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Am I diabetic?

mole147

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I had a hernia repair operation on 26th March 2013 which became infected with Staf Aureus, I was readmitted and put on IV antibiotics eventually the wound dehisced I was sent home and the wound was kept open and draining (which meant daily visits to hospital for dressing), I was also on a vac pump and had two courses of oral antibiotics. It was decided by my consultant that the mesh repair was infected and needed to be removed. I went for my pre admission check and my blood sugar was found to be high at 14, I then had fasting test and it was still 14. The blood sugar needed to be reduced so I was put on an insulin clamp for 24 hours and the operation was performed the following day. I was then told I was suffering from type 2 diabetes. I was very well looked after and had lots of advice and was sent home with Gliclazide 80mg to be taken once a day but I have some doubts. I have also been suffering from very high stress levels in the last few months due to selling my house to developers and agonising whether to move my family to another area or not, I mean really stomach turning stress with sleepless nights.

I have read that infections raise blood sugar levels significantly and stress has the same effect. I was told by the diabetic doctor that the hba1c test was conclusive and that the infection and stress were not the cause because the test examined what your blood sugar levels were over the last 90 days.

My concern is that at my pre admission check in March my blood glucose was normal and within 13 weeks it was high, during that time I have had this awful infection that was producing pus every day with the added stress as well. The hba1c test time frame is exactly the same as the infection. I have been given this medication and told to see my G.P. and I have not been given a blood monitor. My appointment with the GP is in 8 days time. I am a 61 year old man and there is absolutely no history of diabetes in my family also I have had no symptoms whatsoever. Could I have been misdiagnosed or am I "clutching at straws". I am really concerned that if the diagnosis is wrong that the medication could be very harmful to me. Does anyone have an opinion?
 
The human metabolism is quite complex. Now you have been diagnosed, you will be having regular blood tests. If a combination of stress and your infection was the trigger, as your body recovers and stress declines, you may see your HbA1c falling.

Since you are on a sulfonylurea, assuming you drive, you should have a BG meter. According to DVLA guidelines, you must notify them and you must test your BG levels before you drive. Below 5, don't drive! You may need to be assertive because your doctor may try to fob you off because the strips are not cheap, but NICE guidelines are that you should have a monitor and strips on prescription.

When yo0u start testing, you will start to get an idea of how good your BG control is. Some of the Beta cells in your islets of langerhans will probably have been damaged by the high BG levels, but in time, with good BG control they can recover so there is a chance you may well improve over the longer term. Your doctor will monitor you regularly until you are stable. I would push for three-monthly blood tests to start with and if you start to get hypos, go back and see the doctor.
 
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