Wednesday, 21 September 2016
wait...I forgot!
I forgot that I found a new chart, thanks to http://www.diabetes.co.uk. It breaks down the blood sugar limits quite easily. Here it is - this is the chart i'm going to be referring to...
not bad, I think...
Okay, so a recap of the past couple days...
I have had a nightmare! Had a couple days of really bad diarrhoea, which I have worked out happens if I don't take the Metformin EXACTLY at the same time that i'm having something to eat. And when I say eat, it has to be a proper meal, not just a snack. So apart from last night, I think I have that problem fixed. Next is the heartburn. It's just awful. It seems to be as soon as I get up (which can be any time of the day because of my shift) and right before I go to bed. And any time my stomach is empty; which is a lot because I have no appetite. I've been taking Gaviscon but that isn't helping really at all at work and i've been taking peptac when I'm at home (which the doctor gave me), but that isn't really touching it at home either...so heartburn is on my list to speak to the doctor about next week. The feeling sick hasn't been too bad. Mostly I feel sick when i'm hungry, so it's hard to shove food down my throat, but i'm persevering! Lastly is the headaches. OH MAN! There's nothing I can do about my headaches. I actually thought I was dying the other night. It took cold compresses on my forehead and neck, 2 Dihydracodeine and 2 paracetamol to calm it down enough so that I could sleep. I really cannot stress how bad the headaches have been. They are just so dehabilitating that you can't get anything done. So another thing I need to bring up with the doctor. Because I have to go to work, I have reduced my intake of Metformin back to 1x500mg a day until I see the doctor next week when I can talk to her about the headaches. Everything else I can kinda power through.
I've also noticed, and it may be a coincidence, but I don't think so...but if I eat things that are going to spike my blood sugars, then I feel much much worse than normal. I had a sandwich the other day because it was all I could buy from the limited availability of where I was and my stomach was going crazy afterwards. Maybe because along with the metformin, i'm trying to make changes to my body too that it just can't cope when I put 'bad' stuff into it? I don't know, but it's helping me to consciously make the right decisions when it comes to picking my food. Today, for instance, instead of using the easy route of cooking up the fresh pasta that's in my fridge with a quick cheese sauce (Bisto), I stir fried some Cauliflower Cous Cous, Carrot Spaghetti, couple Bratwursts, ham, peppers and some sweetcorn and had that for lunch and will take the leftovers to work tonight and have the rest for my dinner. It was actually delicious! And including eating tonight's leftovers, it will only have been 750 calories, which means I'm sticking to the 800 cal limit I'm doing with Michael Mosley's book.
*takes a moment break because the heartburn has kicked in again*
Okay, i'm back. I think the most important thing I have to update on is my actual blood sugars test. A couple days ago I took my fasting test which was 5.7 mol/L. I took it again after having food (before I really started watching what I was eating sugar/carb wise) and it was 7.6 mol/L. That's quite high. Today, my fasting was again 5.7 mol/L and after eating the above, my after food test (2 hours later) was just 6.0 mol/L. Now, i'm not a doctor and I don't really know if the changes could have that quick an effect on my blood glucose, but my limited knowledge and a little common sense would tell me that there's not been as high a spike in my blood sugar (which in affect causes the release of insulin), which I would attribute to the fact I'm eating the right food now? A doctor or expert might prove me wrong, buuuut....that's what i'm figuring at the moment.
So, weight wise I think my tummy doesn't look as swollen and my mummy(!) says I look like i've lose weight, but using her scales last night it looks like i've put on 1lb!! I know scales are different so the doctor's scales might show something else when I go to see her next week, but i'll be a little disappointed if it truly is no difference. Especially when I know myself that i'm probably eating at least half of what I used to eat, the right food this time and i'm not putting sugar into my body anymore! We'll see though. I'm not giving up because I know i'm looking after my body now, which I wasn't doing before.
Got to go and get ready for work now.
Rhona out.
I have had a nightmare! Had a couple days of really bad diarrhoea, which I have worked out happens if I don't take the Metformin EXACTLY at the same time that i'm having something to eat. And when I say eat, it has to be a proper meal, not just a snack. So apart from last night, I think I have that problem fixed. Next is the heartburn. It's just awful. It seems to be as soon as I get up (which can be any time of the day because of my shift) and right before I go to bed. And any time my stomach is empty; which is a lot because I have no appetite. I've been taking Gaviscon but that isn't helping really at all at work and i've been taking peptac when I'm at home (which the doctor gave me), but that isn't really touching it at home either...so heartburn is on my list to speak to the doctor about next week. The feeling sick hasn't been too bad. Mostly I feel sick when i'm hungry, so it's hard to shove food down my throat, but i'm persevering! Lastly is the headaches. OH MAN! There's nothing I can do about my headaches. I actually thought I was dying the other night. It took cold compresses on my forehead and neck, 2 Dihydracodeine and 2 paracetamol to calm it down enough so that I could sleep. I really cannot stress how bad the headaches have been. They are just so dehabilitating that you can't get anything done. So another thing I need to bring up with the doctor. Because I have to go to work, I have reduced my intake of Metformin back to 1x500mg a day until I see the doctor next week when I can talk to her about the headaches. Everything else I can kinda power through.
