36 yo, just diagnosed with DM, BG 5.5, 2h PPBG 12.8, HbA1C 34,4/5,3%

[Jenni_FI]

For many years I've brought up my fatigue and other symptoms (restless legs started when I was 17, then hair loss, constipation, low mood etc... Sometimes feeling almost like passing out after a normal meal), and also the fact that my family has a lot of diabetics, but all the GPs have told me I cannot have diabetes, as my blood sugar is normal and I'm not _constantly_ thirsty and peeing, and since I've also suffered from depression (bipo type 2) it all must be in your head! I was stupid enough to believe they knew what they were talking about.

Finally I started to read more about how you you actually diagnose DM, and demanded for a glucose tolerance test. And look at that, I'm diabetic! For some reason here in Finland the PPBG is the last test they'll send you to, and _only_ if you (fasting) BG and/or HbA1C are off. And they normally only test your HbA1C If your fasting BG is high! (I was also surprised to find that my BG is consided pre-diabetic in some countries, but here it's on the normal range!)

My GP said it's probably type two, but haven't tested for antibodies for example, and probably based her diagnosis on me being overweight, and of course the fact that it's the most common. But since I've had very, very slowly worsening symptoms (especially legs and fatigue) for almost 20 years, and I have a very strong family history, I've been wondering, if this might be a type of MODY? Of course type two IS more probable. I have a small family, but many relatives with DM, different ages of onset: grand-grandfather, grandfather, uncle, other grandfather, his sister, possibly their mother (not sure, only know that she died of kidney disease in 1924, when my grandfather was 4 months old), my grandmothers father. I have no siblings or children. My mother will be tested, we'll see, her BG was 5,9. She's never been tested, neither has my father, uncle of aunt. My father and uncle have fitting symptoms, but being depressed alcoholics, they have no interest in their health.

Now I'm going to meet the nurse, and apparently they want me to control my blood sugar levels, and see if changing diet and exercising more for 3 months will do anything, and then see about the possible meds. I eat reasonably well, no red meat, walk everywhere, so there will be no miracles happening. Blood pressure 118/79, cholestrol 6, which is too much, but HDL is good. Any ideas?

 

[Jenni_FI]

My grandfather (who's mother died when he was 4months) was diagnosed dm 2 when he was 36 yo, and had to be put on insulin straight away. He was lean and physically very active. This was in 1959. His treatment balance was always bad, and when drinking (heavily) often had seizures. (Blood sugar too low.)

Others were diagnosed on their 50's, and all of them have died in their 50's or 60's. In grand-grandfathers case I have no idea. Some have needed insulin, others treated only with diet. Some overweight, some not.

 

[Antje77]

Welcome on the forum! Sounds like you might be onto something with the family thing, but then again, there are lots of families with diabetes going around whithout a clear genetic cause. In the meanwhile, you might profit from @daisy1 's exellent welcoming information sheet.

 

[daisy1]

@jenni_fl

Hello Jenni and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

• Reduce your carbohydrate intake
• Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

• structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
• self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

• Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  
  
• Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
  

 

[Jenni_FI]

Thank you both for making me feel welcomed, and also for the volunteer work you do for this community!

I've been mapping the necessary changes I have to do when it comes to diet, and the future seems a bit bleak. Even before my dm diagnosis I noticed that eating potatoes (eaten practically everyday here) is probably not good for me, but now I know I should mostly stay away from them for good... You know the drill.

I got myself a blood sugar meter the other day, and todays readings surprised me. My fasting levels are normally around 5,2. Today I had a coffee with milk for breakfast, as usual. Around 13:00, after early lunch, my readings were 10,8 (45 min. after I started to eat), which is too much. I was busy, so I didn't have time to check it again, but the spike was possibly higher a bit later. When I got home, around 3 h 45 min. from when I started eating (c. 3 h from finishing) my lunch, my blood sugar was 4.0. Even though I figured my sugars even out within some hours after meals, I didn't expect the diffedence to be this drastic, and the drop to be this fast and steep. As you can see, my 2h ppbg was 12.8, next time I should probably ask for a 5 h test, especially if they start considering medication at some point. I guess I should start checking my levels more often, to see if this happens frequently...

 

[SueJB]

For many years I've brought up my fatigue and other symptoms (restless legs started when I was 17, then hair loss, constipation, low mood etc... Sometimes feeling almost like passing out after a normal meal), and also the fact that my family has a lot of diabetics, but all the GPs have told me I cannot have diabetes, as my blood sugar is normal and I'm not _constantly_ thirsty and peeing, and since I've also suffered from depression (bipo type 2) it all must be in your head! I was stupid enough to believe they knew what they were talking about.

