Newby needs help.. Please feeling really low. :(

Dstream

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
I was diagnosed on Bank holiday Monday 28th August after drinking unbelievable amounts of water, huge sweats the list goes on. Blood sample taken and sent home to come back the next day and finding it was 22 mmol after fasting. Right that's the start out the way then another one taken full bloods.

Since then I've been put on Gliclazide on 40 mg twice a day as its not working as it should. Then a week later upped to 80mg twice a day. My bs are all over the place, for instance the past few days its been running really high at 18mmol then crashing down to 4 mmol [ that reading an hour ago] then it will go back up to 13 mmol or higher. Without doing anything. Im sticking to a religious diet as set by the diabetes nurse. Im sick of paracetamol for the headaches

This week has been some mornings 6 to 7 mmol then 15 mmol plus for a full day even days. Then really high readings 18 19 mmol for days then a lowest of 12 but generally averaging into double figures all the time. Then it will madly crash and hypo. Loss of colour vision etc.

One day out of three weeks was perfect 7.7 all day and I did nothing different eating or what I normally do.

Its been like this for nearly a month now.

I've incredible hunger and still losing weight, as well as mega headaches - killer ones. On Friday a deep blood test was taken at the hospital to be sent away for cell testing - save test ?.

A plasma test was done and it showed a range of 12.5 plus if that means anything way way high in fact the nurse said really high in fact.? . Im sat here with the shakes and trembles as well as bad night sweats when asleep. I wake up like I've been in a bath. Im booked into the diabetes clinic on Thursday the 2nd October. They where going to put me on metformin but have decided against it. The doctor said I should attend this as they wish to sort this out but I can run this high for a short period he said till they and I meet. He suspects late onset type 1 if that means anything as these tablets don't do anything I might as well not be taking them.

I've so many questions.

1. What should I be asking for as this is crippling me and making my life horrible I feel awful. I could drink a lake.
2. If these tablets aren't working what was the blood test for?
3. Why do you shake so bad like im in a cold room. Trembles?
4. Would insulin cause this to settle down if im swapped over to it.
5. Is this a plan of action for them should I be asking for this?
6. Nothing fills me and I feel like a scavenger but im forcing myself to eat nothing after my regular meals.

Sorry for so many questions and the format of this, my heads a shed and difficult to focus on things correctly at the moment.

Any help would be greatly appreciated please and advice.
 

ConradJ

Well-Known Member
Messages
753
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
The hassle and ignorance of diabetes.
Hi there @Dstream

Sorry to hear about your current troubles; the symptoms you describe sound like LADA (Latent Autoimmune Disease in Adults), which is sometimes known as Type1.5. Essentially, a form of Type 1 that occurs in people over 40.

The blood tests will have been taken to determine what sort of diabetes you have: the metformin was given as a intermediary med owing to your high BGs, as they daren't issue insulin first without the results.

However, your body may also be in a state of flux - still producing insulin in fits and starts, hence the crash to 4mmol one day, and another you described as being normal, whilst other days you're barely able to stand.

Are you 'home alone' or do you live with people?

You need to keep your phone to hand, and I do strongly suggest you call your GP for an emergency appointment first thing tomorrow telling him/her everything you've said in your opening post. If you feel worse as the evening progresses, you should call 999 and go to A&E.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people

Dstream

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
No im not home alone im with family and its gone back up now after a sweet drink some 2 hours after the low. Ill check this post again in the morning and see how things are going. It had gad on the blood test form so I presume he's testing for the antibodies for lada. Im really reading up on this on the forums and its matching exactly my symptoms for the 1.5 as its called. The Gliclazide`s doing nothing, in fact type 1.5 suggests against it. Roll on Thursday and yes I keep my phone at hand all the time. Ill call them in the morning as well for an update, and a chat thanks.
 

