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Found Out By Accident

I

Indaloman

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Was called in for a blood test by GP, normal as I have cardio and thyroid problems, and when I asked what test was for I was told, 'your diabetes'! What diabetes and how long have I had it. It was noticed apparently, 6 months ago, but because I take Dapagliflozin for my heart, they thought I knew! I have bought a monitor and testing once in morning before eating and once two hours after lunch, it this ok?
 
Hi @Indaloman and welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear about the mix-up with your diagnosis, it seems this sort of thing is far too common.
Your Dapagliflozin is an drug in a class called SGLT2-inhibitors. It's main effect for diabetics is to make your body pee out glucose ( so side effects can include urinary tract infections). However the difficulty for people who want to control their Diabetes themselves as much as possible, is that you need to have enough glucose in your bloodstream so that the Dapagliflozin doesn't make you pee out too much glucose (because this can induce a state known as a Hypo).

Do you know how much into the diabetic zone you are? The relavant test is called an HbA1C and in the current UK measurements a level of between 42 and 47 is called pre-diabetic while full Diabetes starts at 48 and many forum members have reversed their levels down into the pre-diabetic range or even the normal non-diabetic range even when diagnosed with a level in the 100's.
 
Better to test before eating then two hours after to check if that meal caused a high spike.

I used this to check how many carbs I could eat per meal, and per day.
 
ianf0ster said:
Hi @Indaloman and welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear about the mix-up with your diagnosis, it seems this sort of thing is far too common.
Your Dapagliflozin is an drug in a class called SGLT2-inhibitors. It's main effect for diabetics is to make your body pee out glucose ( so side effects can include urinary tract infections). However the difficulty for people who want to control their Diabetes themselves as much as possible, is that you need to have enough glucose in your bloodstream so that the Dapagliflozin doesn't make you pee out too much glucose (because this can induce a state known as a Hypo).

Do you know how much into the diabetic zone you are? The relavant test is called an HbA1C and in the current UK measurements a level of between 42 and 47 is called pre-diabetic while full Diabetes starts at 48 and many forum members have reversed their levels down into the pre-diabetic range or even the normal non-diabetic range even when diagnosed with a level in the 100's.
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Thanks for coming back to me, I had the HbA1C and although I don't know the actual level, the nurse told me I 'in the middle' and that the medication was handling it well, so somewhere between 43 and 47. So I assume I am pre-diabetic.
 
Hi @Indaloman Its good to know that you are 'in the middle', but if you can find out, it would be helpful to know exactly what it is that you are 'in the middle of'. Because our advice very much depends upon knowing that.

If you are merely in the pre-diabetic zone, the unless you are extremely keen to become non-diabetic, lose weight, lower blood pressure then I'd feel it wasn't worth the changes you would have to make. And so just let the drugs do the work but accept that without changes in diet Type 2 diabetes slowly gets worse over the years and decades.

It's really up to you and what is possible in your situation. For example how often you feel you can test, as well as having control of your own meals - what they consist of and also when you have them.

Please let us know how you feel about it all, and if you are keen we can help you, but it is totally your choice.
 
Indaloman said:
Was called in for a blood test by GP, normal as I have cardio and thyroid problems, and when I asked what test was for I was told, 'your diabetes'! What diabetes and how long have I had it. It was noticed apparently, 6 months ago, but because I take Dapagliflozin for my heart, they thought I knew! I have bought a monitor and testing once in morning before eating and once two hours after lunch, it this ok?
Click to expand...
Hi @Indaloman ,

Welcome to the forum.

I’ll tag in @Oldvatr to say hello. From memory, from his own experience with a heart condition he may be able to offer a few pointers on how he manages his diabetes. (T2.)

Hope this helps.
Best wishes..
 
I have Left Ventricular Hyperttophy

No one told be I had it, I just read it on patient access

So I think when there are multiple carers ie gp and hospitals there is more chance of mistakes like this
 
Jaylee said:
Hi @Indaloman ,

Welcome to the forum.

I’ll tag in @Oldvatr to say hello. From memory, from his own experience with a heart condition he may be able to offer a few pointers on how he manages his diabetes. (T2.)

Hope this helps.
Best wishes..
Click to expand...
Hi. Yes I have had the triple BP plumbing job and now have heart failure to boot. I too have been put on dapagliflozin and had my Metformin taken away. I have had bad experiences with Dapagliflozin and am currently reducing my dose much against my GP advice. I have had sores on the perineum (that strip of skin between the gonads and the rear portion) which if allowed to fester apparently can become infected with necrotizing facliliitis (Fournieres Gangrene) I have to grease that area now with a heavy duty barrier cream to protect my derriere. Fungal UTI;s are apparently common with this med too, and I did get an infection when I first went on it that needed very severe telling off with some heap big ju-ju antibiotics.

