Diabetes Type 2

Right - well this weeks been a bit of a roller coaster - I've just been diagnosed with diabetes 2 

It sort of sux a bit, but there's no use moping around, especially since it's my own stupid fault. 
Although I might have done an okay job of looking after everyone else - I definitely haven't looked after myself well enough

I am yet to see all the 'specialist' people who are going to point me in the right direction, tell me all the ins and outs etc - but what I am wondering is if any members have this as well - or know someone closely who does?

From what I've read it's just a matter of healthy diet and exercise?
Although I am confused about what I should and/or shouldn't eat and drink.

So just putting it out there to see if anyone's experienced at this.

Thank you in advance

Well Mum, from what I have seen with my Mum, this is going to be the start of a new life for you.

My Mum was, by all "tests" obese, perhaps 85kg and about 5' 6" so by no means what I would term obese, but has always battled with her weight. Since she was diagnosed around 18 months ago she has dropped 22kg and is at her "pre birth weight" from when she had me in 1975.

This is a result of slight diet change ( she was 68 when diagnosed and is now 70 ) and mild exercise increase. The diet consists of far less sugar and complex carbohydrates. I'm sure, as she did, you will see a dietician in the next few weeks to map out a plan for you.

I'm well overweight and so is my brother (me 37, he 45) and we have both since been for full check ups since Mum's diagnosis. All good, but told to lose weight.

Mum has since found a new lease of life. She eats better, has more energy, lost weight, exercises more. In fact, she see's it as a positive in many ways as she is fitter and healthier than she has been on 40 years.

See it, as she has Mum, a kick in the pants to do exactly what you have said above, start looking after yourself for once instead of everyone else! Good luck and you'll be fine.

Don't do what my Dad did - pretend it was 'cured', and ended up getting quite sick as a result. He survived, just, but is now taking it a bit more seriously.

yeah it can be controlled by Diet, but hopefully you dont read beyond Booneys great post!

As someone who was diagnosed with it . Lost a heap of weight put a heap of weight back on . Its a roller coaster ride .
I hope you don't get gout like I did . the type 2 diet and the gout diet don't mix
Currently being tested for Cushings either the disease or the syndrome both don't get on well with Diabetes !!
Do what the doctors say take your meds and do some form of exercise . I walk 8 hours a day at work and just came home and went for a 40 min walk !! 
And if they have you testing your blood the diabetic nurses like your levels to be below 7 and above 3 in the mornings .Been so long since I've done that more than once a week !!
And its not just about sugar in your diet but FAT contained in food !!
Do the two day course at the public hospital diabetic centre learn heaps !!

I hope that helps

Thanks Guys - your posts are much appreciated

And so are the inbox messages I received.

It has been exactly 1 week now and (even though I say so myself) I think I am doing very well.
I am a self assessed coke addict (probably half my problem when I look back) - and can proudly say I have not had even 1 glass for a week.
That's a big start for me. 
I even walked, not drove, to the shop yesterday - oh and I survived..lol.

I have managed to get my blood sugar levels down to hovering between 8 and 10 in this short time and I'm guessing they will lower the more I go along and the 'better' I get and what to eat when etc.

And yes Booney - your post is particularly awesome - thank you for that - I am doing that that your mum did, I am looking at it as a new lease on life - taking it by the horns and just getting on with it and doing what I need to do for a healthier me.

This weather is certainly helping me 'get out' there.

Thanks again everyone

www.diabetes.org.au

Might be worth attending ?
This mob have a good reputation

Scrappy wrote:www.diabetes.org.au

Might be worth attending ?
This mob have a good reputation

public hospitals have free diabetes clinics that your GP can refer you to !!
Diabetes SA on Sir Don Bradman drive is fantastic you can get so much there . If you join as a paying member some health insurance companies reimburse some of the fee. But check first BUPA only do if you have hospital cover !!

And I recommend if you wear socks either all day socks you can buy from like target . Or Diabetes SA sells some as well !!

Cheers

The medical clinic have set me up with an array of appointments.
The support really is there.

I have dietician, exercise physician, podiatrist and diabetic educator.
All with regular ongoing appointments.

I am doing well I think / feeling great.

Taking it on like Booney's mum did.

Nice to hear you are facing the challenge positively, A Mum.

All the best

Thanks FF

Day 13 after being diagnosed.

Have completely dropped ALL junk food.  Haven't had any since the day after.  So that's 12 days straight.  Have walked at least half an hour every day (except yesterday).  Not yet feeling any better for it all as it's still a struggle to make myself do these things.

I know I've been going really well - it's not easy though, it's extremely hard in fact.

I don't have scales that work, but am hoping to notice weight loss soon, or loose clothing..lol.

My sugar levels are right down - so I'm doing something right!!

You'll find that you stop craving dodgy food once you cut it out of your diet A Mum. In fact after 14 days you may already be starting to feel that.

If I was you I wouldn't bother getting a set of scales - I think it's more important to focus on how you feel rather than a number. It's a far more sustainable approach IMO.

No - I am still craving the junk - but have managed to refrain - only 'bad' thing I've had is a piece of carrot cake...lol.

TOO LATE !!
I bought batteries for my scales.

I know what you're saying to gauge how I feel to be the best approach, but I suppose I just need to feel like I'm getting somewhere - as I still feel blah (or maybe it's just sorry for myself) - they have stressed that one of the biggest things is to lose weight - as it will help immensely.

Anyway - I have lost a kilo - so that's a start.
Onwards and upwards I go  

Water Mum, and buckets of it.

