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It’s Dr Jedha here, DMP Founder & Diabetes Nutritionist. I was involved in a discussion with a group of people with type 2 diabetes recently and someone asked:
What one tip would you give someone who is newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes?
So I thought it would make a perfect post right here, sharing many of their tips. So that means these tips I’ve compiled for you are from people who have experienced this themselves and here’s what some of them had to say.
20 Tips To Help You Out
- Your life depends on you checking your blood sugars. The numbers don’t lie so you cannot claim denial. Love yourself enough to take care of yourself and report your true numbers to your doctor often.
- Check your blood sugars often, exercise, eat right, and NEVER GIVE UP!!
- You have diabetes, it doesn’t have you. It’s not a death sentence when a few life choices are changed.
- Never ignore your symptoms.
- Educate yourself and educate the people around you that will be with you daily.
- Don’t panic, it’s not the end of the world.
- Drink lots of water.
- Eat right, no pasta, no sweets, and exercise regularly.
- You can live a normal life while maintaining blood sugars.
- Limit carbs and eat the right carbs.
- Don’t give up.
- Cut way back on carbs.
- Check your sugar often, take it one day at a time. It isn’t going to be easy but before you know it, it will become second nature to you. Keep your head up and remember what you do now affects you later on in life.
- Don’t get scared it won’t accomplish anything.
- Educate yourself and exercise.
- Get rid of diet soda
- Life will be normal again, just a new normal.
- Be sure to watch your portions and keep a food log until you know portions and have your blood sugar and eating routine under control.
- Join a support group and know that you aren’t the only one and some days are better than others.
- Change the way you eat and remember that almost everything has carbs!
There’s lots of good stuff there right? And you can see some main points get repeated!
If you’re newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes it can be quite a shock, we understand. There is no doubt that it adds another level of complexity to your life and in the early stages it can seem overwhelming.
But like many people pointed out, it’s not a life sentence and you can live a ‘new’ normal life again.
One thing is for sure, you do need to learn a thing or two so I’ll give you a word of warning and provide some resources to help you get started.
Newly Diagnosed? A Word Of Warning
Let me just say that you will read a lot of conflicting information out on the ‘wild west web’ so make sure you’re careful. There is A LOT of misinformation, outdated information, and just plain bad information. Just keep this in mind as you look around.
Make sure the places you source information from are places like us here DMP. We are qualified nutritionists, dietitians and diabetes educators, and our information is evidence-based, meaning it comes from proper science. Plus, we had more than a decade of experience helping people.
We also don’t have any investment in supporting large food companies, like many large health sites do. You’d think that large government diabetes websites would have your best interests at heart and share only the most up to date information. But often times this isn’t the case, which is very surprising.
The point is, find a trusted source of information, like us here at DMP. Don’t take our word for it, read our hundreds of testimonials.
Top 3 Resources To Help You Get Started
So here are a few important resources to help get you started in the right direction.
Those free resources will help get you started, but if you want to get your health back on track fast, consider joining my clinically proven T2Diet Program.
In 16 weeks, the program will help you understand exactly how to eat to lower your A1c to normal so you can feel your best everyday.
Did any of you have trouble accepting it. I have had it for years and refused to do anything (please don’t lecture I know it was bad). After some health issues I have broken down and started meds and checking blood sugars. I stay relatively high. They are now adding 3 more medications to my already 15 different ones and I am not happy. I still can’t make at appt at the diabetic clinic. I pick up the phone and hang it up over and over. Reading what I can and can’t eat either makes me so angry I could scream or I sit and cry. I honestly don’t know if I can change my freedom of food choice.
You are not alone – Type 2 diabetes is VERY overwhelming and can be really frustrating as well. As someone who is also diabetic (Type 1) I can promise you that this is only a learning curve and it WILL get better. Taking care of your health will give you so much freedom in the world, so that you can continue doing all the things that you want to do in this life! Working with a therapist may be a good addition to your care team. Good luck and please use us as resources too!
I am newly diagnosed and didn’t really know what to do. I have been searching the web and received a lot of conflicting information about what to eat, frequency of exercise, etc. My doctor also told me that my uric Acid levels are too high. So, some things I can eat with this condition are not recommended because of the uric acid situation. I have not been prescribed any medicine for the Diabetes, however I am taking pills to get my uric acid levels in check. I changed my diet right away and will start an exercise regimen in about a week. I plan on using a Nutritionist since I really don’t know what I’m doing and I’m asking my doctor to prescribe a Glucometer so I can start checking my blood sugar levels. My goal is to get down to pre-diabetes stage in 3 – 6 months.
Hi Joseph,
It is great that you are taking action! Meeting with a Nutritionist and checking your blood sugars regularly is a good first step! Good luck with everything.
I are 2 points away from T2 diabetes. I also have very high cholesterol. How do I eat low carb if I can’t have fat? I am so confused.
You can eat fat Sherry. Our members eat low carb and are lowering their cholesterol levels. Eating fat does not cause high cholesterol – this is a myth. Read through this info and this info, I think you will find it very enlightening.
