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Diagnosed yesterday, appointment this morning

Higaomo

Well-Known Member
Messages
53
Good morning all
Received a phone call from my GP yesterday evening to advise that I am “markedly diabetic” and summoning me for a meeting with the practice’s diabetic specialist nurse this morning, stating that I would need to start medication immediately. From my Patient Access app I discovered last night that my HbA1c was 94. Apparently I also have elevated liver enzymes and borderline high cholesterol (ratio of good/bad cholesterol “not great”).
Had a mainly sleepless night last night but discovered this website and forum so have done lots of reading...
I have had a pretty stressful last couple of months and have learned this could be a factor, but must admit to also having been overweight most of my adult life despite what I thought was a pretty healthy diet (nothing white, everything in moderation). My dad is type 2 diabetic and I have mainly followed the advice he was given for healthy eating as I thought this would avoid me following in his footsteps..

I have friends who have reversed their diabetes from high 40s, but 94 sounds scarily high in comparison to 45-50. Hopefully I’ll know more after my appointment this morning
 
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Hi @Higaomo and welcome to the forums.

Many (most?) of the T2s on here who want to avoid and/or reduce meds do so by reducing the carbs in their diets. If you look at the Success stories forum you'll find people who have dramatically reduced their levels without meds
Success Stories and Testimonials | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community

And here's my favourite link about T2 and low carb diets, should you choose to go that route.
JoKalsbeek's blog | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community

And remember, if you choose to start medication it doesn't mean you will be on it indefinitely, though tell your doctor if you plan to go low carb as there is some medication that it might be worth delaying.

Good luck.
 
Thanks Ellie
I’m a bit shell shocked right now, live alone and don’t have anyone to chat things over with, so I think being able to do that here will be very helpful

I do want to avoid medication if I can so I’ll check out those links, thank you
 
Higaomo said:
I thought was a pretty healthy diet (nothing white, everything in moderation)
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Welcome to the forum @Higaomo
What is considered a healthy diet by most health care professionals -- plenty of complex carbs, low fat, lots of fruit, in other words the eat well plate is absolutely disastrous for someone with T2.
"Nothing white" --- our bodies can't tell the colour of the Bread/pasta/rice you eat, a carb is a carb and will increase your blood glucose whatever the colour.
"Everything in moderation"----- is meaningless, one person's moderation is gluttony to someone else and eating a truly healthy meal one day will not cancel out highly processed carb laden meal the next.
 
Hi @Higaomo ,

Sorry about the diagnosis, but you've come to the right place. Your HbA1c is indeed high, but I've seen people come back from worse on here, usually on a low carb/high fat diet. It's what I did, and I've been in the normal range ever since. I'll always be a diabetic, so when I eat carbs, my blood glucose will rise... So I just don't. And they're fine. You've already been given The Nutritional Thingy's link, so I won't bludgeon you with it, but it's maybe something to share with your dad too... A lot has changed far as research and such goes, but it's taking just about forever to trickle down to Endo's, GP's, dieticians and ultimately, patients. Maybe you can gift one another Dr. Jason Fung's The Diabetes Code as a very early christmas pressie. There's a helpful/hopeful book if ever there was one.

You're going to be okay, and you won't have to deal with any of this alone. There's always someone here.
Hugs,
Jo
PS: Just in case you're not at your appointment yet: Get a print-out of all your test results, and ask for them from here on in every time you're tested. And if you're offered statins, if you go low carb that could solve high cholesterol too, while statins can raise blood glucose (and trigger T2 in previously non-diabetics). Just mentioning it as they're usually offered as a matter of course, even if someone doesn't need them.
 
Thanks for replying
Yes, I’m learning that a new eating plan is definitely required. It’s certainly a learning curve!
 
Thanks for your reply
I’ve only just seen it so wasn’t able to ask for a print out, but all the results are in my app so I’ve taken screenshots and I’ll print them out when I get the chance.
 
So, I had my appointment this morning. I was given a prescription for Metformin and a blood glucose monitor along with lots of reading material and example meal plans and another appointment for next week. My blood pressure was a bit high but it’ll be checked again next week. I was weighed and was stunned to discover that I’ve lost about 1 1/2 stone in the last few months! I had no idea!

I was given a prescription for Metformin and a blood glucose monitor along with lots of reading material and example meal plans and another appointment for next week. My blood pressure was a bit high but it’ll be checked again next week. Statins weren’t mentioned at all.

Dad is 82 and is being assessed for possible dementia. He is very much wedded to his routine and not really open to change, but has his diabetes review (the first since before covid) next week. He has been on a low carb diet for about 10 years.

