What was your fasting blood glucose? (with some chat)

[philchap1]

It doesn’t feel like a honeymoon that’s for sure lol!

How long since first diagnosis ?

 

[SB.25]

How long since first diagnosis ?

Ironically I was diagnosed on 1st November 2018 (first day of diabetes awareness month) so not too long ago. Was put on long last insulin on 3rd January.

 

[philchap1]

Ironically I was diagnosed on 1st November 2018 (first day of diabetes awareness month) so not too long ago. Was put on long last insulin on 3rd January.

We're you on any meds before the 3rd of January ? if not what were your blood glucose levels before ?

 

[SaskiaKC]

Just back from my eye test at the hospital. It was the same test the optician does and since my new optician also did a more sophisticated scan called an Optimap I was not impressed. Nor was I impressed by the comments about having Diabetis you will have bleeds come and go all the time...we see it here all the time....most people here today are diabetic. I pointed out that I had good control (probably the best controlled in the waiting room) but she yawned and said someone will review it but you probably wont hear any more from us. I could clearly see the large brown patch on the orange planet on her screen. I am starting to feel everything I am investigated for from now on is going to be attributed to diabetes whether that is true or not. I dont want it to be a problem with my eye but that appointment was not convincing. @Dark Horse any thoughts?

Was the eye doctor who saw you an ophthalmologist or an optometrist? I'm curious because I want to get an eye exam for new glasses, and I think an ophthalmologist can do it free if I also get a diabetes retinopathy scan. I think both of them do complete exams, though, so I'm just wondering.

I'm appalled that the optician yawned in your face! How rude.

 

[SB.25]

We're you on any meds before the 3rd of January ? if not what were your blood glucose levels before ?

Hi, yes I was put on the max dose of metformin. Prior to the tablets my levels were 18. Then once on the tablets they were all over the show. In the mornings they were mainly 14 I think....

 

[philchap1]

Hi, yes I was put on the max dose of metformin. Prior to the tablets my levels were 18. Then once on the tablets they were all over the show. In the mornings they were mainly 14 I think....

Are you testing for ketones? it looks like you'll need a bolus insulin ( quick acting insulin before meals )

 

[Chronicle_Cat]

Good morning all,
4.4 this morning. It's still very cold here - the polar vortex lingers. Currently it's -16 celcius (3 fahreheit) - wind chill of -25c or -13f outside.I guess I shouldn't complain the Canadian prairies and US midwest have it worse, yesterday Chicago was colder than the North Pole!

@SB.25 I think the reason why some of us diet only Type 2s are disappointed in numbers in the 5s or 6s, depends on historically how low our numbers have been. I was diagnosed last June at fairly low hba1c of 7.0% (53) in a routine blood panel with no symptoms. My doctor and I believe I was lucky to have my Type 2 was caught early in its progression. I've therefore never taken any medication. Low carb eating (or not eating - fasting) is the way I control my numbers and if I eat things that aren't low carb or increase my carbs very much, my numbers rise considerably. I don't ever get hypos so therefore my personal target range is quite narrow 4.0-5.5 mmol/L to avoid future complications. I'm in this target range most of the time.

I realize that we are all different and I don't judge other people's numbers, we all are on different journeys. Many of you have had diabetes much longer than me, were diagnosed at higher numbers than me, may have other health conditions or take medication that affects your numbers as well as having to balance insulin or other medications.. There is a "x factor", sometimes our numbers run high and one doesn't know why. Most importantly, many people here have a different type of diabetes than me and experience hypos. Although I don't personally live it, I think it's much harder to live with and manage Type 1 diabetes or Type 3.

 

[Goonergal]

5.5 today.

Looking forward to this little monkey today. Lidl roll smothered wirh cheese, onion and full fat mayo. Mmmmmmmmm nom nom nom.

