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Do I have diabetes or not?

rosserk said:
Special K... And yes I know diabetics aren't supposed to eat Special K .. But don't forget the Diabetic Nurse said there is nothing wrong with me and to behave normally. I have to behave normally until I get a diagnoses ?.
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well then u cannot be concerned about your blood sugar....u either worry about your blood sugar and watch wat you eat, or you dont worry and take the pills....simples really.
 
rosserk said:
Special K... And yes I know diabetics aren't supposed to eat Special K .. But don't forget the Diabetic Nurse said there is nothing wrong with me and to behave normally. I have to behave normally until I get a diagnoses ?.
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Pick up that box, drop it in the bin and eat something else. Your DN is either ignorant or simply an idiot. They are FULL of sugars. Then watch your levels drop big time
 
Mike D said:
Pick up that box, drop it in the bin and eat something else. Your DN is either ignorant or simply an idiot. They are FULL of sugars. Then watch your levels drop big time
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Mike I absolutely agree with you but with all due respect I need a proper diagnosis and I need some specialist advice. Hence my original question am I diabetic or not? I can't just diagnose myself and start avoiding carbs. Are the BG readings above indicative of a type two diabetic. In the absence of a high reading on the HbA1c test the nurse at my practice is saying I am not diabetic. Are you saying stop eating Special K because the same would happen to a non diabetic or stop eating because your readings show you're diabetic.
 
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Brightside said:
well then u cannot be concerned about your blood sugar....u either worry about your blood sugar and watch wat you eat, or you dont worry and take the pills....simples really.
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Actually it's not that simple! If you followed the thread, I have been told categorically I am not diabetic and stop taking the pills the Doctor gave me. Basically what I am asking is are those levels what you would see in a diabetic? I can't write my own prescriptions? I absolutely agree with what you are saying stop eating the Special K but how do I get a diagnoses that affords me the correct care or do I just make up my own care regime ?
 
rosserk said:
Mike I absolutely agree with you but I with all due respect I need a proper diagnosis and I need some specialist advice. Hence my original question am I diabetic or not? I can't just diagnose myself and start avoiding carbs. Are the BG readings above indicative of a type two diabetic. In the absence of Hugh reading on the HbA1c test the nurse at my practice is saying I am not diabetic. If your saying stop eating Special K because the same would happen to a non diabetic?
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going low carb is good for normal/non diabetics too....so no harm done. check out Paleo, Banting on google and youtube.....but again....if you are unsure of your BS and u are concerned then stop eating special K.
 
rosserk said:
But don't forget the Diabetic Nurse said there is nothing wrong with me and to behave normally. I have to behave normally until I get a diagnoses ?.
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Well I know what I would be doing with numbers like that you had on the special K.

Are you telling me that if you had something hurting i.e like a broken arm, and putting it in a sling relieved all the pain, but the nurse said no, it's not broken, don't put it in a sling, you would be ok with that while your waiting for a second opinion, or would you just put it in the sling regardless.

You have a chance to relieve the symptoms of the possible diabetes why not do it?
Neil
 
@rosserk

When you are feeling unwell and unable to manage climbing the stairs without stopping for breath; and are drinking and passing enough water each day to fill a gallon container, present yourself to A&E without delay.
 
Hi @rosserk

Look back at the advice you've been given ......... your HB1AC numbers might be good but your Special K is not.
 
Ok thanks everyone I am grateful for your opinions and appreciate why you disapprove. I thought the best course of action was to continue eating as normal record my BS and take them to the Doctor on Thursday and show him and explain what happened with the nurse. If it transpires that I have got diabetes and I am given medication as before I will take it religiously and I will follow a safe diet. You're advising me to self diagnose and go on a healthy diet, which is a great idea but surely an accurate diagnoses should be my main priority. Please don't think I am not taking diabetes seriously or the affects it has on a persons health, I only registered on here because I really didn't know what to do. Trust me if you'd been on the receiving end of the call I had from the Diabetic Nurse you would be at a loss too. I can do as you say watch my diet and try and keep those levels low but isn't that ignoring the issue too?
 
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Ambersilva said:
@rosserk

When you are feeling unwell and unable to manage climbing the stairs without stopping for breath; and are drinking and passing enough water each day to fill a gallon container, present yourself to A&E without delay.
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Thank you Ambersilva

I get the feeling I am provoking anger from some of the members who seem to have missed the context of the thread. I have been told in a very angry and aggressive manner 'you are not diabetic eat normally and stop testing your blood sugars!' If anyone has a suggestion of how I get around that issue I am all ears. I thought following the instructions from the DN and recording my blood sugars was the way to go?
 
rosserk said:
Thank you Ambersilva

I get the feeling I am provoking anger from some of the members who seem to have missed the context of the thread. I have been told in a very angry and aggressive manner 'you are not diabetic eat normally and stop testing your blood sugars!' If anyone has a suggestion of how I get around that issue I am all ears. I thought following the instructions from the DN and recording my blood sugars was the way to go?
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I'm going to agree with people that Special K is very sugary.
However, there's no need for them to get aggressive about it.
And, in addition, if it's a definitive diagnosis you're looking for, I think that you have to be a bit careful low carbing etc, as it will obviously mask any insulin resistance that you might have by making things look "more normal" than they really are.
You're doing the right thing testing and recording results - armed with lots of good data, the doctor will be able to advise you properly when you finally get to see him!
 
misswhiplash said:
I'm going to agree with people that Special K is very sugary.
However, there's no need for them to get aggressive about it.
And, in addition, if it's a definitive diagnosis you're looking for, I think that you have to be a bit careful low carbing etc, as it will obviously mask any insulin resistance that you might have by making things look "more normal" than they really are.
You're doing the right thing testing and recording results - armed with lots of good data, the doctor will be able to advise you properly when you finally get to see him!
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Thank you! I lost my sister in January from Pancreatic Cancer, so I am obviously very concerned that I am showing symptoms of diabetes and I think it's important to get a proper diagnoses. I am obviously very scared and still grieving for the loss of my sister. When the Doctor diagnosed me with diabetes I was dealing with it I was taking the tablets and watching what I ate. The problems only started once I spoke to the nurse and she over ruled the diagnoses. I don't know of any other way to get a proper diagnosis other than to arm myself with some data and to check back with you guys for advice.
 
