I am close to panic Type 2.

[AndyANR]

Hi Everyone, I might not be posting in the correct forum as a decently diagnosed type 2, but I am struggling psychologically and physically. I have many questions aswell.

Background briefly before the main question. Diagnosed 12 weeks ago (58 years old) ..... HbA1c 6.5 (told by letter I had diabetes!). Accepted diagnosis, chose to self monitor, have lost weight (17kg, now BMI of 23), increased exercise (fit from running anyway, but now 5 hours a week), heavy restriction of carbs .... Eg almost no wheat, bread etc. Not been near a potatoe (eating cauliflower mash etc). Make low carb cookies/muffins with flax, peanut flour etc. Initially bg hreadings excellent ... Even one reading in 4's ..... Have seen things go pear shaped very quickly .... Readings always above 10 and deteriorated quite quickly over, say three weeks ... Put on 1gm metformin 8 days ago and my numbers are still going up each day. Not testing several times a day as I get too stressed. Overnight readings now 11-12 and rising. Had a further blood tests yesterday, including one to see my fasting blood sugar .... I know the results. Pharmacist told me I should have seen the numbers go in the right direction in one week.

I have had my eyes and feet checked. If there is good news, it is that I no longer need my blood pressure meds! I know I am depressed and take medication to help with this (pre diagnosis).

Q's
How quickly is my body being damaged by these high bg levels?
Why have things deteriorated so quickly when I have been so tough on myself?
Could there be something else that is serious going on?
We are off on a family holiday to S. France in 3 weeks. Is this situation unstable enough for me to let the others go on the ferry and me stay at home?

I only have my EHIC card, as this is, of course a pre existing condition and I had not taken insurance when we booked the ferry in March, pre diagnosis.
Primary care is not good, so am wondering whether I crack the piggy bank open and consult an expert privately.

I am frightened and catastrophising more as my numbers go up each day.

AndyR

 

[Daffodils1]

Hi there,

Hopefully others will be along with more experience soon, particularly about your question of impact of your current readings.

What does your GP reckon is going on? Has his tests verified your daily readings? Could it be your metre or your test strips? If moisture gets on the strips, even just leaving the lid of can cause this, they are affected so maybe try a new pot?

I've read that hot weather can put levels up, as can not drinking enough.

I'm sure you'll have checked this but are there any carbs lurking in food that are now your new staples, eg I realised only some brands of nut butter are really low carb, some have added sugar. Have you changed any brands?

Try not to worry, stress puts bs levels up too, but I appreciate that's easy to say and hard to do.

All the best and hopefully some reassurance can be found so that you feel OK to go on holiday.

 

[hampsoan]

Hi
I was diagnosed last June Type 2 and have been on a roller coaster of a ride. This came as a shock as thought was quite healthy and not overweight.
Can get quite frustrating with all new appointments and trying to get your head round it .Been on different meds but still having issues.
Just have to persevere and hopefully you will get your head round it.

 

[Busy1]

Hi Everyone, I might not be posting in the correct forum as a decently diagnosed type 2, but I am struggling psychologically and physically. I have many questions aswell.

Background briefly before the main question. Diagnosed 12 weeks ago (58 years old) ..... HbA1c 6.5 (told by letter I had diabetes!). Accepted diagnosis, chose to self monitor, have lost weight (17kg, now BMI of 23), increased exercise (fit from running anyway, but now 5 hours a week), heavy restriction of carbs .... Eg almost no wheat, bread etc. Not been near a potatoe (eating cauliflower mash etc). Make low carb cookies/muffins with flax, peanut flour etc. Initially bg hreadings excellent ... Even one reading in 4's ..... Have seen things go pear shaped very quickly .... Readings always above 10 and deteriorated quite quickly over, say three weeks ... Put on 1gm metformin 8 days ago and my numbers are still going up each day. Not testing several times a day as I get too stressed. Overnight readings now 11-12 and rising. Had a further blood tests yesterday, including one to see my fasting blood sugar .... I know the results. Pharmacist told me I should have seen the numbers go in the right direction in one week.

