Just diagnosed and crazy confused...

[elizadoolittle]

Hi everyone,

First time for ever posting about things like this but I feel like I've been knocked for six by my doctor and feel that I have so many unanswered questions. Forgive me if I'm posting this in the incorrect place, but 'Newly Diagnosed' seemed like a good start...

So I was called into my doctor's office for an emergency appointment following a blood test to check for Thyroid antibodies (I have suffered with hypothyroidism - underactive thyroid - for approximately three years now.) which alarmed me slightly as I thought my existing condition had progressed and I was being referred to the specialist my doctor had mentioned previously. If only it was just that. He told me that my blood glucose levels were very high, and immediately told me I was a Type 2 Diabetic and would be on Metformin, two tablets daily after my evening meal, for the next three months when he would test me again. He then gave me a referral for a kidney scan, referral for something to do with my eyes and then booked me in for another blood test for bones, liver function etc and another appointment for a diabetes check.

Which was ever-so-slightly overwhelming. By the time he got to explaining the way I may not need insulin, I was in tears and mildly terrified.

Sorry this is turning into a bit of an essay...

So the level he told me was very high was 11.6, he said if it was below 11 he would have let it go but the fact that it was over, I am definitely diabetic. Fine. But he said this was a HbA1c test result (which I was never told I was having) and was an average of three months. Which I don't understand, tbh. I have had two blood tests in the last month, for my thyroid condition, and have them regularly every two months anyway so would this not have flagged up sooner if this was a condition I have? I'm sure diabetes doesn't develop overnight. It certainly didn't with my Type 2 grandmother. Since then I have bought a blood glucose meter to keep an eye on it myself, and out being so scared not to, I've been taking the Metformin. The only change to my diet, however, as I have many intolerances and am vegetarian, is portion size. I've cut back a little on the carbs where I can but hardly at all. I tested myself two hours after dinner yesterday (4.5) and two hours after dinner today (5.5) and the results have left me baffled as to why I'm even bothering as my blood sugar doesn't seem high. I've spoken to my mother and my grandmother, and diabetic friends, and they all think I should request further testing to make sure that I am diabetic and haven't been diagnosed on the back on one blood test that was taken on a week when I was seriously carb-loading and eating sweets constantly. No idea why, just had a few cravings!

I understand the urgency in getting treatment if it is needed and if I can continue on with the Metformin and get the same results for forever more then fantastic, if diabetes is the case, but I'm left so confused and no one seems to have any answers for me. Either that or I'm in denial! If anyone could offer any advice, whether I should get further testing to verify it or just accept it, then please do because I feel a little lost at the moment. I can only take crying at meal times because I'm too scared to eat for so long...

 

[librarising]

elizadoolittle wrote
So the level he told me was very high was 11.6 ... he said this was a HbA1c test result ... and was an average of three months. Which I don't understand, tbh.

If you have an HbA1c of 11.6 then you're definitely diabetic. This measures the amount of glucose that has 'stuck' to your blood cells, which have a life of 120 days.
The average is weighted towards the last 30 days (roughly 50% of result) so recent activity is reflected more.
An HbA1c of 11.6 gives an average blood sugar level of 18.7 which is very high (since at times much higher.) With control you will be aiming to get blood sugar levels first of all into single figures, then down to 6s, 5s, and 4s.
The question is whether this is an HbA1c, as a GP would not ignore a result of 11, or 10, or 9, or 8, or 7. Did you take a glucose tolerance test ?

He then gave me a referral for a kidney scan, referral for something to do with my eyes and then booked me in for another blood test for bones, liver function etc and another appointment for a diabetes check.

Which was ever-so-slightly overwhelming.

Your GP is just checking for any possible complications at this early stage. Hopefully you'll be clear, and good control should keep complications away. Perhaps when these checks are done, you'll be able to relax more.

I tested myself two hours after dinner yesterday (4.5) and two hours after dinner today (5.5) and the results have left me baffled as to why I'm even bothering as my blood sugar doesn't seem high.

I have to agree. These are great results. Try testing after some sweets - you won't get such great results.

If you're not diabetic, avoid any future carb-loading and sweet-bingeing, or you soon will be.

Hoping you find some greater clarity

Geoff

 

[izzzi]

Hi elizadoolittle,

Welcome to the forum,

There is a lot on your mind and a many things to read. best take your time trying to understand it all.

This forum is great and you will soon get good advice. Also the benefits from their advice works wonders.

My simple advice is do not rush out and buy expensive things until you check the forum first.

Good Luck.

Roy.

 

[daisy1]

Hi elizadoolittle and welcome to the forum

Here is the information we give to new members which will help you to understand what is involved, in addition to the advice you have already had. Ask all the questions you like and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 30,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/

Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Yes, your HBa1c is high. If you have been having lots of carbs and are diabetic without knowing then your blood sugar would be high without you knowing. As you are now controlling your carbs the great reduction in blood sugar could just be the result of taking the right diet action. Keep the low-ish carb diet going, test 2 hours after a meal to see what affects you and with the Metformin you should continue with blood sugars in the right area. Good luck.

 

[elizadoolittle]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been so silent, didn't mean to ignore all the advice and answers. Just a shame my doctor couldn't offer more. I've not been able to get online because I've been feeling so rough. Since taking the Metformin, I've been constantly shaking, dizzy, nauseous and on the verge of passing out at work. But your answers were really informative and cleared lots of things up for me! Thank you so much!

