Newly diagnosed T2? Confused about everything !!

[Tygerx]

Hiya
Been ill for last 2 years with AI Pancreatitis, IgG4 related disease, kidney stones and generally feeling like rubbish. Went to GP 2 weeks ago with numbness in my left arm, from elbow down and all 4 fingers and extreme tiredness all the time. GP said possibly a vitamin deficiency, as I don't digest food well, and am on Creon. She did some blood tests, and rang me next day to come in urgently saying I had diabetes. I knew my pancreas doesn't work properly, so I was kind of expecting it really.
Saw nurse, and she basically said, "well, you're middle aged and overweight, it's type 2 diabetes" did a BG test which was 29, said, that's a bit high and sent me off with some Gliclazide, ( can't have Metformin apparently because of my kidneys)
Asked her if I had to test blood glucose levels, and was told that they didn't give out meters anymore, and as I was only T2, I just needed to lose some weight.
Left there feeling completely fobbed off, and confused. Have cut out sugar and carbs ( not that I ate that much anyway) and have felt terrible all over christmas, cold sweats, dizzyness, blurred vision and can't get an appointment with Nurse til next week. Found this forum while looking for information online, and can't help feeling that I may have been incorrectly diagnosed with T2 and its possibly more likely to be T3c?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Saw nurse, and she basically said, "well, you're middle aged and overweight, it's type 2 diabetes"

That is an ill informed assumption from your nurse. It has made me feel very cross indeed.

There is a sub-forum on here for those with Type 3c (pancreatic diabetes) that you may find interesting. I'm afraid I don't know a lot about it so can't comment. You can ask your questions about it on here https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/type-3c-pancreatic-diabetes.73/

Your nurse is right to say the NHS doesn't supply meters to those of us not on insulin or strong drugs, but Gliclazide is a strong drug that actively forces your pancreas to produce more insulin, which can result in low blood sugars (hypos). If you drive or operate machinery you should be given one, for the sake of the safety of yourself and others. Your diabetes type is irrelevant - it is the drugs you take that is relevant. You need to chase this up. Failing that, you need to buy your own. They are essential tools in combating this disease.

I am tagging @Daisy 1 for her intro post, which you may find very useful.

 

[Rachox]

Hi and welcome Tygerx. As I was reading your post I thought you were going to say you are Type 3c.
I would heed @bluetit’s advice about obtaining a meter, but you really shouldn’t have to fund it yourself whilst on Gliclazide. If I was in your position I’d try to get an urgent GP appt to discuss this all further and possibly ask for a referral to an Endo specialist.

 

[Tygerx]

Thanks for your replies!!
Was referred to Endo specialist over 6 months ago by my Gastro Consultant, and even after nagging GP to chase it up and phoning PALS at the hospital several times, I'm still waiting to be seen. Mind you, This is the same Hospital that told me for over a year I probably had Pancreatic Cancer, before deciding it was exocrine insufficiency and AI Pancreatitis.
Currently having a look online at BG meters, will definitely invest in one

 

[Rachox]

Thanks for your replies!!
Was referred to Endo specialist over 6 months ago by my Gastro Consultant, and even after nagging GP to chase it up and phoning PALS at the hospital several times, I'm still waiting to be seen. Mind you, This is the same Hospital that told me for over a year I probably had Pancreatic Cancer, before deciding it was exocrine insufficiency and AI Pancreatitis.
Currently having a look online at BG meters, will definitely invest in one

All the more reason to get an urgent GP appt in my opinion, your Endo referral is even more necessary now. I hope they all take this more seriously for you now.

 

[Boo1979]

Re BG meter and strips
When challenging medics, I always find it helps to show a GP / nurse exactly what NICE guideline they are breaching
1.6.13 (bullet point 3 )in the guidance below is explicit about prescribing strips & meters to anyone diagnosed with type 2 and on drugs such as Gliclazide
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/1-Recommendations#self-monitoring-of-blood-glucose

I also agree with the advice given by other members re diagnosis

 

[EllieM]

I'm struggling to understand how they can send someone home with a blood sugar of 29 and assume that gliclazide will make it all better with no need for testing or urgent follow up.... (A T1 with those figures would be in hospital being checked out for diabetic ketoacidosis. Hopefully she did a blood or urine test for ketones so as to rule this out.)

I agree with you and the others about the assumption of T2 being suspect. (It may well be true, but I suspect she just hasn't heard of other types of diabetes.)

Have cut out sugar and carbs ( not that I ate that much anyway) and have felt terrible all over christmas, cold sweats, dizzyness, blurred vision and can't get an appointment with Nurse til next week.