I have had my eyes and feet checked. If there is good news, it is that I no longer need my blood pressure meds! I know I am depressed and take medication to help with this (pre diagnosis).

Q's
How quickly is my body being damaged by these high bg levels?
Why have things deteriorated so quickly when I have been so tough on myself?
Could there be something else that is serious going on?
We are off on a family holiday to S. France in 3 weeks. Is this situation unstable enough for me to let the others go on the ferry and me stay at home?

I only have my EHIC card, as this is, of course a pre existing condition and I had not taken insurance when we booked the ferry in March, pre diagnosis.
Primary care is not good, so am wondering whether I crack the piggy bank open and consult an expert privately.

I am frightened and catastrophising more as my numbers go up each day.

AndyR

Hi Andy
I too am struggling with my Blood Sugar levels and cannot work out why they remain so high. I do suspect it is STRESS!
I recently posted that I was really worried about going away on holiday because my Blood sugar was so high. Ranging from 15 to 20+ Anyway the good news was that once I got away my Blood sugar came right down below 10, which although still high was a vast improvement on levels over 20.
I have changed my diet drastically but now that I am back home my numbers are really high again.
I am at my wits end as I don't know why.
I have recently been prescribed Metformin but I am really struggling with it. It makes me feel very sick and I had a nasty dizzy spell while out shopping on my own and that has really shaken me up.
I spent most of yesterday analysing what I am eating. I do think milk is affecting me and after reading another post today I think Peanuts might be causing me problems too.
I am worried the high levels are damaging my body and really need to get on top of things as I am getting more and more depressed. This forum really does help a lot, as often I pick up on things others have written.
Do go on holiday and relax. I think perhaps on holiday I wasn't worrying so much and this brought my numbers down. I hope it will do the same for you.

 

[himtoo]

Hi There AndyANR
welcome to the forum

the three weeks of numbers between 8-15 will not cause long term damage but of course they are not great so you will want to get them lowered as soon as you can.

I think constant contact with the DSN and / or your GP is pretty important

I am also tagging some lovely people for some assistance on this one that are type 2 and possibly more attuned symptom wise.
@Brunneria , @catherinecherub

 

[catherinecherub]

Panic will get you nowhere and the stress will raise your blood sugars.
It does take time to get the hang of how to eat so that your blood sugars stay stable and I think you are trying to run before you can walk.

You say that your meals are inline with what you should be eating so provide us with a day's typical food and drink for a day and people will comment as to if you are on the right track. Include any snacks, alcohol. Do you have any other conditions that require medication? Do you have an infection including a cold? Are you taking antihistamines?

In the early days I ate the same menu for three days on the trot and the readings were not exactly the same for each meal as other factors play a part including exercise or lack of and stress, good/bad night's sleep........the list is endless.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi,

Please bear with me when i ask some questions, @catherinecherub has already asked about medication. That can be a huge factor.

So can the heat.

Are you drinking masses, esp with your running
Enough salt? (You should add extra salt when low carbing, esp in hot weather)

But i really want to ask what exactly you are eating on your low carbing, meal by meal, for a couple of days. It is astonishingly easy for a first time low carber to sabotage their own best efforts - through no fault of their own.

Re you bg readings, and the risks - levels that high are not good, but i agree that they are not immediately risky. But they definitely need watching (congratulations for getting into a pattern of self testing).

Can i suggest that you get really systematic for a few days.
Test on waking, and on going to bed.
Test just before food, then 2 hours later.
Record what you ate, the portion size, and the readings.
Also test before exercise, regularly during, and after.

I realise that is a lot of finger pricks, but will tell you a lot about how your body is reacting, and if your bg continues to rise, it will give you evidence to take back to your doc.

There is always the chance you are an undiagnosed T1 or T1.5, so the more evidence you collect, the better.

Please let us know how you get on?

Oh, one more thing. A while ago, on this forum, I remember reading some T1s talking about how you shouldn't exercise with elevated blood glucose. Hopefully one of them will be along to give an indication of how high, is 'high'. For some reason, i'm thinking it was areound 13 mmol/l, but i may be wrong... @tim2000s , @ElyDave maybe you can help?