I’m committed to doing whatever is required to get down to a good level asap, not least because I am going to be a Grannie in about 6 weeks and my daughter needs my support. Additionally, my parents need my support as neither of them drive any more and they both have regular medical appointments that they rely on me to be able to attend. Particularly my Mum who is 6 months into a 12 month course of Chemotherapy and is recovering from neurosurgery last month.
 
Also, I forgot to say thank you for the hugs and for being so friendly - I’ve felt a bit fragile on and off over the last 24 hours and this has helped
 
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Hi @Higaomo, I felt totally overwhelmed when I received my diagnosis in August but you just need to process the information (and there is a lot of it!). This group is wonderful and there are some really experienced folk who will help with any questions. My advice is slow and steady.
 
Thank you, McHelen, overwhelmed is the perfect description of exactly how I feel. Thank you for replying and for your advice - I’m generally a ‘dive in head first’ kind of person but recognise that this is a lifelong lifestyle change so needs to be sustainable
 
Higaomo said:
. I was weighed and was stunned to discover that I’ve lost about 1 1/2 stone in the last few months! I had no idea!
Click to expand...
Have they actually said "Type 2 " to you? Theres a couple of potential red flags here that you might be Type 1. Did anyone test ketones?
It can be difficult to spot the differences as our bodies don't play by the rules.
Just keep an open mind
And welcome to best informed, friendliest diabetes site anywhere
 
Good luck to you, @Higaomo I’m new here too, had a diagnosis 4 years ago, put on medication and carried on as if nothing changed. I found this group by chance and it’s a god send, I am beginning to understand my diagnosis and how to manage it, everyone has been so kind I’m sure you’ll find that too. There are lots of very knowledgeable people on here ready to help with any of your questions! jakki
 
Hi
Yes, the nurse said Type 2, no, ketones not tested
Can I ask what the red flags are? I have so little knowledge on this subject (but am trying to change that!)
Thanks for the welcome, I’m grateful to have found this place and for all the help and advice
 
Hi, thanks for replying
There’s so much to absorb right now, but I’m sure I’ll have lots of questions as I go along
I’m grateful to have found such a friendly forum
 
Rapid weight loss is often associated with type 1 but does happen for T2 and is listed as one of the symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms/#symptoms

It is more common in T1 though. But for context, I had that as a symptom at my diagnosis along with the thirst and a bad temper. Loads of fun!

So..
You said you are Overweight and with those High blood levels your body will be trying to excrete sugar as fast as possible in your urine and so weight loss isn't so unusual. I had the same symptoms and certain drugs prescribed now to T2 work in the same way and help weight loss

So, monitoring your blood levels is important. If things don't stabilise or get worse then ensure you get in touch with your medical team

Lots of advice on here, ask away

Many of us as @JoKalsbeek said have used a diet change especially low carb to great effect
 
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Thank you, that’s really helpful to know
 
Higaomo said:
Also, I forgot to say thank you for the hugs and for being so friendly - I’ve felt a bit fragile on and off over the last 24 hours and this has helped
Click to expand...
Believe me, a lot of us have felt like having been hit by a truck straight after diagnosis... I'm just glad you got here so quickly. It took me months to properly find this place. The Dutch forum I went to at first, was full of people who were getting progressively worse and didn't know what to do about it. Very doom & gloom, most on there in a state of despair. And then it turned out, there was hope to be had after all. So I'm just thrilled you didn't go the same route I did, and got some "This can be fixed!" rather than "Get your coffin sorted" right at the start of your journey. It does get better from here on in, I promise. When you know what the problem is, the solution's right there.
 
Thanks for the encouragement . I’m still quite overwhelmed and really need to process and get my head around things. (It was such a shock as my GP had never suspected this - the blood test was just supposed to be a box ticking exercise to rule stuff out - I think she was as stunned as I was!) But I’m finding this forum a great help
 
Have struggled a bit today. I felt quite lightheaded yesterday evening. Usually I’d have put it down to tiredness, not having slept great the night before, but now? I’m paranoid it could be a sign of something bad. Or is it the new medication? The stress of the previous 24 hours? The sudden change of diet? I’m not good at not knowing why something is happening.

Due to literally having nothing else in the house to eat except stuff that I knew for sure would definitely be worse, I had my ‘usual’ toast and coffee for breakfast, although I omitted the marmalade I would previously have had, and two hours later I tested my blood and it was 27, which really scared me. (I had tested it before eating and it had been 12.7) Luckily I had a day off work today so after running a few errands I drove home via the supermarket and bought fresh fruit and veg, some meat, natural yogurt, cheese and eggs. So now I have lots of options.

When I got home I went through my kitchen cupboards and got rid of everything I can’t have - pasta, potatoes, meringue nests, jam… I’ll take some to my daughter’s tomorrow and the rest to the local food bank.

Treated myself to a piece of rump steak for dinner, which I’ll have with broccoli and cauliflower.
 
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