AIBU to keep type 2 diabetes secret to reverse it?

[MoFro]

Got blood test results back today and I have type 2 diabetes 😩
I’ve put on weight over last few months and eating more junk, exercising less.

I am embarrassed about the diagnosis.

It runs in our family so knew it was a strong possibility that id get it at some stage but I’ve been too lazy/burying head in sand to do anything about it.

I don’t want to tell DH or kids - I feel ashamed as type 2 is diet related so it’s my fault. I just need the willpower and motivation to do something about it which has always been my biggest challenge!

I’m almost 50 and not very active, WFH and watch far too much TV, eat too much junk so am entirely to blame! I need to make changes but never stick to the good stuff! Diabetic nurse will contact me in 2 weeks apparently but I know I need to start ASAP I have the Michael moseley boood sugar book but couldn’t stick to it so that’s probably my starting point?

Anyone else reversed their diagnosis? Any tips please?

Thank you x

What was your HbA1c?

Recommend Roy Taylor Life after diabetes. For me,it really helped me understand what's going on in my body. It can feel v black and white 'you're fat' but it's much more than that and while food is in our control, how our body processes it differently from someone else eating the same or worse isnt. Framing around that helped me come to terms with it.

Having had it for years and been in denial, i did 800-1000 cals for 3 months, no alcohol. Knocked off 3 stone. Maintained for 9 months at 1500 cals and then have put a stone back on by taking my eye off the ball ( and starting hrt i think).

Low carb was the way for me and i try and keep to it. For weekends etc i managed 16:8 - good brunch, dinner. During the week I'm found i couldn't Concentrate without something to start my day so 200 cal.breakfast, 300 lunch and around 300-400 for dinner. I love food so it had to be real food rather than meal replacement shakes - you'll know what you can stick to.

I'm still in remission even though i added some back.

I think get support to do a short, sharp drastic measure and get it down. You'll fell great to get weight off quickly and see results. It can help you reframe habits too. I found there were too many excuses to doung it slow and long and i just kept giving up!

You can do this, honestly and we're here if you need a cheer squad.

@Simplelobsterhat

Hi. Have a look at the diabetes uk forums- loads of advice. I think some people test before and after eating to see the affects of their food but I just tend to test 2 hours after occasionally to see how I'm doing, as I'm paying for the test strips.

There's some useful information here: www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing. The targets for type 2 diabetes they give are: before meals: 4 to 7mmol/l and two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l. I know the NHS doesn't actually advise blood sugar monitors for type 2 though bit I find it useful just to know I'm on the right track.

Thanks that's really helpful for me. I have also registered for pre diabetes course for some help/ advice

Low carb high fat diet or cut out the junk of your diet.

Due to change in type your food you’re eating you might less sluggish and more energetic.

Food that makes you more satisfied will make you less likely to overeat and want to snack on processed crap.Some will power is required.

Oh and no alcohol

Recommend RebelFit for long term health improvements, OP. Best of luck and health to you x

@PurrBox

Just want to say, OP, that your family sound absolutely amazing. What a lovely son! and how kind and supportive of your husband. It is so nice to hear about families where everyone is helping and caring for one another.

@PurrBox thank you, they are ❤️ DS caught me crying and wouldn’t let go until I told him why, and straightaway said ‘I’ve got you mum, I’m taking care of this with you’ 😍

Along with all success stories and sharing on here with some great links, I’m going to do this and save my future self.

Have ordered the Dr Taylor book - the free pages online are really good and will help me to understand the details and science - not just that I need to eat less and certain foods, but why and the impact

Watching Jason’s on YouTube

Will look into the diabetes programmes that people have linked to as well - if I can get properly educated around it, then I can help my siblings too.

I didn’t share yesterday that my mum died of kidney failure- one of the symptoms of diabetes known as the silent killer.

I’ve avoided this for too long.

Thank you all so very much, I’m so glad I posted otherwise I would have hidden it from the very people who love me and can help me most.

I think it depends on where you are now.
My mum is type 2. She’s never had an overweight bmi in her life, highest about 24 now 23. She walks everywhere and her diet is better than average, no refined sugar and generally a traditional healthy diet full of veg with a few treats a week.
She’s tried to reverse it but it’s proved stubborn, and gets worse over the years still as she improves. Her friend though who was very overweight has made huge improvements through a diet similar to my mums and less exercise.
I’m probably going to be the same sadly, I had gestational diabetes and I’ve not been overweight and lead a healthy lifestyle. It was worse than most in the clinic to control, and I as still under 70kg and 173cm at the end of the pregnancy

We've got a strong family history on my Dad's side, all Type 2. I did my bit losing 3 stone, changing my diet, making time for exercise. Still ended up on Metformin and will no doubt end up on insulin like my Dad at some point in the future.

