Chemist tested me for diabetes - sent me to the Dr TODAY urgently...please come and talk to me...

[MyHeadWasInTheSandNowNot]

These are my questions

1: The reading the chemist got was 20 - can anyone tell me what this means (ie how 'serious' it is) and if they think it could be controlled and/or preferably gotten rid of through diet and exercise.

2: What will the Dr do today.

The rest is whittering background.

Also, I just wanted to say that I'll have to go in about an hour and wont be able to get back on line until tomorrow afternoon, but I haven't done a runner and will be grateful for any help/advice.

[I'm a regular - I've namechanged because I'm not sure yet if I want to tell anyone or not and I have a few RL friends on MN. It's not that I mind people knowing as such it's just that I don't want it to turn into A Big Deal]

I have been wondering for quite some time if I might have diabetes. A few things have made me wonder about it such as

• Excessive thirst (always having to have a bottle of water on me)

• Eyes a bit blurry at night (been blaming the overhead light and the small tv screen with tivo bright red background and only a problem at night and spending too much time looking at screens)

• Occasional 'shakes'

• I am overweight and struggle with feeling like my 'blood sugars' aren't right

...but what made me 'man up' to getting tested was that last week & yesterday I had a couple of episodes of light headedness/feeling faint when doing things such as changing a lightbulb, I had also been having them in the shower, but put that down to it being hot/steamy etc

I called the chemist about a year ago to see if they did the tests, but ended up not going

I also went to my Dr about 3-4 years ago with constant tiredness and no real reason for it.... he put it down to my weight (which although I'm overweight was not stopping me doing anything, being reasonably fit etc), he really wasn't interested in looking further. I haven't been back, but am and have been pretty much constantly tired since before then. I know I should have seen another Dr but it's hard when you are overweight and they don't seem interested in seeing past that and accept their might be something other excess weight causing the problem.

I wonder now how long I might have had it for and thus how much damage I might have done already to my body, especially my eyes, that's pretty scary.

I was already overweight, but I was pretty fit - then something quite lifechanging happened and I've put on more weight, stopped exercising and I am not unfit. I'm certainly not can't move off the couch unfit - I could still easily walk 4 miles, run for the bus (i'd be panting but I could do it and would recover pretty quickly) - but something else I've noticed (just yesterday I really 'thought' about it) is that I have been putting off doing stuff like walking places (now I take the car), running up the stairs (now only ever walk), kicking the ball about with the kids etc and I realised yesterday it's because when I do I feel awful - not just tired/worn out but light headed and a bit pukey - it's been a gradual thing.

I am totally committed to exercising - a minimum of 30 minutes every day without fail (have just been for an hours walk - about 3 miles) and to improving my diet (which I fully accept hasn't been great for a while, since this 'thing' happened and for a wee bit before then).

I'm not looking for any magic cure - I just want to know if I can get rid of the diabetes through diet and exercise.

Thank you if you made it this far - or even if you didn't wade through it all but can help.

MyHead if you are only eating 1200 calories a day I would say that isn't enough food. As you are vegetarian I do think adding in a small amount of nuts or pulses might help you fill up as well. Snacks of cheese cubes are good, or cheese and cucumber. I find cream cheese on celery or cucumber is a nice snack - I also have pate like this, but not sure how carby vege pates are? Of course I also find going to bed stops me eating as well!

I would deffo stop testing too much. I would test when you wake up and two hours after every meal and before bed probably and record these. These are then consistent readings that you will be able to use to see what is happening. It looks like your blood levels have evened out to around 6 which is absolutely fine. If you decide to add more carbs in, I think I said it before, this is where you would need to take the metformin as your body would need it to keep the levels down. DH and I had a take away pizza from pizza hut once, I had to take about 24 units of insulin and he obvs took none. Two hours after eating it my blood sugars will still really high and his were about 5.6. It really made me realise that my body needs the help and that I simply can't tolerate carbs without the medications.

I would echo weighing just once a week, and maybe measuring your self. Often inches/cms come off when no weight does and that is nice and motivating. I'm off for the weekend, but will try to keep up, keep posting (if you want to of course!).

Good morning myhead - it does seem counter-intuitive to be adding full fat stuff when you're trying to lose weight doesn't it? I think it's a fine balancing act really.

DH's weight hasn't shifted this week, though he's lost half an inch off his waist (well, where his waist should be!)

His level after dinner is normally 7 - 8, so the other night pulled him up short. I'll make the beanburgers again, but tweak the recipe and make them smaller (and definitely not give him potatoes with them - but he's Irish, so not eating potatoes is like denying your heritage!)

Have a good day.

Very, very glad to hear the news about your eyes! Yay! You must be very relieved.

Please don't worry about the fat. If you read Briffa/Taubes you will understand why fat is not the enemy the media/our medics portray it to be. It really is all about the carbs!

MrsHP The day before was 574, a few days before that 1400. Yesterday I ate 3x. I have stopped snacking and am going for the 3-4 hours between meals a) because they said this is best for your bgl's and b) better for weight loss. Also, how can you test 3 hours after a meal, if you are snacking inbetween

Yes - I think nuts & possibly pulses might help.

