This has been on my mind for a bit, one reason how I got to these forums as I've been looking for other people's experiences. Mainly how the conversation crops up about moving onto Insulin, do people have to ask or do GP Practices usually get it right based on results?
Initially I was on Gliclazide, full dose of 4 a day and through careful carb intake changes I got it down to one a day with minimal effect. I even came off tablets completely with GP supervision but after a couple of days BG started to rise again. Cycling was hard work but I could easily do 20 miles off road with only a few fuel stops.
At the beginning of last year something odd was happening. I started having problems with cycling where I'd be fine for around 5 miles and then hit a wall of zero energy. I wasn't out of breath or struggling in the usual fitness way - it was just that my legs wouldn't give anymore. I could chuck down glucose tablets or energy gels and it was still like peddling through treacle.
I mentioned it at a GP checkup, A1C had been fine so it was suggested to either skip the Gliclazide if exercising and test lots during the ride, Tried a few outings with a test every mile, I was getting a big BG drop after about 20 minutes (dropped from an 8.5 start to 5.4 in that time), early snacks sorted that, I did notice that later in the ride I was getting levels stuck around 7 and not going up or down much. Without gliclazide was pretty much the same.
Just after this, my next few A1C crept up to 6 and a bit and then just over 7 with pretty much no change in diet. Metformin was prescribed and A1C came down but the lack of energy when doing strenuous exercise pretty much persisted all last year. Along with added bloatedness and general digestive discomfort that was annoying but tolerable.
I'm due my next A1C in a few weeks, I've been keeping ticking over on the bike but no long epic rides over winter, but it's getting lighter on an evening and I have a job I can commute to by bike so I could do with sorting the energy problems.
BG response feels and measures slower, I've had 35g of oats for breakfast pretty much every day since 2011, love the stuff. I could predict in the first few years than 2 hours after I'd be getting close to 6 if I tested. It's been creeping up to 7 or 8 three or four hours later now. Other meals the same, a few weeks back a 30g of carbs wrap at 6pm and FBG at 5am the next morning was 8.5.
Just to surprise me the same meal situation a few weeks later and FBG is 4.8 so it's not consistent.
The random blood results and lack of energy cycling are making me wonder about Insulin and whether it's time. Yes, I've had a few more colds this year but the last one I had fairly low readings during the sniffles. I've not had drastically high levels but I'm already receiving injections for Macular Oedema so would prefer not to get regular double figures. I'm OK with eating and drinking during cycling, the first few years were spent learning what to eat to avoid hypos so I'm pretty sure it's not my exercise diet.
There's a family history of adult onset diabetes, my dad has been insulin dependant for 15 years now and is also an active cyclist in his 70s. I've never bothered with Type but we do seem to have the **** pancreas gene
I certainly feel diabetic at the moment, tired and lethargic. Part of me is hoping the next A1C is high as it may make the conversation easier to initiate, I'm also wondering if I missed something - although I did try going back to basics on diet to make sure I'd not justified some stupid diet change in my head.
Initially I was on Gliclazide, full dose of 4 a day and through careful carb intake changes I got it down to one a day with minimal effect. I even came off tablets completely with GP supervision but after a couple of days BG started to rise again. Cycling was hard work but I could easily do 20 miles off road with only a few fuel stops.
At the beginning of last year something odd was happening. I started having problems with cycling where I'd be fine for around 5 miles and then hit a wall of zero energy. I wasn't out of breath or struggling in the usual fitness way - it was just that my legs wouldn't give anymore. I could chuck down glucose tablets or energy gels and it was still like peddling through treacle.
I mentioned it at a GP checkup, A1C had been fine so it was suggested to either skip the Gliclazide if exercising and test lots during the ride, Tried a few outings with a test every mile, I was getting a big BG drop after about 20 minutes (dropped from an 8.5 start to 5.4 in that time), early snacks sorted that, I did notice that later in the ride I was getting levels stuck around 7 and not going up or down much. Without gliclazide was pretty much the same.
Just after this, my next few A1C crept up to 6 and a bit and then just over 7 with pretty much no change in diet. Metformin was prescribed and A1C came down but the lack of energy when doing strenuous exercise pretty much persisted all last year. Along with added bloatedness and general digestive discomfort that was annoying but tolerable.
I'm due my next A1C in a few weeks, I've been keeping ticking over on the bike but no long epic rides over winter, but it's getting lighter on an evening and I have a job I can commute to by bike so I could do with sorting the energy problems.
BG response feels and measures slower, I've had 35g of oats for breakfast pretty much every day since 2011, love the stuff. I could predict in the first few years than 2 hours after I'd be getting close to 6 if I tested. It's been creeping up to 7 or 8 three or four hours later now. Other meals the same, a few weeks back a 30g of carbs wrap at 6pm and FBG at 5am the next morning was 8.5.
Just to surprise me the same meal situation a few weeks later and FBG is 4.8 so it's not consistent.
The random blood results and lack of energy cycling are making me wonder about Insulin and whether it's time. Yes, I've had a few more colds this year but the last one I had fairly low readings during the sniffles. I've not had drastically high levels but I'm already receiving injections for Macular Oedema so would prefer not to get regular double figures. I'm OK with eating and drinking during cycling, the first few years were spent learning what to eat to avoid hypos so I'm pretty sure it's not my exercise diet.
There's a family history of adult onset diabetes, my dad has been insulin dependant for 15 years now and is also an active cyclist in his 70s. I've never bothered with Type but we do seem to have the **** pancreas gene
I certainly feel diabetic at the moment, tired and lethargic. Part of me is hoping the next A1C is high as it may make the conversation easier to initiate, I'm also wondering if I missed something - although I did try going back to basics on diet to make sure I'd not justified some stupid diet change in my head.
