Joined the club — a few questions

[signorejambo]

Hey everybody, good chance I’m going to be bombarding the forum with questions but here’s a couple right off the bat.

1. Diagnosed in October (right before Halloween!) with suspected Type 2 but I feel that it’s more likely type 3c due to chronic hereditary pancreatitis, however all nurses and doctors seem to be pushing the type 2. Treatment plan seems to be the same for both, at least in the early stages (Metformin & Gliclazide). Should I push back on this if for no other reason than it’s nice to know the cause?

2. After a cursory read I see people mention they feel **** when they’re hyper. I’ve only started BG monitoring today and it’s been high (16-23) but I don’t feel ****. What specific symptoms should I look for in a hyper, and over what sort of time period should I be looking for glucose levels to drop to a reasonable level? At what point should I be thinking “maybe a should get myself to A&E”?

Looks like there’s a trove of knowledge on here to dig through so hopefully will have plenty of reading material for a few nights.

Thanks,

Jamie

 

[Rachox]

Hi @signorejambo and welcome to the forum.
I’m sorry I can’t help you with your enquiries about the treatment of type2 versus type 3c.
Your second question is it varies from person to person. I was diagnosed with an HbA1c of 70 on a routine blood test for something else and I was gobsmacked that I got the diagnosis as I wasn’t aware of any symptoms of high blood sugars yet my HbA1c of 70 suggested an average blood sugar of 11. I was started on Metformin and I started eating low carb and my levels came down steadily, I can’t really remember how quickly they returned to normal, it was seven and a half years ago now! However on gliclazide low carbing can be dangerous as your risk of going hypo (too low) is more marked than on Metformin alone. Hopefully someone on your combination of meds can help better than me.
Let us know how you get on.

 

[signorejambo]

Hi @signorejambo and welcome to the forum.
I’m sorry I can’t help you with your enquiries about the treatment of type2 versus type 3c.
Your second question is it varies from person to person. I was diagnosed with an HbA1c of 70 on a routine blood test for something else and I was gobsmacked that I got the diagnosis as I wasn’t aware of any symptoms of high blood sugars yet my HbA1c of 70 suggested an average blood sugar of 11. I was started on Metformin and I started eating low carb and my levels came down steadily, I can’t really remember how quickly they returned to normal, it was seven and a half years ago now! However on gliclazide low carbing can be dangerous as your risk of going hypo (too low) is more marked than on Metformin alone. Hopefully someone on your combination of meds can help better than me.
Let us know how you get on.

Thanks @Rachox

My awakening was similar. I went to the docs over the concern of a possible hernia but she just happened to do a urine test for inflammation markers and the dipstick showed high ketones and glucose so got told to go straight to hospital for possible diabetic ketoacidosis! I’ve always known that diabetes was a likelihood but as I had no symptoms other than thirst (I thought I just developed a good healthy habit drinking lot of water over the years), it really did come as a bit of a shock! My HbA1c was 101!

From a dietary stand point the dietician says the refined sugars are out the window — that’s fair enough and has been easy so far — but for me it’s just realising how many of my favourite foods are carbs! Although she did say I probably only need a small reduction in carbs and an increase in veg going forward, I think it’s still going to be a harder and slower change. But baby steps, right?

I am concerned about hypos, and have been given a glucose monitor now too. I’m a HGV driver so don’t want to be swinging all over the pace with BG levels!

 

[Lamont D]

Did you inform your diabetes team, that you are a HGV driver?
Being on glicizide, warrants you check your BG levels before and constantly through the day driving.
And it is about the hypos, you could get from the diabetic blood glucose lowering drug

do have a read of the threads especially the success stories thread.

Edited by mod to remove forum rule breach

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hey everybody, good chance I’m going to be bombarding the forum with questions but here’s a couple right off the bat.

1. Diagnosed in October (right before Halloween!) with suspected Type 2 but I feel that it’s more likely type 3c due to chronic hereditary pancreatitis, however all nurses and doctors seem to be pushing the type 2. Treatment plan seems to be the same for both, at least in the early stages (Metformin & Gliclazide). Should I push back on this if for no other reason than it’s nice to know the cause?

2. After a cursory read I see people mention they feel **** when they’re hyper. I’ve only started BG monitoring today and it’s been high (16-23) but I don’t feel ****. What specific symptoms should I look for in a hyper, and over what sort of time period should I be looking for glucose levels to drop to a reasonable level? At what point should I be thinking “maybe a should get myself to A&E”?

Looks like there’s a trove of knowledge on here to dig through so hopefully will have plenty of reading material for a few nights.

Thanks,

Jamie

Good morning @signorejambo ,

I'd push for more eventually, when you're up for it and you find symptoms worsen. A lot of doctors don't know what T3c is, actually... They just assume there's T1 and T2, and that there's no other flavours, so to speak, while there are. With T2, you make a lot of insulin, and over time, become insensitive to it. With T3c, your pancreas becomes damaged. Scarring from pancreatitis: where there's scar tissue, there's nothing putting out insulin, so it really depends on how much scar tissue there is. Do you still make insulin or no, and if you do, how much? See the difference there? Too much, too little, and if you have a chronic condition, it may become less and less over time, until all insulin production stops. So while with T2 you might be done and dusted with just cutting carbs (and oral meds), which could improve the sensitivity to your own insulin, with T3c due to chronic pancreatitis, you're likely to require insulin injections, eventually, because you don't make enough or any of your own. (Gliclazide forcesthe pancreas to put out more insulin, which can sometimes wear it out and decrease insulin production... So yes, I would, if I were you, ask for an endo referral to see what's going on!). Mind you, this is extremely simplified, and the only experience I have with T3c is a cat who needed insulin after he had a severe bout of acute pancreatitis, and he needed insulin ever since. It was through his monitor that I found out I was a T2, myself.

Also, gliclazide, as others mentioned, may cause hypo's, so be careful mixing that with a low carb diet. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to, and I had a few hypo's. They're not fun, and I see you drive, so... That could turn ugly for you and fellow road users. Careful. Keep that meter and hypo-treatment close.

As for being hyper, your body is likely used to being high all the time. You might not feel symptomatic, other than the constant drinking/urinating. This is why for a lot of people, diagnosis comes as a complete surprise; a lot of us don't feel ill. I did, but by that time I'd likely been diabetic for years, so.... That you're not feeling it yet, doesn't mean much. Get thee to A&E if you're high and feeling sick, disoriented, wobbly/weak, just, you know.... Decidedly unwell.

Ah, the husband is awake, I'd better get brekkie going. Hang in there eh, and throw those questions out there!
Jo