Thank God for occupational health

[TTTE]

Hello from cold,wet and miserable London. Came back from 2 weeks of Sun, Sea, Sand and Sugary excess in Malta last October only to be told by OH that I was due a medical. The blood test (local finger prick version) gave a reading of 92 (don't know what method of recording was used) I pointed out my 2 weeks of bodily abuse and said that I felt absolutely normal (no increase in sleeping, drinking or toilet visits etc)

Granted a stay of execution and told to get myself retested in 2 weeks but given a letter of referral for my GP. 3 weeks later I get retested by OH who tell me that my blood sugar reading is...... wait for it..... 92. That sucks ! Not a sugary thing passed my lips. I cut out sugar in tea, coffee and stoped drinking fizzy drinks etc. Stopped eating breakfast cereals etc and tried really hard to eat and drink sensibly.

So here is where it goes totally tonto. I'm a licenced HGV driver. I don't work as that but don't want to let the licence expire. My licence came up for it's usual 5 year renewal at this time so I booked a medical for this with my GP. "Oh yes, you're on the system for that" says the receptionist "can you come in next Wednesday?" She asks. I turn up at the surgery to discover that my booked HGV medical is actually an NHS well being medical. I point out the mistake but sit the medical anyway and re-book the HGV medical for early the following week.

I turn up for this medical and discover that this is actually the Practice well being medical, still not the HGV medical !! I eventually (3 days later) get the HGV medical at which time I mention the OH referral. The doctor sends me for 3 blood tests. The nurse taking the blood says that if there is cause for concern the doctor will call me to book an appointment. Fast forward 4 weeks, over the Christmas and New Year period and I rang the doctor to see if there was "any cause for concern". The receptionist says that I really must come in and see the doctor. However it can't be important because the first appointment 8 days away !

So at this appointment the doctor tells me that my blood sugar reading 95 (he would like to see me around high 30's to a 40) so officially diagnosed as type 2 diabetic.. I'm on Metformin three times a day. The doctor has asked to go for a follow up blood test and has booked me an appointment for the diabetic clinic.

So this is all new to me, I'm trying to be really good, and have cut out completely everything sugary I have enjoyed for the last 53 year's. Have no current idea about diet but hoping the diabetic clinic will give me some ideas.

So that's me. I'll probably be here for ages and will hopefully behave myself

 

[Antje77]

I don't really understand how your OH (is that other half?) Tested an hba1c (92 sounds like either a high hba1c or a normal fingerprick value if you live in a part of the world where they measure in mg/dl rather than mmol/l), hba1c's are usually only taken via a lab, but never mind, the whole numbers thing is for the near future I think.
In the meanwhile, welcome to the forum and I'll tag @daisy1 for you who has lots of useful information for newcomers. Have a look around the forum and ask away all you like!
Oh, and with metformin you're fine to drive as far as I know

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I don't really understand how your OH (is that other half?)

OH is for Occupational Health @Antje77.

 

[Rachox]

Hi and welcome TTT! You’ve come to the right place for advice.
Loads of us are caught by incidental testing. My type 2 was diagnosed when I went for my annual blood tests for my bp meds.
First I’ll tag in @daisy1 who’ll post loads of useful info for you. I’m on Metformin, plus I eat a low carb diet and self monitor my blood sugars. I got my high blood sugar levels down to non diabetic levels in four months. The reason why low carb diets work is that carbohydrates turn to sugar. Self testing helps work out what foods I can tolerate.
Anyway fire away with your questions, there’ll always be an answer forthcoming.

 

[Antje77]

OH is for Occupational Health @Antje77.

Thanks, @Tipetoo , and my apologies for making things more confusing than they already are, @TTTE . Don't I just love being active on a forum in a language that's not my own

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Thanks, @Tipetoo , and my apologies for making things more confusing than they already are, @TTTE . Don't I just love being active on a forum in a language that's not my own

Your welcome, and your English is better than my Dutch.

 

[TTTE]

Hello Antje77,

Sorry for using abbreviations OH is occupational Health, one of the things people on the railway over 50 years old have to do every one or two years. Thanks for the advice about driving with Metformin. To be honest no one has told me anything yet. I think my doctor is expecting the "Diabetic Clinic" to bring me up to speed on this. Fortunately I work with lots of "experts" all of whom know a guy who met this bloke that once sold a dog to guy who went to the same school 8 years after I left; so obviously we're family !! and he knows everything about Diabetes (yeah right!)

 

[TTTE]

The reason why low carb diets work is that carbohydrates turn to sugar..

Thank you, I never knew that

 

[Rachox]

Thank you, I never knew that

Don’t worry many of us don’t til we come here! Oh and BTW the diabetic clinic may only advise the NHS Eatwell plate which maybe healthy enough for Jo public but it’s too carb heavy for us Type 2s.

 

[Antje77]

Sorry for using abbreviations

No problem, we have a lot of diabetic abbreviations to throw back at you before you speak diabeticalese fluently!
And you'll know the most important things about diabetes in no time if you keep looking around on this forum. You're not in a hurry, take your time!

 

[TTTE]

OK, thank you again Rachox, again something I didn't know. Looks like this is the place to be

 

[Salvia]

Hello TTTE, and welcome to the forum. Plenty of help and info to be had here, some of which you've already discovered. Hope you get your HGV stuff sorted soon (and that your GP staff can get their act together eventually!). Looking on the bright side, you've been well and truly "tested"

 

[paulus1]

metformin and train driving. i would have a few weeks holiday when you start it. it could be very unpleasant if you dont have access to toilets.

 

[TTTE]

metformin and train driving. i would have a few weeks holiday when you start it. it could be very unpleasant if you dont have access to toilets.

I don't drive the trains, as an engineer I fix the trains that the drivers break. One of the most confusing oximorons in the world; every schoolboy wants to be a train driver, then the very few that actually make it do their utmost to get out of actually driving by breaking it

 

[daisy1]

@TTTE

Hello TTTE and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will 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 235,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[notafanofsugar]

Welcome