Type 2 Am I Type 2?

[bstickley]

A GTT 50 yrs ago gave me a diagnosis of "impaired glucose metabolism." No mention ever of "pre-diabetes." I am now 80. Annual fasting blood tests showed fasting serum glucose in range 5.1 to 6.6mmol/L. Then in Feb 2019 it was 7.3 (56 mmol/m). Repeat test in June 2019 showed 7.3 with HbA1c of 7.3%. In Sept 2019, a blood test 2 hrs after b'fast (yoghurt and oats) showed serum glucose 5.9 and HbA1c of 6.8%. I managed a 6kg weight loss from Feb 2019. My last test in Dec 2019 showed serum glucose of 5.3 (non-fasting) and HbA1c of 6.5% (48 mmol/m).
In Feb 2019, my regular GP said that I had Type 2 diabetes and rattled off a list of foods that I should not eat. Another doctor in the practice said that at 80 I had nothing to worry about with HbA1c of 7.3%. I do not know what to think. My latest non-fasting serum glucose was 5.3 (lab normal range 3.0-7.7 mmol/L). So I feel that a glucose monitor will tell me nothing, except that I am normal. The HbA1c worries me and I feel that I must try to get it down further and below 6.1% (43 mmol/m). Why the difference in diagnosis between the two parameters? I would be so grateful for any advice. Kind regards, Bryan

 

[JoKalsbeek]

A GTT 50 yrs ago gave me a diagnosis of "impaired glucose metabolism." No mention ever of "pre-diabetes." I am now 80. Annual fasting blood tests showed fasting serum glucose in range 5.1 to 6.6mmol/L. Then in Feb 2019 it was 7.3 (56 mmol/m). Repeat test in June 2019 showed 7.3 with HbA1c of 7.3%. In Sept 2019, a blood test 2 hrs after b'fast (yoghurt and oats) showed serum glucose 5.9 and HbA1c of 6.8%. I managed a 6kg weight loss from Feb 2019. My last test in Dec 2019 showed serum glucose of 5.3 (non-fasting) and HbA1c of 6.5% (48 mmol/m).
In Feb 2019, my regular GP said that I had Type 2 diabetes and rattled off a list of foods that I should not eat. Another doctor in the practice said that at 80 I had nothing to worry about with HbA1c of 7.3%. I do not know what to think. My latest non-fasting serum glucose was 5.3 (lab normal range 3.0-7.7 mmol/L). So I feel that a glucose monitor will tell me nothing, except that I am normal. The HbA1c worries me and I feel that I must try to get it down further and below 6.1% (43 mmol/m). Why the difference in diagnosis between the two parameters? I would be so grateful for any advice. Kind regards, Bryan

Hello Bryan,

At 80 you have nothing to worry about...? That's basically saying "You're going to kick the bucket relatively soon anyway, so why bother?". For all we know you could be 104 before anything else goes awry. Quality of life counts. Well... You were slightly into the diabetic range, and got back into the prediabetic range, so that's good... But personally, once a diabetic, always a diabetic. Re-introduce carbs and you're back in the T2 range, and open to a whole world of nasty complications. Keep an eye on what you eat, https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html might help, and keep doing what you're doing, as it seems to be working. Other sources of information include Dietdoctor.com, Dr. Jason Fung's The Diabetes Code and his youtube video's, and this place's website, diabetes.co.uk (Not .org). Honestly? If you go to the practice, try to see the doc who took the T2 seriously, not the one who blew it off. One had your best interest at heart, the other can't be bothered due to your age, it seems.
Anyway, welcome!

Jo

 

[EllieM]

Well, I thought that about my T2 (for last decade) 88 year old dad but last year (he stays with me for 3 months over Xmas) we tried low carb (less than 30g per meal). He's managed to keep to this, lost 1 1/2 stone, and this year everyone who saw him last year (or earlier) says how much healthier he looks. He's almost completely come off his T2 meds and I suspect his nurse will get him to drop his last tablet when he goes back in March.

Am now longer worried about whether he makes his 90th birthday in July and am expecting him to be well enough to visit next year.

So, it depends whether you want to make it to 90?

 

[Daibell]

Hi. An HBA1c of 7.3% is higher than it should be but not dangerously so. If you can have a low carb diet then that may be all you need. BTW don't worry about fasting blood tests as they are fairly meaningless due to the overnight liver dump of glucose. What did the GP suggest your diet should be? Very often the NHS gives very bad diet advice so be careful. You need to keep the carbs down and have enough fats and proteins to keep you feeling full. Veg is fine and so are non-tropical fruits. So eggs and bacon for breakfast rather than cereals, porridge or toast - or keep the latter small.

 

[bstickley]

Hi. An HBA1c of 7.3% is higher than it should be but not dangerously so. If you can have a low carb diet then that may be all you need. BTW don't worry about fasting blood tests as they are fairly meaningless due to the overnight liver dump of glucose. What did the GP suggest your diet should be? Very often the NHS gives very bad diet advice so be careful. You need to keep the carbs down and have enough fats and proteins to keep you feeling full. Veg is fine and so are non-tropical fruits. So eggs and bacon for breakfast rather than cereals, porridge or toast - or keep the latter small.

Thanks for the advice, b