Dibbles1 said:
I think you have understandable health anxiety due to what happened with your sister.
Re: diabetes masking pancreatic cancer etc etc.
I also think you have received good health care from your health care providers.
With the exception of the DN telling you to eat cereals after you told her you were having 'spikes' in your blood sugar. As @Mike D says cereals are 'sugar'.
Irrespective of Diabetes, they are not advisable for anyone to eat IMHO.
However, as your health care provider and a supposed professional, I don't think your DN should have told you to continue eating them. Especially If you'd told her you were having 'spikes' in your blood sugar. As you say you took your records/readings with you and discussed this with her.
You have received very good advice from the forum users. What you should have been told by your DN is the same as everyone here has said.
If something is 'spiking' your blood sugar, stop eating it. It's common sense.
It's all a good Dr or DN would tell you to do initially, if you were diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic anyway.
Don't wait for things to progress before making healthy eating choices.
That doesn't make any sense.
You are spiking though, so you will become diabetic if you don't change your
eating habits. It's a case of watch and wait at the moment and make the changes suggested. Whether it would be Type 1 or Type 2 would only be able to be diagnosed after your situation deteriorated.
If you are concerned you may have what your sister had, then you should get a private scan done.
If for no other reason than to rest your mind.
Good luck x ;)
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I did not see the diabetic nurse she telephoned me she refused to see me she never saw the data. The only person who saw the data was the doctor at the drop in centre and he took a urine sample and tested it. When I showed him, he said the readings were undisputable, I told the nurse what he said but she said he should not have made a diagnoses without a HbA1c test. To be clear she didn't say eat Special K, she said continue eating my normal diet 'I was not diabetic'.
 
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The HB1AC test (and control of it going forward) is paramount. It is not what your nurse told you or did not tell you. It's us ...... you're not expected to understand this so early in your journey .... but we do and only thru experience.

For me, it's no cereals ...... at all. For you, look at those figures, substitute and test.
 
Hi @rosserk

Just a quick question, have they tested your vit D levels? If not then I would suggest you go see your doctor and request a test as part of his investigation of your symptoms. It is just some of the symptoms of low vit D are similar to yours.

So do not be fobbed off go back to the doctors (see your GP not the nurse) and demand further investigation into your symptoms.
 
Dear Rosserk, I think it's clear from all your readings that you are diabetic. You have checked the meter with concurrent readings on others and with a new meter, so you CAN trust them. Why the Hba1c is "wrong", we can't know.
There is another easy way to get a diagnosis once you're off the metformin and feeling bad again. A fasting blood sugar above 7 is diagnostic of diabetes 2, and I think you were measuring fasting blood sugars much higher than that before you got the diagnosis from the GP.
I totally sympathize with the paradox of wanting to do the best thing for the blood sugar, but also needing to be bad enough to get the diagnosis.
 
Hi all I read somewhere that HbA1c tests can be inaccurate if blood sugars go from one extreme to another, high to low. I don't tend to eat during the day and certainly didn't eat well during the three months the test covered which was when I was caring for my sister. I will eat breakfast and then not eat again until six ish... Before anyone tells me off for not eating during the day, remember I am not 'diabetic', I realise that would be a bad idea for someone with diabetes. What I am saying though is, that if someone isn't eating during the day and it's food that spikes the blood sugars wouldn't there be a lots of low readings during the days which could potentially give inaccurate results? Not eating would keep my blood sugar low for a large percentage of the time and bring down the average? Or doesn't it work like that?
 
rosserk said:
Hi all I read somewhere that HbA1c tests can be inaccurate if blood sugars go from one extreme to another, high to low. I don't tend to eat during the day and certainly didn't eat well during the three months the test covered which was when I was caring for my sister. I will eat breakfast and then not eat again until six ish... Before anyone tells me off for not eating during the day, remember I am not 'diabetic', I realise that would be a bad idea for someone with diabetes. What I am saying though is, that if someone isn't eating during the day and it's food that spikes the blood sugars wouldn't there be a lots of low readings during the days which could potentially give inaccurate results? Not eating would keep my blood sugar low for a large percentage of the time and bring down the average? Or doesn't it work like that?
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When your not eating at meals times, your liver will release it's glucose stores 'glycogen' to keep you running. This will raise your blood sugars. This happens to many diabetics and non diabetics first thing on a morning to give you the energy you need to start the day. If you miss meals the same will happen if the body is calling for energy.

Neil
 
Ok I gave the Special K a miss this morning in favour of whole meal toast. Before anyone starts shouting that's just as bad, I know. I am trying to establish which foods effect me and how badly to gather my evidence for the doctors on Thursday.

Before breakfast my BS were

5.2
2 hours later they were
7.7

After some mild cleaning dishes, making bed etc, which left me feeling like I had just run a marathon my BS were

5.7 three hours after eating which I assume is fine?

I am full of cold and have a sinus infection that isn't responding to antibiotics so I may be tired from that and that could be what's spiking my temperature.

I also wake up every morning with a mild headache which has been going on for months! Not sure if that's significant
 
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