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Another newbie.

E

EricD

Well-Known Member
Messages
132
Location
UK
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Bullies and sockpuppets. Not being able to eat I want.
Hi all,

Diagnosed as type 2 just over two weeks ago. I did not become a diabetic as people "normally" do but due to a stone in my pancreas which I have had since 2004. I am waiting to have an operation to remove anout one third of my pancreas and was told by the Docs that I could become diabetic after the op but it looks like it didn't want to wait that long.I knew there was something wrong the last couple of years ago but all the tests I had done came back as not being diabetic.

I also suffer from Angina and high colesterol and the diabetic was found when I had my yearly blood test. My BS was 5.9, a second test showed 6.0 and the Doc sent me for a blood glucose tolerance test which confirmed the diabetic. What I don't understand is that 5.9/6.0 isn't high so how did they become suspicious and sent me for the GTT? Can anyone shed a light on this?

I am on 2 Metformin a day now and my BS is only gone over 9 twice, the highest was 10.7. When I first started on metformin and stopped the sugar altogether I felt very tired and dizzy, the Doc said that it was probably because the body was missing the sugar and going through a shock. I feel a lot better now but have this constant salty taste in my mouth, could that be from the metformin?

HBA1c was 6.6 which the Doc said was also good.

What also confused me though is that the DN said normal BS is 4-8 but the Doc said it's between 4-9, who is right?

Regards

Eric
 
Hello and welcome! If I remember correctly, the NHS guidelines state that if fasting (noteaten or drank for 8 hours or more) blood sugar is over 7 or random sugar over 11, diabetes diagnosis is confirmed. If the fasting blood sugar is over 5.5, then you have impaired glucose or diabetes, confirmed by glucose tolerance test as was in your case.

Stopping refined sugar consumption or just reducing the amount of carbs eaten can cause withdrawal symptoms. Carbohydrates can cause quite severe dependence, which can make people think they need the sugar or bread etc to survive. I was a total carb junkie, ate 300-500 grams of carbs per day (national average somewhere around 300-400g per day) in shape of rice, bread, biscuits etc. When I cut right down, it made me feel lightheaded and icky for some time. But now things are so much better, I have more energy and sugar levels under 6 most of the time. My spikes generally stay under 6.9 too with diet, exercise and metformin 500mg x 2. I haven't heard of a metallic taste as a side effect so far so can't help there.
 
Hi saz and thanks for the welcome and your explanations.

To tell the truth I don't know much about "carbs" and all that stuff and am finding it very confusing at the moment. I have never been a "big eater" and never checked what I ate or calculated what I was eating. I have a sandwich in the morning, a meal in the afternoon and another sandwich in the evening. Until I was diagnosed as diabetic, used to eat one or two bars of chocolate a week and a few choc bikkies but my main sigar intake was with tea which I drunk a lot of. All that has now stopped, no more coke or any other fizzy sugary drinks all. I also bake my own bread without any sugar or even sweeteners.

As I learn more I'll probably cut out some more of the stuff that I consume but at the moment I have no idea what.
 
Buy a carb counter book,Eric,such as Collins gem carb counter,this will give you some idea of the amounts of carbs in each food that you normally eat and you can build your menus round this.
 
Thanks for that Sue, I will certainly take your advice and look in to getting a book such as you suggested.
 
I just found a website with a list of foods and carbs but a book in the pocket during shopping can't be a bad thing, especially at £4.

What's the normal level and as a diabetic what should my target be?
 
Initially you are aiming at getting your blood sugar levels down below 7 when you test.This test is a 'snap shot' of how much sugar is in your blood stream at that moment in time.Once there you are then aiming at getting your Hba1c below 7% .This test is a 90 day percentage of how much sugar has been in your blood stream.
 
Hi Eric, I am new here too. I am also a bit confused on the blood sugar levels. Mine seems very erratic at the moment. It tends to be about 7 when I wake up and I have just done it 3 hours after eating and it is 14.7 (it was 6 this time yesterday). How trustworthy are the blood testers though as I did mine twice last night within 5 minutes and it went from 12 to 5?
I am only on 1 metformin but the doctor does not want to see me anymore and I haven't been given any other form of help (although promised) since I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago.
 
sugarless sue said:
Initially you are aiming at getting your blood sugar levels down below 7 when you test.This test is a 'snap shot' of how much sugar is in your blood stream at that moment in time.
This is where it gets very confusing for me. My DN says 4-8, my GP says 4-9 and in this forum I read below 7. I try to keep it as low as possible and my average since dx is 6.3. Generally above 7 but below 9 two hrs after meals. Once 9.2 and once 10.7 right at the beginning. Is this ok or should I try to lower it more?


