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encouraging start

Sam50

Sam50

Well-Known Member
Messages
228
Location
West Sussex
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello again,

Just wanted to let you know that we (Hubby and I ) had some encouraging news this morning. Hubby went to his GP with a pain in his side and back. Routine bloods showed that his blood glucose was very high and that he had an elevated white blood cell count. GP said that he was 'more than likely diabetic' and to make an appointment to see the nurse.

This was on June 26th and he finally gets to see the nurse on Monday 24th July. Still don't know the HbA1c test result in spite of asking ( will ask nurse again on Monday) just that it was 'double what we expect to see'. I had to Google to find out what that figure might be ! No medication prescribed and BP was (on 26th June) 185/110. So he swapped sugar for diabetic friendly sweeteners and began researching low carb diets. I started him on Alpha Lineoic supplements and a homeopathic remedy said to aid with lowering blood sugar.

So we ordered a blood sugar testing monitor and strips. Hubby tested his fasting blood glucose as soon as the CodeFree device arrived and it was 17.6. On Friday we disappeared to the sugar capital of Europe (Belgium) to celebrate my birthday and had 4 days of eating and drinking all the wrong things.

On Tuesday 18th July he tested his FBG and it was 14.9 and he then started a Low Carb ( well almost no carb) diet with no sugar. Today (Friday 21st July) his FBG was 13.7 and his BP reduced to 140/102. Since June 26th he has lost half a stone in weight.

So the numbers are going in the right direction and thanks in a large part to all the help and support of the lovely people on this forum.
The original reason for going to the Dr ( pain/itching/crawling sensations/numbness) in his side and back remains- as does the rash under the skin. Coupled with a raised white blood cell count, I am convinced that it is more viral than neuropathy related to diabetes. But whatever-one problem at a time. It's very early days for us but we are very encouraged by the positive results so far and convinced that he can get his BG numbers back into the normal range without needing medication.

he also said that his eyesight had improved-so very glad he got the 'diagnosis' before making the optician appointment !! thanks for reading xx
 
Well done to hubby, definitely in the right direction, and it can only improve if he sticks to the low carb way of eating. :)

Can I just ask if you mean Alpha Lineoic supplements? Do you mean Alpha Lipoic ? The two are different. It is the Lipoic that many of us here use.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Well done to hubby, definitely in the right direction, and it can only improve if he sticks to the low carb way of eating. :)

Can I just ask if you mean Alpha Lineoic supplements? Do you mean Alpha Lipoic ? The two are different. It is the Lipoic that many of us here use.
Click to expand...
Sorry yes- I did mean Alpha Lipoic ! Have Googled so many supplements recently that my mind is boggled :D
 
Well done to you for supporting him! It's good that his retinopathy is improving. With your continuing support he should be able to lower his bs levels further. :)
 
Yes well done for taking positive action and keep it up I'm sure with your superb support he will turn things round.:)
 
Sam50 said:
I am convinced that it is more viral than neuropathy related to diabetes.
Click to expand...

Shingles? Only a thought, both my parents have had shingles. My poor old mum was in a lot of pain whereas my dad just had an irritating itch .

Sam50 said:
Today (Friday 21st July) his FBG was 13.7 and his BP reduced to 140/102. Since June 26th he has lost half a stone in weight.
Click to expand...

Excellent news on the BP and good to see BG coming down. It might be work in progress but you obviously know what to do. If an official diagnosis of diabetes is eventually received then eye appointments at hospital will be offered and in my view are a godsend. Every year I get good news but if it was bad, I could take whatever actions necessary straight away.

As for weight loss - "insufficient insulin prevents the body from getting glucose from the blood into the body's cells to use as energy. When this occurs, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy, causing a reduction in overall body weight". (source: diabetes.co.uk)
 
Well done both you and your husband for taking control, keep up the good work, it will be worth it x
 
DavidGrahamJones said:
Shingles? Only a thought, both my parents have had shingles. My poor old mum was in a lot of pain whereas my dad just had an irritating itch .



