Really need some advice please!!!!

daisy1

Legend
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Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
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Cruelty towards animals.
@MissMollii
Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and helpful.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 600,000 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.
 

kitedoc

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,783
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
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black jelly beans
Hi @MissMollii,
What a terrible time you have had!
As a diabetic and not as profeesional advice or opinion:
To me your high bsl readings and the migraines seem to be more important than chasing another Hba1c test
The option to call NHS 111 as others have advised and head to A&E is your default option particularly if you begin to feel stomach pain and nausea apart from your migraine episodes or if with migraine you are getting more and more severe headaches.
If you have a blood glucose monitor which will also read ketones strips ( i assume the chemist has the strips and will also know about the meter) then a finger prick blood ketone measure could be important.
Most educational material i have read says High bsls ( > 14 mmol/l) with ketones > say 3.5 mmol/l signal an urgent need to get to hospital
Getting an urgent appointment with a new GP might be tricky and being prepared to discuss your concerns with say the practice nurse, particularly mentioning high bsls, any ketones and the migraines all could help you to be seen earlier.
Migraine has many triggering factors and of course unless your headaches have been diagnosed before they might be something else.
Leave your disappointment and outrage about your now former, sacked GP for later.
He will keep.
 

MissMollii

Newbie
Messages
4
If I make a suggestion. Use the time before your next appointment to write down, without emotion, everything that you have been through. Keep reading it through until you are satisfied. Don't mention your GP

You may or may not be offered another HbA1c immediately. It may depend on when your last one was.

Download the mySugr app and use it to record your food and numbers.

A word of warning. Not all surgeries are behind low carb. If they push brown bread, rice etc, smile sweetly and come back here.

The main thing it to confirm diagnosis and make sure nothing else is going on

Obviously you are worried sick. When you talk to your doctor it's fine to come across as concerned. Try not to let your emotions take over in case you come across ..... Well you know what I mean.

Keep reading the forum and ask lots of questions.


Thankyou this is most helpful. I realise it wont look good on me to go in like a full on emotional wreck bashing another Gp's reputation.. so I will do exactly that and stick to my health issues and concerns, and hopefully this time I will find a Gp willing to listen and offer some advice. Thankyou
 
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EllieM

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Staff Member
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Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Insulin
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If you have a blood glucose monitor which will also read ketones strips ( i assume the chemist has the strips and will also know about the meter) then a finger prick blood ketone measure could be important.

I second this, as your potential rapid progression (boderline hba1c with high blood sugar readings) leaves T1 as a possibility, and that can be life threatening if accompanied by high ketones. It's not ideal, (blood tests would be better) but you should be able to buy ketone urine testing strips from the chemist. Use these and if high blood sugars are accompanied by high ketones then ring 111 with your results. (Though just to complicate matters if you go very low carb you can get ketones as a normal and safe result of diet :)).

Good luck. Once you have a real diagnosis things should get much easier.
 
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Marie 2

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,400
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Pump
Just a warning here. Low carb will help stop sugars from climbing, however if you are a type 1 your body can't even handle the smaller amounts of carbs, nor can it handle what your liver makes. Without eating and without insulin as a full blown type 1 my blood sugars can go up past the 17 mmol in 2-4 hours. I am not a low carber, it's just it is one of the easiest ways in this case without insulin to control your blood sugar until you can get the proper help, but if you are a type 1 it is not a solve, you have to have insulin.

"So the following day I became really unwell again with all the same symptoms..I was very faint, sweat was pouring off me, words were slurry, could barely stand, mouth dry and intense migraine..to the point I had to have my 6 year old speak on the phone to my eldest daughter because I was literally due to pass out. "

If you have these symptoms again that is very worrisome. I know you said you were going to look for another GP today, but if you didn't or can't get into one right away you might consider A&E again if these symptoms come back.