for about 70% of T2's, very roughly. It's not entirely clear what makes it work for some but not others, though how long you've had diabetes for is a factor.

 

[Dominic DUK]

Hi there and a warm welcome to the support forum! Firstly, massive congratulations on the engagement!! We totally understand how overwhelming a Diabetes diagnosis can be. You are both very welcome to contact our Helpline if you would like to talk things through on 0345 123 2399 or helpline@diabetes.org.uk 9am-6pm Mon-Fri 🙂🙂 we are here to support you both in whatever way we can!

 

[Digression]

Thank you for all replies. I'm very grateful

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Digression

And congratulations on your engagement!

It’s perfectly natural to feel a bit overwhelmed and knocked sideways by the diagnosis of someone close to you.

Some people liken their diagnosis as involving a sort of grieving process, with the familiar ‘stages of grief’ and emotional upheaval that entails.

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that he can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you both doing things you enjoy. Try not to be disheartened about his diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.

As @Eddy Edson says, there is solid emerging trial evidence that weight loss of 10kg or so can have a very beneficial impact for many people, and that losing any visceral fat which may have built up can help the metabolism cope properly with carbohydrates once more.

Many forum members find that using before and after checks with a BG meter, and aiming for a ‘meal rise’ of less than 2-3mmol/L 2hrs after eating is a flexible and direct approach to helping to bring their BG levels back into range. There are all sorts of approaches in order to achieve this. Some prefer to restrict the amount of daily calories, while others focus on moderating carbohydrate intake, reducing portion sizes and experimenting with different sources of carbs, swaps and alternatives to find a balance that their body can metabolise properly.

It’s very much a question of finding an approach that works for your fiancee (and you!), and which is sustainable for you long-term.

Good luck, and let us know how you both get on 🙂

 

[Digression]

Welcome to the forum @Digression

And congratulations on your engagement!

It’s perfectly natural to feel a bit overwhelmed and knocked sideways by the diagnosis of someone close to you.

Some people liken their diagnosis as involving a sort of grieving process, with the familiar ‘stages of grief’ and emotional upheaval that entails.

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that he can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you both doing things you enjoy. Try not to be disheartened about his diagnosis, many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. Perhaps changes that they had been intending to make for years.

As @Eddy Edson says, there is solid emerging trial evidence that weight loss of 10kg or so can have a very beneficial impact for many people, and that losing any visceral fat which may have built up can help the metabolism cope properly with carbohydrates once more.

Many forum members find that using before and after checks with a BG meter, and aiming for a ‘meal rise’ of less than 2-3mmol/L 2hrs after eating is a flexible and direct approach to helping to bring their BG levels back into range. There are all sorts of approaches in order to achieve this. Some prefer to restrict the amount of daily calories, while others focus on moderating carbohydrate intake, reducing portion sizes and experimenting with different sources of carbs, swaps and alternatives to find a balance that their body can metabolise properly.

It’s very much a question of finding an approach that works for your fiancee (and you!), and which is sustainable for you long-term.

Good luck, and let us know how you both get on 🙂

Thank you so much. I have suffered a couple of family bereavements and my mum recently had a stroke. My anxiety is an all time high then this happens. My fiancé has been doing bloods and carbs seem to be a culprit. Seeded bread shot it up but low gi didn't. He's doing all he can to lose weight and is exercising. I'm pleased he's tackling it head on. Lot less stress than having to make sure he looks after himself as at present we live 60 miles apart

 

[Digression]

Well it turns out his hba1c was 86..very high. About 13mmol? Really high, but good bp, cholesterol and not overweight. So seems unfair but time to cut belly fat. Also put on medication

 

[Leadinglights]

Well it turns out his hba1c was 86..very high. About 13mmol? Really high, but good bp, cholesterol and not overweight. So seems unfair but time to cut belly fat. Also put on medication

I hope the information you have been given will help you both to get onto the right track to get those high levels down, but take it slowly as a gradual reduction in blood glucose can be kinder on eyes and nerves and allows the body to adapt to the changes.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Diabetes UK has been funding research into weight loss for T2D remission, led by Roy Taylor at Newcastle University.

The latest study is "ReTUNE", looking at "normal" weight T2's. It reported final results last month: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/dukpc-digest-day-5-retune-study-lower-body-weight

70% of participants in remission at 12 months, with an average of around 10kg weight loss.

This is Roy Taylor's site at Newcastle Uni, with a bunch of info: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes/reversal/#publicinformation

This may not be relevant for yr partner - he might be somebody whose T2D isn't amenable to weight loss - but probably worth testing.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I did the Newcastle diet to reverse my diabetes.
Carbs didn't really come into it for me either.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

Thank you.
He will get more Info once he sees the nurse. He is keen to do everything he needs to. We realise those readings are too high. He did have pasta for tea, but he said half portion he normally would, so is cutting down gradually. I am vegetarian and eat carbs a lot, but will cut down with him much as possible. We love eating out..I guess I'm bit she'll shocked, and find it hard thinking life is not going to be as simple as hoped

I did the newcastle diet to get 11kg off in 100 days; i used exante shakes and ate tonnes of broccoli and cabbage. For normal eating, if you eat pasta, try slimpasta from holland and barratt/Amazon. It's made of a thing called konjak root and it's 9 calories yes 9 for a whole portion - very low carb. I rinse it in water then pat dry with kitchen towel eat with normal pasta sauces and mince etc. Its helped me alot.

 

[Mrs Mimoo]

Thank you. He needs to lose weight but he's not obese, mainly round his tum. His reading was 11.5 this morning, but mornings stressful with his job so won't help?

Suggest reading Life Without Diabetes by Professor Roy Taylor. amazing helpful book.

 

[Digression]

Thank you. We will look into these for sure