I find threads like this really frustrating (I'm not digging at you, OP, just expressing myself). It's a lifelong condition that can be managed, not removed. I work really hard to make sure that I don't eat too many carbs, no processed sugar, do my 10k steps every day. And yet I'm still diabetic. Dr Moseley has a lot to bloody answer for because people now are very dismissive of diabetes because apparently everyone can just reverse it.

I used to work as a carer, and looked after several people who didn't take their diabetes seriously and had had various amputations/kidney problems. It's a very self health complicaion and one that deserves your full and honest attention.

@BoodleBug51

We've got a strong family history on my Dad's side, all Type 2. I did my bit losing 3 stone, changing my diet, making time for exercise. Still ended up on Metformin and will no doubt end up on insulin like my Dad at some point in the future.

I find threads like this really frustrating (I'm not digging at you, OP, just expressing myself). It's a lifelong condition that can be managed, not removed. I work really hard to make sure that I don't eat too many carbs, no processed sugar, do my 10k steps every day. And yet I'm still diabetic. Dr Moseley has a lot to bloody answer for because people now are very dismissive of diabetes because apparently everyone can just reverse it.

I used to work as a carer, and looked after several people who didn't take their diabetes seriously and had had various amputations/kidney problems. It's a very self health complicaion and one that deserves your full and honest attention.

@BoodleBug51 I’m so sorry and hope you are able to manage yours. You’re definitely right - we are very ignorant around diabetes and what it really means and how serious it is. People take it lightly as so many people have it now and we just don’t understand enough of the science behind it and the different types. Mum only ever took pills and there wasn’t really any obvious signs of the diabetes impacting her day to day life- but it was killing her inside.

Lots of educating to be done and some great resources shared here to start that journey and start taking it seriously.

I naively did think I can lose weight for a few months and act like nothing has happened or will
Happen - but it’s a condition that needs proper attention and managing for life so thank you for the reminder of that xx

An you get a 12 week countdown with slimming world from your gp?

Michael Moseley says his dad had T2D, that his risk was highly genetic (and believes he's cured himself... sort of. Only by maintaining a specific lifestyle).

OP: I hope you can also find momentum to improve your health.

It's not just diet related. If type 1 runs in your family you can be predisposed to getting it even with a good diet

I find eating 16:8 really helps me stay on track, OP, and stabilises my blood sugars.

It's very black and white in terms of eating - I eat fairly early morning, and then have my last meal as soon as I get in from work so it cuts out any evening snacking.

There’s a good Michael Mosley documentary on Channel 4 catch-up called Lose a stone in 21 days. He takes 5 volunteers who put on lockdown weight through his program, most of whom are pre diabetic and all vastly improve their biomarkers.

www.channel4.com/programmes/lose-a-stone-in-21-days-with-michael-mosley

If you’re feeling embarrassed but feel the family are supportive just say you have higher sugars and want to reduce them.

Guidance is that 2 values, fasting glucose or hba1c should be used, or fasting glucose on 2 occasions etc.

Do you know your values?
If not excessively high could be relatively easy to improve

@VisaQuestions

I think it depends on where you are now. My mum is type 2. She’s never had an overweight bmi in her life, highest about 24 now 23. She walks everywhere and her diet is better than average, no refined sugar and generally a traditional healthy diet full of veg with a few treats a week. She’s tried to reverse it but it’s proved stubborn, and gets worse over the years still as she improves. Her friend though who was very overweight has made huge improvements through a diet similar to my mums and less exercise. I’m probably going to be the same sadly, I had gestational diabetes and I’ve not been overweight and lead a healthy lifestyle. It was worse than most in the clinic to control, and I as still under 70kg and 173cm at the end of the pregnancy

@VisaQuestions I could have written this, I had gestational diabetes, my BMI was/is 21 and my gtt result was borderline so it was assumed I'd breeze along diet controlled. I could barely control it despite barely touching carbs, Metformin did nothing and I was on insulin by the end I feel like I'm just waiting for it to come and get me now as I'm getting towards the age my dad was diagnosed. I need to get my annual Hb1ac test booked, it's been nearer 18 months....