I had my first appointment with my diabetes nurse and I'm not sure what to think.
She didn't give me any meds. Asked me a lot of questions about my drinking habits. Weighed me and sent me off with some leaflets and an online course to do.
I'm still so confused about everything.
Will this online course tell me what the fuck I'm supposed to do now.
I mean, the basic steps are:
- Cut out sugar and most carbs
- Eat protein, vegetables, fats
- If you're going to eat carbs, they should be whole grain, in small amounts, and paired with protein and/or fats
- Start doing some kind of regular movement (walking, swimming, biking, weights, exercise classes, dance around your house, etc.)
You can start doing all that with the info you have right now. While you do more research/reading, you will start to have a better understanding of what's going on. Then you should:
- Get a fingerprick kit and start testing your blood sugars to see how different foods effect you
- Consider medication
(usually) nurse don't give out medication, only doctors can prescribe medication.
Have you talked to a doctor ?
People (me included) are usually afraid to ask questions in situations like that.
The online course will probably answer most of your questions.
Type 2 diabetes, at least for most of us, is a relatively simple disease to handle and manage with medication and mostly lifestyle changes (diet, exercises, weight control)
She prescribed me statins for my high cholesterol
In some US states prescribing medication is within a Nurse Practitioners scope of practice. Nit sure you are but could your provider be something equivalent?
I'm in the UK 🙂
The on line course? Only one way to find out.
For now, your diet should be zero sugar, low carb.
Did they tell you what your A1C was?
51 mmol/mol was my last reading
How do you even go no sugar? It's in literally everything 🙃
51 mmol/ml is 900+ md/dl?
You're thinking mmol/l. 51 mmol/mol is roughly 6.8 for a1c.
Ok thanks.
I don't know what that means sorry
It's mmol/mol which the new standard units in Europe for HbA1c. You might be used to % which would read 6.8%. This converts to mmol/L or mg/ml. 51 mmol/mol equal 8.3 mmol/L average or 149.5 mg/dl.
This is OK after a meal but not as an average which is what HbA1c reading gives you. As an average, it's much too high when your normal should be below 5.5 mmol/L or 99 mg/dl. Some jurisdictions can have slightly different level and there is the pre-diabetes "don't treat because it costs too much." levels.
Self check is glucose levels after fasting for more than 8hrs 3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L or 70 to 100 mg/dl. After eating, your blood glucose should stay below 7.8 mmol/L or 140 mg/ml and be back to normal level after 2 hours. Reduce carbs if not.
It's all really confusing with what equals what.
On one website I have it figured out to 51 mmol/mol 6.8% 149.14mg/dl 8.28 mmol/l
Which is almost what you have said.
I didn't know the last 2 numbers
Yes, sorry, I was doing a rough calculation in my head. I live in Canada and by law tests must be in % and mmol/L. You're in the UK, who have just recently changed to mmol/mol to be in line with European Union (I believe). The only reason I've learned the conversions is because of the internet. When you read comments from other jurisdictions, they use the units from their country. There are two readings that are pertinent. Fasting blood glucose levels and HbA1c. The important thing to know is your HbA1c is equal to 6.8 when 3.9 to 5.5 is normal. 6.8 is considered elevated even for medicated conditions. Doctors want to see HbA1c between 6.0 and 6.5 while medicated. If your HbA1c goes lower than 6.0, they will reduce your medication.
People think if their blood sugar levels are good under medication that everything is fine, but it's really not.
Zero is what I aim for. I never reach that goal. As you said, sugar is in everything. I went to three stores, trying to find sugar free peanut butter. Settled on one that is low sugar. Jiffy Natural.
You can have some sugar. But pies, cakes, sugary soft drinks, ice cream are all off the menu. White bread? White flour? As bad as sugar.
Jif* has a sugar free peanut butter. I've been eating it for over a year. It's even better than the regular stuff!
Haven't found it anywhere I shop.
Are you in the US?
No. Texas.
...... What?
Anyway, they have it at Kroger, Walmart and dozens of other major grocery store chains. Doesn't look like HEB carries it, which is kinda interesting.
It has sugar in it - just no added sugar.
Not a whole lot different than regular Jif. 10 calories more in the sugar free one for 2 tblsp. 1 carb less in the sugar free.
Wow, where do you live that you can't find peanut butter without sugar. It's pretty common now.
There's plenty of it where I live, relax. I was pointing out that the specific brand mentioned, Jif, has it.
I was answering Hoppie1064, and somehow it went under your post.
Meat and vegetables.
So, there's a difference between the "sugars" that you would find in the nutritional value labels and "added sugar". Contrary to what people will tell you, sugar is not poison and food is not your enemy.
Added processed sugar is not great for diabetics because it's so quickly digested by your body so it'll spike you, but that doesn't mean you should never eat any "sugars" because glucose is literally what your cells use for fuel. But it's important to decide how you want to eat that.
A good rule of thumb is to try to pick ingredients as closely as you can to how it naturally is found in nature, and prepare your meals yourself (if possible) so you can control ingredients and portions. So for grains, you want whole grains instead of refined; for fruit, you want the whole fruit (with skin preferably!) instead of juices; for veggies, try to eat them with the skin; for lean meats, you want an actual piece of chicken/fish/whatever instead of ham, sausages, etc.
When you eat carbs that also have higher fiber count (whole grains, fruit, beans, etc) helps your body absorb sugar more slowly, and also makes your intestines very happy. So you're still eating carbs, but you're eating them in a way that's better for your body. Sure, a portion of cherries will have about the same net carbs as a piece of candy but your body will react to them very differently because it's not just how many sugars but also what type and what else you're eating.
Try to get a nutrition plan from your diabetes team but as a general rule: pair carbs with protein and fiber, avoid highly processed foods, lower your net carbs (I'm eating between 100-130g of net carbs per day), prefer complex carbs when you do have to eat them, incorporate light to moderate exercise to your day, and measure as much as you can to see how your body reacts to food, exercise, and everything. That will help make informed decisions.
If i could give you an award I would.
This is the most useful thing anyone has told me since I was diagnosed.
You are an angel.
Thank you so so much
Aww this is so sweet. Hope you have a good day!
Wow! That's high. This gives you an average glucose level of about 8.3 mmol/L when normal is below 5.5 mmol/L. Eating no sugar mean you need to stop buying prepared foods and making meals you cook yourself that are low in carbs. Meat and low starch vegetables. The saying goes like this, "Don't buy anything that has a bar code." No potatoes, no rice, no pasta, and no bread. Lean meat with green vegetables is best.
Monitor with cgm or a glucose meter.
Welcome to the T2D world.
what caused you to have an appt with a diabetes nurse? Blood test, symptoms,??
2 blood tests with high blood sugar
The online course basically tells you to cut all enjoyment out of your life.
Yay ðŸ˜
Not knowing what your current diet is like, start with just reducing the amount of added sugars and carbs that you currently eat. Just cutting things out cold turkey seems like a recipe for failure to me.
Read the leaflets that you were given and take the online course. It's more than many of us were given :)
Schedule a follow-up appointment to get your questions answered (go with a list of questions).