Interesting - awfully frustrating and terrible really - news today...

Went to see my diabetic nurse for the first time, she said I would need to change my diet among many other things. I'm getting fed up with people telling me this. So I told her as much and explained my diet (Only eat wholegrains, standard amount of fruit, not too many carbs, lots of vegetables and protein via Quorn food - no cakes, sweets etc as I simply do not like them. Don't have a sweet tooth at all.) to find out where I can cut things out. Had to explain what happened with my doctor when he diagnosed me and she found out I haven't had a fasting blood test, glucose tolerance test and that I didn't even go for a glucose blood test in the first place, I went to check thyroid antibodies. She got me an instant emergency appointment with another doctor because she said it didn't make sense and my blood sugar shouldn't be so low all the time.

And the conclusion of that? My results have possibly/probably been mixed up with someone else's at the hospital. Apparently on the results that say 11.6 as my HbA1C, something to do with my kidneys shows that I am supposed to have Chronic Kidney Disease, but on the test I had done a few days ago, my blood sugar is normal, my kidneys are normal and nothing corresponds with the previous results. I'm off the Metformin now and am having a fasting blood test in a week, because my doctor never let me have one before when I asked to double check diabetes. Slightly relieved/anxious/furious right now. :roll:

 

[Ann19]

It makes you wonder just what goes on with the NHS at times!!

A HbA1c gives an average over the last 3 months reading, I think this test is a better test for Diabetes than a fasting test. A fasting test can show a high level if you get a morning liver dump of glucose. A Glucose Tolerance test is also a better way of diagnosing IMO.

If the further test show that you do have diabetes, then the people on this forum are a wealth of information and knowledge. Lots of us have found that the usual NHS advice on diet isn't working for us, so you'll find lots of recipes on the forum. Metfomin causes a lot of people to feel sick and upset stomach. If you are Diabetic and need to take it the try to get them to give you the slow release version.

Ever if you don't have Diabetes, you may be better watching your diet as the family history may make you prone to Diabetes.

Let us know how you get on with the further test.

Ann

 

[elizadoolittle]

So I've had my fasting blood test to confirm whether I have diabetes or whether they got my blood test results mixed up with someone else's...

And they've definitely mixed my results up. All my levels were normal without Metformin and without changing my diet prior to the test. Which is a massive relief, because I couldn't go on feeling the way the Metformin made me feel any longer. Shaking, dizzy, nauseous all the time... not fun.

BUT despite not actually having diabetes, thank you all everyone for all your advice. I feel a lot more clued up now should I actually become diabetic later in life, and it maybe won't be such a shock to the system. I'm already taking measures to change my diet to prevent it ever happening although as I have pointed out before, there isn't a lot I can change. It's got me exercising more too...

Thank you once again, everyone

 

[dawnmc]

It would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic. So glad to hear you don't have diabetes, but omg I do hope you gt an apology, whats the betting you don't!!

 

[GraceK]

I'm speechless. :silent:

 

[paragliderpete]

Hi Sorry to hear you are having so many problems. I see that you have a lot of Quorn, my partner had a violent reaction to Quorn that nearly put her in hospital, apparently it's even caused some deaths in America. The US food and Drug administration have even tried to have the product banned because it causes such violent allergic reactions.
Try having a look at the website" http://www.cspinet.org ", its the centre for science in the public interest, and based in washington DC , and also http://www.quorncomplaints.org .
You will see that quorn was never intended for human consumption, our food standards agency is very aware of its problems, and we know there has been consultation between itself and and the American authorities.
You may find the information a real eye opener. Hope this information will be of some help to you, best of luck and wishes

 

[elizadoolittle]

It would be laughable if it wasn't so tragic. So glad to hear you don't have diabetes, but omg I do hope you gt an apology, whats the betting you don't!!

I probably won't, my doctor finds it all quite funny... :x but I'd love to know if he'd still be laughing when I was admitted to hospital for my blood sugar levels being far too low. Thank goodness I'll never have to find out!

I'm speechless. :silent:

Me too! Currently wondering if I should complain about being ignored when I told the doctor that I wanted a fasting blood test to confirm before any treatment, and he refused me...

 

[Simon_G]

Me too! Currently wondering if I should complain about being ignored when I told the doctor that I wanted a fasting blood test to confirm before any treatment, and he refused me...

Sorry to hijack, this just reminded me of a friend who was told by their GP last year that they did not deserve to get DLA, that other people were more deserving, and then refused to help them fill out the forms on that basis. MY friend has chronic arthritis.

 

[halfpint]

Excellent result Elizadoolittle, now, sit down, take a deep breath etc. etc. and smile. Next, just think yourself lucky that he didn't diagnose you with immediate requirements for, heart, lung, liver, kidney, brain etc. etc. transplant - that could have potentially have been far worse :lol:

But it just goes to show that you can't just believe without question everything that they tell you.

:thumbup:

 

[Superchip]

Astonishing but not unusual, like I have said before the difference between God and a GP is that God knows he is not a GP !
So happy for you Elizadoolittle, now you can get on and deal with your other ailments.
It certainly won't hurt to check your BG's once in a while just for piece of mind.

Good luck, have a long and healthy life !

Superchip