Diabetic nurse appointment

[Cornwalllover27]

My blood sugar levels have flagged up as raised so my GP has referred me to an appointment with the practice's diabetic nurse. Is anyone able to share what this appointment will entail. I am receiving treatment for heart failure although still struggling with the medication side effects. I am also obese and am worried that the nurse will blame everything on my weight.

[DWizza]

Sorry to hear your situation . There is obviously a common link between obesity and diabetes/pre diabetes but if your levels have recently raised it may be linked to your medication perhaps? Some statins can increase this. I had a false positive reading , got a text telling me I was pre diabetic and that I needed lifestyle changes and could enter a program. Frighted the last fe out of me (some 8 months post quadruple bypass surgery ) . I’m not obese , fit and all over my nutrition. GP was also shocked and said I’d have needed to put on a shed load of weight to have got that reading . Another test and it was back to normal . Now on my 3rd statin as I was having issues with artovastatin and Pravastatin ( 80mg and 40mg) they didn’t reduce the doseage of thirst two , now trying Rosuvastatin at 10mg , blood test tomorrow to see how things are and if the dose needs increasing. I’m sure your nurse will advise lifestyle changes if you are obese though . Good luck 👊🏻

[Cornwalllover27 in reply to DWizza]

Thank you for responding so quickly. My levels were the higher end of normal before my heart failure diagnosis, but pushed into the diabetic category once I started the medication. I do eat healthily and exercise as much as I can, although I also suffer from arthritis and a hip injury so it is difficult. I suppose I am just nervous as I am still coming to terms with everything and can't face being shamed about my weight which is already something I feel so self-conscious of 😔

[DWizza in reply to Cornwalllover27]

I really feel for you Cornwalllover27, I think it’s inevitable that weight will be mentioned but you shouldn’t be shamed by anyone ! Professionals should know this , you need help not shaming. Obesity is complex, any eating disorder is complex !

Are there some easy swaps to start helping you cut the amount of energy you are consuming ? Are you drinking a lot of your calories, for example, that could be changed to a less calorific drink ? Have you got anyone to talk to ?

[Cornwalllover27 in reply to DWizza]

Thank you so much for your kindness. I have cut back on wine to one small glass a few nights a week and always have at least 2 non-alcohol days. All my food is cooked from scratch and I limit sweet things. I used to be much more active before my hip problems, but the waiting list to get that sorted is so long, that more than 20 minutes walking is too much. I do as much as I can, but I also have a very stressful job and struggled to sleep for years which didn't help things. I am just dreading the appointment and the judgement.

[DWizza in reply to Cornwalllover27]

That’s a great decision but I don’t think it is the sole reason . Dig a little bit deeper and think of where else you can reduce more calories . Being more active obviously helps but if your activity is restricted then the energy deficit has to be made in the energy consumed compared to the energy spent . That’s the bare bones and simple answe but as I said the subject is complex. Attaining g the mindset to create that calorie deficit requires a change , usually a strong reason why it would benefit you. The successful method would be to create small changes that become a habit . I helped a young lady recently lose 4 stones from 18 to 15 stones by making small but consistent t changes , it took a year to lose that weight and she is still chipping away . No one wants to live a miserable life , food is a joy , so I’d health ! Health really is wealth . Please don’t hesitate to ask , message me if you need want to chat more . Keep us updated on how you get on. We learn so much from others experiences. 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻

[Cornwalllover27 in reply to DWizza]

Thank you so much for your support.

[Qualipop in reply to Cornwalllover27]

Be honest with her about how you already feel about your weight. It's bound to be mentioned but she should be gentle about it. YOu will have blood tests and be given advice on diet. Eating to reduce/treat diabetes is very different to just eating healthily. My husband's diabetic and by taking the dietary advice he lost 3 stone. However he's gone back to eating 3 cakes a week, a bag of scones and a packet of biscuits. There's no telling some people.

[Cornwalllover27 in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you so much for such a kind response. What kind of changes did your husband make? What has been the effect of him now eating cakes, biscuits and scones? We homemake all our food, always have 30 'plant points' a week etc. When we do have something sweet, it is always homemade.

[Qualipop in reply to Cornwalllover27]

He had to cut right down on carbohydrates and sugars. Controlling diabetes is all about eating food that release their sugars slowly so sweet potatoes instead of normal ones; cut right down on bread, no cakes or biscuits .When he was diagnosed he was given a list of must never eat foods but ideas have changed and the emphasis is now on having smaller amounts of such foods but eating mainly wholegrains, nuts seeds, vegetables, less red meat very much like what's suggested for heart health with the Mediterranean diet. However eating 3 big slabcakes all by himself every week is NOT a good idea. He would live on pies and potatoes and cakes like his mother used to make which is probably why he was pre- diabetic for over 20 years. He also shakes half a tablespoon of salt on very meal. I haven't cooked with salt in 25 years or baked but he still buys it all for himself. Because of that his BP is much higher and he needs medication for it, his blood sugar levels have risen all of which can affect heart , kidneys etc. His medication has to be increased pretty much every year. The Diabetes uK website is very helpful.

[Bruce67]

I had bloods taken recently and they said I have " non diabetic hypoglycemia" or " pre diabetes".

I had call from someone from GP surgery to tell me my blood sugar level had gone up by 0.1% since last test a decade ago!

Panic over! I had barely triggered on the scale that says I am now a diabetes type 2 risk.

So get the facts of the readings first, before panicking over it like I did!

Since my ohs in Dec I have changed my diet and eating far more healthier than I ever did, am not overweight, BMI is low 20's etc... I was told to follow the diet/exercise advice from the cardio rehab classes I will be taking! ( Did start them months ago but got suspended due to ICD install..now allowed back again!)

[RufusScamp]

This happened to me two years ago. My blood sugar was a bit high, and I have put on weight (I blame the heart meds!). I was offered a 9 month course for pre-diabetics through Weight Watchers, and made a determined effort to cut out sugar and white flour, as well as getting more exercise. My weight reduced a little, and the sugar level came down. I am just going for this year's reading tomorrow, so fingers crossed.

I hope your nurse is as kind and helpful as mine was.

[Cornwalllover27 in reply to RufusScamp]

Thank you, was any of it compulsory?

[RufusScamp in reply to Cornwalllover27]

I had a choice of whether or not I took part. I followed advice because I wanted to improve my condition - which it did.