• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Diagnosed and feeling low

D

Dazman12

Member
Messages
6
Hi

Went for blood test last week and called back to GP urgently. Told I had high blood sugars (31) and had to go to hospital next day. Went to hospital was told I had diabetes and given insulin, metformin and finger prick kit. Got some dietary advice. 3 hours up there and came home feeling pretty low. I think caused probably by chronic stress, burnout and exhaustion over the last few years.

Been monitoring levels and cutting out the sugar and blood glucose levels coming down. Nurse phoned yesterday and said to up my insulin and I said I have only been doing this five days and its coming down each day. She said they were not where they should be. Im a bit confused, not sure how rapid the levels should come down and if i should up it or not. Im not sure on any care plan or follow up from NHS beyond phone calls either.

Ive been taking the insulin and changed my diet and BG levels were under ten last night. Ive not taken the metoformin yet, I wanted to see what my diet and insulin did first.

Im confused, bewildered and feeling pretty low. Any advice etc greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Welcome to the forum @Dazman12. It is a shock when you get that diagnosis and does take a bit of time to get your head around it all, but you will get a lot of good advice and support on here.
Can you tell us whether you have been diagnosed as Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic?
 
Hi

Thanks for message. I dont know yet. They sent my bloods away and said it could be eight weeks before they come back.
 
OK. It's a bit difficult to give you advice until you know whether you are T1 or T2. But you are doing the right things for now, monitoring your bg levels, and it's good they are coming down.
I don't know anything about insulin, but I expect some of the forum members who are on insulin will be along and able to give you more advice.
 
Hi I'm the same as you. I thought I was starting the menopause so made an appointment, had my bloods done and was rushed to hospital the following day then kept in for 5 days.
I'm now on day 16 as a type 1 insulin dependant and no idea why.
I've had 2 days without breaking down in tears.

You will get your head around it, seek all the help you can and good luck!
 
Welcome!

Chin up. It doesn’t have to be the end of the word even if it’s type 1. You’re in the right place here, so please try to stay as upbeat as possible. I know it’s difficult but you’re in safe hands

I’m very surprised you will have to wait eight weeks for a diagnosis. Are you living in Antarctica?! Also, dare I ask what the dietary advice was?
 
Hi

Thanks for your message. I was given a leaflet and told about a balanced diet including carbohydrates which im reading is not the best i gather.
 
Dazman12 said:
Hi

Thanks for your message. I was given a leaflet and told about a balanced diet including carbohydrates which im reading is not the best i gather.
Click to expand...

Well I’m not going to offer advice, particularly as you’re so far undiagnosed, but certainly if you are type 2 then being advised to consume any meaningful quantity of carbohydrate is not the best advice you’ll receive. T2 is a dietary disease caused primarily by glucose ingestion. You cannot effectively treat it with a dietary intervention that promotes more glucose consumption.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. By all means read up on low carbohydrate eating, but I wouldn’t make any rash choices. Perhaps some type 1 diabetics will be along shortly to offer a more balanced view
 
Thanks for reply. I will wait for results. I was feeling pretty good before all this happened but feeling quite down and stressed now. Dont think Christmas season helps either!
 
MisplacedIdentity said:
I've just posted my experience, you will get there, time to keep your chin up now and think about the future, everything has changed but it's not ended anything
Click to expand...

@MisplacedIdentity - When you have a moment, it would be helpful if you could update your forum profile with your diabetes status and maybe add in your meds too? It just helps folks make appropriate responses to your posts.

As developing T1 well into adulthood isn't uncommon, but it is less usual, so sometimes confisions can arise.

Well done on rreaching out for peer support. It can make a massive difference.
 
I've tried to add to my profile but for some reason it
won't let me add my insulin, it's listed but an error message pops up. I'll try on a different browser when my Hubby gets home, he's more techy than me.
 
MisplacedIdentity said:
I've tried to add to my profile but for some reason it

won't let me add my insulin, it's listed but an error message pops up. I'll try on a different browser when my Hubby gets home, he's more techy than me.
Click to expand...

I (or any of the Mods) can do it for you, if it's easier?.
 
Hi Dazman12 sorry you have had the diabetes diagnosis and it is a shock you will be able to come to terms with it but it does take time and many here can help..
As you have not yet found out if you are T1 or T2 the diet advice here will depend on that . Mostly it is aimed at T2 as for those with T1 and on insulin it can be different so T1's here will be more helpful if the medics say you have that. Hopefully you will know which type pretty soon
 
Dazman12 said:
Hi

Thanks for your message. I was given a leaflet and told about a balanced diet including carbohydrates which im reading is not the best i gather.
Click to expand...
Caution and context!

There are many T2's on this forum doing amazing things with low carb and no medication. You however are new to insulin and dealing with an emotional hammer blow. It's important to make changes slowly and watch what happens, insulin can bite hard and fast if you get too adventurous.

The best way to work out how insulin, diet and activity interact is to change 1 thing at a time. As you're probably still trying to find the right insulin doses, don't undermine your efforts by changing your diet, at least just yet.

Take it steady and get your physical and emotional strength back. And good luck!

Shiba.
 
I’d suggest reading the thread ‘Rising Blood Glucose Readings’ started by @Frank68 it shows without doubt that ignoring medical advice was the right thing to do for him.
I was diagnosed as T1 by my doctor and T2 by the DN so whatever they suggested was a guess and you’ve been told your Doc is going to guess for 8 weeks. So if guessing is good enough for them? But if you guess do it with caution and safely.
Definitely take care, and it would be far riskier to low carb it while on insulin than to low carb it a day after dropping the insulin or as your BG rises. I haven’t seen much in this thread about test-test-test. IMHO it is the only way to get to know your body and what it is doing and how it is reacting to food and meds. Anything you do without a meter is guessing and flying blind. Good luck!
 

That’s very safe advice but if you drop the insulin and first moderate carbs then slowly reduce them what are the risks? If you test too then if your BG rises sharply into the teens then go back to following the Docs regime and take the insulin. If you find out you need the insulin then at least you’ve learnt something?
Why is lowering insulin and steadily lowering carb intake any riskier than what the Doctors prescribed by the sudden taking of insulin.
 
Thanks for replies. Thats what I dont get. They put me on insulin straight away but didnt tell me how long it takes to work so makes it difficult for me to understand when to change the dose. I told the nurse my numbers were dropping after first week but she still told me to up the dose. Is this right? Its only been a week! Ive cut my sugar right out so am hoping that was going to help too.

They never asked me about lifestyle either, ive got a stressful job, single parent and christmas coming so probably didnt have the best diet, sugary drinks etc, but was exercising a lot. I imagine those things can impact on my body too. I have found im drinking less too now, but getting quite hot in the night ans sweaty. Are these to do with the insulin? I never had that before but was getting up twice a night for a pee. and the nurse told me to stop exercising until i got the BG levels under control, so pretty confused with everything!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…