They might be interested in this on the What Have you Eaten today thread. Don’t you agree @ziggy_w

 

[PenguinMum]

Was the eye doctor who saw you an ophthalmologist or an optometrist? I'm curious because I want to get an eye exam for new glasses, and I think an ophthalmologist can do it free if I also get a diabetes retinopathy scan. I think both of them do complete exams, though, so I'm just wondering.

I'm appalled that the optician yawned in your face! How rude.

Sadly neither Saskia..she had a badge “Specialist Nurse” it was IMO an inferior and inadequate consultation to my referral appointment with a registered Ophthalmologist. What bothered me the most was there were no questions about my sight whatsoever just a rudimentary read the poster on the wall followed by the scan, less than I had done at my Opticians. I told her I had blurry vision and lack of focus but it went right past herwith no interest whatsoever. I might consider getting another opinion even if I have to pay for it. I cant comment on how things work in your neck of the woods but wish you well. I think sight is very very precious.

 

[PenguinMum]

@Bubbsie I misled you about the orange gin. It is called “55 Above orange gin” made in a copper pan distillery in rural Cambridge! The seller must have been from Essex.

 

[Cumberland]

4.3
Have a good evening

 

[SB.25]

Are you testing for ketones? it looks like you'll need a bolus insulin ( quick acting insulin before meals )

Hiya, yes I have ketone testing strips and I do test. Although I have never had any which the doctors have round remarkable! Thanks for your advice

 

[HarryBeau]

@Bubbsie I misled you about the orange gin. It is called “55 Above orange gin” made in a copper pan distillery in rural Cambridge! The seller must have been from Essex.

OOh handy PM...Cambridge is only 15 minutes from here...mind I still have to go to Harlow next week...it's work

 

[SB.25]

Good morning all,
4.4 this morning. It's still very cold here - the polar vortex lingers. Currently it's -16 celcius (3 fahreheit) - wind chill of -25c or -13f outside.I guess I shouldn't complain the Canadian prairies and US midwest have it worse, yesterday Chicago was colder than the North Pole!

@SB.25 I think the reason why some of us diet only Type 2s are disappointed in numbers in the 5s or 6s, depends on historically how low our numbers have been. I was diagnosed last June at fairly low hba1c of 7.0% (53) in a routine blood panel with no symptoms. My doctor and I believe I was lucky to have my Type 2 was caught early in its progression. I've therefore never taken any medication. Low carb eating (or not eating - fasting) is the way I control my numbers and if I eat things that aren't low carb or increase my carbs very much, my numbers rise considerably. I don't ever get hypos so therefore my personal target range is quite narrow 4.0-5.5 mmol/L to avoid future complications. I'm in this target range most of the time.

I realize that we are all different and I don't judge other people's numbers, we all are on different journeys. Many of you have had diabetes much longer than me, were diagnosed at higher numbers than me, may have other health conditions or take medication that affects your numbers as well as having to balance insulin or other medications.. There is a "x factor", sometimes our numbers run high and one doesn't know why. Most importantly, many people here have a different type of diabetes than me and experience hypos. Although I don't personally live it, I think it's much harder to live with and manage Type 1 diabetes or Type 3.

Hiya, thanks for your insight and view! It really is interesting to know everyone’s opinions and their own goals.

As I said above, for me now I would love to be in single digit in the morning even if that is a 9. But I appreciate I am still in the process of being diagnosed and so effectively I am a ‘work in progress’.

 

[PenguinMum]

@SB.25 just to clarify my levels start to drop from about 2pm onwards and around 5pm its around 5. I do eat small breakfast, small lunch and bigger supper. I genuinely dont compare myself to others numbers (though their methodology of reductions are useful) but I do compare my own numbers. I really hope you get some answers about whether you are T1 or T2.

