Not Doing Too Well

Fencer

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Tomatoes. Mayo.
Very brief background - I was diagnosed in 2011 with T2 and quickly changed into a healthier lifestyle. I was removed from all medication and I was managing my condition with diet and exercise.

I then stopped exercising quite as much, and although I kept eating a lot more veg and home-cooked meals some naughty foods crept into my diet. I put on a bit of weight again. So I was still trying to keep a healthier lifestyle, but things were certainly slipping.

In my appointment in November last year, the nurse said to me that my HbA1c had gone up slightly (54, compared to an average of 40). She said that she would leave things as they were, but would see me slightly sooner than usual.

Over the past few weeks I was suddenly feeling very thirsty, so called the doc on Friday and popped in for an appointment. He tested my blood and found me at 21 mmol/l. I have also lost about 7kg since the start of the year without putting in that much effort, but I put it down to Christmas food no longer being around, going for a run once per week and walking a lot more. The doctor prescribed 500mg Metformin and 1mg Glimepiride daily, which I started taking on Saturday. He got a meter to me and test strips.

Today I'm feeling very tired and lethargic. My readings since starting to test have been around 20. 17.7 this morning is the lowest so far.

The practice nurse just called me and based on this information, she's getting the doc to give me a call shortly. She was surprised that the Glimepiride has not done much and mentioned the possibility of increasing the dose, but the doc would decide. She also mentioned that I may have developed T1 Diabetes. Really?! I didn't realise that was a possibility.

I thought that my increased HnA1c in November was the sign of things turning and just because of my less frequent exercise and less stringent diet, but she said that the increase then was not that extreme as to be seeing this just now.

Quite scared. I am at work at the moment. My wife's going away for a couple of nights for work, so I'll be heading home to an empty house.
 
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kitedoc

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Messages
4,783
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
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black jelly beans
Hi @Fencer, I would suggest you head right back to that GP asap and ask him, "could it be LADA'?. Also discuss this with your nurse. And ask about how to measure ketones and why this might be important.
If you go to the Home page and type 'LADA' into the question box Right upper corner, it will explain what it is and why it is important.
Just a diagram below which will make more sense once you have had time to chat to the nurse.
Please do not delay. Best Wishes
IMG_4108.jpg
 

Fencer

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Tomatoes. Mayo.
Sorry, I missed out in my original post, they asked me to measure ketones if it was above 17. My keytones have been 0.1 or 0.2. Not heard of LADA before, will take a look. Still waiting on the doc calling.
 
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Ronnie_dog

Well-Known Member
Messages
47
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Very brief background - I was diagnosed in 2011 with T2 and quickly changed into a healthier lifestyle. I was removed from all medication and I was managing my condition with diet and exercise.

I then stopped exercising quite as much, and although I kept eating a lot more veg and home-cooked meals some naughty foods crept into my diet. I put on a bit of weight again. So I was still trying to keep a healthier lifestyle, but things were certainly slipping.

In my appointment in November last year, the nurse said to me that my HbA1c had gone up slightly (54, compared to an average of 40). She said that she would leave things as they were, but would see me slightly sooner than usual.

Over the past few weeks I was suddenly feeling very thirsty, so called the doc on Friday and popped in for an appointment. He tested my blood and found me at 21 mmol/l. I have also lost about 7kg since the start of the year without putting in that much effort, but I put it down to Christmas food no longer being around, going for a run once per week and walking a lot more. The doctor prescribed 500mg Metformin and 1mg Glimepiride daily, which I started taking on Saturday. He got a meter to me and test strips.

Today I'm feeling very tired and lethargic. My readings since starting to test have been around 20. 17.7 this morning is the lowest so far.

The practice nurse just called me and based on this information, she's getting the doc to give me a call shortly. She was surprised that the Glimepiride has not done much and mentioned the possibility of increasing the dose, but the doc would decide. She also mentioned that I may have developed T1 Diabetes. Really?! I didn't realise that was a possibility.

I thought that my increased HnA1c in November was the sign of things turning and just because of my less frequent exercise and less stringent diet, but she said that the increase then was not that extreme as to be seeing this just now.

Quite scared. I am at work at the moment. My wife's going away for a couple of nights for work, so I'll be heading home to an empty house.

Hi there,
I had similar issues. Diabetes came with a vengeance! May I suggest a fasting INSULIN test. Not fasting glucose. This will determine how much insulin you’re producing. For me it was next to zero and therefore anything I was trying and any meds they gave me were NOT EVER going to work. I accepted the need to start insulin. Please let us know how you get on.
 
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bulkbiker

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Messages
19,576
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi there,
I had similar issues. Diabetes came with a vengeance! May I suggest a fasting INSULIN test. Not fasting glucose. This will determine how much insulin you’re producing. For me it was next to zero and therefore anything I was trying and any meds they gave me were NOT EVER going to work. I accepted the need to start insulin. Please let us know how you get on.
In that case could I suggest you update your profile to mention Lada or T1.. as on my screen you are still identified as T2..
 
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Ronnie_dog

Well-Known Member
Messages
47
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
In that case could I suggest you update your profile to mention Lada or T1.. as on my screen you are still identified as T2..

I have been referred to two endocrinologists. Whilst they both say I’m not a typical T2, neither was prepared to say I was anything other than a T2.
I had gestational diabetes with my first child, but not my second. They simply say I’m unlucky.
In some ways I would like to identify as a different type of diabetic but I’ve given up trying. I am ‘content’ to be on the correct medication - down to my own efforts over several years.
I know you are a person who has done his own homework (my own efforts also lead me to Jason Fung, among many others) so I hear your confusion ..... and believe me, I share that confusion.
 

Fencer

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217
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Tomatoes. Mayo.
Feeling a little better, so back to work today. Still a little groggy and although blood sugars have improved, they are still high at around the 15-20 mark. They upped my Glimepiride from 1mg to 2mg per day and after 1 week my Metformin goes from 500mg to 1000mg, then to 1500mg after another week.
 

Fencer

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217
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Tomatoes. Mayo.
I've got my review since this wobble and I must say, things have improved a lot. I've taken a look at my results on mydiabetesmyway and it my hba1c is back down to 46.0 rather than 91 when I created this thread.
 

NicoleC1971

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3,451
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
I've got my review since this wobble and I must say, things have improved a lot. I've taken a look at my results on mydiabetesmyway and it my hba1c is back down to 46.0 rather than 91 when I created this thread.
Fencer - that's great as high bgs are very unpleasant. Have you been able to reduce the meds at all? Could be that the blip was a stressful event and/or low key virus causing additional insulin resistance. Either way I'd point out that you did feel better when exercising and eating a good diet....
 
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