Type 2 diabetes

[Lacemaker]

I have just come back from seeing the doctor and have been told that I have Diabetes 2.

I went to see her just over a week ago for a referral to my opthalmologist and she suggested a complete checkup including blood tests. My blood pressure is good and the blood tests showed excellent kidney, thyroid and cholesterol levels (cholesterol 3.6). The liver levels were a little high but the doctor said nothing to worry about. My blood sugar level was high at 16. She ordered another blood test and this came in at 17. I have a pile of literature to read and the doctor is arranging for me to attend a diabetes clinic at the local hospital which she highly recommends. I also have a prescription for Metformin 500 mg (Pharmcor) tablets.

I think I am about to embark on a steep learning curve ........

[Rowan]

I just got diagnosed couple of years ago Hazel - I am quite good now at keeping the blood sugar low. Just one more thing you have to do in the mornings!!

[dejavou]

Good luck with it Hazel

[Lacemaker]

Thanks ladies.

I am waiting to hear from the clinic at the moment where I will learn how to manage my diet and blood tests. They will also check my feet and ankles and answer any questions I may have.

When my daughters heard the news one of them said - Does that mean I can eat all the licquorice ?

When I think of all the problems my sister had with her cancer and MS, this seems very minor.

[Rowan]

Apparently it can be very serious Hazel. Watch your eyesight as well, they will probably give you a test every year.

[Vince]

As yet I have not got diabetes but my mother had it in later years, I was wondering if this would stop you having alcohol, of any type, should I develop diabetes ?

[Lacemaker]

Rowan, yes, I know it can be and I'm not underestimating the seriousness of it but the condition my sister was in leading up to her death was dreadful. I already have my eyes checked every year by an ophthalmologist due glaucoma in the family.

Vince, I have just found this link to the effects of alcohol on a diabetic.

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitnes ... cohol.html


I have an appointment on Monday morning with an educator and Tuesday morning with a dietician at the local clinic so I'll know more then.

[Vince]

Vince, I have just found this link to the effects of alcohol on a diabetic.

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitnes ... cohol.html


I have an appointment on Monday morning with an educator and Tuesday morning with a dietician at the local clinic so I'll know more then.[/quote]

Thats the end of my glass of wine each day it would be easy for me to do that, I couldn't be bothered with all that messing around.
Vince.

[toolip2]

Vince, I have just found this link to the effects of alcohol on a diabetic.

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitnes ... cohol.html


I have an appointment on Monday morning with an educator and Tuesday morning with a dietician at the local clinic so I'll know more then.

Thats the end of my glass of wine each day it would be easy for me to do that, I couldn't be bothered with all that messing around.
Vince.[/quote]


The link is useful, thanks for sharing. I am diabetes2 on tablets for five years and manage to keep it under resonable control. I drink very little alchohol, I have a glass of wine on Sunday with our dinner usually red wine, a good Merlot. I may have a galss of lager once in a while.

Unless you are a moderate to heavy drinker of wines and beers or one of those then with careful moderation alcohol is ok. I would check with a GP.especially if you are on different tablets/medication for different conditions If you live in the UK www.diabetesuk.org may be worth a browse.

[toolip2]

As yet I have not got diabetes but my mother had it in later years, I was wondering if this would stop you having alcohol, of any type, should I develop diabetes ?

I expect you know that diabetes is not always hereditary and can be brought on by other factors one being severe shock. People mainly think that the condidtion is always caused by being overweight and not living a healthy lifestyle with some sort of excercise regime. This is what brought mine on. But this is is a generalisation and in no way suggesting your Mum or any other diabetic 1/2 did/does not look after themselves.

I gave up smoking in 1997 and gradually gained two stone in weight. I ate what I liked and lots of sugar, I went from 11 stine to 13 stone and did nothing about it. I began to feel very tired and generally unwell and went to the doctors who sent me for a blood test. My sugar level was 7.9 mmols which is not raging high but high enough.

[toolip2]

I have just come back from seeing the doctor and have been told that I have Diabetes 2.

I went to see her just over a week ago for a referral to my opthalmologist and she suggested a complete checkup including blood tests. My blood pressure is good and the blood tests showed excellent kidney, thyroid and cholesterol levels (cholesterol 3.6). The liver levels were a little high but the doctor said nothing to worry about. My blood sugar level was high at 16. She ordered another blood test and this came in at 17. I have a pile of literature to read and the doctor is arranging for me to attend a diabetes clinic at the local hospital which she highly recommends. I also have a prescription for Metformin 500 mg (Pharmcor) tablets.

I think I am about to embark on a steep learning curve ........

The first thing to try and do is not feel panicky. Some people do when diagnosed with the condition. Yes, it will be learning curve but if tackled calmly you will master it with the sugar managing. I assume you had symptons that made you see the GP. Lethargy/tiredness, thirst, thrush (sometimes) and just feeling unwell and out of sorts. When I was diagnosed 5 years agao, I started off with diet alone but had to go onto Metformin 500grams a day and two with my evening meal. This tablet upset my stomach and I told the doc who suggested I try GLUCOPHAGE SLOW RELEASE 500 a day up to three pills. I take two with my evening meal. The stomach problems stopped straight away and I have been taking it eversince. Dont feel you have to tolerate awful side effects. People react differently to different drugs. see how you get on with the Metformin which is always the first port of call with a newly diagnosed diabetic.

Just take things day by day and has the GP/nurse asked you to do a daily blood test? Some GPs encourage it and other cost effective ones do not. There was a leaning not to finger prick monitor a couple of years ago but now more GP/nurses encourage patients to do this. Its not hard and I feel it keeps me aware of my sugar levels.and on my toes with diet.

I could continue on this message board and try to give you some support but maybe other members will not welcome this. If you would like me to PM you I will but will leave it with you, Lacemaker.

Good luck... Toolip xx

[Lacemaker]

Many thanks, toolip.

I have an appointment to see the Educator at the local diabetes clinic on Monday morning and the dietician on Tuesday morning. When I had the prescription filled at the chemist, I was given a whole lot of advice about what I should look for, etc., and found that I couldn't remember the half of it when I left the shop so I will be taking a notebook along with me when I go to the clinic (I would have been doing that anyway).

I mainly went to see the GP for a referral to my eye specialist whom I see once a year because of glaucoma in the family and mentioned an itchy rash I had to her while I was there. She gave me some cream for it and then she suggested a general checkup which revealed the blood sugar level. Thinking back, I was feeling lethargic and sweaty and I had been drinking more (all the wrong things !) but I put this down to the weather - we have had a very hot summer.

I will be glad when I have seen the dietician since at the moment I am not sure what sort of foods are good or bad for me.

[Rowan]

Keep the advice coming please so that we can all get the benefit from each other.

[toolip2]

Hazel I have just seen your post. The dietician will help you. It can be a bit of a minefield at first with food and drink but it gets easier and I even find it interesting checking the lables Sad, or what!!?
Good luck at the GP.

[toolip2]

Keep the advice coming please so that we can all get the benefit from each other.

Okayar! I do hesitate with support but I will try. I never give medical advice but only how I have managed over the past 5 years with my own diabetes2. I feel the whole idea of this thread is to help, especially people who have just been diagnosed as we have all been there, havn't we?