My name is Dave I’m homeless living in a car and was diagnosed on June 28th over the phone , then went and saw the doctor the next day , I have to say I was scared out of my mind , you have got to be kidding but blow sugar didn’t lie I was wondering I was 216 , I have a story to tell and how I’m going to beat my type 2 diabetes check out http://www.GoFundMe.com/diabeticdave
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis Dave, especially over the phone – must have been a rough and restless night that first night. Many of our readers and subscribers are on the path to beating their T2 diabetes so good luck with your future pursuits!
Great post Jedha, you have said it all! One should take control over diabetes. It is mainly a lifestyle disease and is summountable – frequent checks and life-style/ nutritional adjustments often reverse permanently diabetes. Depending on medication alone is not always the best option. I have personally beaten diabetes!!
Well done.
That’s right Alexander, while diabetes is not reversible from a diagnostic standpoint – once you have it you have it, it can be reversible from a physiological standpoint – your body can get back to normal function. Good on you for making the efforts to beat your diabetes!!
I have been reading a lot of info on diabetes and I’m so confused and overwhelmed. Where do I start? Low carbs? Calories? Small meals? What fruits, how much fruit servings? Help.
Hi Mariza and welcome. Yes it is confusing and overwhelming because there is so much information to take in and so much conflicting information too. You will find this post on getting started helpful. The best advice is to start from where you are and just work on something. It’s even worse if you get stuck and do nothing. Focus on carbs first because that’s what influences blood sugar and A1C the most, so reducing high carb foods like pasta, rice, potatoes, and starchy veg will give you a good place to focus on.
Calories are not so important as the quality of the foods you eat – focus on fresh natural foods and work on cutting out all the processed stuff. Here’s a post about fruits.
Hi there I have a question in regards to diet soda…I read to cut out the diet soda , why? Is adding the sugar free flavored powders to my water the same thing?
Here’s some info on diet coke/ soda and here’s some info about artificial sweeteners. Those should provide some enlightenment. You could try something like Stur, which is a stevia sweetened fruit flavor specifically designed to add to water, they are better than aspartame or other artificial sweeteners.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on March 29th. I’ve went through many emotions since that day. I immediately began researching everything I could to learn all I needed to know. I was confused and frustrated with all the conflicting information. I’m going to check your site out and learn all I can. My doctor put me on metformin 500 mg a day. I experience muscle fatigue. My morning blood sugar was in low 80s. A friend whose also a nurse told me to try half a pill a day. It’s been much better! My fasting number is 90-100 every morning. To date I’ve had no high numbers. I’m counting my carbs, cut out all white, refined and processed foods. I’ve lost 8 lbs and I’m feeling better than I’ve felt for years!!
Welcome Deborah, glad you’re here and great to see you’re getting yourself on track. You might find this post on Metformin helpful, though it sounds like you’ve figured it out.
My husband was just diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. Thank you for this helpful information!
Welcome Davina, glad to have you here and great you found the info helpful 🙂
How to reverse diabetes?
By following a low carb diet Sylvia. That’s what we encourage here because research shows that people are getting incredible results, getting off meds and basically getting back to normal.
Check out this case study. Also, you might like to join our VIP Members Club where you can access all our meal plans, menus, and resources.
I’m so stressed when I found out that I have type 2 diabetis, your info help me a lot, I am taking metformin 850mg. I am a call center agent and working at night does sleep deprived cause the sugar to rise? I switched to no sugar no rice and more on root crops and vegetables but my sugar level is still high? It ranges from 233 to 311, what will I do? Thank you Jehda.
Hi Sylvia, well you’ve landed in the right place. There is lots of great info and support here 🙂
Yes, sleep (and especially lack of sleep) can affect your blood glucose. You will find this helpful https://diabetesmealplans.com/7327/sleep-and-blood-sugar-regulation/
How many carbs overall are you eating? Are you counting them? Are you doing some exercise and drinking water?
If you’re confused about carbs, you might like to Take our Free 2 Week Carb Course.
Hello i am newly diagnosed diabetes and i want to reverse it any how plz guide me
Dr Naqueeb ali
India
Hi Nqueeb, You might find this post on how to lower blood sugar helpful, and this one on carbs.
I have been STRESSED since I found out my husband had type 2 diabetes…I don’t know how to cook for him suddenly. I feel like I have been killing him slowly for YEARS now that we know he has it ? I’m doing my best to figure out what, when, how much?? But we have cut all candy (which we ate a lot of) breads n sodas. Mostly meats ands salads, I have carb “choices” figured out but idk how many “choices” he gets daily…anyways this article says exactly how I feel. All the contradicting info, so many ways, recipes and frustration. So thank you. I will utilize your suggestions.
You’re welcome. I’m glad it helped. Watching the carbs is the key to good blood sugar control because they are the nutrient that influences blood sugar the most. knowing how many carbs he is eating will help him (and you) manage his condition better. Best of luck 🙂
Many many thanks! I am newly diagnosed and was confused by all the contradicting information. This site has clarified a lot for me.
I am also very grateful for the recipe page!
Hi Alexia, You are most welcome, our main goal is to cut through the crap so I’m so glad you found some clarity!!
There will be plenty more recipes to come and feel free to post comments on any posts. We’re always here to chat 🙂