Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Diabetes

38 replies

TheMoonismadeofcheese · 15/11/2024 17:32

I have just been diagnosed with diabetes type 2 with a blood sugar level of 50 to 51. I have been pre diabetic for years and not taken it seriously enough. I also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I am four stones overweight.
I've had a lot of stress in my life for a long time which doesn't help.

I eat a very healthy diet, walk about four or five times a week three or four miles at a time. I have cut out drinking at home . The doctor has put me on BP medication but I am totally freaking out. I asked her if I should be on Metaformin and she wants to put me on statins. I am going to really try and lose weight, but she says if I start statins I can't stop them, I need to be on them for life.

I am really distressed and don't know what to do. looking at the Diabets UK site I'm even more confused because recipes feature potatoes, sugar and flour which I thought were absolutely off the table. There is a massive waiting list for diabetes education through my GP. I have been offered online education through Desmond which I don't find is helpful or informative.

Is it possible to come back from this? I don't want to be on medication like this, I'm terrified of having a heart attack and I don't know where to turn. My doctor is pretty useless. She admits herself that she can't offer any advice because she doesn't know enough about nutrition. I had to tell her myself about some options I had read about on this site like meal replacement plans on the NHS and Second Nature. I asked her about weightless jabs and she said she doesn't know enough about them!! She just wants me to go on a cocktail of drugs.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
TheMoonismadeofcheese · 16/11/2024 21:47

InfoSecInTheCity · 16/11/2024 21:34

On the Abbott Freestyle website, look for Freestyle Libre 2 Plus Starter Pack. It's about £86 for a set of 2.

Then download the Freestyle Libre app and sign in with the account details you used to buy the sensors,

The starter set comes with everything you need to apply the sensor, although I did buy a pack of CGM cover stickers from Amazon to put over the top because I swim 3 times a week and was worried the adhesive might come loose, so far no problems with that at all.

That all sounds a bit complicated but thank you. Do you stick it your arm all day then? I am literally clueless about these things .

OP posts:
InfoSecInTheCity · 16/11/2024 21:53

You get the sensor, peel off the plastic and put it in the applicator tool, then press the applicator it firmly against the back of your arm.

It has an incredibly thin needle that goes into your arm, and the sensor has an adhesive on the underneath so it sticks to your skin. It stays on for 15 days.

Then you remove it and if you are continuing you put a new one on the other arm.

It is not at all painful and you barely notice it's on.

It connects to your phone app and send your blood sugar reading every minute so you can see what foods trigger a spike and how quickly your body deals with that spike.

You expect sugar levels to go up after eating but they should be back to within the normal range about 2 hrs after eating.

InfoSecInTheCity · 16/11/2024 21:56

Attaching some screenshots from my Libre App so you can see the kind of information you get.

Diabetes
Diabetes
Diabetes
TheMoonismadeofcheese · 17/11/2024 04:25

Thanks. Why is it better than one I might buy from Boots?

OP posts:
qwertasdfg · 17/11/2024 05:45

Low carb diets do increase long term risk of diabetes, so when you followed it a few years ago, it might have contributed to the situation you find yourself in right now.
Since you now have DT2, you must control your carb intake, you no longer have other options.
What do you eat? You say you eat healthy, but have diabetes, cholesterol and excess weight, so something doesn't add up. You need the help of a dietician. I know there is a waiting list, but get on it. In the meantimes, start doing something. In your situation a plant dominant diet might be your best option. Avoid saturated fats for the cholesterol and this includes red meats and processes meats even turkey bacon, and also coconut in any form or shape. And of course, your username, the cheese.
Opt for fish instead of meat, quinoa instead of grains with maybe some rolled oats occasionally, a lot of vegetables but no potatoes, some legumes, soya for cholesterol, and move. Have vegetables at every meal including breakfast. When you will have lost weight, you can reintroduce, flour, rice, potatoes, but if you go on a strict plan, limiting them now will make things easier, because high blood glucose is now an issue you need to control. It can have severe consequences.
You will be eating carbs, but complex ones, such as legumes, vegetables, some fruits (not bananas, not grapes at first).
Your case is made more complicated by the cholesterol, but you can manage both by lowering your weight. Don't aggravate your cholesterol by following the typical MN low carb diet made of meat, more meat and even more meat. Cholesterol is as important as your blood sugar, not matter what online influencer say or sell.
If you have food deliveries app, delete them.
If you have local restaurants in your contacts, delete them.
Clean your fridge and pantry, bin all UPF, any biscuits, crisps, crackers, sauces, ...
Move the booze in the garage and don't touch any for 12 months.
Delete your supermarket lists and start afresh.
Act today , act now. And no, nobody in your house, not DH, not the kids, grandkids, friends or even dog needs treats. And no, don't start after Christmas, start now.