Any craving for food (outside of the diet you are working to) go for a glass of water.

Feeling tired, agitated, go for a glass of water.

Use it as the default mechanism for concious thought now and it will soon become second nature to you during the day.

Move! Aslong as you are moving you are burning energy. Also whilst you are excercising you are not eating or craving anything.

Get a pedometer and aim for a certain amount of steps in a day. start slow then ramp it up when you can, you will be amazed how good you will feel in a few weeks, when it becomes easy!

Best of luck Amum

A Mum wrote:No - I am still craving the junk - but have managed to refrain - only 'bad' thing I've had is a piece of carrot cake...lol.

TOO LATE !!
I bought batteries for my scales.

I know what you're saying to gauge how I feel to be the best approach, but I suppose I just need to feel like I'm getting somewhere - as I still feel blah (or maybe it's just sorry for myself) - they have stressed that one of the biggest things is to lose weight - as it will help immensely.

Anyway - I have lost a kilo - so that's a start.
Onwards and upwards I go  

Just don't weigh yourself too often A Mum - it will just become a negative exercise. The expectation that you will drop kilos in the space of a week is completely unrealistic, and is just not sustainable. I would suggest only weighing yourself once a month. A much nicer process to see a 4 or 5 kilo drop over that period of time rather than a kilo or less in the space of a week!

Don't focus on the number - focus on the change in lifestyle, your improved energy levels, your improved sleep patterns, the fact that you feel more optimistic and less depressed etc (yes all that will start to happen if you keep up your good work!).

Now I just have to give the same pep talk to myself.

Booney wrote:Water Mum, and buckets of it.

Any craving for food (outside of the diet you are working to) go for a glass of water.

Feeling tired, agitated, go for a glass of water.

Use it as the default mechanism for concious thought now and it will soon become second nature to you during the day.

Yep good idea - will do that

bigclock wrote:Move! Aslong as you are moving you are burning energy. Also whilst you are excercising you are not eating or craving anything.

Get a pedometer and aim for a certain amount of steps in a day. start slow then ramp it up when you can, you will be amazed how good you will feel in a few weeks, when it becomes easy!

Best of luck Amum

Move - I haven't moved this much since I was about 20..lol.
I just did 1 hour round trip to one of my appointments - and I walked!!
And it's not flat here either, up hill all the way home.

Thanks BC

Gingernuts wrote:

Just don't weigh yourself too often A Mum - it will just become a negative exercise. The expectation that you will drop kilos in the space of a week is completely unrealistic, and is just not sustainable. I would suggest only weighing yourself once a month. A much nicer process to see a 4 or 5 kilo drop over that period of time rather than a kilo or less in the space of a week!

Don't focus on the number - focus on the change in lifestyle, your improved energy levels, your improved sleep patterns, the fact that you feel more optimistic and less depressed etc (yes all that will start to happen if you keep up your good work!).

Now I just have to give the same pep talk to myself.

Okay I'll compromise - will only weigh once a month - 1st of each month (maybe not the first of January though  lol)

I know it's not solely about the weightloss, its about a billion things.
I see the diabetic educator on Thursday for the first time, so after that I'm sure I'll be feeling a whole lot better about everything and know exactly where I'm at.

The best thing I ever did in my attempts to lose weight was to get a set of scales.

Now I can monitor myself on a daily basis, when I weigh myself each morning before breakfast.

If my weight goes up - or down - I can think back to what I did in the past 24 hours. I know which activities are a big help - eg a long walk, and which ones cause a problem, such as take-away food.

Where I do manage to get my weight down over a 3 or 4 day period, it is a big motivation for me to keep going and lose even more.

Everyone is different, and I might be over-doing it, but for me, it has given me up-to-date feedback on my efforts.

Another thing I find interesting, is that when we dont sleep enough (ie. less than 7 hours a night), this restricts our ability to lose weight. I'm not sure exactly what the science behind it is, but it (lack of sleep) can definitely be an issue that thwarts efforts to lose weight.

I have barely had any alcohol at all in the past 4 or 5 months. I have a few social functions in coming weeks/months, so it will be a challenge for me to stick to that.

Different horses for different courses I guess FF.

I guess the important thing to do A Mum is take everyone's advice and then work out what's best for you.

Once you see the diabetic educator and get a better handle on what you can and can't eat the weight will start falling off you I reckon.  

My wife had gestational diabeties and had to go through it all, and it can be a really interesting process if you tackle it with the right frame of mind. I found going to the dietician with her really interesting - I'd never really thought about how much processed/mass manufactured food we eat these days until then!

There is a very good app called 'My Fitness Pal' which is helpful to record your progress. It's easy to use. I'm not usually one for these things, but I found it really good.

Went to the diabetes educator - she wasn't really very helpful.... but she said she likes my attitude..lol.

But in all I've read it seems exercise is the big key.
So I'll keep trudging up that hill...lol.

Sounds like "so far, so good", A Mum

A Mum wrote:Went to the diabetes educator - she wasn't really very helpful.... but she said she likes my attitude..lol.

But in all I've read it seems exercise is the big key.
So I'll keep trudging up that hill...lol.

Good on ya A MUM !!
I had a bad week whether its this cushings they think I have or a virus like the local Gp thought .did not do my normal every second day walk .
What I did do was catch the bus to west tce walk to rays out doors .Check the cheap shoes they had out cheap work out they were for people with tiny feet and walk home .
Bus picked me up 12.03 walked back in my front door at 1.03 took roughly 1/2 an hour .
Not sure if its the cushings with the adrenal gland but my gosh I feel great after a walk !!