 

[tim2000s]

The recommendation is that if you have ketones present, you shouldn't exercise as it can push your BG level up higher, which is where the advice for T1s about not being above 13 comes from. This is related to not being able to use the glucose in your blood stream and then causing a liver dump.

I think you should keep in constant contact with your DSN and request a GAD test, as that would prove whether you were T2 or a form of T1.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. If your weight is now near normal and the blood sugar is still high and rising you need to ask the GP for a GAD and c-peptide test for Late onset T1. You appear to have an excellent diet, so the likelihood of being LADA is now quite high. If the GP says you can only get T1 at a young age that's wrong. I was 60 when my diabetes appeared out of nowhere and I was normal weight. If you are a LADA then the Metformin will do very little (even for T2s it's not a miracle cure). There are tablets such as Gliclazide and Sitagliptin that can help for a while with LADA with the possibility of insulin later. I had to have my two tests done privately as my surgery didn't understand; I'm now on insulin and it's magic. My blood sugar was up and down into the 20s/30s for some months and I don't appear to have any damage. Ref holiday if you can get the GP to prescribe tablets such as the ones I've listed for early T1 then that may help reduce holiday risk. If your GP is knowledgeable then I'm sure you can work out a solution, but sadly many aren't so good.

 

[AndyANR]

Hi there,

Hopefully others will be along with more experience soon, particularly about your question of impact of your current readings.

What does your GP reckon is going on? Has his tests verified your daily readings? Could it be your metre or your test strips? If moisture gets on the strips, even just leaving the lid of can cause this, they are affected so maybe try a new pot?

I've read that hot weather can put levels up, as can not drinking enough.

I'm sure you'll have checked this but are there any carbs lurking in food that are now your new staples, eg I realised only some brands of nut butter are really low carb, some have added sugar. Have you changed any brands?

Try not to worry, stress puts bs levels up too, but I appreciate that's easy to say and hard to do.

All the best and hopefully some reassurance can be found so that you feel OK to go on holiday.

So, so glad I posted here this morning. I tried to convey that I have been watching everything I eat like a hawk (forgot to mention that I have almost stopped drinking alcohol .... ). On the above advice I took out another box of testing strips ..... Took three readings to check the results. 4.6-4.8.

Read mix of emotions ..... From the joy of my life changing within 10 minutes.... To feeling an idiot ..... To feeling cross at the testing strips not having a clear warning about heat, air etc ... To the need to apologise to my family for being a grumpy git recently .... Whole load of emotions right .... To thanking some very caring people on here.

Thank you so so much .... For changing my window on the world. It reinforces what I have sadly learned late in life ..... It is better to ask for help than try and struggle through . My tendency to assume the worst is challenged ... Not for the first time of course.

Andrew

 

[desidiabulum]

So, so glad I posted here this morning. I tried to convey that I have been watching everything I eat like a hawk (forgot to mention that I have almost stopped drinking alcohol .... ). On the above advice I took out another box of testing strips ..... Took three readings to check the results. 4.6-4.8.

Read mix of emotions ..... From the joy of my life changing within 10 minutes.... To feeling an idiot ..... To feeling cross at the testing strips not having a clear warning about heat, air etc ... To the need to apologise to my family for being a grumpy git recently .... Whole load of emotions right .... To thanking some very caring people on here.

Thank you so so much .... For changing my window on the world. It reinforces what I have sadly learned late in life ..... It is better to ask for help than try and struggle through . My tendency to assume the worst is challenged ... Not for the first time of course.

Andrew

Congratulations on those results -- and how satisfying to know that you have been right and the strips were wrong.
It is worth noting that quite a number of us find that a malfunctioning pancreas does not behave quite as predictably in relation to diet and exercise as one might hope, and numbers can jump around a bit sometimes -- occasional rogue readings, or even a short run of higher readings, can be just a diabetic occupational hazard (as well as faulty test strips) -- it's the overall control that is the crucial bit.

 

[AndBreathe]

So, so glad I posted here this morning. I tried to convey that I have been watching everything I eat like a hawk (forgot to mention that I have almost stopped drinking alcohol .... ). On the above advice I took out another box of testing strips ..... Took three readings to check the results. 4.6-4.8.

