New Type 2 here

Dad2m · 04-29-2009, 12:25

Hello all,
Brand new to this forum and new to diabetes. I am a big guy and was just diagnosed. Doc was nice about telling me about it. When I thought I might be diabetic before all my blood results came in I started on a low carb diet. Was formally told I have type 2 on Monday.
He put me on Metformin HCL. 500 mg to start and increasing 500 mg every week until I am taking 2000 mg. He wants me to ease into it.

I have some weight to lose. Has anyone tried some of the meal replacement therapies to lose weight while being diabetic?
I don't have a blood sugar monitor yet and would have no idea what my blood sugar should be, Doc told me he would send me to a diabetic class for me to get all of this information. I am looking forward to that but in the meantime, he is suggesting the South Beach Diet.

Anyway, I am glad that you are all here. It is scary, but I want to get better and learn all I can. I need to be around a while longer for my daughter who is just 7 years old.

Doctor was encouraging. Said we caught this early and told me if I lost the weight over the next 12 months, my outlook for dealing with the type 2 would be much better.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to interacting with all of you soon.

D

rubystar2 · 04-29-2009, 14:17

It sounds to me like you are on the right track and you are taking good steps towards taking care of yourself. The best thing will be attending the diabetes education classes. There are some places you can get a meter for free. Will your insurance (if you have it) cover the testing strips? Here are some links for free meters. I have used both of them and they are good meters.

https://www.freestylelite.com/freest...ld&code=hd74kd

https://www.onetouchgold.com/simples..._term=onetouch

Keep us posted on your progress. There are a lot of friendly people willing to help you on your journey as we are all walking the same path.

Dad2m · 04-29-2009, 16:04

HI ruby. Thanks for that information. I guess I should just go get one of these meters. I have no idea how to use them but I'm sure it comes with instructions. I had another weird thing happen last night. I woke up twice with my left hand completely asleep. Yesterday was the first time I took the medication, is this a low blood sugar symptom (Neuropathy?). The rest of me feels fine.

Maybe I will try to post this same question in a different thread. Do you think that I should contact my doc or is this par for the course until my body gets used to the med?
Thanks Ruby for replying to my first thread so quickly. Nice to know that I am not alone.

D

Richard157 · 04-30-2009, 02:54

Hello and welcome to our community! That is good that your Type 2 was discovered early. That will make getting good control easier and complications much less likely. I do not think your hand going to sleep is due to neuropathy. Neuropathy and other nerve damage does not normally occur until a person has been diabetic for a much longer time. Reactions to Metformin is to be expected. Nausea and some loss of appetite and therefore some weight loss has been experienced by many. Perhaps the hand problem is a side effect too, I don't know. It takes some Type 2's a few weeks before they adjust to Metformin and experience much better control with their blood sugar levels. Here is a link about controlling portion sizes that has helped some people. Good luck to you!

Idaho Plate Method - Home

Dad2m · 04-30-2009, 05:02

Thanks Richard. I really appreciate your kind words. I spoke with another guy with type 2 today. He asked me about my level (can't remember the acronym) but it was the one that looks at your sugar level over the past 3 months. I was told that I was 150. He told me his was like 300 or 400 when he was diagnosed.

Anyway. I am looking forward to controlling my sugar intake so I can have better moments of feeling better.

Thanks Again.
D

johnleveritt · 04-30-2009, 06:22

Hello, and welcome to the board.