Confused / In Denial ?

[Spudcan]

Hi everyone.

Been lurking for a couple of weeks, learnt so much from this great site / forum. Thanks !

In mid December I returned a "Borderline" Fasting Test so was sent for a OGTT for which I had normal (ish) fasting level (6.4 I think) but had a 2 hour BG of 12.4 and have therefore duly been diagnosed as Type 2. Had my first meeting with the DN yesterday, was informed my HbA1c is 43 which is really good as I understand. The thing is.... obviously the time span covered by the HbA1c is when I was undiagnosed and eating any old rubbish, and yet it has come back with a near normal reading ? I've also been self monitoring for the last 3 days, with all pre-meals between 4 to 5 and 2 hour post-meals between 7 to 8. I asked the DN which was the definitive test; she said it was the OGTT and therefore I am deffo Type 2.

I've made a few initial lifestyle changes straight away, cutting out sugar heavy food and drink, cutting down carbs, and have started getting some exercise. I'm not massively overweight maybe need to lose a stone and a half, I'm 45. I do have some symptoms though, been feeling VERY tired, dry mouth, aches, occasional bouts of excessive urination.

I'm off work at the moment because of this diagnosis, so have had a lot of time to ponder everything thats happened, and I cant get away from questioning in light of these near normal results "Am I really Diabetic" ? Or on the other hand in light of the OGTT result am I in denial ?

I dont know anyone else with Diabetes that I could mention this to, (got a DESMOND pending) so was hoping to get some opinion from the Forum.

Thanks.

Bob

 

[Unbeliever]

You may have impaired glucose tolerance but it has not hadt ime to do much damage hence your good HBA1C. With your lifestyle changes
you could maintain non-diabetic figures and never need further treatment.
I certainly wouldn't say you were in denial - anyone would question the situation . I a sure that much more kowledgeable people than I will be along to help .shortly . Misdiabgmosis does happen and although your symtoms do sugges diabetes there may well be other condiions which mimic it .
If you continue to have doubts you should ask to see a diabetes specialist. Its possible you may be diabetic but not T2.

 

[Joe Sweatthang]

Hi Spudcan. I was diagnosed as glucose intolerant about 4-5 years ago and type2 a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what my HbA1c result is. I didn't know enough about type 2 to ask and I wasn't told. Seems like you need to do your own research to fully understand what is going on. As a consequence of your post, I have looked up what HbA1c values mean and have place a call to my DN to find out what my values are. Your post has been helpful. For the past 4-5 years I knew I was sugar intolerant but didn't know it was something that I needed to address as a matter of urgency as I never had any GP followup. I continued life as though it was business as usual. Big mistake.

 

[carraway]

Hi Bob
Welcome
I would say your post meal results of 7 or 8 when combined with the OTT and having symptoms would indicated diabetes.

But impaired glucose tolerance is a possibility. Take a look at this link
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/impaired-glucose-tolerance

Either way the treatment is the same if using diet and exercise
So concentrate on that for now and see if you can improve your results.

Ask any questions you want, we are a friendly bunch, mostly

Cara

 

[Lazybones]

Hi and welcome to the diabetes forum.
Your recent OGTT has shown that your metabolism in dealing with Glucose isn't too good, hence the hight reading after the 2 hour period, and the diagnosis that you have Type 2 diabetes.
You have already found out that by a simple change in diet combined with exercise changes in your short term blood glucose levels are such that they are close to those of someone who isn't classified as being diabetic.
I'm sorry to say this, for it might not be what you would like to hear, but having now crossed the diabetic threshold and been confirmed as diabetic this will be with you from now on. I know of no-one who has been confirmed as diabetic who has successfully lost their diabetes and is no longer diabetic, though many like yourself are able to acheive remarkable results in bringing their B/G and HbA1c levels down to 'Normal' non-diabetic levels.
Please don't despair over this issue and keep doing what you are in controling your B/G levels as doing so will avoid many of the complications that diabetes can bring if it's left to run uncontrolled.

 

[sugartoohigh]

Its only normal to question the results when you get them, I know I did. But changing your life style to something more healthy isn't going to hurt you. But if the results are correct and you are type 2 ignoring it could lead to problems. I suspect I may have had type two for years and it maybe too late to avoid all long term damage.You've a chance to control it. If I was as lucky as you I'd stick to the new life style and look for more hard data from your diabetes team /doctor. Don't be shy about pushing them into action either. Some need it.

 

[Spudcan]

Thanks to everyone for your responses, really great to have opinions from others who understand this condition. Reading through other members situations throughout the forums I now appreciate that I am very lucky to have had it diagnosed relatively early, and have so much opportunity to hopefully avoid the serious health implications that we can suffer.
It's been such a steep learning curve since diagnosis, and to be honest I've found it pretty daunting, my initial blood test was taken as part of another medical issue, so it's all come as a bit of a shock, I guess I now have to face up to it, and everything this entails. Onwards and upwards.

Cheers.

