Help with Diabetes

[Orchidlady]

I have been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and still trying to get my head around things, have bought blood testing machine have been self monitoring since beginning of Oct. Just can't seem to get me levels down despite low carbing, getting fasting readings of 13.9 and 18.2. Just tested 2 hours after breakfast ( porridge half water/milk, fake sugar) and now bloody 21.4.this seems of the scale compared to other peoples levels On no medication (yet). Does anyone have any advice to give, should I be really worried right now? This is a bit of a nightmare and taking over my life right now. Getting very little support from GP, well actually have not seen one about this only the nurse. I think that seems to be pretty common place though.

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

Sorry to hear this

However, your breakfast is actually quite carby, which could be the reason why your sugar level has shot up.

Why not try having something more protein-based, such as scrambled eggs?

[Orchidlady]

You might have a point, I have porridge most mornings and never had this reading and was told my nurse this was the best thing I could eat but beginning to realise that maybe I need to be even more dramatic with low carbing but living like that for the rest of my life just seems terribly depressing actually. Hate the idea of meat or eggs first thing

[Minky66]

Hi,
I have been type 2 diabetic since 2000. With your blood sugars running that high you need to go back to your GP or diabetic nurse, you may need medication to help you gain a better control of your blood sugars, I remember having the same difficulties controlling my sugars like you and needed to go onto Metformin, which did the trick very nicely for me and made me feel much better (and more awake!) than when my sugars were above 20.

Have you been referred to the hospital dietician, I found them very helpful early on. I also found Diabetes uk helpful for information too. I avoid porridge as it raises my blood sugar too much (despite being lower GI), I also avoid coffee first thing as that raises my blood sugar quite a lot too (don't have sugar). I personally don't like the artificial sweetners as I don't like the taste, might be worth excluding that from your porridge to see if it makes a difference (won't taste of very much though! sorry)

[Minky66]

I had porridge recommended to me as a good thing to eat first thing too! My friend who recently had gestational diabetes and had to monitor her sugars was shocked at how significantly porridge raised her blood sugar and she is a diabetes nurse at a Drs surgery! She has a different perspective now on what she recommends for her patients for breakfast!

[Orchidlady]

Minky thanks, I have been on that web site and does seem helpful. I am due to see diabetes nurse next week, really wanted to avoid taking medication this early but my levels just seem so so high. Biggest problem is you are offered such conflicting advise and just don't know what to believe. This is just doing my head in, I have cut out all bread, all cereal ( bar Oats) no sugar, Rice.

[WitchesTitWhistles]

That's high, I've been reading up on diabetes since a family member was diagnosed with type 2. And I am gestationally diabetic. Neither of us have weight issues and there is no other history of diabetes in the family so it was quite a shock.

There are ways to counteract high blood sugars through diet and being active. A low-carb or paleo diet can help but you really need to go back and see your diabetic nurse because, although the thought of low carb eating for the rest of your life might seem depressing, the consequences of uncontrolled diabetes include blindness, loss of limbs and organ failure.

[soaccidentprone]

Breakfast - what about trying continental ie boiled egg, cheese and sliced meats, you could also have a low sugar yogurt and some nuts and maybe an only just ripe banana? Or kippers?

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

Not really sure why eating low carb should be so depressing - you can eat lots of lovely things!

There is a lot of conflicting advice about what diabetics should eat. Some will tell you to eat carbs regularly, others will tell you to cut down on the carbs.

I low carb for weight reasons (as well as longer term health benefits), so I am in no place to advise you on a medical condition. But just to say that you will need to be aware that one person may tell you one thing and one person something completely different.

But, if the porridge in the morning isn't helping you, try eating something else that is less carby. If you don't like meat/eggs, how about some full fat yoghurt with a small amount of berries and some flaked almonds?

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

(BTW my dad is a type two, now also injecting, diabetic, so I've come across a lot of dietary advice that is dished out to diabetics)

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

You may find this blog and the site he links to of interest

[mirry2]

I have had diabetes 2 for about 5/6 years now. I manage to keep it down to between abut 6.5 -8 at the moment. I really don't want to go onto medication becaus I've tried metformin and it made me feel very unwell. I have a small amount of porridge with artificial sweetener for breakfast but generally eat what I want. I find that regualr exercise is a real help so if you don't do any, start now. I don't mean going to the gym, I mean just walking to the shops/school every day, take your dog for a walk if you have one, do plenty of housework and gardening. Privided you keep moving your bloood glucose will go down.