You can do it. Put YOU as the priority. Christmas is coming, ask your family and friends to pull together to get you a CGM, a gym membership, a dietician consult, a warm coat so you take a walk after dinner no matter the weather, ... Those should be your gifts this year.
Will it be easy, absolutely not.
Will it feel empowering, yes. You take actions.

TheMoonismadeofcheese · 17/11/2024 06:06

qwertasdfg · 17/11/2024 05:45

Low carb diets do increase long term risk of diabetes, so when you followed it a few years ago, it might have contributed to the situation you find yourself in right now.
Since you now have DT2, you must control your carb intake, you no longer have other options.
What do you eat? You say you eat healthy, but have diabetes, cholesterol and excess weight, so something doesn't add up. You need the help of a dietician. I know there is a waiting list, but get on it. In the meantimes, start doing something. In your situation a plant dominant diet might be your best option. Avoid saturated fats for the cholesterol and this includes red meats and processes meats even turkey bacon, and also coconut in any form or shape. And of course, your username, the cheese.
Opt for fish instead of meat, quinoa instead of grains with maybe some rolled oats occasionally, a lot of vegetables but no potatoes, some legumes, soya for cholesterol, and move. Have vegetables at every meal including breakfast. When you will have lost weight, you can reintroduce, flour, rice, potatoes, but if you go on a strict plan, limiting them now will make things easier, because high blood glucose is now an issue you need to control. It can have severe consequences.
You will be eating carbs, but complex ones, such as legumes, vegetables, some fruits (not bananas, not grapes at first).
Your case is made more complicated by the cholesterol, but you can manage both by lowering your weight. Don't aggravate your cholesterol by following the typical MN low carb diet made of meat, more meat and even more meat. Cholesterol is as important as your blood sugar, not matter what online influencer say or sell.
If you have food deliveries app, delete them.
If you have local restaurants in your contacts, delete them.
Clean your fridge and pantry, bin all UPF, any biscuits, crisps, crackers, sauces, ...
Move the booze in the garage and don't touch any for 12 months.
Delete your supermarket lists and start afresh.
Act today , act now. And no, nobody in your house, not DH, not the kids, grandkids, friends or even dog needs treats. And no, don't start after Christmas, start now.

You can do it. Put YOU as the priority. Christmas is coming, ask your family and friends to pull together to get you a CGM, a gym membership, a dietician consult, a warm coat so you take a walk after dinner no matter the weather, ... Those should be your gifts this year.
Will it be easy, absolutely not.
Will it feel empowering, yes. You take actions.

Where do you get the info that low carb diets increase the risk of diabetes? That’s just not true. You are also contradicting yourself when you say cut out carbs now! I agree I need to cut out carbs now. I don’t eat a lot of saturated fat, and as for cheese, I eat cottage cheese and feta, occasionally some Parmesan. Otherwise I don’t eat it. I eat sourdough , but have largely cut that out too. I make it myself. I don’t eat processed carbs or white bread. I eat brown rice and have porridge every day, but I’m beginning to think porridge isn’t a great thing for me. Oats lower cholesterol though!

