Hi! Newly Diagnosed

silvermist · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 01:43 AM

Hi everyone, I am new here and was diagnosed as type 2 in september last year. I am still trying to understand everything as well as get my head around it all. Any advice on what I should expect (though not in doctors speak as I dont understand it yet!)??
I am controlling my blood sugars with diet at the moment which seems to be going ok but have been started on simvastatin (which I have heard mixed views about, but I tend to just go with the doctors advice) other than that I am just trying to lose weight which I have been told may help...

ErikaA · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 01:49 AM

Hi silvermist!
I got diagnosed at the end of September too!

Welcome aboard.

Are you testing your own blood sugar levels?

silvermist · #3 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 01:55 AM

no - I havent been told to - but when I saw an out of hours doctor over xmas he was surprised that I wasnt. Is it something I should be doing?? I have an appt with the diabetic nurse next week so I will ask her then anyway..

ErikaA · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 02:04 AM

Well it all depends on the severity of your diabetes and your own peace of mind.

It is a good way of gauging how well controlled your blood sugars are and what foods are affecting you the most.

I know some type 2s who only get tested when they see the doctor and are well controlled with diet. And others who test more than 10 times a day. If you are only diet controlled at this point i would not stress about it and just ask the nurse when you see them.

I get to see the diabetes nurse next week for the first time too! But I've already got an endo because my diabetes is not controllable on diet alone.

fenagle · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 02:34 AM

Welcome to the forums Silvermist. I am taking simvastatin also but I believe it is for lowering my cholesterol.

art · #6 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 03:39 AM

Florida waving Hello.

Ask the nurse if she'll get you a meter. Can't hurt to test

Art

silvermist · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 05:02 AM

yes the simvastatin is for my cholesteral too. I will discuss testing my blood sugars with the nurse next week. I tend to have a 'funny turn' about 3pm most days which is not so good as that is when I collect my son from school and to be honest Im wondering what I can do to stop it, at the moment Im relying on chocolate which tastes great but kind of defeating the losing weight issue I think!!

yannah · #8 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 06:07 AM

Hi! Welcome! TEST!

patricia52 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 07:31 AM

First let me also welcome you to the DF. You have found a good place to learn about D. I agree with the majority. I say you need to test. Especially if you are having those "funny moments". Testing will allow you to learn how different foods are affecting you. Keeping of journal of your BG readings and what you ate can help you learn what causes you to go low around 3:00 pm. Insist on a prescription for a meter & strips if you have insurance. If you do not get a script or do not have insurance, you can buy them over the counter.
Do you know the rule of 15? If you are hypo eat 15 carbs and test 15 minutes later. If you are still hypo repeat. Don't judge by your feeling. I feel awful for the rest of the day if I go hypo. Also if you have been hypo recently you may not feel it. It is always best to test b/4 driving. It may even keep you from losing you drivers license.
I suggest keeping some hard candy with you instead of chocolate. Or buy a pack of Glucose Tabs. Good luck and keep us posted.

shutterbug · #10 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 08:54 AM

Welcome to DF. Its good that you are controlling it with diet for the moment. Are you testing often? How are your readings (fasting, 2 hr pp?)

alura · #11 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 08:56 AM

Welcome from Texas. You have chosen a great place to get those questions answered and share your travels in this journey we are all on.

buddy7 · #12 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 09:55 AM

Hi silvermist! Hello, good evening and welcome to the forum, you’ve chosen a great site, for warmth friendship and loads of information, understanding ones condition and support, you'll be more than delighted with us, glad you’ve join up.

There's no doubt that diabetes requires a lot of responsibility and self-discipline, studies have shown that many people with diabetes experience fears and anger at some stage, some are tired out by the demands of day to day self care, others struggle desperately to manage their blood glucose fluctuations.

Setting your-self small achievable goals to start off with, regular physical activity, eating a balance diet, managing your weight, and following a healthy lifestyle, together with taking any prescribe medication and monitoring where appropriate will benefit your health enormously, if you are overweight, losing weight will help you control your diabetes, and also help you reduce the risk of further complications.

silvermist · #13 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 10:37 AM

Thanks for all your comments. I feel really welcome already - thanks! As Im in the Uk, fortunatly health insurance doesnt matter and as my doctor has signed all the necessary paperwork I am now entitled to free prescriptions (for any meds not just related to my diabetes) which is a bonus so I will speak to my nurse and ask her about monitoring. When I do feel funny it takes me until the following morning to feel normal again and even then its not always straight away. I never thought about making a note of what I am eating I will do that from now on I think, if only for my own information. I am doing the whole weight thing though I am only just in the overweight area according to my BMI but because I couldnt shift the last stone or so to bring me down my doctor recommended Xenical, so far it seems to be working and Ive not had any 'bad' side effects that I have heard about - my doctor says this is because my diet must be ok...
I assume I can get glucose tablets at the chemists???
Sorry if I sound naieve - but I am!!! To be honest the doctor didnt really tell me a lot just refered me to the diabetic clinic and so far I had my initial appt with the nurse who gave me a whole file of information and left me in a state of complete bewilderment...

earlhoing · #14 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009, 08:01 AM

Hi Silvermist and welcome!

I've a couple of thoughts.

You say you tend to just follow your Docs advice. Try to understand that it is your condition and up to you to come up with the proper regimen. I've been to several different doctors and endos and received conflicting advice.

You also said that your diabetic clinic gave you a bewildering amount of info. Try to understand what it says, try what makes sense in your diet and your life, and test, test, test!

Let your body tell you if you're on the right track to control, then seek advice once you understand your own situation.

For example, watch your carb intake, and test. You will determine the amount and type of carbs you can eat and not "spike."

I don't hate the doctors or ADA for what I consider faulty advice, but I do hate this condition and what I have to think about every day. But after 12 years, I don't know what I'd think about if I didn't have the big D.

Earl

A1c last week 7
2000 g Metformin daily
Lantus 60 U daily
Humalog 6 U with eac meal.
Bunch of other meds for other "stuff"
50-75 g carbs daily
no grains, cerials, starchy veggies

xMenace · #15 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009, 08:18 AM

Welcome.

You have no use for glucose tabs as you are not on any meds that will cause hypoglycemia.

You have no idea what that funny feeling is. In late afternoon, it is probably you in a "normal" state which you are not used to.

Testing is your speedometer. You wouldn't go out driving without one.

Be patient and be ready to learn.