Welcome! I was diagnosed recently, about 3 months ago. I did a lot of the same things you have done - read a book, talked with lots of diabetic people, changed my diet and increased my exercise. I too saw a dr. for another problem and ended up being randomly tested for blood sugar and told I was diabetic. For a lot of us it is a shock, especially if it does not run in the family. If you have not read it, a good book is "Blood Sugar 101" by Jenny Ruhl. I started with a higher A1C than you, 11.3 and was able to bring my next one down to 6.3 by diet and exercise with no meds. I have to limit my sodium which is harder for me than counting carbs. I think the two most important things I have learned so far and would pass on to you is 1) you will hear a lot conflicting information from different people, so be prepared to find out what works for you even if it is different from what others are doing and 2) realize that this is a life long disease and slow down, take one day at a time to avoid becoming discouraged. This group has helped me a lot, and I hope will help you too.

Welcome to the group nobody really wanted to be in.....but are.
Diabetes runs rampet in my family....on both sides and shouldn't have come as a surprise, but it did. I cried all the way home from the doctors office thinking I was some horrible monster that created this mess. Luckily my mom talked me down off the cliff...lol (she was diagnosed 14 years ago). I had felt horrible and gained weight out of the blue for 4 years before a kidney/bladder infection sent me to the doctor.....and ended up with the diagnosis of diabetes. That was just 3 short months ago. My first A1C was 7.4 and my sugars in the docs office was 244.
I was already on blood pressure medicine and my doctor accused me of closet eating and that I was not trying hard enough to lose weight (I also suffer from anxiety)....*sigh.
I immediately took control with a few changes to my diet, some exercise (already was walking prior to diagnosis), doc put me on Metformin (1000 mg a day) and voila.....a week and a half ago, my second A1C was 5.9 and my blood sugars range from 110 - 90. I also lost around 50 pounds (I don't know how much I weigh, but my doc keeps me informed on how much I lose.....it's a very long story). However.....I've dropped a clothing size and I'm feeling so much better. I just got health insurance, so I am going to get me an endocrinologist as I feel there are other issues......plus....I don't really like my doctor. Since I will need regular doctor visits, I'd rather have someone I like and that will work with me in stead of against me.
Even though I have this disease under control at the moment.....I have seen how it can turn ugly really fast and know I must stay on top of it the rest of my life (I'm only 53 years old). It appears that diabetes has a mind of it's own.....so I will not underestimate my opponent and will stick close to the boards. I love the ppl here. At times we have different points of views, so it is always good to do what is best for yourself and leave the rest. However.....they have all given me great and valuable advice. They calmed my fears and I felt less alone. Even though my mom is also diabetic (and a retired nurse)....we are two different diabetics. She can pretty much eat anything and controls her diabetes with portion control, I have found out I am sensitive to white bread, pasta, rice, and white potatoes. I feel horrible when I eat those things and have made substitutions that have been actually quite nice.....a change up from the ordinary.
I am trying all kinds of "made up" cuisines.....tons of veggies broiled meats with a variety of seasonings.
I eat more now than I did before diagnosis.....and I'm losing weight :)

I have heard that it is a shame we have to get so sick in order to get better! That is true in my case. I've acquired a really good attitude and I use humor....a lot.....and it has gotten me through some really tough situations.
You no longer have to be alone. Pull up a seat and sit a spell.
You are going to be just fine.

Ok Chrissy, first off, take a deep breath and breathe, you are already on the right track to taking control of this. Yes this disease can scare you, have so many complications, can frustrate you, etc but it is controllable, you have shown us you can do this which is great. Yes your A1C is high but there have been many who were discovered with a much much higher A1C, so you are ahead in that area also.

Once you realize this is basically common sense, you will be able to handle and deal. You can still eat the same foods providing of course not all junk food, and you learn to make substitutions - baked or broiled, not fried, veggies, stay away from the white potatoes, rice, pastas and breads. Use the light versions of breads as wheat or multigrain, find the dreamfields pastas, try sweet potatoes. Portion control is very important, and of course watch the carb counts, since carbs are sugar and sugar free is not carb free...most of us do 30-45 carbs per meal and about 20 for snack.

talk to us, ask questions, ask until you get it if need be

I have been dealing going on 18 years, and I still eat what I want pretty much by making substitutions, have learned my trigger foods (foods that just spike no matter what)

Also did they give you a glucose meter to monitor? You should check first thing in morning before breakfast, check 2 hr after a meal, at least once or twice a day

Welcome to the Board.

Thank you all for making me feel welcome.
@MsBlank1....we sound similar in many respects....I definitely understand the not wanting to know your weight thing. Honestly, that is why I haven't seen the dr in so long. I was in utter disbelief when I went to the gynecologist a yr and a half ago and they made me get weighed. I started making big changed then, but didn't stick as well as I would've liked. At that time, my numbers weren't high, but she warned me that I was considered "prediabetic" and it could change.
Well.....here it is. I'm learning how to eat better. I no longer desire junk food at all. In fact, the mere thought turns me off. I drink only water. I love egg whites so I've been eating those in the morning (I've actually been doing that for a lot longer than I've had diabetes). I have to get better with snacks b/c I really am not that hungry and have to force myself to eat b/c I've heard we must have snacks in between meals.
I will not allow my primary doctor to automatically put me on meds b/c I believe, like laurabp, I just need the chance to diet, lose weight, and continue exercising and see how things change.
I too have an anxiety issue that I've had for 12+ years. I've been on a low dose of an anti-anxiety med for 4 yrs that I'm weaning myself off of.
My AST and ALT were DOUBLE the range the lab measured, but neither my doctor, nor my neurologist seem concerned. I'm sure he's going to tell me it's a fatty liver due to my weight. Thankfully, my proteins and kidney numbers are all in normal range. There is kidney disease, cancer, and diabetes on my mother's side. Only 1 diabetic on my father's side.
My thyroid count was only slightly elevated (TSH:5.16; range was 0.450-4.50). I know I can beat this. I've been a mad woman over the last 3 days getting all the info I can about this. I go see my primary tomorrow for the first time in 4 yrs and have the talk I never wanted to have, but I have to deal w/ this like an adult.
I didn't get a glucose monitor yet, but it's next on the list. I'm going to see which one my dr recommends.
mzizgayle...you're correct....so much conflicting info. And googling all this stuff makes you think that at any moment you're gonna have liver or kidney failure and die. I swore I'd never get to be a full-blown diabetic and I couldn't keep that promise to myself, sadly. But with every ounce of fight in me, I will not go down that deadly road. I hope I can be an encouragement to you all also!!!