I mostly eat home made soup and a couple of oatcakes for lunch. Sometimes frittata and salad. I do eat a lot of veg and fruit. Red meat may have to go, but I only eat it maybe once a week. I’ve cut out alcohol at home.

Dietiticans don’t understand anything beyond the basics. They aren’t educated beyond the NHS model.

OP posts:
TheMoonismadeofcheese · 17/11/2024 06:07

Plus I walk three to four miles four or five times a week.

OP posts:
qwertasdfg · 17/11/2024 06:21

Where do you get the info that low carb diets increase the risk of diabetes? That’s just not true.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871402124001103 Consuming a low carbohydrate diet, reflected as a high LCD score, may increase the risk of T2D which is largely explained by obesity. Results highlight the need for further studies, including clinical trials investigating the effects of a low carbohydrate diet in T2D.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21310828/ Conclusions: A score representing a low-carbohydrate diet high in animal protein and fat was positively associated with the risk of T2D in men. Low-carbohydrate diets should obtain protein and fat from foods other than red and processed meat.
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.146.suppl_1.13226
Conclusions: . In contrast, LCD scores emphasizing high animal protein and fat intake were associated with higher T2D risk. LCDs were not beneficial for the primary prevention of T2D unless they emphasize the quality of the macronutrient compositions. .

A meat based, saturated fats based low carb diet does increase T2D risk.

I have given you my two cents. You don't like my suggestions, ignore them, but beware of trusting social media (MN, YouTube, ...) more than a trained health professional and saying dietician don't know anything beyond basics. They didn't serve you so well so far.

Low-carbohydrate diet scores and risk of type 2 diabetes in men - PubMed

A score representing a low-carbohydrate diet high in animal protein and fat was positively associated with the risk of T2D in men. Low-carbohydrate diets should obtain protein and fat from foods other than red and processed meat.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21310828

curious79 · 17/11/2024 06:47

Look at the Mastering Diabetes work by Cyrus Khambatta & Robbie (?):
https://www.masteringdiabetes.org

you can literally reverse this. And yes, you will learn that complex carbs and fruit are your way out of this and not the enemy

Reverse Insulin Resistance | Diabetes Nutrition | Mastering Diabetes

Join the Mastering Diabetes Program to reverse insulin resistance, gain insulin sensitivity, and avoid diabetes complications.

https://www.masteringdiabetes.org

DisplayPurposesOnly · 17/11/2024 08:48

I'm going to recommend the 'don't panic' approach as I think you're overloaded now. Yes, T2D absolutely is serious and you need to do something but...

Your HbA1c is only just outside the pre-diabetic range. Rather than getting hung up on CGMs and intensive diet plans (which do have their place but I feel are for more complicated situations), just make some small changes:

  • lose some weight
  • eat less added sugar
  • more veg
  • switch to wholemeal bread & pasta
  • etc.
See where that gets you. If that doesn't work then think about a more intense approach.

Disclaimer - not a doctor.

PaminaMozart · 17/11/2024 09:53

It can get a bit complicated and seems confusing. This book explains it really well and offers solutions, including straightforward dietary advice and tasty recipes:

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-blood-sugar-solution-the-bestselling-programme-for-preventing-diabetes-losing-weight-and-feeling-great-mark-hyman/427974

TheMoonismadeofcheese · 22/11/2024 08:55

PaminaMozart · 17/11/2024 09:53

It can get a bit complicated and seems confusing. This book explains it really well and offers solutions, including straightforward dietary advice and tasty recipes:

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-blood-sugar-solution-the-bestselling-programme-for-preventing-diabetes-losing-weight-and-feeling-great-mark-hyman/427974

Thanks. I’ll read that.

OP posts:
TheMoonismadeofcheese · 22/11/2024 19:46

Why we get sick is a terrifying but educational read too.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page