Read mix of emotions ..... From the joy of my life changing within 10 minutes.... To feeling an idiot ..... To feeling cross at the testing strips not having a clear warning about heat, air etc ... To the need to apologise to my family for being a grumpy git recently .... Whole load of emotions right .... To thanking some very caring people on here.

Thank you so so much .... For changing my window on the world. It reinforces what I have sadly learned late in life ..... It is better to ask for help than try and struggle through . My tendency to assume the worst is challenged ... Not for the first time of course.

Andrew

Please be vigilant for more than a few tests; just to make sure the lower readings aren't a blip. (Sorry, don't mean to rain on your barbie....)

As far as your strips are concerned, you need to be a little careful how you manage and store them. I think for mine (SD Codefree), the box suggests keeping them to under 32c, so leaving them in a car, in the sun, or in direct sunlight isn't a great idea. Moisture is also a potential contaminant, so snap the cap closed as soon as you can after taking a strip out, and never take a few strips out to store in your wallet, to save you carrying the whole pot. That's just a recipe for a magical mystery tour.

If you have continued concerns, you should have a chat with your GP. Unless your numbers fly up again, I'd suggest your holiday is likely to do you more good than the levels you have experienced doing you harm. You certainly don't want to be running at those levels longer term, but a short period is unlikely to have caused anything catastrophic.

If you levels fly up again, you must ask your doctor to consider if testing you for other forms of diabetes, as I would suggest it's unusual for T2 to deteriorate that quickly unless other matters are in play, like stress, a virus or general infection just being examples.

Have a wonderful holiday.

 

[SueB743]

Just wanted to say it's great that it looks like everything is sorted out. Have a fantastic holiday

 

[LucySW]

Please be vigilant for more than a few tests; just to make sure the lower readings aren't a blip ... as I would suggest it's unusual for T2 to deteriorate that quickly unless other matters are in play, like stress, a virus or general infection just being examples.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Look, great news that you're lower, but frankly, a box of failed strips isn't likely to explain such sustained high numbers. After your holiday - and keep up the no starchy carbs - please press for a GAD antibody test. Getting high BGs with the massive food/exercise effort you are making suggests very strongly that you may be LADA/Type 1.5. If you are, you need to know and your treatment needs adjusting.

If your GP wont, I'd urge you to do it privately and press to see a hospital consultant at the same time.

I had exactly the same story. T2 diagnosis out if the blue, age 55, quite active, slim, then GAD test confirmed T1.5 and after six months faffing around on basal insulin ( not enough), now very happy on basal/bolus and BG well controlled. I feel massively better and can get on with my life.

So please - get the test. Then, if that's you, read around past threads on the Type 1.5 forum. Ill post a couple of them here later.

If you have time before the holiday, do it now. If not, put it all on hold and di what you can on the low carb front. Take the Metformin, which will help a bit if not enough, but dont drink with it. Bad news.

You poor thing, but good on you for paying attention. You'll soon be feeling MUCH BETTER.

 

[AndBreathe]

Look, great news that you're lower, but frankly, a box of failed strips isn't likely to explain such sustained high numbers. After your holiday - and keep up the no starchy carbs - please press for a GAD antibody test. Getting high BGs with the massive food/exercise effort you are making suggests very strongly that you may be LADA/Type 1.5. If you are, you need to know and your treatment needs adjusting.

If your GP wont, I'd urge you to do it privately and press to see a hospital consultant at the same time.

I had exactly the same story. T2 diagnosis out if the blue, age 55, quite active, slim, then GAD test confirmed T1.5 and after six months faffing around on basal insulin ( not enough), now very happy on basal/bolus and BG well controlled. I feel massively better and can get on with my life.

So please - get the test. Then, if that's you, read around past threads on the Type 1.5 forum. Ill post a couple of them here later.

If you have time before the holiday, do it now. If not, put it all on hold and di what you can on the low carb front. Take the Metformin, which will help a bit if not enough, but dont drink with it. Bad news.