Bob

 

[snowballnc700]

I had a glucose tolerance test to prove my diagnosis and have been type 2 for 4 months, the good news is that with a good understanding of whats occuring with your body and discipline with diet it, s manageable without massive changes to your life style, check out the low carb forum and sort out a test meter and strips and you can have it under control in 3 months.Good luck , Dave.

 

[Janz234567]

The diabetic nurse I have been seeing at my health centre told me last week that since the beginning of January 2014 the guide lines on diagnosis have changed and that they are not going to rely on glucose intolerance tests any longer, and that the hba1c test is the "gold standard" test that they will be using to diagnose in the future.

 

[EllisB]

With those results on your OGTT you are diabetic, but only just over the threshold of diagnosis (OGTT & HbA1c lower than I was when I was diagnosed). Without becoming underweight, you would be well advised to trim down and increase your exercise - get out on that bike as much as you can.

Most GPs use a conversion chart for HbA1c because the units changed in 2011. The chart my GP uses goes down to 37 mmol/mol, below that is near as **** it normal . That may well be achievable for you. You probably don't need to low carb, but all carbs are not created equal. Read up on glycaemic index.

One caveat: there are moves afoot to change the food pyramid, swapping starchy carbohydrates (currently at the bottom, widest part) and fresh fruit and vegetables. That will put less emphasis on starchy carbs, which is better for diabetics.

 

[Spudcan]

Thanks again for your responses. Ellis and Dave, looking at your postings on other threads I take great encouragement in what can be achieved, results like yours are what I'm now aiming for. Feeling so much better both physically and mentally after only two weeks or so, roll on March and my first "Managed" HbA1c.

Ta.

Bob

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I'm off work at the moment because of this diagnosis, so have had a lot of time to ponder everything thats happened, and I cant get away from questioning in light of these near normal results "Am I really Diabetic" ? Or on the other hand in light of the OGTT result am I in denial ?

Isn't it great when you have two questions but the answer to both of them is the same. It takes so much confusion out of life.

"Near" normal results and an OGTT result. Follow the type 2 advice on this forum. Even if you deny diabetes you will feel better and not make it any worse.

 

[pyotrr]

Like the OP I was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes just before Christmas. Great!

Also like the OP I was in denial! I could not be diabetic could I? I didn't have any symptoms except a little tiredness which I put down to work.

I was diagnosed as diabetic as a result of a glucose tolerance test of 12.0.

I had actually visited the Doc. on another matter but he noticed that my fasting blood sugar levels were a little high at 6.9 and then 7.2 after 2 separate blood tests.
I was given relatively little information by the nurse at the follow up clinic except for a badly photostated leaflet on diet advice that was thrust into my hand!

Thanks to this site and links advised, I have been following a lchf diet.

My AC1 whatever it is called, came back at 42 and that was when I was on my old diet. My eye test came back with no reported damage. I have tested with a home kit - Accu check - and my figures appear normal.

I have lost 14ibs in weight since Christmas thanks to my lchf diet and walking although I wasn't grossly overweight to start with.

I have just eaten a dinner of chicken, pork, broccolli smothered in real butter, a few glasses of wine! And as my first treat 5 plain biscuits. When I tested with my Accu check less than an hour later my reading was 6.2.

Any comments?

 

[spaceman]

Like the OP I was also diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes just before Christmas. Great!

Also like the OP I was in denial! I could not be diabetic could I? I didn't have any symptoms except a little tiredness which I put down to work.

I was diagnosed as diabetic as a result of a glucose tolerance test of 12.0.

I had actually visited the Doc. on another matter but he noticed that my fasting blood sugar levels were a little high at 6.9 and then 7.2 after 2 separate blood tests.
I was given relatively little information by the nurse at the follow up clinic except for a badly photostated leaflet on diet advice that was thrust into my hand!

Thanks to this site and links advised, I have been following a lchf diet.

My AC1 whatever it is called, came back at 42 and that was when I was on my old diet. My eye test came back with no reported damage. I have tested with a home kit - Accu check - and my figures appear normal.

I have lost 14ibs in weight since Christmas thanks to my lchf diet and walking although I wasn't grossly overweight to start with.

I have just eaten a dinner of chicken, pork, broccolli smothered in real butter, a few glasses of wine! And as my first treat 5 plain biscuits. When I tested with my Accu check less than an hour later my reading was 6.2.

Any comments?

im a type 1 i honestly had a pork chop with tomato and cucumber for my xmas dinner.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I have just eaten a dinner of chicken, pork, broccolli smothered in real butter, a few glasses of wine! And as my first treat 5 plain biscuits. When I tested with my Accu check less than an hour later my reading was 6.2.

Any comments?

I'm feeling hungry now. But seriously it looks as if you have been identified early which gives you a great opportunity to eat the right things and do the exercise and hopefully your numbers will never worsen.

Your 2 hour readings are great. Never forget those fasting readings and the OGTT. Something is not quite right.