3 days in

[Hakr22]

Hey, I had bloods taken Thursday afternoon and got called in Friday morning as my level was 138. Sent straight over to the diabetes team at the hospital. They have said they're 90% sure it's type 1 and gave me insulin to start on while we wait for the other test to come back.

I wondered if anyone else had had levels like that and it had been type 2 instead? Or do I need to start coming to terms with it almost certainly being type 1?

Thanks

 

[ert]

Welcome. A diagnosis can take time. Just wait until the results are back in the first instance. You don't have units or an explanation with your 138. If it's mmol/mol and an Hba1c then you are averaging blood sugars of 20.9 mmol/l which is really high. The insulin will help get your blood sugars down and hopefully you will start feeling better. What insulin(s) are you taking?

 

[Hakr22]

Welcome. A diagnosis can take time. Just wait until the results are back in the first instance. You don't have units or an explanation with your 138. If it's mmol/mol and an Hba1c then you are averaging blood sugars of 20.9 mmol/l which is really high. The insulin will help get your blood sugars down and hopefully you will start feeling better. What insulin(s) are you taking?

Thanks for the reply! The doctor only said it was hba1c level I believe. It was all a bit of a whirlwind. They've given me novorapid and levemir.

 

[Resurgam]

I am definitely type two and was diagnosed with Hba1c of 91, but as soon as I reduced carbs I felt better and saw lower blood glucose and lower weight.
Have you been losing weight? That seems to be indicative of type one pre diagnosis and treatment.
I don't think that Hba1c level is diagnostic of type.
Some people who started out using insulin to reduce their levels have found that they required less and less of it as time passed, and were eventually having low blood glucose levels even on small doses, so were advised to stop and see if they stayed in control.
It can take a while to sort out exactly what the situation is - the main thing, though is to reduce the blood glucose levels in a safe manner, and for type ones getting the amounts and timing of injections aligned with what and when you eat seems to be the key to that. There is lots of experience and good advice available on here - I just read about it.

 

[ert]

Thanks for the reply! The doctor only said it was hba1c level I believe. It was all a bit of a whirlwind. They've given me novorapid and levemir.

Wow. They've really thrown you in the deep end.
This is really good information about diabetes, diagnosis and managing insulin here:
https://www.keylearning.bertieonline.org.uk/Module_1_homepage
I recommend you sign up for a free 14 day trial of a Freestyle Libre. It's a device that allows you to monitor your blood sugars continuously:
https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/li...MIgeudyp_I8gIVy0eRBR0hRwSeEAAYASAAEgId9_D_BwE

Keep posting if you have any questions.

 

[VashtiB]

Hello and welcome,

I was always a definite type 2- however whichever type it is there is a process in coming to terms with it. I think each of the different types has its own challenges. As a type 2 I will be very low carb for the rest of my life. That's a challenge for me. Type 1 also has challenges. Coming to terms with a life altering diagnosis can take time but whichever type you are there are people here to support, encourage and assist you.

having found this site- you are not alone. Instead you are welcome to become part of an amazing community. Except for my love of carbs this community makes it almost worthwhile having the diagnosis.

Welcome and let us know how you get on.

 

[Jaylee]

Hey, I had bloods taken Thursday afternoon and got called in Friday morning as my level was 138. Sent straight over to the diabetes team at the hospital. They have said they're 90% sure it's type 1 and gave me insulin to start on while we wait for the other test to come back.

I wondered if anyone else had had levels like that and it had been type 2 instead? Or do I need to start coming to terms with it almost certainly being type 1?

Thanks

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.
Diagnosis (precise wise on type.) is something we can't do on the forum.
It's certainly worth just focusing on BG managment with the meds prescribed till the results come back..

Questions will no doubt crop up as & when on your journey.
Don't hesitate to ask.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hey, I had bloods taken Thursday afternoon and got called in Friday morning as my level was 138. Sent straight over to the diabetes team at the hospital. They have said they're 90% sure it's type 1 and gave me insulin to start on while we wait for the other test to come back.

I wondered if anyone else had had levels like that and it had been type 2 instead? Or do I need to start coming to terms with it almost certainly being type 1?

Thanks

A HbA1C doesn't really indicate anything one way or the other far as type goes, it just tells you you're up high practically all the time from the looks of it. There might have been something else that was tested for that indicated you might be a T1, like ketones present? You'll want to get all your blood test results from here on in, and preferably the results from your hospital visit as well. The other tests I presume'll be C-peptide and GAD, and those should be able to tell you one way or another. If you're a T2, changing your diet would make a massive difference. If T1, the insulin will be the way forward.