I've also noticed, and it may be a coincidence, but I don't think so...but if I eat things that are going to spike my blood sugars, then I feel much much worse than normal. I had a sandwich the other day because it was all I could buy from the limited availability of where I was and my stomach was going crazy afterwards. Maybe because along with the metformin, i'm trying to make changes to my body too that it just can't cope when I put 'bad' stuff into it? I don't know, but it's helping me to consciously make the right decisions when it comes to picking my food. Today, for instance, instead of using the easy route of cooking up the fresh pasta that's in my fridge with a quick cheese sauce (Bisto), I stir fried some Cauliflower Cous Cous, Carrot Spaghetti, couple Bratwursts, ham, peppers and some sweetcorn and had that for lunch and will take the leftovers to work tonight and have the rest for my dinner. It was actually delicious! And including eating tonight's leftovers, it will only have been 750 calories, which means I'm sticking to the 800 cal limit I'm doing with Michael Mosley's book.
*takes a moment break because the heartburn has kicked in again*
Okay, i'm back. I think the most important thing I have to update on is my actual blood sugars test. A couple days ago I took my fasting test which was 5.7 mol/L. I took it again after having food (before I really started watching what I was eating sugar/carb wise) and it was 7.6 mol/L. That's quite high. Today, my fasting was again 5.7 mol/L and after eating the above, my after food test (2 hours later) was just 6.0 mol/L. Now, i'm not a doctor and I don't really know if the changes could have that quick an effect on my blood glucose, but my limited knowledge and a little common sense would tell me that there's not been as high a spike in my blood sugar (which in affect causes the release of insulin), which I would attribute to the fact I'm eating the right food now? A doctor or expert might prove me wrong, buuuut....that's what i'm figuring at the moment.
So, weight wise I think my tummy doesn't look as swollen and my mummy(!) says I look like i've lose weight, but using her scales last night it looks like i've put on 1lb!! I know scales are different so the doctor's scales might show something else when I go to see her next week, but i'll be a little disappointed if it truly is no difference. Especially when I know myself that i'm probably eating at least half of what I used to eat, the right food this time and i'm not putting sugar into my body anymore! We'll see though. I'm not giving up because I know i'm looking after my body now, which I wasn't doing before.
Got to go and get ready for work now.
Rhona out.
Thursday, 15 September 2016
Blood Sugar Result Day One (really just a test I guess)
Okay, so got my new blood glucose monitor. I had to google how to interpret the results because I'm not that clued up yet. This is a handy little guide I got free from http://www.diabetes.co.uk:
My Monitoring kit came today and so I couldn't wait to try it out. I was on a nightshift last night, so I woke up about 1pm. I had not eaten or drank anything before I took the test (literally got up and saw the postie had been!).
After spending 10 minutes reading the manual to see how it worked, I dove right in. My first reading was 5.7 mol/L. Now, according to my handy chart above, this is within normal ranges! Yay! I'm just about to go and have something to eat, so will check again in an hour or so.
Edited:
Okay, so just done another test having eaten: Cous Cous with Red Pepper, Wafer Thin Ham, Bratwurst and a little sprinkling of cheese and sweetcorn.
Before food (1330): 5.7 mol/L
After food (1630): 7.1 mol/L
Now, by going with the chart above it looks like i'm still in a good range. I think tonight i'll take the monitor to bed and do a test as soon as I wake up, have something to eat and see what it says. So, until tomorrow........
Rhona out.
Obligatory Background Sob Story
Okay, post number one of my brand-spanking new blog. Here's my vision for this blog...
1. To help me put into words how i'm feeling; good and bad on my journey from fat to thin and borderline Type 2 to 'diabetes? what diabetes?!'. I'm hoping that upon reflection, this blog will help me feel motivated and remind me on my low days to keep going. I am someone who lacks motivation and willpower most of the time so i'm hoping that this blog will keep me going.
2. I'm hoping to be an inspiration story to the masses. Who wouldn't want to be that?
3. I would like this to be a forum to track my blood glucose (from my lovely new monitor that arrived this morning and I have already managed to 'lance' myself 3 times accidentally...)
