Newly diagnosed with type 2

[RichardNY]

Hello all,

My name is Richard I was diagnosed roughly two weeks ago (type 2) and this past Thursday had my meeting with my diabetes specialist to be given the diabetes info pack and basically be shown what all the figures etc. mean. What to control what to do and the best way to go about it. This site was one of two recommended by the GP that is the diabetic specialist at the medical centre I attend. I've had a few days to take everything in and about how much of an impact and change in lifestyle is required although the changes started two weeks ago now.

During my talk first with the nurse then the GP I didn't really appreciate the fact that so many people go undiagnosed for so long. I was expecting my GP to deny the fact that I think my diabetic symptoms or 'journey' began back in 2001/2002 (stupidly I just carried on without making any adjustments ). I have had a number of blood tests between that time and now seemingly falling into a grey area. Since 'perhaps' a few months ago I have been experiencing pins and needles in the legs and sometimes in the hands. About nearly a month ago this basically became a 24/7 symptom (always the legs very occasionaly the hands), which I now understand to be peripheral neuropathy. I have been given metformin (500mg pm meal) to hopefully help and also have increased my activity and more or less jumped straight into an extremely healthy diet. I have a few other health issues that I think have helped masked the diabetes namely spinal problems particularly cervical issues that also present with numbness and tingling in the extremities.

I understand from my GP that my readings and my hba1c test was not too bad 6.2 (44) and I have in the last couple of weeks managed to get my reading down further from the one taken two weeks ago just by increasing activity and restricting diet (although my activity levels are somewhat restricted). I have also noticed the tiredness and fatigue diminishing as I have started to use things such as fibre/pasta/bread(Wholemeal) and rice(Basmati/Brown) and space my meals at regular intervals.

One thing that I am a little confused and concerned over is how peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease are linked or in some articles I have read are actually taken to mean the same thing. As I understand it peripheral neuropathy refers to the nerves that can affect a change on circulation (this doesn't mean the vessels are damaged) just the nerve action on opening and closing the vessels ? Peripheral arterial disease is actually referring to plaque build up or hardening of the vessels themselves (this can be a main vessel (artery) or a peripheral vessel) ? I hope someone can shed a little light on this before I get the chance to pose the question to my GP.

I guess what I am really trying to ask is that if you have peripheral neuropathy does that mean you have peripheral artery disease ? I apologise for the long winded background and question but its something that's been on my mind as I come to grips with what to do, the best course of action and what things to be aware of.

All I can liken diabetes to at the moment is ... I guess like having children because your lifestyle completely changes overnight. One day your a couple doing your own thing hardly any restrictions the next you have something to care about 24/7 that imposes certain restrictions and changes your quality of life by demanding more time and effort from you. With children there is of course the joy in seeing them develop; it's just odd that the joy of diabetes I guess is not seeing it develop

Ooops nearly forgot ! Is it worth buying a meter and the strips to monitor my blood sugar or is that not really needed at the moment ?

Anyway enough ramblings from me enjoy what's left of the weekend and a great week to all

 

[cugila]

Here is a link to the UK based Neuropathy Trust website with much information avalable.
http://neurocentre.com/community/?p=16

Here is a link to a US site explaining PAD.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Dis ... _what.html

They are two separate conditions.

What numbers are you using as 44 doesn't seem to convert to your stated HbA1c figure ? Do you have the conversion formula you are using ?

As for your 'healthy diet ? '. Most of the things you mention are non starters for a lot of us as they tend to elevate Bg levels dramatically. Hope it is the correct diet for YOU. This is why you need to get a Bg meter and strips ASAP. then you can tell by keeping a food diary of what you eat just what certain foods do to your Bg levels throughout the day. In the first instance you need to check on waking, before meals and then 1 and 2 hrs after meals. Do this for a couple of weeks and see what the numbers are ? Let us know and we can then better advise you.

Ken.

 

[salsasue]

Hi Richard! My name is Sue and I was diagnosed and registered as type 2 diabetic start of May this year. Similar to yourself, was given the pack and standard info (kind of overwhelming at first, have to admit!) at my local health centre and saw the diabetic nurse who was, fortunately very helpful and informative as to questions and queries I had. It's interesting you mention about prior symptoms as come to think about it now, had 'warnings' since probably November last year.
However, from the minute of diagnosis and realization, changed the mindset completely and needed a definite change of lifestyle and it's great that you, too, have begun on the 'diabetics' journey' within your own health guidelines. While there are some restrictions pertaining to spinal problems, I'm sure that you will be able to gain information on certain exercises you would be able to do, perhaps your diabetic specialist would be able to help you with information relating to this too and suggest possibilities too.

