Type 1.5 Bloods at 18.5

[EveryCloud]

Bloods at 18.5... Don't know whether to call a doctor or not. I feel awful and my head is thumping. I have been very stressed recently. Just looking for opinions. Call an emergency doctor or wait until tomorrow?

 

[Mrsass]

Are you on insulin? Can you give yourself a correction dose?

 

[EveryCloud]

No insulin. Just Meds. On the phone to the doc at the moment.

 

[Robynberrill]

Are you able to check your ketone levels?

 

[EveryCloud]

Checked and it was clear.

 

[EveryCloud]

Called the doc. And they got me to check. My blood again and it was 26.4... worried!

 

[Daibell]

Hi. It looks like you may need to move on to insulin. In the meantime keep the carbs way down and have plenty of water. Before insulin I was often into the 20s - not good but just about OK if it's just a spike. I'm surprised that Gliclazide isn't on your list of tablets. This is commonly prescribed to trigger the pancreas to produce more insulin. If you can get the GP to move you on to insulin then it won't be needed anyway. Do see the GP as soon as possible and go to A&E if the situation worsens.

 

[EveryCloud]

I the hospital now. They gave me an appointment straight away. I will let you know how I get on.

 

[EveryCloud]

Well, that was a waste of time. They tested my BG and it was 20. Took my temp and it was fine, doc said, go home get some rest and see your own doctor in the morning... #fedup

 

[Robynberrill]

Well, that was a waste of time. They tested my BG and it was 20. Took my temp and it was fine, doc said, go home get some rest and see your own doctor in the morning... #fedup

That happened to me. About a year and a half ago I went to hospital as I had high BG of around 25 and I was vomiting. They put me on a drip and then 4 hours later they sent me home. Spoke to my diabetic nurse the next day and she said that they should have kept me in to observe. She was quite disgusted actually the way they acted with me

 

[tim2000s]

Given that you are Type 1.5 and you have glucose levels in the 20s, you really should be on insulin. The metformin and linagliptin are not appropriate for someone with auto immune diabetes, which is what type 1.5 is. It's essentially late and slow onset T1 diabetes.

In reality, all T1.5s should be given insulin at diagnosis if they need any medication. The provision of linagliptin results in the more rapid destruction of beta cells as it encourages insulin production, and the evidence suggests that it is the process of producing insulin that drives the antibody attack. More insulin = more of an attack.

I'd be in seeing your doctor this morning and demanding insulin in some form or another, so that you can protect what beta cells you have left. @LucySW has good experience in this area.

 

[LucySW]

Completely agree with every word of Tim's, @EveryCloud. I would ask clearly and forcefully to be put on full insulin regime now, ie basal plus bolus, small doses, in order to prolong my honeymoon and keep insulin doses low for as long as possible.

Here's what happened to me :

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/an-older-and-wiser-new-lada.70099/

 

[EveryCloud]

Went to the doc. Absolutely point blank refused insulin and said there are more Meds to try before that and that insulin is a last resort. Have to go back later to get blood taken. I even pleaded that the side effects are driving me crazy. The doc never even offered extended release Metformin.

 

[azure]

How's your blood sugar this morning? Did your doctor test it?

I'm surprised he didn't want to give you insulin. Could you ask to be referred to a consultant?

My blood sugar was 25 when I was diagnosed, and I felt awful.

 

[EveryCloud]

Sitting at 10 after fasting (and being up all night peeing) I will probably have to wait until my results come back before they give me another pill to take. My last HBA1C was 6 and that is what he referred to. I will see what my results are before asking for an endocrinologist. Maybe sooner. I feel like I am dying.

 

[tim2000s]

Next time you speak to him, tell him that you understand what t1.5 is and that by not putting you on insulin, he is responsible for destroying your beta cells further, which you believe to be negligent. If he isn't willing to provide insulin, you want to be referred to a clinic for an appointment this week.

This kind of behaviour is utterly wrong and verges on criminal, in my view.

 

[noblehead]

Sitting at 10 after fasting (and being up all night peeing) I will probably have to wait until my results come back before they give me another pill to take. My last HBA1C was 6 and that is what he referred to. I will see what my results are before asking for an endocrinologist. Maybe sooner. I feel like I am dying.

Ask for that referal now @EveryCloud, no disrespect to your Dr but I wouldn't trust their judgement over that of a endocrinologist who specialises in conditions like diabetes.

 

[EveryCloud]

I got to the nurse for her to take blood and asked her outright if I have ever been tested for GAD antibodies, she looked at her monitor, then back at me and said "I haven't a clue.." Part of this confusion is that they don't know what type I am, my first diagnoses was 'adult onset' and then everyone else since then refers to me as type 2, but I don't fit the bill. The last 24 hours have been exhausting and the only thing that has happened is that I got more bloods took. So now I am for an early bed, yes, I know it is only 3pm, but I am done in. I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall. She tested my blood pressure and it was high too. With any luck I will have a phone call by Friday.

 

[Daibell]

Went to the doc. Absolutely point blank refused insulin and said there are more Meds to try before that and that insulin is a last resort. Have to go back later to get blood taken. I even pleaded that the side effects are driving me crazy. The doc never even offered extended release Metformin.

Hi. I think you at least need to demand Gliclazide as it's one of the important tablets when you have a failing pancreas and insulin is not offered. My GP also refused me insulin when I asked and said it was a last resort (stupid); we had a big argument. When my HBa1C had rocketed a year later she said I'm sorry but you need to go onto insulin having completely forgotten who I was and was surprised when I readily said Yes.

 

[LucySW]

The problem with drugs like Gliclazide that ramp up the pancreas's function, Daibell, is that in someone with autoimmune diabetes ie Type 1 or 1.5, increased beta-cell activity is a red rag to a bull: it triggers increased destruction of same beta cells by rogue T-cells. That's why I think injected insulin is much better. Injected Insulin doesn't produce the same signalling to T-cells.

That's why oral meds apart from Metformin are so damaging to Type 1.5s.