Once there you are then aiming at getting your Hba1c below 7% .This test is a 90 day percentage of how much sugar has been in your blood stream.
Click to expand...
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Hba1c was 6.6 last week so I must be doing something right. :lol:
 
samcogle said:
Hi Eric, I am new here too. I am also a bit confused on the blood sugar levels. Mine seems very erratic at the moment. It tends to be about 7 when I wake up and I have just done it 3 hours after eating and it is 14.7 (it was 6 this time yesterday). How trustworthy are the blood testers though as I did mine twice last night within 5 minutes and it went from 12 to 5?
I am only on 1 metformin but the doctor does not want to see me anymore and I haven't been given any other form of help (although promised) since I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago.
Click to expand...

Hi Sam, I don't know why your BG is so erratic, what are you eating, maybe has something to do with that? What did you eat yesterday and what did you eat today?

Than again, if you got such different results within 5 minutes maybe your meter is faulty. What meter are you using? Phone the manufacturer and ask them about it. If it's faulty they will more than likely sent you a new one free of charge. If the meter has IR ask them about the lead and the software, that is usually free of charge as well. I got mine last week when I called them about a little problem I was having with the lancets.

I've got two meters and had the same problem with one of them, the result went from 7.6 to 5.1 within about two minutes. I tried the second the next day and the results were 5.8 and 5.7. I ditched the first one, only paid £3.50 for them so did not lose much. Might even get the manufacturer to replace it.

Why doesn't your GP want to see you no more? I don't understand that. My GP is excellent and has seen me twice since my diagnosis which was only 18 days ago. He has already done one HBA1c test, a urine test and wants to see me again next month and do another HBA1c test. He also got me to see the DN who refered me to a Diabetic group. I also had my eyes screened last Friday. We've had a few hicups but all in all our GP praxis is excellent.


BTW, why are you doing your tests 3 hrs after meals? I was told to do them 2 hrs after meals.
 
hi im ew here too .my doctor thought l woz type 2 diabetic and was commenced on metformin 500mgs 4 times per day l suffered that metallic taste in my mouth to until my system got used to them ,as it turned out 6weeks later my blood results came back and showed l was actually type 1 .im now on 5 injections per day and still take the metformin now ,my nurse told me that metformin contains an appietiate suppressant ,in total l have now lost 6 stone in weight ,when they thot l was type 2 my goal was to have my blood levels between 4 and 9 ,but l feel ill if its below 7 ,you have to find what levels right for you as my nurse said not everyones the same and whats right for 1 might not be right for another ,you,ll know what level feels fine for you .hope this helps take care anne x
 
Hi Sam, I don't know why your BG is so erratic, what are you eating, maybe has something to do with that? What did you eat yesterday and what did you eat today?

Than again, if you got such different results within 5 minutes maybe your meter is faulty. What meter are you using? Phone the manufacturer and ask them about it. If it's faulty they will more than likely sent you a new one free of charge. If the meter has IR ask them about the lead and the software, that is usually free of charge as well. I got mine last week when I called them about a little problem I was having with the lancets.

I've got two meters and had the same problem with one of them, the result went from 7.6 to 5.1 within about two minutes. I tried the second the next day and the results were 5.8 and 5.7. I ditched the first one, only paid £3.50 for them so did not lose much. Might even get the manufacturer to replace it.

Why doesn't your GP want to see you no more? I don't understand that. My GP is excellent and has seen me twice since my diagnosis which was only 18 days ago. He has already done one HBA1c test, a urine test and wants to see me again next month and do another HBA1c test. He also got me to see the DN who refered me to a Diabetic group. I also had my eyes screened last Friday. We've had a few hicups but all in all our GP praxis is excellent.


BTW, why are you doing your tests 3 hrs after meals? I was told to do them 2 hrs after meals.[/quote]

Hi Eric, thanks for the detailed reply. I feel like I am floundering around at the moment. I read about your DN and noticed that you had not been diagnosed for long on another post. This is what got me thinking. The doctor rang with my first fasting blood test and wanted to send me straight to hospital as it was 18. I talked him out of it as I felt fine. He then faxed the hospital for an emergency appointment with the endocrinologist (this was 6 weeks ago). He did 2 more blood tests, the last one being 9, phoned me said that was fine and good luck. I mentioned I had not heard from the hospital and he said he was sure it wouldn't be long!!!
I phoned the hospital and they said I am on a waiting list and they can't tell me when I will be seen.
I got a meter from a student ( I am a psychology lecturer) and I think it may be faulty as it looks very old). I bought my own but need to get some more test strips so I think that may be the solution. It read 3 last night so I like it actually haha :)
As for my eating I had the leftovers of a lentil curry for my lunch, but I have been following a highish carb diet...this is about to change as I think the book may be slightly flawed!!
Thanks again
 
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