Of course I also find going to bed stops me eating as well! - yes, it's definitely a bonus side effect Also better for your body to get more sleep, but I do struggle to get to bed earlier, though of late I have been better but last night I just had stuff I needed to get done before today :)

I have stopped testing 'before meals' & 1+, 2+, 3+ after meals, and am just doing one of these now (which one depends on what I'm doing), but I tested a few times after the latte and I've tested at a few random times, just to see what's happening - to see if there are any 'spikes' I'm missing and fasting/waking up.

Metformin/carbs - I'll have to see. I'm hoping that I'm one of the lucky ones who manages to 'reset' their insulin resistance and level that my body needs by giving the pancreas a 'rest' & losing weight. I'm still considering the Newcastle diet. But at some stage I will try some carbs and see how my levels are - but for now I'm happy with this and possibly the Newcastle diet. It is so nice not to be 'looking for food' all the time - it's making staying away from carbs a lot easier as it's just nice to feel this way. But yes, quite possibly I will need metformin if I want to eat normal carbs.

I know the inches have come off a bit, I put a shirt on yesterday that had been a bit too close fitting and it felt lovely and loose :) I should do some measurements as I don't have many 'fitting' clothes so it can be hard to see - but I do have some clothes that haven't gone near me in a while and in time I'll be able to get them out and see if they are any better :)

Of course I want you to keep posting! I stopped a few days ago as I thought that maybe everyone was getting fed up of it, but then decided it was good for me as a bit of a journal and to talk to others, especially as I don't have anyone to talk to about it IRL (except one friend I met on MN, but she has a lot going on too!) and if people were fed up of it, they could choose not to click on the thread (and I wouldn't blame them in the slightest - it is all a bit ME Me Me ).

Weighing daily/weekly. I know, I know

Have a lovely weekend - I hope you are off to do something nice!!

Sazpops Yes, adding fat to lose weight does seem a bit weird, but I'm sure it's fine. I think my problem is possibly too much dairy, rather than fat but as a vegetarian (especially one who doesn't really like oily dressings) it's hard to get fat any other way than nuts and even Briffa seems to think they should be avoided too.

I have a clearly defined waist Sadly it's clearly defined by the roll of fat above it and the roll of fat under it!! The two tummy syndrome, whereas men just seem to get that one big tummy.

Potatoes is quite a hard one isn't it - such a shame they are what they are :(

BIWI Thanks :) Yes, very relieved about my eyes. I was the other day then a few people said not to put too much weight in that until I got the official report, so it was nice to see it in writing!

I do see what they are saying about the fat - and I'm prepared to give it a go, it's just that as soon as I started relaxing into it the weight stalled and has now started a slow increase but as I said before, the fat is coming mostly from dairy... it's just hard to get 'fat' into your diet as a vegetarian who doesn't really like oily dressings, from anything other than nuts and even Briffa says not to have many nuts. I've reading his book now and I will order Taubes from the library - I'll go and do that now :)

I posted earlier about how many carbs, how much protein and how much fat I had yesterday - what do you think about that?

I think you're right to point the finger at dairy rather than fat - and the fat levels look good!

Dr Briffa's newsletter comes out every Friday, and there was a very interesting piece about Vitamin D in it see here and its effect on insulin sensitivity.

I am at my wits end. I'm trying to find a restaurant for tonight (the one we were going to go to, which had something I could eat though wasn't hugely looking forward to, is fully booked). I can't find a single one near here which has something vegetarian & low carb on the menu (or easily adjustable). I have to ring two of them in an hours time to see what their vegetarian specials are tonight.

I could have a salad, but I don't want a salad - if someone else was choosing and booking I'd have the salad and some sides or whatever - but when I'm choosing and booking I'd like to have a meal I might actually enjoy. I'm good at chopping and changing around things on menus to make it work (I lived overseas where they just don't 'do' vegetarian) - but it's hopeless.

I'm not even just looking at low low carbs - just something not based on pasta or risotto.

I'll have a look at that link when I've sorted out the restaurant dilemma! :)

Hi MyHead I'm still checking in every now and again.

My 'wheat free' friend rings the restaurant before and asks if they can accommodate her diet.

I'm asking if I can have extra veg rather than the potato. Most are happy to do.

MNM Hello :)

If only it were that simple! Honestly, they are all things like lasagne, pasta bake, cheese & potato pie, pizza, there are a few pasta dishes that I could possibly have asked for over some veg, but that's about it.

I have booked a table now and I'm having this:

^Roast butternut squash, spinach & leek crumble,
vine-roasted tomatoes, tenderstem broccoli, baby
carrots v^

I'm assuming that the crumble is going to have breadcrumbs in it, but I can mostly eat around that, the roast butternut squash is high in carbs & quickly converts and it has baby carrots & vine roast toms - all high carb veg, then some spinach & leeks which are better. It's going to be higher in carbs than anything else I've eaten, but it was the best I could do. C'est la vie. It comes to something when something actually fairly heathly for a dinner out, isn't actually good for you :(

Still, I'll have it with (red) so hopefully that will help and it will be interesting to see what my readings are like when I get home and in the morning.

there are a few pasta dishes that I could possibly have asked for over some veg

That was as clear as mud! I mean the sauce! BUT they often have thickeners in them, so I wasn't even keen on doing that.