I'm sorry that I can't help with your specific query regardng peripheral neuropathy but I'm sure there are others here who will post and reply to you and hopefully be able to help further with this particular issue.

However, I can confirm that if you can get a test meter, some strips and lancets and use them to test, test, test with your different meals, I'm this will be of definite help for you I'm sure as has been for myself. You can find information on testing blood sugar levels and what's the 'norm' (acceptable levels before/after eating), generally within the advice section 'Ask the Experts' and by all means, please feel free to 'hunt' around and read the posts by various forum members, all supportive, friendly and helpful people! Ideas for meals can also be found within the food forum section so if you feel a little stuck for inspiration, there's some good - and healthy - things within this part of the board, too!

Hope this will be of some encouragement: Currently lost just over 2 and a half stone since starting and my hba1c (10.3 at start! Eek! :shock: ) is now down to just over 5 plus blood pressure down considerably. Love walking (though dependent on current weird weather changes :roll: !), great where I live as many uphill footpaths and roads which helps but if rainy and horrible, can get out to aerobics or dance classes which I specially love! Feel healthier and fitter than any time in the last few years and people say I'm 'looking well' these days which I guess means that I must be doing SOMETHING right?!!! :wink: Hoping above doesn't sound like bragging (well, maybe it is, just a bit! ) but know everything can hit a bit hard and fast at the start including the amount of info you receive so if this even provides a little bit of hope and encouragement, all the very best on your personal journey! I think a part of the 'key' can be a variation of food including a willingness to try other things you may not have eat before?; rye bread, blueberries and quorn being amongst my new 'tries' and likes!

anyways, sorry to ramble!, but take care and wish you much success!,

kind regards, Salsasue

 

[Spiral]

I am not medically qualified, but do have some professional knowledge of what happens to people who have complex medical conditions, you sound complex. As well as being T2 myself I work with people with disabling long term conditions.

People with more than one problem sometimes get a very poor service because they do not fall within one persons speciality and symptoms may be misinterpreted. Especially when you are looking at diabetes, it can affect so many systems in your body.

The numbers you are talking about in your post I would consider unacceptable (mine were higher at my last HbA1c and I'm working to get them down). However, from reading your post, what I know of the symptoms you describe is that if they were related to diabetes, you would have been running very high numbers for quite some time, probably longer than the time period you describe. But, as I say, I'm not medically qualified.

From my reading and understanding, peripheral neuropathy tends to affect feet rather than hands, especially in the earlier stages of this complication. You are also talking about legs not feet... It is uncommon for hands to be affected early. However, if you have those problems with your cervical spine you may well be getting symptoms in your hands.

I have some foot symptoms which may or may not be down to my diabetes. It is possible that some of them may be related to compression of nerves (due to an accident to my foot) rather than neuropathy. My podiatrist couldn't tell and suggested that I needed a specialist referral to investigate further. If you have not seen a podiatrist I'd suggest that would be a good investment in your health - diabetic foot care is important.

In my opinion, you need a specialist neurological or orthopaedic evaulation rather than a general one, depending on the origin of the problems you have. There may be medical assessments and treatments that could help you, depending on the nature of the problems you have. The problem with a long term chronic condition like diabetes is often down to its very negative publicity rather than the origins of your actual symptoms. The publicity says it is your fault you have it because you have overeaten, not taken enough exercise and generally not looked after yourself - I don't buy in to this model. Once you are diagnosed every symptom you have might well be put down to it :?

Be persistent and ask for a referral to a specialist.

And yes, get a meter. You don't need to spend money on a meter - I got mine for free from Roche customer services who send things to you first class mail.

 

[hanadr]

Hi Richard
I am impressed with any GP who puts patients on to us. That sounds very enlightened. Often they don't like us.
We are pretty much all diabetics on here, with some parents of diabetic children, so we write from experience and not just books.
I have double experience; 38 years married to a T1 and 6 years diagnosed T2 myself.
As Ken wrote, your description of a healthy diet wouldn't suit me
I don't eat bread, potatoes, pasta, rice or cereals. Certainly NO cakes or biscuits.
I control my blood sugar mostly by what I eat. Meat. fish, eggs, cheese and green eggies or salads, with a few berries and nuts for snacks.
I couldn't manage without my blood sugar meter. My PCT doesn't allow test strips to T2 diabetics, so I buy my own. I aim for blood sugar below 6 at all times. Naturally, being human, I sometimes miss, but not often.
You'll find a LOT of info on this site, read through.
Your question about neuropathy. After exposure to high blood glucose for a time, the nerves get damaged. The best known neuropathy is loss of senstation in the feet and, less often, hands, but stomach empying can be affected too.
I am curious about your GP. Are you sure you were pointed towards Diabetes.co.uk, rather than Diabetes Uk? they are different. DUK can be helpful, but we often find they "toe the party line "too much.

