Struggling

[jessica1612]

I am really struggling with my blood sugar levels. I managed to bring my HBA1C level down from 147 mmol to 42 in 6 months when first diagnosed, with LCHF alone & no meds. I am eating the same LCHF & between 20 /30 g of carbs a day. I fast all day & just eat between 5 and 8pm. My last HBA1c was 72 . I test my blood several times a day & I know it will be higher than that next time. My morning level is around 15mmol and it only drops to around 12 by 5PM. Then obviously it goes back up when I eat . I am now on 4x metformin a day and 2x gliclazide but it makes no difference, the sugar levels are still the same after 2 weeks of taking meds. Last time I saw the GP I asked to be referred to a specialist but he said no. I am considering paying for private blood tests. How can I find out if I am producing any insulin at all? I am getting desperate , maybe I should go for a pizza & then straight to A&E I am sure I would be in the 30's!! Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[EllieM]

Well, the good news is that if you're LADA then insulin will help and you'll probably be able to ease up (STOP???) the low carb and be fine. Alternatively, my understanding is that there are different strains of T2 and some of them progress to insulin whatever you do.

In your position, I'd go back to my doctor, show him your blood test results and your carb intake, and ask if you're LADA. If he doesn't know what that is, he should refer you to a specialist.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/type15-diabetes.html

Good luck, lots of virtual hugs.

 

[kitedoc]

Could you perhaps see another GP, with a graph or list of your readings, to indicate your concerns ? And whether he or she can solve the troubles you have; or whether, given your concern and his/her's, that a specialist opinion might help?
Also have you any contact with a diabetes nurse who could look at your readings and move things along.?
Presenting to A&E sounds like a desperate option but sometimes, if you are feeling unwell with these BSLs and have an unhelpful response outside of hospital - I guess that is a choice.

 

[Guzzler]

May I ask if there were any changes to your weight pre/post diagnosis?

 

[jessica1612]

Before diagnosis I lost about 3 stones in the space of 2 months. I have since lost another stone. I am no longer overweight. The doctor doesn't know anything about diet so when I go on about LCHF I get a blank from him!! I have never seen an nurse, I am told I can see one but not yet! I have changed doctors but its just the same at my new one. Good idea about the graphs., I usually take my readings in, but a graph would be easier to see the pattern. I will give it a try. Thank you.

 

[gemma_T1]

Before diagnosis I lost about 3 stones in the space of 2 months. I have since lost another stone. I am no longer overweight. The doctor doesn't know anything about diet so when I go on about LCHF I get a blank from him!! I have never seen an nurse, I am told I can see one but not yet! I have changed doctors but its just the same at my new one. Good idea about the graphs., I usually take my readings in, but a graph would be easier to see the pattern. I will give it a try. Thank you.

I agree with EllieM take him your blood results form self monitoring and your last few hba1c results so he can see he pattern withr a print out of what LADA means and insist on seeing a specialist. If your doctor still refuses then you can chose your first option which was to present in A & E... I think you have good reason to do this if your GP is not listening to you, he is putting your health at risk...
I could tell you of so many misdiagnosis in my family which had serious consequences... sometimes we just have to take things into our own hands when we constantly come up against a brick wall...
or you could change your GP again ... but this means continuous delays...
Is there not a nurse in your sugary who deals with diabetics that you could see by making an appointment with the receptionist without requesting to see the doctor first? Or is the process that the doctor refers you to the nurse?
I wish you well! And hope everything gets sorted as soon as possible.

I was myself diagnosed type one in A&E after a couple of months of GPs diagnosing laziness, ( I was always falling asleep and missing lectures) meningitis was another misdiagnosis, kidney problems as I was weeing all the time without investigating further.. another time I was told I had appendicitis, many many times I was told a was a hypochondriac. I was 18 at the time and far from home and it was a nightmare. I was quite relieved to be told I was diabetic and they had the proof in my blood tests. I was relieved I wouldn’t be collapsing in the streets, Boots the chemist or lecture halls anymore I was going to be “normal” again and I definitely had proof I wasn’t just making it all up for attention as one doctor told me when a fellow student called him to our halls of residence.

Good luck and do what you have to do to get the correct treatment for you. The doctor is not always right...

Big hug xx

 

[EllieM]

Before diagnosis I lost about 3 stones in the space of 2 months. I have since lost another stone. I am no longer overweight.

That's another indicator for insulin dependant diabetes (T1/ LADA).... (Though I know some T2s lose weight also.) Can you get some ketone urine testing strips? The most serious risk of going undiagnosed LADA is that you go into diabetic ketoacidosis, (not to be confused with just having a ketogenic diet). If you start having high blood sugars and high ketones you need to get to A&E fast.

 

[jessica1612]

Thank you everyone. It puts me at bit more at ease knowing the amount of help and support you guys offer. I am getting keto strips today so will test later. I am going to docs next week. I will go with graphs and LADA info!! You sound like you had a really bad time Gemma, hope you are now feeling much better.