4. Erm...there's not really a number 4, but I thought just 3 points was too short.
Okay, so a bit about me...
My name is Rhona. I am 33 years old. -this sounds like the opening to an AA meeting!- I live in a sleepy village in Scotland in a lovely house with my cat called Dove. See conveniently placed photo of such cat taking a selfie below...
I work as a Supervisor for a handling agent in the nearby airport which keeps my stress levels at a high and keeps my sleep pattern non existent. I start work some days at 0300 and I finish work some days at 0300! My shift pattern is 6 days on, 3 days off. I work 3 earlier and then 3 later before my days off. It's a tough job to do, but it's interesting. I do struggle with sleep and eating at correct times. Also, with working both land and air side, it's hard to take food with you as you cannot take liquids through security. Soo...of course you find that Costa or Wotherspoons (or wherever your break buddy is fancying that day!) is much more appealing that running land side to ram your food down your throat before running back to do your next flight. It's so busy in my airport that very often I don't get a break. I don't mind most days, but it does add to the weight issue!
My medical background...
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. now, being so young and hating periods anyway, I though this was great! No periods!! I didn't bother at that point to do anything about it. I put weight on, I got lethargic and still didn't get a period. I still wasn't bothered. I hit my 20s...still having too much fun and not bothering about my non-existent periods! Mid-20s, I started thinking about wanting to settle down and have a family. After a trip to Australia and meeting another girl who had PCOS and was on Metformin to regulate her Insulin Resistance, I answered my wake-up-call. I got back from Oz and booked an appointment with my doctor. After being sent to the hospital for a fasting glucose test, they confirmed that I had Insulin Resistance on top of my PCOS (it's commonly linked), they agreed to put me on Metformin. Well, I was in for a shock! Have you heard about the side effects that come with this drug? Yes, I had ignored them too, thinking everyone was exaggerating! I should have heeded their warning! I suffered terribly with nausea. Now, I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to feeling sick. Give me a headache or anything else and I'll be fine, but I have a proper fear when it comes to being sick! So to constantly feel like I was going to be sick...nope! I couldn't cope with it! I lasted about 2 months before I stopped taking them. Put my PCOS and Syndrome X books back on my shelf and swiftly forgot about about it all. I hit 30. I'm thinking about getting my PCOS back under control again and losing some weight. Sitting around the 14st7 mark at 5'4 and because of the Insulin issue, all my weight was hanging around my stomach in a perfectly formed bump - I could have passed as being heavily pregnant. Went back to the docs and they put me on the Pill. It was caused Yasmin. Long story short, but less than 3 months later I was in hospital with blood clots on my lungs. Yep, caused by the Pill. Safe to say, i'll never touch contraception Pills again!!!
Okay, so skip a year or two and i'm back looking at Metformin because of a legend called Dr Michael Mosley. I had read his book a few years ago called the 5:2 diet. A lot of what he says makes perfect sense to me. I eat even when i'm not hungry because of society telling you that you need to eat every couple of hours. How stupid! Over the years and especially after the Pulmonary Embolism, I've learned to really pay attention to what my body is telling me. It tells me when I'm thirsty and it tells me when I'm hungry. Fact! If you get a chance, have a read of it. I do believe there has to be something in the act of fasting. Every religion on the planet all fast at some time throughout the year. Going back to cavemen days, they would go days without food if the hunting was low then have a feast. They stayed lean and strong. There has to be something in this fasting malarky. I did a diet called Lighter Life a few years ago and lost close to 4st in just 3 months. Unfortunately I didn't change my eating habits after I went back to eating food and put all the weight back on...and then some! My own fault. But it worked! I didn't feel hungry, I had loads more energy, I was happy, my PCOS symptoms disappeared and I was getting periods!
Okay, so present day...
Dr Mosley has brought out a new book called the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet. I've read it and I know that it's the perfect diet for me. I've been told I have insulin resistance and the insulin in my body is a huge barrier that stops me from losing weight easily. He has totally opened my eyes to how we've been brainwashed by major foods companies out there to eat the wrong things. It's not all about low fat/no fat. Fat is my friend! Anything that takes the longest to break down into sugar in my body is my best friend. I shouldn't be focusing on calorie intake, like all diets tell you to do. I need to be looking at the fat and sugar intake. Sugar = NO, Fat = YES! He breaks it all down so easily and backs up every statement with valid research papers. Please, if you are reading this and not read his book yet...go, buy, now. What really got me on the road to BAD SUGAR was a documentary called Sugar Coated. I couldn't believe what I was watching! It affected me so much that the very next day I stopped drinking fizzy juice and putting sugar in my coffee. I don't eat cereal or a lot of fruit, so I am just extra cautious when I do about the sugar i'm putting into my body, but it was the little mustard seed of a thought that has now brought me to where I am.