 

[RichardNY]

Hi again,

Thanks for the very fast responses I just got back from a long walk (well long for me 3.2 miles) and just checked per chance there was a response. Thanks for the links they have cleared my confusion up somewhat which is always good. I seem to be generating more questions at the moment the more I try to get the right balance which I am sure is something that your all familiar with. The neuropathy really did just start in the feet (I should have made that a lot clearer!) mainly pins and needles which are still there but there is also numbness and cramping in the legs (the pins and needles spreads from the feet to front and back of the lower leg). The muscle cramping has only really come to light in trying to up my activity level while not provoking cervical and spine issues so that's something I think I will have to address as a separate issue from the diabetes.

I did wonder about the diet as some of the foods seem to be of the type I thought I wasn't meant to eat but my GP didn't really fault or question my diet changes at all but having said that she said more comprehensive coverage of that would take place when I saw the dietician. Currently am eating fruit and fibre (or weetabix no sugar) in the morning, lunch is usually veg (carrots, brocolli, green beans, asparagus, colli, potatoes) sometimes pasta chilli pepper parcels (no sauce), tea has been salmon accompanied by veg or chicken (boiled with garlic and a little lemon juice) with Saturdays being treat day and having loin pork again with veg) but mainly fish (salmon,mackerel,tuna) with various veggies. I was actually told to try and get some fruit in between meals too, which again I thought was just adding unnecessary 'fuel' that I didn't need but again I guess this will become clearer when I see the dietician. Its funny but thinking back, after the first week I dropped the rice and cut back on the pasta as I did feel a bit 'funny' a while after eating it ... I think I need to do a bit of searching in the food forums as suggested

As far as the meter goes ... nothing was mentioned in my meeting with the diabetic specialist so I guess I'll just have to take the initiative and get one but that then raises the question of what should I be aiming for? (More forum hunting and questions )At the meeting I was told that the reading wasn't that bad and that the numbers were heading in the right direction. I just assumed I wasn't 'diabetic enough' to require the use of a meter and generally things were okay(ish). The GP seemed more concerned in upping activity levels and checking in a weeks time how the metformin was helping. As far as what 6.2 and 44 mean I just know them at the moment as two numbers written on a piece of paper with 6.2 being the HbA1c and 44 some sort of equivalent (or conversion that apparently is just starting to be used) no formulae was given.

Hehehe at this rate am going to have to borrow my kids laptop and take it in to see the GP so I can ask all the questions I need to ask and also to record the replies. I can fully appreciate how diabetes can be a catch all for people that suffer from other conditions and hear what you say. For now am just going to have top be patient and wait until I see the dietician and get the follow up call for the metformin (as well as get a meter and strips) do a few weeks of testing then book an appointment and go 'armed' with some information and recordings. At the very least it will prove am not going to be a passive patient ... and we'll see how things progress from there.

I'd just like to thank you all for your replies, advice and encouragement, and wish you all the best

Richard.

 

[RichardNY]

Hi Hanadr,

Diabetes UK is the main one that the GP's mention but I can tell you that this one was definately mentioned as well as Diabetes UK and a definate distinction was made. If you like Diabetes UK was mentioned as the 'official' one and this was hinted at as having an open 'user' forum. (the distinction in address was pointed out too) so there was no mistake

All the best Richard.

 

[cugila]

Hi Richard.

The guideline numbers for a T2 are as follows.
Fasting (waking)............between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 Hrs after meals...........no more than 8.5 mmol/l.

If you can get the numbers lower then so much the better. Just not below 4, that is Hypo territory.

Ken.

 

[RichardNY]

Hi Ken,

Thanks very much for that info I was actually just going to ask about those guidelines after browsing a bit more around the site, so genuine thanks. Its also blatantly clear my diet is not just a little bit wrong but quite a bit wrong and has left me a little unsettled as to why I wasn't pulled up in the meeting with GP (although I do have to acknowledge that they said the dietician would sort me out) but it wouldn't have hurt to put me on the right track ! I've just spent the last 30 minutes or so checking with the wife (as she was in the GP's room too) that I did tell them what I was eating and that they didn't correct me. In fact I must have been annoying the wife as she told me to cease and desist with the same question over and over again except not in so polite a term! :mrgreen:

Thanks again, can't wait for tomorrow as I need to get me a meter and with the help of this site I know when and how to test myself and the ranges I should be aiming for.

Thanks Richard.