Excellent news on the BP and good to see BG coming down. It might be work in progress but you obviously know what to do. If an official diagnosis of diabetes is eventually received then eye appointments at hospital will be offered and in my view are a godsend. Every year I get good news but if it was bad, I could take whatever actions necessary straight away.

As for weight loss - "insufficient insulin prevents the body from getting glucose from the blood into the body's cells to use as energy. When this occurs, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy, causing a reduction in overall body weight". (source: diabetes.co.uk)
Click to expand...
Morning :) Yes the consultant that he spoke to (when he had the scan for suspected gallstones) said that it sounded far more like shingles. He fits ALL the criteria for that except that he didn't have the 'usual' shingles rash so the GP remains skeptical and when we suggested that it might be shingles without a rash he just said 'there's nothing that can be done for that anyway' which was helpful (not !) There is always something that can be done to improve a situation and I have various homeopathic remedies which might help the nerve pain.

It followed all the usual pathways of a virus, lethargy, raised temperature etc and is slowly improving. Some days really painful others just an itchy/crawly sensation. Trying to be patient as I know that shingles can take months to ease off.

thanks for your comments x
 
Sam50 said:
Hello again,

Just wanted to let you know that we (Hubby and I ) had some encouraging news this morning. Hubby went to his GP with a pain in his side and back. Routine bloods showed that his blood glucose was very high and that he had an elevated white blood cell count. GP said that he was 'more than likely diabetic' and to make an appointment to see the nurse.

This was on June 26th and he finally gets to see the nurse on Monday 24th July. Still don't know the HbA1c test result in spite of asking ( will ask nurse again on Monday) just that it was 'double what we expect to see'. I had to Google to find out what that figure might be ! No medication prescribed and BP was (on 26th June) 185/110. So he swapped sugar for diabetic friendly sweeteners and began researching low carb diets. I started him on Alpha Lineoic supplements and a homeopathic remedy said to aid with lowering blood sugar.

So we ordered a blood sugar testing monitor and strips. Hubby tested his fasting blood glucose as soon as the CodeFree device arrived and it was 17.6. On Friday we disappeared to the sugar capital of Europe (Belgium) to celebrate my birthday and had 4 days of eating and drinking all the wrong things.

On Tuesday 18th July he tested his FBG and it was 14.9 and he then started a Low Carb ( well almost no carb) diet with no sugar. Today (Friday 21st July) his FBG was 13.7 and his BP reduced to 140/102. Since June 26th he has lost half a stone in weight.

So the numbers are going in the right direction and thanks in a large part to all the help and support of the lovely people on this forum.
The original reason for going to the Dr ( pain/itching/crawling sensations/numbness) in his side and back remains- as does the rash under the skin. Coupled with a raised white blood cell count, I am convinced that it is more viral than neuropathy related to diabetes. But whatever-one problem at a time. It's very early days for us but we are very encouraged by the positive results so far and convinced that he can get his BG numbers back into the normal range without needing medication.

he also said that his eyesight had improved-so very glad he got the 'diagnosis' before making the optician appointment !! thanks for reading xx
Click to expand...
Way to go, keep up the good work. Diligence is its own reward.
 
Sam50 said:
'there's nothing that can be done for that anyway'
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what they said for both my parents who had shingles at different times. Totally useless and I'm inclined to wish that they had shingles just to make them appreciate how the patient feels. My poor old mum was so unwell and the dementia didn't help, the family even persuaded me to taker her to A&E, something that made me realise that there are some doctors who don't have the time for an old person with shingles because all I got was a reprimand for wasting their time, something I expected when I took her. I spent a lot of time googling and although that doesn't make me an expert by any means, I know that there are some antivirals available such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir, and pain medication such as such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and cocodomol. My father was actually prescribed Valium because shingles can be brought on by stress and it did seem to help. I hope that you can get a proper diagnosis and some decent treatment as soon as possible. I hope the homeopathic remedies produce the desired effect.
 
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