Breakfast - 115g of Total yogurt - didn't do any readings after.
Lunch - 100g Avocado, 25g Food Dr Seeds, 50g Pistachios +3 6.2

Today so far calories 485, carbs 3, fat 47 & protein 12

Who knows what dinner will be - but I'd say as I'm eating out, high in fat & carbs with some (red) wine as well.

I seem to have a 'resting rate' of 6.2 most of the time. Which puts me barely above the top of the 'normal' range and occasionally 5.6/5.8 so inside the normal range. After meals is also in the 'normal' range but admittedly with limited carbs etc not a 'free' diet. I suppose tonight will be a bit telling - I feel quite apprehensive about that, but I'm looking forward to going out with friends and having a chat and some

I remember being scared to eat MyHead I even looked at chocolate and automatically thought "POISON" but now I'm just more careful.

MyHead - that carb count can't be 3! For a start, there are almost 4g carbs in 100g Total yoghurt - and there will be a fair amount of carbs in your lunch

So glad to hear that your eyes are OK. That must be a huge relief, but you said you had been experiencing blurred vision at night etc - were you given any reason for that?

DH has an appt with a dietician in 5 weeks time. The letter arrived today telling him to take his monitor and readings with him, but he has been told that the practice do not issue monitors to anyone who does not have to inject insulin. He is doing well on his diet though, and I have given up wine and bread for Lent (though not alcohol - I have taken to an early evening sherry and a gin & tonic later on) and am hoping to make some inroads into my weight.

You sound much more relaxed - hope you enjoyed your evening out.

BIWI sorry - copied the wrong line from MFP, that was lunch. I keep forgetting it doesn't add as it goes!

I then had a snack at 5 (seeds, pistachios & 2 slices of havarti cheese) because I thought it would be best not to be really hungry and then I wouldn't be tempted by the bread basket!

I have done a 'best guess' for dinner :) I wasn't tempted by the bread, not the chips they ordered to share, nor a dessert. Of course it would have been nice to have had them all - but I wasn't really bothered, which was nice. I had two Vokda & Slims & I did have a coffee after which, of course, will push the carbs up - but I'm not giving up everything!

So, todays totals are calories 1686, carbs 49, fat 110, protein 63.

Carbs:

25 from dairy (I've included the sauce from dinner in that)
24 from nuts/seeds
27 from vegetables

Not bad considering I rarely eat out :)

Dinner +2 6.6

39 of todays carbs were at dinner. 15 for veg, 15 for coffee and 6 for the sauce/topping of dinner.

Dinner +3 5.6, so going well so far :)

Things seem to be going really well, MyHead! How are you feeling?

Glad you managed to have a meal out within your diet myhead. It's just a shame it was so difficult to organise something you felt you could eat safely!

Latest recipe suggestion, which I did for lunch yesterday, is stuffed field mushroom. I used spring onion, pepper, the mushroom stalks chopped, a few kidney beans (left from my beanburgers), and some chorizo, but obviously you could put anything in. I sometimes put chopped walnuts or pine nuts in. Then some cheese over the top and baked.

The mushrooms gave out loads of juice which was too good to waste, so DH and I shared a piece of wholegrain bread, and his +2 level was 6.2, so he was pleased with that. He seems to be able to eat a small amount of bread without pushing his reading up too much (though he says he's desperate for a large chunk of fresh crusty white bread, which I think is not going to happen!).

BIWI - A bit happier in myself I think, even though I'm just as 'fat', I don't feel so bloated and I don't feel so down on myself about my weight, even though the change isn't even physically obvious. Some trousers I hoped would do up better, don't, which I was a bit surprised at, but I guess the few pounds have come off elsewhere and there are certainly lots of elsewhere's they could have come off. As I said the other day, I felt my top was looser so maybe off my boobs?

One of the things about weight that not many people realise is that you also carry internal fat - or visceral fat - which surrounds our internal organs.

So if you're not losing inches at the moment, it may be that this fat is being burnt off first.

And 2lbs of fat is 4 packs of lard ...

... which is a lot of fat!

BIWI - I am sadly very aware of visceral fat :( and would be very happy if that was what was shifting first :) I wouldn't mind not losing any 'exterior' fat for a while, if I knew the visceral stuff was going first.

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How many more by next Friday?

Another
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I would say!

I know you might want/hope for more, but that way disappointment can only lie.

1-2lbs is much better as long-term, sustainable weight loss.

Yeah, yeah - I know - I'd just like to be this side of 100 before I'm in the 'healthy' weight range and please don't mention I shouldn't have got this fat in the first place or that I should have started sooner! It's not through lack of trying at times!!

Fasting 6.2

100g of avocado with 150g of mushrooms cooked in butter for 'breakfast'. The fat & calorie counting Me is

Breakfast +2 5.8

Trying to glug the water today too :)