Did the nurse talk to you about the possibility of your blood sugar going too low (hypoglycaemia) because of the gliclazide? You need a blood testing meter because your current symptoms are consistent with both too high and too low blood sugar.

Good luck

 

[Tygerx]

Got myself a BG monitor, First reading yesterday 11.2 ( after no food ), went up to 13.1 after 1 slice Bergen bread toast. Before dinner it was 13.1 again, but went up to 22.5 2 hours after eating some grilled chicken and broccoli ?
Been logging everything I eat and drink to show nurse on monday.

Finally got appointment letter yesterday for Endo, but that's 3 months away...

 

[Pinkorchid]

You really do need to see the doctor not the nurse for a proper diagnosis. Low carb high fat is popular here but as you have digestive problems you will need to find out just what foods do suit you

 

[Daibell]

Hi. I agree with the other posts. It is essential for you to have a meter. From what you say your pancreas could be producing too much insulin (essentially T2) or too little (essentially T1) and really needs checking with a c-peptide test. The symptoms of blurred vision would typically result from very high blood sugar such as yours and keeping the carbs way down is one important step. The Gliclazide should help as well. Let's hope you get to see an endo who knows a lot about diabetes. Do get some Ketostix to check your ketones.

 

[Bluetit1802]

3 months is a long time to wait for the Endo, and as you were referred because of your gastric problems and not for diabetes, it could be worth pushing for a diabetes endo referral. Your nurse doesn't have a clue, so don't hold your breath for anything useful from her. You need a diabetes hospital specialist because of your pancreas issues. If I were you I would really push for this, but it is unlikely the nurse can help. It would require a GP.

 

[SOPHIE2006]

I'm struggling to understand how they can send someone home with a blood sugar of 29 and assume that gliclazide will make it all better with no need for testing or urgent follow up.... (A T1 with those figures would be in hospital being checked out for diabetic ketoacidosis. Hopefully she did a blood or urine test for ketones so as to rule this out.)

I agree with you and the others about the assumption of T2 being suspect. (It may well be true, but I suspect she just hasn't heard of other types of diabetes.)


Did the nurse talk to you about the possibility of your blood sugar going too low (hypoglycaemia) because of the gliclazide? You need a blood testing meter because your current symptoms are consistent with both too high and too low blood sugar.

Good luck

Sure when I was first diagnosed. I was in hospital and they sent me home with a blood sugar of 21 and tablets but 3 days later I was back in hospital with DKA( diabetic ketoacidosis) seriously ill, in hospital for nearly a week and the diabetic specialist said I was more than likely type 1 even though I presented with type 2 symptoms. On discharge from hospital I was given a blood glucose metre and told to test daily. I was also given Metformin tablets to take 2 a day and to inject insulin once at night. At my most recent appointment I was told I was type 2 which made me even more confused. Ps: sorry for the rant.

 

[timgil]

That is an ill informed assumption from your nurse. It has made me feel very cross indeed.

There is a sub-forum on here for those with Type 3c (pancreatic diabetes) that you may find interesting. I'm afraid I don't know a lot about it so can't comment. You can ask your questions about it on here https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/type-3c-pancreatic-diabetes.73/

Your nurse is right to say the NHS doesn't supply meters to those of us not on insulin or strong drugs, but Gliclazide is a strong drug that actively forces your pancreas to produce more insulin, which can result in low blood sugars (hypos). If you drive or operate machinery you should be given one, for the sake of the safety of yourself and others. Your diabetes type is irrelevant - it is the drugs you take that is relevant. You need to chase this up. Failing that, you need to buy your own. They are essential tools in combating this disease.

I am tagging @Daisy 1 for her intro post, which you may find very useful.

Slightly late to this discussion but I want to assure with this. New here and to diabetes, but what my DSN said sounds about right to me. She gave me a new meter even though I had my own saying she wants me to have this one as she can only get strips on prescription for me if I use the meter they recommend. When I expressed surprise about being able to get strips on prescription with type 2 she said I can get them on prescription of she says I need them. She said that as I was on glimepiride and it had a similar effect to being on insulin I needed to check my blood as I could be at risk of hypos.

As had been said many times it seems that a lot of it is still a postcode lottery or maybe attitudes of the DSN, but I works recommend anyone on any drugs like glimepiride to request meters and strips saying that they are at risk of hypos without being able to test.

Lastly, to the op, welcome to this great forum. I am sure your will find it helpful and friendly.