ConradJ

Well-Known Member
Messages
753
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
The hassle and ignorance of diabetes.
I don't want to panic you, but it's best to advise your wife / partner to do the same (i.e. phone, 999 if worse, etc.) as these things can always go wrong very suddenly and you don't want ot be going into DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/diabetic-ketoacidosis.html

Take care of yourself - keep drinking fluids (especially water - and definitely no fizzy drinks, fruit juices etc., even the 'lite' versions) Try to reduce your carb intake whilst awaiting the Thursday appointment, as this will help your body sustain some of its normal function.
 

Dstream

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
Seen the doc this morning and had a urine test nothing there currently and been sent away till Thursday. Drink loads keep hydrated and tests should be back by then. Told Hes testing for lada as he calls it but these results will narrow it down. Bs of 7 this morning wow a normal low reading. Thanks for your reply I've been heavily reading on the site. Is there anything I should be asking for Thursday as part of those questions I posted
 

ConradJ

Well-Known Member
Messages
753
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
The hassle and ignorance of diabetes.
Hi there @Dstream

What to ask the doctor?

Well, for a start, you need to know what is wrong with you!

Then, what treatment is recommended, how it is to be taken and what to do if you get side effects (such as headaches, hypos or skin reactions).

You need to know whether there is a GP in the practice who is knowledgable about diabetes, and a DSN (Diabetes Specialist Nurse), and whether they will have knowledge and experience of your illness. If not, then where will you be directed for specialist care? If you have a choice of specilist clinics near you (i.e. two hospitals within a similar radius), ask which one they feel may offfer the better care and then get referred to that one.

In the meantime, read this on LADA: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_lada.html

If you are diagnosed LADA, then there is a forum specifically for Type 1.5's, where you may get answers to questions that are more specific to that form of diabetes.

Read up on hypos and hyperglycaemia (and DKA), because these will become part of your 'routine' until you (and your family) become more established with the new you.

Good luck - and best wishes.
C,
 

Dstream

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Other
Well After a morning at the doctors. Im now on Lantus insulin twice a day. The Gliclazide simply isn't working for me at all. Im awaiting the test results back from the other blood test for gad antibodies. Its been a month of hell to be honest and why it took so long to get me onto this I've no idea. Tomorrow im back to be shown how to and where to inject, the futures looking a lot better thankfully and im pleased I've been properly diagnosed. Im lada thank you for your help @ConradJ as I was felling really low.
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
What advice for your diet did you get, if you are sticking to it religiously and it is the standard NHS advice of eating carbs with every meal then you may need to consider the advice of people here on how they have found lower carbs has helped them

Items like porridge and toast for breakfast can spike readings for some people. Many get better readings from berries and Greek yogurt and cream for example...
 

ConradJ

Well-Known Member
Messages
753
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
The hassle and ignorance of diabetes.
Well After a morning at the doctors. Im now on Lantus insulin twice a day. The Gliclazide simply isn't working for me at all. Im awaiting the test results back from the other blood test for gad antibodies. Its been a month of hell to be honest and why it took so long to get me onto this I've no idea. Tomorrow im back to be shown how to and where to inject, the futures looking a lot better thankfully and im pleased I've been properly diagnosed. Im lada thank you for your help @ConradJ as I was felling really low.

Hi @Dstream

Well, that's good news - in the sense that now you know what is wrong, you can now take the correct actions; otherwise, sorry to hear that yet another has joined the 'club'.

I agree with @donnellysdogs , check out the dietary advice / info sections in the forum and via the home page: the typical NHS advice is the 'Eat Well Plate'... meaning 'eat well' and suffer the consequences, which for many (me included) has led to years of disastrously damaging 'control' :hungover:

If done properly, injections shouldn't really hurt or sting: if you experience stinging as the insulin goes in and this carries on with each new injection then it's possible you may have an allergy to Lantus, which has zinc... it's not an unsual occurence. If that's the case talk to your 'diabetes team' and ask to try another type.

That aside, best of luck - and don't hesitate to ask questions on this forum (no matter how silly you think they may be).