You poor thing, but good on you for paying attention. You'll soon be feeling MUCH BETTER.

Lucy - You replied to me with your last, excellent post. I have no problem with that, but just conscious the OP mightn't see it. I'll tag @AndyANR just in case.

Hope you're both well.

 

[AndyANR]

Look, great news that you're lower, but frankly, a box of failed strips isn't likely to explain such sustained high numbers. After your holiday - and keep up the no starchy carbs - please press for a GAD antibody test. Getting high BGs with the massive food/exercise effort you are making suggests very strongly that you may be LADA/Type 1.5. If you are, you need to know and your treatment needs adjusting.

If your GP wont, I'd urge you to do it privately and press to see a hospital consultant at the same time.

I had exactly the same story. T2 diagnosis out if the blue, age 55, quite active, slim, then GAD test confirmed T1.5 and after six months faffing around on basal insulin ( not enough), now very happy on basal/bolus and BG well controlled. I feel massively better and can get on with my life.

So please - get the test. Then, if that's you, read around past threads on the Type 1.5 forum. Ill post a couple of them here later.

If you have time before the holiday, do it now. If not, put it all on hold and di what you can on the low carb front. Take the Metformin, which will help a bit if not enough, but dont drink with it. Bad news.

You poor thing, but good on you for paying attention. You'll soon be feeling MUCH BETTER.

Lucy - You replied to me with your last, excellent post. I have no problem with that, but just conscious the OP mightn't see it. I'll tag @AndyANR just in case.

Hope you're both well.

Just wanted to say it's great that it looks like everything is sorted out. Have a fantastic holiday

Hi, I have more information now .... HbA1c and fasting blood tests done at GP last Thursday were 5.6 and 5.8. Looks like my self testing strips did not like my rather lazy, overconfident test methodology!

I did not think that some of us type2's could reverse things through rapid weight loss .... This online public lecture by Professor Taylor at Newcastle University (link below) has helped me understand what has probably happened. So glad Diabetes UK is funding his research.

The lecture (about an hour plus questions and answers) also carries hope that by maintaining the big lifestyle changes I have made will help my in the longer term? I was in tears at the end of the lecture!

My GP has called me in to discuss the test results .... I might be told off for relying on self testing and taking myself off metformin (was only on it 6 days, so would not have significantly changed the averag blood test), but I shall have a spring in my step before and after.

I have started packing for my holiday .. with enthusiasm and now a bit more wisdom about my disease .

So glad my miserable thoughts (oh and believe me they were bad indeed) bought me to this forum ... My spiritual friends might regard that as having been an ordinary miracle! If anyone else wants to lose weight to see what happens with their BG I am happy to share what I have done with them, but on the basis that I am not an expert in very much ... Especially self testing LOL !!!

The lecture is fascinating .......

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures/item.php?roy-taylor-diabetes

 

[rosserk]

So, so glad I posted here this morning. I tried to convey that I have been watching everything I eat like a hawk (forgot to mention that I have almost stopped drinking alcohol .... ). On the above advice I took out another box of testing strips ..... Took three readings to check the results. 4.6-4.8.

Read mix of emotions ..... From the joy of my life changing within 10 minutes.... To feeling an idiot ..... To feeling cross at the testing strips not having a clear warning about heat, air etc ... To the need to apologise to my family for being a grumpy git recently .... Whole load of emotions right .... To thanking some very caring people on here.

Thank you so so much .... For changing my window on the world. It reinforces what I have sadly learned late in life ..... It is better to ask for help than try and struggle through . My tendency to assume the worst is challenged ... Not for the first time of course.

Andrew

Hi Andy glad you sorted your concerns. I have a 2nd meter and if I get a rouge reading I test again with the spare meter. They are different meters and different strips but the readings are consistent with each other to within point 1 & point 2 and I just use one to test if the reading is unexpected. I've never found a problem with my strips just crashing confirmation the first reading was correct! but at least I wasn't second guessing myself. Have a lovely holiday..

 

[AndBreathe]

Hi, I have more information now .... HbA1c and fasting blood tests done at GP last Thursday were 5.6 and 5.8. Looks like my self testing strips did not like my rather lazy, overconfident test methodology!