I have successfully used LCHF with moderate fat levels to control my T2D. I do not do keto, and I choose to use a minimum dose of Gliclazide to give me better choices in the menu dept. It suits me and I am currently returning HbA1c's in the 39 to 46 range which is pre-diabetic levels. My Heart Consultant is happy with my progress. I am not happy with the dapagliflozin. I have had very high ketones in my wee which is a sign of potential DKA caused by the Dapaliflozin and certainly way above the levels of dietary ketosis. (i.e. 8mmol/l measured one day when I felt very off colour) Did not suffer DKA but it was a worrying moment. and that is on a dose of 5 mg per day and on alternate days at that.

I advise you get a carton of ketone weestix just in case, and ring 111 if you exceed 4 mmol/l or 999 if you exceed 16mmol/l on the sticks. Beware too of severe and painful constipation from the dapagliflozin. I had it quite bad, but it may be because I am also on a water tablet (furusomide) which also dehydrates me and makes constipation and DKA more likely. So invest in some gentle laxative to have to hand in emergencies.
 
Hi @Indaloman. Yes - very important to know what you are in the middle of! Whether it is diabetes, or prediabetes. You absolutely should be getting your 'number' re the HBA1c, and ask for clarification of which one it is - pre or diabetes.

I am appalled to hear and read so often of these ghastly diagnoses-not-being-communicated stories. The very least a patient is paying for and needing really needing - is a diagnosis. Communicated! especially one might add, for a metabolic disease, where so much is on the person/patient to improve ones health.
 
AloeSvea said:
I am appalled to hear and read so often of these ghastly diagnoses-not-being-communicated stories
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I've told before of finding among my online records a prediabetic diagnosis back in 2006, yes a full 14 years before T2 was found. In between it has never ever been mentioned to me nor was I ever retested for it. Sadly I don't think its that unusual
 
ianf0ster said:
Hi @Indaloman Its good to know that you are 'in the middle', but if you can find out, it would be helpful to know exactly what it is that you are 'in the middle of'. Because our advice very much depends upon knowing that.

If you are merely in the pre-diabetic zone, the unless you are extremely keen to become non-diabetic, lose weight, lower blood pressure then I'd feel it wasn't worth the changes you would have to make. And so just let the drugs do the work but accept that without changes in diet Type 2 diabetes slowly gets worse over the years and decades.

It's really up to you and what is possible in your situation. For example how often you feel you can test, as well as having control of your own meals - what they consist of and also when you have them.

Please let us know how you feel about it all, and if you are keen we can help you, but it is totally your choice.
Click to expand...
At last managed to get copy of results, the Haemoglobin A1c level is 50 mmol/mol, full blood count is levels are spot on. At the moment I do a sugar/blood test every lunch time only, should it be more or less often. If all is good how come I am always tired, toes are so stiff I cannot move them, pee left right and centre, and the crown jewels itch. Diet can be changed but that means cooking two meals each meal time.
 
I always tested just before then 2 hours after each meal for weeks, until my numbers were down and I knew how I reacted and how many carbs I can eat. I then tested every time I tried a new food or food combination, then once a week for a full day.
I doubt I'd have got into remission without this information.
 
Indaloman said:
At last managed to get copy of results, the Haemoglobin A1c level is 50 mmol/mol, full blood count is levels are spot on. At the moment I do a sugar/blood test every lunch time only, should it be more or less often. If all is good how come I am always tired, toes are so stiff I cannot move them, pee left right and centre, and the crown jewels itch. Diet can be changed but that means cooking two meals each meal time.
Click to expand...
Ok, I'm quie certain that you can manage a sufficient change in diet without having to cook 2 separate meals. Cook the same main part of the meal (the part high in protein and fat) and cook the 'normal carbohydrate' and the low carb substitutions separately.

For example when I eat out at an Indian restaurant the others eat rice, but instead I have some Saag or Saag Paneer instead of the rice.
When I'm at home (in the UK) instead of rice I eat ground up cauliflower (into size of rice grains). instead of Potato I eat Celeriac or Turnip or Swede
 
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My thanks for all the info and advice. Diabetes is a new world with its own language! But I'll get there.
 
Hi @Indaloman. I don't understand the 'middle' thing coming from your nurse, re your HBA1c being 50. But great to know what it is, as you can work from this point and get better. Which, from my LCHF food and drink point of view, is lowering your carb intake, and getting that blood sugar level down. A good idea to get your fitness/physical activity level up as good as you can as well, to aid your heart health too. But I do understand how challenging these things can be.

Personally, reading back over the entries in this thread, and my thoughts on this matter, I don't see medical practitioners not telling their patients what diagnosis/disease they have as a mistake - I see it as malpractice.
 
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