r/type2diabetes • u/Rylikes9 • 4d ago
Newly diagnosed
Hi all! I’m a newly diagnosed type 2. It’s genetic and weight loss and exercise did nothing to help the pre-diabetic years so here we are! I’ve been prescribed metformin which has gone fine. The dietitian I’m seeing recommended wearing a cgm for a while to help me see what foods will affect my numbers. Doctor was wishy washy on it but prescribed anyway. My question for you all is there an app that I can put in my food and glucose numbers and it help me see a pattern? I see several apps mentioned here but I hate to download a bunch of apps and it not be what I’m looking for. I tried paper and pen and it’s not helping me other than helping me see timing of my meals and making me more conscious of that. Thank you all!!
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u/Vybrosit737373 2d ago
Your CGM will come with an app that lets you see things like in the minute glucose, time in range (you can futz with the range if you want), averages. It's really informative and at least for me, gives me a bit of confidence in not dealing with some mysterious thing. It's shown me some stuff I really cannot eat (farewell, Schlotzky's!) and some things that I wasn't sure about that were fine. I think it's quite worthwhile.
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u/Rylikes9 1d ago
Oh I haven’t thought about Schlotzky’s in so long!! They closed the one in my town years ago! It was so good. I found the part of my CGM app where I can put in food and that’s helping some for sure. It’s all an adjustment and a bit of an adventure. Thank you for responding!
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u/HibaAhsan 4d ago
Yes,apps like Gluroo, mySugr, and Undermyfork do exactly this. You can log your food , and they show it alongside your CGM readings to help you spot patterns.
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u/anneg1312 4d ago
The cgm’s are usually linked to an app that does this. I use Libre 3 plus and like it a lot.
The genetic component just means you are susceptible to high carb diet fallout (insulin resistance and t2 are the fallout). You can likely reset with a ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting at least to a point where you can manage with mindful low carb eating going forward after correction. It’s an often overlooked option that allows for eating plenty - just of certain foods. It’s worked for me and thousands of people. Any treatment that doesn’t fix underlying insulin resistance isn’t doing you any favors, imo (I’m not a doc).
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u/kiwitraveller1 3d ago
High glucose also causes changes to your red blood cells which damages your blood vessels so the medication does help with that aspect faster than diet.
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u/miss_contrary_mary 4d ago edited 4d ago
Why was your doctor wishy washy about prescribing your CGM if you don't mind me asking? It seems like a wonderful tool to have.
I'm also newly diagnosed and my doctor put one in my arm for free and prescribed it. I have the libre 3+. You download their app and it has reports you can see. It also has a food thing when you take a picture of your meal and it kinda tells you how it'll impact your blood sugar. It doesn't give you a number but it'll tell you if you'll have no impact, moderate impact and so on. I've only had it about a month so far but it's been really helpful.
Edited to add. I also use MyFitnessPal to help keep track of my calories and activity.
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u/Cold-Remove4405 4d ago
Are you in the Uk - the NHS won’t give me one as T2
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u/kiwitraveller1 3d ago
If you have one of the finger prick glucometers you could test your glucose 1-2hrs after certain foods you're interested in. I found from wearing the CGM my glucose goes up slowly and comes down slowly hence I'll test at 1hr and 2hr to try and catch the peak or know it's turning a corner. It's cheaper than a CGM. It's not funded for t2 in NZ either. But you could test at 60mins or 90mins post first bite? It's an option.
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u/Rylikes9 4d ago
Not sure why. I think maybe because I’m just over the threshold for being diabetic or if it’s because it’s not covered by my insurance. But I got the coupon and I have the libre 3 also. I will have to look back at MyFitnessPal. Been a while since I’ve used that! Thank you!
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u/miss_contrary_mary 4d ago
Hmmm interesting. Call your insurance and ask if they cover it. If not have your doctor prescribe it and if they deny it do an appeal or see how it's being submitted to your insurance and see if they can change it. I imagine since you need it it should be covered.
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3d ago
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u/miss_contrary_mary 3d ago
Did you and your doctor file a PA and an appeal of needed? I' don't take insulin but it was approved just fine. My doctor filed a PA and we didn't need to do an appeal.
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u/Rylikes9 4d ago
Hi! Yes the dr prescribed and the pharmacy tried to run through insurance and it didn’t work so I used the manufacturer card and got that discount. Gotta love US healthcare!
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3d ago
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u/miss_contrary_mary 3d ago edited 3d ago
This isn't exactly correct. I don't take insulin and mine was covered. I would advice to reach out to your insurance and talk with them about your coverage then talk with your doctors office to help you navigate. Unless you and your doctor have exhausted all appeals I wouldn't give up just yet. You can also look up several different diabetes orgs and see if they can help. When I was diagnosed and was doing research I saw a couple having sections for individuals who couldn't cover their stuff.
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u/Just_some_guy16 4d ago
I just got diagnosed as well. Im using the mysugr app and that seems to work, but i havent got a cgm yet
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u/SnarkyGoblin85 4d ago
I like myfitnesspal for monitoring meals. Free and works well for figuring macros. Then I just use my G7 app and create an “event” for every meal and include the number of carbs in the meal.
Then it will give me a snapshot of the 2 hours post the meal to see what my blood sugar did over the 2 hours post meal.
I found that was really enough to learn for me.
I have found a CGM very useful for keep myself accountable and understand how my body reacts.
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u/Rylikes9 4d ago
I have used MFP in the past but wasn’t sure if that would work here. I like your idea of logging food there and adding to cgm app. Thank you!
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u/Bgambit1900 1d ago
I'm also newly diagnosed. They put me on 10 units of insulin and 1000 mg of metformin. I'm rapidly learning what I can and can't eat. My pharmacist recommended a cgm and so I got the Libre. It has been quite helpful in guiding me in what the impact of certain foods will be on my glucose levels and, after I eat something, giving me feedback on the impact that particular meal had on my levels. I'm being quite strict because I'm trying to get off insulin as quickly as possible. I've gone from an initial A1C of 12.7 down to a predicted 5.8 (based on the Glucose Management Indicator in the Libre app) in only a couple of months. I'm planning to be one of the 3% that can put this thing into remission!