I did not think that some of us type2's could reverse things through rapid weight loss .... This online public lecture by Professor Taylor at Newcastle University (link below) has helped me understand what has probably happened. So glad Diabetes UK is funding his research.

The lecture (about an hour plus questions and answers) also carries hope that by maintaining the big lifestyle changes I have made will help my in the longer term? I was in tears at the end of the lecture!

My GP has called me in to discuss the test results .... I might be told off for relying on self testing and taking myself off metformin (was only on it 6 days, so would not have significantly changed the averag blood test), but I shall have a spring in my step before and after.

I have started packing for my holiday .. with enthusiasm and now a bit more wisdom about my disease .

So glad my miserable thoughts (oh and believe me they were bad indeed) bought me to this forum ... My spiritual friends might regard that as having been an ordinary miracle! If anyone else wants to lose weight to see what happens with their BG I am happy to share what I have done with them, but on the basis that I am not an expert in very much ... Especially self testing LOL !!!

The lecture is fascinating .......

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures/item.php?roy-taylor-diabetes

Andy - I'm pleased you're feeling upbeat, and ready to really enjoy your holiday.

If I could just pass a few comments, they would be that finger prick testing is wonderful for spotting trends, rather than getting too focused on what the actual number is. In my time since diagnosis, I have vigilantly tested, averaging 3 times a day (fasting, then before and after my carbiest meal of the day), and I find it keeps me in the straight and narrow. I do find, however, that that in itself, isn't a great indicator to how my HbA1c will turn out. My finger prick averages are usually around 4.2, but the lowest HbA1c I've ever had is 5.0. My scores are in my signature. I'm currently using a Libre Freestyle sensor and reader, which records an interstitial fluid reading every c15 minutes. Again, slightly different to finger prick, or venous blood testing, but realistically like finger prick, but about 20 minutes behind the curve. My current average, over the 3 weeks I have been using it is 4.2, with an estimated HbA1c of 23/4.3%, but I can't think that's going to happen, as there's nothing different in my diet or lifestyle to indicate a change from my usual. So, all of that ramble is saying, once you have a decent data set from your finger pricks, plus a couple of HbA1cs, you'll sort of "know" what to expect when you have your venous tests.

Onto the Newcastle work, and Professor Taylor. What a clever man, doing potentially transformational work? I have historically raised a couple of questions with Professor Taylor who responded promptly. To be fair, it would probably have been a research assistance responding on his behalf, rather than the man, I imagine, but nevertheless, he really is people-centric. But, one of the things I specifically asked him was his opinion of the prospects for someone, like me, who had achieved serial normo-glycaemic HbA1cs remaining in the non-diabetic ranges. His response was pretty simple. He states, assuming a continuing reasonable diet, it is critical not to regain whatever weight had historically taken me over my Personal Fat Threshold (I'm assuming you are familiar with that concept, having watched the lecture.) stays off, he would expect continuing and ongoing normo-glycaemia. I'll be giving that my best shot. So, something to bear in mind? Don't go mad on diet, and stay trim!

Have a great holiday, and come back ready to maintain the progress you have made.

 

[Brunneria]

Great post @AndBreathe

The only think I would add is that the idea of a personal fat threshold is going to be fluid over time. Age, physical deterioration, rise and fall in fitness, muscle mass, etc. etc. will mean that the same person is bound to experience a different level of personal fat threshold over the years.

So getting slim is wonderful.
Staying slim is vital.
But even when you stay the same weight, you may find that your personal fat threshold shifts downwards over time, even if you don't gain weight.

 

[AndyANR]

Hi Andy glad you sorted your concerns. I have a 2nd meter and if I get a rouge reading I test again with the spare meter. They are different meters and different strips but the readings are consistent with each other to within point 1 & point 2 and I just use one to test if the reading is unexpected. I've never found a problem with my strips just crashing confirmation the first reading was correct! but at least I wasn't second guessing myself. Have a lovely holiday..

Good idea to have a 2nd meter for dealing with a potentially worrying reading, or to stop getting stressed in general.