When I was in seeing my doctor (who also happens to be a friend in a way), I explained that I knew I ate too much carbs. I didn't crave sugar, I craved savoury. With my job, sometimes I could go from 0300 until I got home at 12noon without anything passing my lips. Not because I was purposely fasting, but because it was too busy for me to grab anything on the run. She agreed that what the 'experts' say about how you must eat every couple of hours is bullish!t. She advised that if I skip a meal, to not try to make it up. If I wasn't hungry, not to force it down my throat. When I was hungry, to make sure I was eating sensibly. Now that made sense to me! She gave me my prescription for Metformin and took my weight....100kg (15st - the heaviest i've ever been) and asked to see me in 5 weeks.
Today is the 15th September. I started taking one 500mg tablet last thing at night on the 7th September. I felt fine after a few days, so started taking one 500mg in the morning as well from the 12th September. The last couple of days have been tough.
My symptoms the last 2 days:
To help with my sugar intake, I stopped drinking fizzy juice (see reason above). I stopped drinking them on 13th August. Yay, go me! It was tough in the beginning. You don't realise how much you get addicted to these fizzy juice, like Irn Bru and Coke until you come off it and have proper withdrawal! Headaches, shakes, light headed, sweats! But I'm through all that now and I don't miss them at all! I sometimes have a craving, but I think that's more for the 'fizz' than the taste, so a wee glass of sparking water with a little bit of diluting juice sorts that out.
Okay, so i'm going to stop this post now and start a new one because today I bought a blood glucose test to monitor how the spikes are going to differ now that i'm doing all this to change my body.
Rhona out.
1. To help me put into words how i'm feeling; good and bad on my journey from fat to thin and borderline Type 2 to 'diabetes? what diabetes?!'. I'm hoping that upon reflection, this blog will help me feel motivated and remind me on my low days to keep going. I am someone who lacks motivation and willpower most of the time so i'm hoping that this blog will keep me going.
2. I'm hoping to be an inspiration story to the masses. Who wouldn't want to be that?
3. I would like this to be a forum to track my blood glucose (from my lovely new monitor that arrived this morning and I have already managed to 'lance' myself 3 times accidentally...)
4. Erm...there's not really a number 4, but I thought just 3 points was too short.
Okay, so a bit about me...
My name is Rhona. I am 33 years old. -this sounds like the opening to an AA meeting!- I live in a sleepy village in Scotland in a lovely house with my cat called Dove. See conveniently placed photo of such cat taking a selfie below...
I work as a Supervisor for a handling agent in the nearby airport which keeps my stress levels at a high and keeps my sleep pattern non existent. I start work some days at 0300 and I finish work some days at 0300! My shift pattern is 6 days on, 3 days off. I work 3 earlier and then 3 later before my days off. It's a tough job to do, but it's interesting. I do struggle with sleep and eating at correct times. Also, with working both land and air side, it's hard to take food with you as you cannot take liquids through security. Soo...of course you find that Costa or Wotherspoons (or wherever your break buddy is fancying that day!) is much more appealing that running land side to ram your food down your throat before running back to do your next flight. It's so busy in my airport that very often I don't get a break. I don't mind most days, but it does add to the weight issue!
My medical background...
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. now, being so young and hating periods anyway, I though this was great! No periods!! I didn't bother at that point to do anything about it. I put weight on, I got lethargic and still didn't get a period. I still wasn't bothered. I hit my 20s...still having too much fun and not bothering about my non-existent periods! Mid-20s, I started thinking about wanting to settle down and have a family. After a trip to Australia and meeting another girl who had PCOS and was on Metformin to regulate her Insulin Resistance, I answered my wake-up-call. I got back from Oz and booked an appointment with my doctor. After being sent to the hospital for a fasting glucose test, they confirmed that I had Insulin Resistance on top of my PCOS (it's commonly linked), they agreed to put me on Metformin. Well, I was in for a shock! Have you heard about the side effects that come with this drug? Yes, I had ignored them too, thinking everyone was exaggerating! I should have heeded their warning! I suffered terribly with nausea. Now, I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to feeling sick. Give me a headache or anything else and I'll be fine, but I have a proper fear when it comes to being sick! So to constantly feel like I was going to be sick...nope! I couldn't cope with it! I lasted about 2 months before I stopped taking them. Put my PCOS and Syndrome X books back on my shelf and swiftly forgot about about it all. I hit 30. I'm thinking about getting my PCOS back under control again and losing some weight. Sitting around the 14st7 mark at 5'4 and because of the Insulin issue, all my weight was hanging around my stomach in a perfectly formed bump - I could have passed as being heavily pregnant. Went back to the docs and they put me on the Pill. It was caused Yasmin. Long story short, but less than 3 months later I was in hospital with blood clots on my lungs. Yep, caused by the Pill. Safe to say, i'll never touch contraception Pills again!!!