Think of it this way: If you hadn't been checked things would've gotten a whole lot worse, practically per definition. Consider yourself lucky. Which is absolutely insane to say really, but... Things can get ugly really fast for an untreated T1. And for a long lingering T2 there's plenty of damage, just slower in the coming. Now you know, now something's being done! Try and pluck some hope from that. You're still here, and you're getting the help you need to live a longer, good quality life. One way or another.

Good luck!
Jo

 

[Hakr22]

I am definitely type two and was diagnosed with Hba1c of 91, but as soon as I reduced carbs I felt better and saw lower blood glucose and lower weight.
Have you been losing weight? That seems to be indicative of type one pre diagnosis and treatment.
I don't think that Hba1c level is diagnostic of type.
Some people who started out using insulin to reduce their levels have found that they required less and less of it as time passed, and were eventually having low blood glucose levels even on small doses, so were advised to stop and see if they stayed in control.
It can take a while to sort out exactly what the situation is - the main thing, though is to reduce the blood glucose levels in a safe manner, and for type ones getting the amounts and timing of injections aligned with what and when you eat seems to be the key to that. There is lots of experience and good advice available on here - I just read about it.

Thanks for your response! I've been losing weight steadily over the last few months. I'm on 3 lots of novorapid before meals and levermir before bed. Levels still jumping between 12 and 26 at the moment. Have an appointment on 31st with specialist so hopefully get some more info then.

 

[Hakr22]

Wow. They've really thrown you in the deep end.
This is really good information about diabetes, diagnosis and managing insulin here:
I recommend you sign up for a free 14 day trial of a Freestyle Libre. It's a device that allows you to monitor your blood sugars continuously:

Keep posting if you have any questions.

Thank you! I'll check them both out

 

[Hakr22]

Hello and welcome,

I was always a definite type 2- however whichever type it is there is a process in coming to terms with it. I think each of the different types has its own challenges. As a type 2 I will be very low carb for the rest of my life. That's a challenge for me. Type 1 also has challenges. Coming to terms with a life altering diagnosis can take time but whichever type you are there are people here to support, encourage and assist you.

having found this site- you are not alone. Instead you are welcome to become part of an amazing community. Except for my love of carbs this community makes it almost worthwhile having the diagnosis.

Welcome and let us know how you get on.

Thanks! It certainly feels like alot to take in at the moment, but Reading through threads on here with people in similar situations is very helpful!

 

[Hakr22]

A HbA1C doesn't really indicate anything one way or the other far as type goes, it just tells you you're up high practically all the time from the looks of it. There might have been something else that was tested for that indicated you might be a T1, like ketones present? You'll want to get all your blood test results from here on in, and preferably the results from your hospital visit as well. The other tests I presume'll be C-peptide and GAD, and those should be able to tell you one way or another. If you're a T2, changing your diet would make a massive difference. If T1, the insulin will be the way forward.

Think of it this way: If you hadn't been checked things would've gotten a whole lot worse, practically per definition. Consider yourself lucky. Which is absolutely insane to say really, but... Things can get ugly really fast for an untreated T1. And for a long lingering T2 there's plenty of damage, just slower in the coming. Now you know, now something's being done! Try and pluck some hope from that. You're still here, and you're getting the help you need to live a longer, good quality life. One way or another.

Good luck!
Jo

Thanks for your reply! I'll be sure to ask for full results from now on. I'm not sure if there were any ketones. I've done a couple of the ketone tests at home though and it hasn't been over 0.3 so that seems all good

 

[Resurgam]

Thanks for your response! I've been losing weight steadily over the last few months. I'm on 3 lots of novorapid before meals and levermir before bed. Levels still jumping between 12 and 26 at the moment. Have an appointment on 31st with specialist so hopefully get some more info then.

I'd say there is a definite mis match there even with no knowledge of taking insulin those numbers do not look right. Could you get advice by phone maybe, as an emergency?

 

[Mbaker]

I was at 134 as a Type 2, essentially snap. I was not given insulin. Depending on whether someone is acute or functioning, they could make appropriate decisions. I think they were cautious in your case, which probably was the right course of action. I was give Metformin, which I later dropped.

If you are Type 2, you options are to standard of care, with either a combination of pills, one being Metformin and possibly augmented by another, or insulin. Otherwise you could try diet and lifestyle.

I have had success with diet and lifestyle. The diet I and the majority have success with, is somewhere on the spectrum of low carb with individualised levels of healthy fats and proteins. There are other methods, but I bat for what I think is the best all round, in my case low carb high protein.

 

[Fenn]

Hi, welcome

I was 126 with keytones present and diagnosed type 2 so its not impossible, I hope you find some answers, keep posting and asking questions, lots of helpful folks here, best of luck