Finally I started to read more about how you you actually diagnose DM, and demanded for a glucose tolerance test. And look at that, I'm diabetic! For some reason here in Finland the PPBG is the last test they'll send you to, and _only_ if you (fasting) BG and/or HbA1C are off. And they normally only test your HbA1C If your fasting BG is high! (I was also surprised to find that my BG is consided pre-diabetic in some countries, but here it's on the normal range!)

My GP said it's probably type two, but haven't tested for antibodies for example, and probably based her diagnosis on me being overweight, and of course the fact that it's the most common. But since I've had very, very slowly worsening symptoms (especially legs and fatigue) for almost 20 years, and I have a very strong family history, I've been wondering, if this might be a type of MODY? Of course type two IS more probable. I have a small family, but many relatives with DM, different ages of onset: grand-grandfather, grandfather, uncle, other grandfather, his sister, possibly their mother (not sure, only know that she died of kidney disease in 1924, when my grandfather was 4 months old), my grandmothers father. I have no siblings or children. My mother will be tested, we'll see, her BG was 5,9. She's never been tested, neither has my father, uncle of aunt. My father and uncle have fitting symptoms, but being depressed alcoholics, they have no interest in their health.

Now I'm going to meet the nurse, and apparently they want me to control my blood sugar levels, and see if changing diet and exercising more for 3 months will do anything, and then see about the possible meds. I eat reasonably well, no red meat, walk everywhere, so there will be no miracles happening. Blood pressure 118/79, cholestrol 6, which is too much, but HDL is good. Any ideas?

I'd insist on a GAD and c-peptide test which is what I should have done in Aug. Don't be fobbed off with just a HbA1c test. Good luck

 

[Lamont D]

Hi,
I'm not going to diagnose you but you do seem to have a type of endocrine condition which is not easily diagnosed.
Your story is so similar to mine and you must insist on a c-peptide test, GAD, and more importantly a test for how much insulin you are producing and circulating in your blood.
I too have normal fasting blood glucose levels. I also get hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia and potatoes are my nemesis. Can't even touch them without feeling awful!
Insist on a referral to a specialist endocrinologist in rare diabetic types.

For now, what is important is to get your blood levels stable by reducing the amount of carbs and staying away from sugar and of course starchy vegetables like potatoes.

A five hours eOGTT would be a good idea as well.

Do read the forum on low carb, and visit the forum on reactive hypoglycaemia, it is quite informative on other endocrine conditions.

Best wishes

And it still could be T2!

 

[derry60]

Hi,
I'm not going to diagnose you but you do seem to have a type of endocrine condition which is not easily diagnosed.
Your story is so similar to mine and you must insist on a c-peptide test, GAD, and more importantly a test for how much insulin you are producing and circulating in your blood.
I too have normal fasting blood glucose levels. I also get hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia and potatoes are my nemesis. Can't even touch them without feeling awful!
Insist on a referral to a specialist endocrinologist in rare diabetic types.

For now, what is important is to get your blood levels stable by reducing the amount of carbs and staying away from sugar and of course starchy vegetables like potatoes.

A five hours eOGTT would be a good idea as well.

Do read the forum on low carb, and visit the forum on reactive hypoglycaemia, it is quite informative on other endocrine conditions.

Best wishes

And it still could be T2!

You say that the future looks bleak..(ITS NOT) When I first came to this forum and saw what people were eating I thought " Are they mad? this cannot be healthy all this fat and full fat cream cheese etc. Then thought what am I going to eat,everything seems off limits. It's not you will be surprised what you can eat and how good it all is. These people here have really helped me learn what and what not to eat. I have lost weight,and my arthritis seems to be much more bearable and I can walk further without having to keep stopping. Turns out that I was the mad one for being a doubting Thomas lol. Once you have got things sorted take a really good look on this site,plenty of advice on foods and recipes..Good luck

 

[Lamont D]

You say that the future looks bleak..(ITS NOT) When I first came to this forum and saw what people were eating I thought " Are they mad? this cannot be healthy all this fat and full fat cream cheese etc. Then thought what am I going to eat,everything seems off limits. It's not you will be surprised what you can eat and how good it all is. These people here have really helped me learn what and what not to eat. I have lost weight,and my arthritis seems to be much more bearable and I can walk further without having to keep stopping. Turns out that I was the mad one for being a doubting Thomas lol. Once you have got things sorted take a really good look on this site,plenty of advice on foods and recipes..Good luck

Think you have tagged me by mistake.
Going low carb is saved my life!
The future is not bleak, the future health of anyone is dependent on how they control bloods and fighting to get a definitive diagnosis, only tests can diagnose the rarest types of endocrine conditions.

Best wishes