Okay, so skip a year or two and i'm back looking at Metformin because of a legend called Dr Michael Mosley. I had read his book a few years ago called the 5:2 diet. A lot of what he says makes perfect sense to me. I eat even when i'm not hungry because of society telling you that you need to eat every couple of hours. How stupid! Over the years and especially after the Pulmonary Embolism, I've learned to really pay attention to what my body is telling me. It tells me when I'm thirsty and it tells me when I'm hungry. Fact! If you get a chance, have a read of it. I do believe there has to be something in the act of fasting. Every religion on the planet all fast at some time throughout the year. Going back to cavemen days, they would go days without food if the hunting was low then have a feast. They stayed lean and strong. There has to be something in this fasting malarky. I did a diet called Lighter Life a few years ago and lost close to 4st in just 3 months. Unfortunately I didn't change my eating habits after I went back to eating food and put all the weight back on...and then some! My own fault. But it worked! I didn't feel hungry, I had loads more energy, I was happy, my PCOS symptoms disappeared and I was getting periods!
Okay, so present day...
Dr Mosley has brought out a new book called the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet. I've read it and I know that it's the perfect diet for me. I've been told I have insulin resistance and the insulin in my body is a huge barrier that stops me from losing weight easily. He has totally opened my eyes to how we've been brainwashed by major foods companies out there to eat the wrong things. It's not all about low fat/no fat. Fat is my friend! Anything that takes the longest to break down into sugar in my body is my best friend. I shouldn't be focusing on calorie intake, like all diets tell you to do. I need to be looking at the fat and sugar intake. Sugar = NO, Fat = YES! He breaks it all down so easily and backs up every statement with valid research papers. Please, if you are reading this and not read his book yet...go, buy, now. What really got me on the road to BAD SUGAR was a documentary called Sugar Coated. I couldn't believe what I was watching! It affected me so much that the very next day I stopped drinking fizzy juice and putting sugar in my coffee. I don't eat cereal or a lot of fruit, so I am just extra cautious when I do about the sugar i'm putting into my body, but it was the little mustard seed of a thought that has now brought me to where I am.
When I was in seeing my doctor (who also happens to be a friend in a way), I explained that I knew I ate too much carbs. I didn't crave sugar, I craved savoury. With my job, sometimes I could go from 0300 until I got home at 12noon without anything passing my lips. Not because I was purposely fasting, but because it was too busy for me to grab anything on the run. She agreed that what the 'experts' say about how you must eat every couple of hours is bullish!t. She advised that if I skip a meal, to not try to make it up. If I wasn't hungry, not to force it down my throat. When I was hungry, to make sure I was eating sensibly. Now that made sense to me! She gave me my prescription for Metformin and took my weight....100kg (15st - the heaviest i've ever been) and asked to see me in 5 weeks.
Today is the 15th September. I started taking one 500mg tablet last thing at night on the 7th September. I felt fine after a few days, so started taking one 500mg in the morning as well from the 12th September. The last couple of days have been tough.
My symptoms the last 2 days:
- Terrible headache (the kind where you think your head is going to explode and no amount of painkillers will shift)
- Nausea - Not terribly, just the feeling that there's something stuck in my throat (which I had last time but much worse, so maybe this is still something to look forward to) - Sarcasm!
- Diarrhoea - every night without fail or notice! I have googled this and apparently it's the sugar being eradicated from your insides...if that's the case, I don't mind sitting in the toilet for a few days!
To help with my sugar intake, I stopped drinking fizzy juice (see reason above). I stopped drinking them on 13th August. Yay, go me! It was tough in the beginning. You don't realise how much you get addicted to these fizzy juice, like Irn Bru and Coke until you come off it and have proper withdrawal! Headaches, shakes, light headed, sweats! But I'm through all that now and I don't miss them at all! I sometimes have a craving, but I think that's more for the 'fizz' than the taste, so a wee glass of sparking water with a little bit of diluting juice sorts that out.
Okay, so i'm going to stop this post now and start a new one because today I bought a blood glucose test to monitor how the spikes are going to differ now that i'm doing all this to change my body.
Rhona out.
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