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Does this make you feel very unwell?

M

maria g

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi All
I was diagnosed with type 2 on 15th January 2013 after being unwell with a chest and water infection which I had 2 weeks before Xmas and still hasn't really gone despite 4 lots of antibiotics and 1 lot of steroids. I have been having water infections every other month but it was me on my 3rd visit to the gp who saw a nurse in the corridor and asked if I could have a fasting blood test as I knew something must be wrong. I was told to make an appt and 2 weeks later I was diagnosed. I was seen over the last 2 years and told I was prediabetic so that's why I asked for the test but if I hadn't self-diagnosed I would still be wondering what the heck is going on. The other problem I have is that I work full time and have had a lot of time off due to infections and of course people think you are not genuine so when I was diagnosed I did feel that there was at least a reason for the way I've been feeling. Trouble is I've been put on Metformin since the 15th but I have to say that I don't feel very fantastic-I get a lot of headaches and I've noticed constipation is an issue.I always seem to have one problem or another and feel as if I've forgotten what it's like to feel well. I am 60 and have tried to go part time at work but my employer will not allow it and I work for a civil service department so there's no hope!Does anyone else feel like this?
Thanks for listening to my grumbles as sometimes I feel quite alone in this.
 
When I first went onto Metformin the normal NOT the SR I felt ok then when increased to 3 x 500g tabs a day I felt really bad, headaches, sick, totally off food (that bit was ok :lol: ) but after a week I couldn't handle it so I asked about the SR version and have never looked back.

So go back to the nurse and ask to go on the Metformin SR (Slow Release) it is so much easier on you than the normal stuff
 
Hi Maria

Welcome to the forum. One of the moderators will be along with some basic stuff soon..

You don't say what your fasting level was, or if you have had an HBac1 test, which is a measure of your levels over 3 months, but that would be useful to know.

Interestingly, your case parallels what happened to me. In the run up to diagnosis I was getting a lot of small infections, ears, thrush, red eye, sweat rashes. My bedroom cabinet was full of creams! What I did not realise at the time was that running high blood sugars encourages infections, and my problem was diabetes, not infections.

Once I started taking Metformin and lowering my blood sugars to 'normal' levels, I have found all the infections have not recurred, and I feel a lot better than before.

I know diagnosis is a shock, and there is a lot to get your head around, but I think you will find the results are well worth it.

Caterham
 
Hi and welcome,

When I was on Metformin (the regular kind, ever tried the SR) I found I had to make sure I drank plenty of fluids as they tend to dehydrate you, thus causing the headaches and constipation. This would probably be worse if you work in a heated office all the time. Make sure you drink plenty of water or whatever and you may feel better.

Best wishes
Angie
 
Thank you for your advice. I know nothing about SR Metformin but my next appt with the Diabetes nurse is next Tuesday. I have a diabetes course booked to start in April but I just feel all over the place. One of my work colleagues advice was that she knows someone with Diabetes and they still eat the same-pork pies,sausage rolls pizzas etc so what am I worrying about as Diabetes will soon be 'cured' once I get the medication right!!!!!I wasn't told what my level was just that I was 'now diabetic' and I've been told I have to have the Hbac in 3 months time.I hope I eventually will know what I am doing!!!
 
Hi Maria and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the information for new members, as mentioned by Caterham. which I think should help you. Carry on asking questions and there is always be someone who can assist.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find well over 30,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
Hi All
Thank you to Daisy too for your good advice I think I'llhave to read it over several times to get my head around it. It's interesting too to read that people feel depressed when diagnosed as I can empathise with that. I just can't wait to feel better as I just seem to have something new every day and despite taking the prescribed Metformin I can't say I feel any better. I will mention the SR Metformin as suggested when I go back to the nurse next week. Thank you all once again. :***:
 
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