I find that bread and eggs make my glucose levels soar but eveyone's body seems to act reactive differently

[Minky66]

orchidlady I use my glucometer to find out what effect foods have on my blood sugar, like you say there is a lot of confilicting advice so experimenting what works for you is the best way. I understand your reluctance to go on medication, maybe it could give you a respite to get your sugars under control and find out what diet is best for you and will make you feel a bit better too. Try to keep a diary of what you ate and your corresponding readings and take them to the nurse. You are doing the right thing by having a pro active approach to managing your diabetes but it is early days so don't beat yourself up too much, you will get there! Good luck!

[Orchidlady]

Thanks all for your comments. I have always been a healthy eater and do take regular exercise, of course improvements could be made. I have always followed a fairly low fat/high fibre diet. Now being told to eat full fat everything, just all seems alien and wrong. Always had small meat portions and loads of veg. At the moment this seems to have taken over my life and not sure exactly what I should be doing. BigBroom the only reason I say is a bit depressing is I love food and cooking and yes there are lots of lovely things to eat but also a hell of a lot of things I can now not touch.

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

TBH, you will get used to it - if low carb is the route you end up going down. It's second nature to me now, although I can appreciate how you feel, if it's a way of eating that you haven't chosen.

[Minky66]

Sorry forgot to say Metformin works for me but doesn't suit everyone, some people don't react well to it, didn't want to infer that medication is the only way forward, dietary changes may be all you need to do. Also found a little bit of exercise daily (as much as I hate it!) works wonders.

[Orchidlady]

I think that is the case big, I have done all kinds of diets in the past Low Carb/GI but it was a diet. This is a complete life style change, maybe I am being to hard on myself. I guess you kind of assume that a specialist nurse should believed but the more I read people say you need to find your own way. I know diabetes can be a killer and diet def plays a bit part in bringing down levels, think a bit ironic you have to buy your own BG machine and strips

[Orchidlady]

I am terrified that if I do not get this under control soon I will have to take insulin. I have bought a great Diabetes cook book, luckily all the foods I love are in these recipes. At the moment I am really struggling to see a connection what I eat and BG levels, it is all a bit of a mystery. I was really naughty a couple of weeks ago and ate a snickers bar, when I tested a couple of hours later levels had not changed. Or is it more long measuring, maybe what I eat today will affect tomorrows reading>?????? grr!!!!

[mirry2]

I think you need to generate some positive feedback for yourself. There really are thng s you can do?

What you could do is take your blood glucose measurement, go for a very strenuous 30/40 minute walk that gets your heart rate up, come home, relax for 20 minutes and then take your blood glucose measurement again. I bet it will have lowered considerably.

Are you overweight? Just dropping half a stone would help.
Diabetes2 is not the end of the world and you aren't going to die from it

[Orchidlady]

mirry2 I did exactly that the other day, did an hour march with the dog, tested as suggested and was 16.3 pretty rubbish really. No I am not overweight. Sadly unless it is controlled it can and will kill you :o(

[mirry2]

I just wrote a long reply but it got lost as mnet was off air.

did you notice a difference in your bg level after your exercise?

[Orchidlady]

Mirry2 Think our posted crossed, no reading was 16.3 which is crazy after and hour exercise and not eaten anything. TBH I don't get it, believe I have been trying and nothing seems to make a difference. I am an active person would quite happily do 4 hours heavy work in the garden

[mirry2]

Orchid was it more than 16.3 before your hour of exercise and not eating anything? If so it must have dones some good. I thibk that if you contine like that your BG will go down but if not, metformin is the way to go. Your diabetic nurse is bound to prescribe it for you, I would think. If you can cope with the side effects I'm sure it will have a dramatic effect on your BG levels.

[Orchidlady]

No actually fasting was 13.2, had breakfast went for walk and testing when back. Does not make sense

[mirry2]

Ithink you should try testing after breakfast because your BG levels are bound to go up and then retest once you've been for a walk. compare it with doing the same thing but without the walk and you should see what a dramatic difference the walk makes.