 

[HarryBeau]

Just back from my eye test at the hospital. It was the same test the optician does and since my new optician also did a more sophisticated scan called an Optimap I was not impressed. Nor was I impressed by the comments about having Diabetis you will have bleeds come and go all the time...we see it here all the time....most people here today are diabetic. I pointed out that I had good control (probably the best controlled in the waiting room) but she yawned and said someone will review it but you probably wont hear any more from us. I could clearly see the large brown patch on the orange planet on her screen. I am starting to feel everything I am investigated for from now on is going to be attributed to diabetes whether that is true or not. I dont want it to be a problem with my eye but that appointment was not convincing. @Dark Horse any thoughts?

I'm infuriated reading this PM...how dare she be so dismissive...ignorance/apathy are the worse traits anyone in the health care profession can have...I'd be tempted to tell them you weren't satisfied...she might as well handed you control & let you do it yourself...as for yawning...ooh...that would have been too much for me...your restraint is remarkable.

 

[SB.25]

@SB.25 just to clarify my levels start to drop from about 2pm onwards and around 5pm its around 5. I do eat small breakfast, small lunch and bigger supper. I genuinely dont compare myself to others numbers (though their methodology of reductions are useful) but I do compare my own numbers. I really hope you get some answers about whether you are T1 or T2.

That’s interesting, for me it seems like lunch time is when my levels are lowest. I think this is because I walk to work and then walk up and down the 10 flights of stairs at work and then do a half hour walk before eating. That’s when I get lower figures which is no surprise really with that excercise! But then by time evening meal comes again I’m rising...

 

[Dark Horse]

Just back from my eye test at the hospital. It was the same test the optician does and since my new optician also did a more sophisticated scan called an Optimap I was not impressed. Nor was I impressed by the comments about having Diabetis you will have bleeds come and go all the time...we see it here all the time....most people here today are diabetic. I pointed out that I had good control (probably the best controlled in the waiting room) but she yawned and said someone will review it but you probably wont hear any more from us. I could clearly see the large brown patch on the orange planet on her screen. I am starting to feel everything I am investigated for from now on is going to be attributed to diabetes whether that is true or not. I dont want it to be a problem with my eye but that appointment was not convincing. @Dark Horse any thoughts?

Although Optomap shows a larger area of the retina than screening images do, it is not detailed enough to detect early diabetic retinopathy so is not acceptable for eye screening, let alone a hospital examination. Was the scan an OCT scan? OCT does look rather like the retinal camera used in eye screening and at some opticians, and does take retinal photos but also builds up a 'picture' of a vertical cross-section through the macula which shows if there is any swelling. Did you have a slit-lamp examination as the hospital as well as a scan?

If you had a haemorrhage at the macula with a drop in visual acuity, it's possible that the optician suspected wet AMD which requires an urgent referral but is non-diabetic. This can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from diabetic maculopathy which only requires a routine referral. Both of these would be investigated with an OCT scan. The only diabetic retinopathy which requires an urgent referral is proliferative retinopathy (where there is growth of fragile new vessels) but this would need a full slit-lamp examination, not just an OCT scan.

Haemorrhages can be a part of background retinopathy and do come and go. Some people do get background retinopathy despite good control. I would ask for a copy of the letter sent to your GP once your scans have been reviewed so you know exactly what was found.

 

[PenguinMum]

@Dark Horse rhanks so much for your comments. I dont know for sure whether I had an OCT scan and dont know what a slit-lamp is either. All I know is there was no interaction, not interested in me, not interested in the fact I have had blurry vision and in and out of focus for at least 6 weeks. I dont expect any comeback I wasnt referred by GP but my new independent opticians after Specsavers wouldnt accept I couldnt see through my new glasses. I dont often get mad but this has been very poor service.

 

[PenguinMum]

I'm infuriated reading this PM...how dare she be so dismissive...ignorance/apathy are the worse traits anyone in the health care profession can have...I'd be tempted to tell them you weren't satisfied...she might as well handed you control & let you do it yourself...as for yawning...ooh...that would have been too much for me...your restraint is remarkable.

Thanks for the solidarity Bubbsie. It takes a lot but I did sit in the car and cry with sheer frustration.