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From bad to worse

Munkey

Munkey

Member
Messages
12
Location
T'up north
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Most things!
Hi all
So here I stand on the cusp of meds and to be honest I'm absolutely bricking it I was told two years ago that I was heading towards diabetes and I've fought so hard to control it I lost four stone took up walking and cycling gave up the fags the booze and I've kept my self on a strict low fat low carb diet taken bloods three times a day every day made regular Drs appts and did everything I did then last week things took a nasty turn i couldn't see anything like insane blurred vision had major tummy cramps and the sweats and the pins and needles in my fingers were like having ten thousand volts of electricity poured through them . And tired my god I fall asleep halfway through a conversation and I've gone to sleep at work whilst actually talking to a coworker after sky high test all week ended up at the docs yesterday with a h1nbca of 80mmols and a type 2 diabetic diagnosis under my belt .i feel like I've failed and I'm back at the start more questions no answers and a shackle I'm never going to shirk for the rest of my mortal existence I've read up on metformin and to be honest the side effects scare the living hell out of me I wish I could do something more
 
Munkey. Firstly, my Uncle takes 2000mg of metformin a day and it's a breeze for him. No side effects at all. From what I read the vast majority of people who take metformin have very little trouble. I am just one of those people who arent good with Metformin. My wonderful doc has managed to find a good balance of medication for me with no side effects, so I can concentrate on getting my blood glucose down instead of worrying about embarrassing side effects.

There are loads of great postings by people on these forums and they will tell you that having diabetes is not a badge of failure - it's just pure bad luck, yes, being overweight can predispose you to Type 2 but there are lots of overweight people out there who dont have T2 and lots of healthy weight people who do. There is a strong genetic element to T2 as well.

I some of the same symptoms as you - the blurred vision was especially bad as I love to read - and my diagnosis HB1ac was 122.

Once you get settled on your medication, you will feel so much better - I promise. Look at all those great things you have done to improve your health, exercise, losing weight, cutting down on the beer.

Yes, Type 2 can be a pain at times, especially at celebrations or down at the pub - I belong to a morris side - can you imagine a non-drinking morris dancer?

Best of luck, Munkey, hope to see you around lots on these boards.

Prov
 
I'm 100%bwith Tim. Get a GAD and c peptide. Insist. Losing weight with high BS is an indication you might need insulin. Fear not. I was so adamant about not going on it and I would fight anyone who tried to take it away from me now. If you need it, you need it. I did all the right things too.

Agreed too it is NOT a badge of failure but just bad luck. It certainly can be progressive, though not always. Some of us just aren't as lucky. But truly as luck does have it there are some great insulin regimes out there now and they actually save our lives.

Best wishes.
 
Well done your weight loss!!! And all the energy you have had!! I am sorry for your set back, however remember how your body is feeling from all the work you have done and perhaps this episode is showing that tweaking is needed but your on the road.
 
Munkey said:
i feel like I've failed and I'm back at the start more questions no answers and a shackle I'm never going to shirk for the rest of my mortal existence I've read up on metformin and to be honest the side effects scare the living hell out of me I wish I could do something more.
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Sorry to hear that your condition has taken this turn. You certainly are not a failure and as others have said, you need to see what your pancreas is up to with a C -peptide test and the Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoantibodies test (GAD antibodies test) which is used to help discover whether someone has either type 1 or Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood (LADA).

Although I had big problems with Metformin when first prescribed nearly 20 years ago, I have learnt that starting on smaller doses would have helped, taking the sustained release would have helped and eating less carbs would also have helped. I had a break of several years from Metformin but the side effects of the Rosiglitazone I took were even worse, I gained 8 stone and my liver function started going down hill, both known side effects, Rosiglitazone is no longer available.

I paid for my own c-pep test as my surgery didn't think it was worth doing, at least I know my pancreas function is within the normal range.

All the best, think positive, you've done well discipline wise up to now, keep at it.
 
Well you're not going to believe this but I was glad of a diagnosis. I'd been ill for years and knew my body wasn't right.
It was a relief for me to at last get some help. There is loads of help. Metformin and insulin is aids but can be managed successfully for decades.
You will be back exercising with energy in no time. Have a look around and you'll notice we are all different but now the same. Welcome to your diabetic family.
We are here for you. Message anyone of us, we don't bite.
Open forums give you more of a varied opinion as you can see right now.
I have some wonderful friends on here who are walking the same path. They take my hand when I have wobbles.
We all get them. Take the support it doesn't make you weak just human.
I told someone over the weekend who had a treat. He's diabetic not a saint!
I think it sums us up. We're only human.
Looking forward to conversing with you in the future. :)
 
Hi and welcome. As others have said if you are fairly young and slim then Late onset T1 (LADA) becomes more likely than T2 (I've been thru it but at age 60). Ask for the GAD and c-peptide test. The latter reports what your insulin production is and is a good pointer to the right medication needed. Metformin is not the best tablet for T1 but many of us take it as it does help a bit. It is a good, safe drug and the bowel issues can be avoided, if they occur, by asking for the Slow Release (SR) version. If you are a LADA then one of the other drugs such as Gliclazide is often prescribed as it prods the pancreas. Do buy a glucose meter and test 2 hours after typical meals. BTW if your blood sugar continues to rise and you still feel ill then consider A&E.
 
ickihun said:
Well you're not going to believe this but I was glad of a diagnosis. I'd been ill for years and knew my body wasn't right.
It was a relief for me to at last get some help. There is loads of help. Metformin and insulin is aids but can be managed successfully for decades.
You will be back exercising with energy in no time. Have a look around and you'll notice we are all different but now the same. Welcome to your diabetic family.
Click to expand...

Meeee tooooo. I was sick, dropping weight, no energy and knew something was wrong. Drs kept telling me I was fine. After the hospital and 2 months on insulin I was a new person. I fought insulin in the beginning but it is my life saver now.
 
Hi guys quick update collapsed at work last night rushed in to a-e my kidney is not running at shall we say max power and this in turn has caused a whole back up of waste material etc in my bloodstream cholestrol level at 15 .3 h1 at ninety mmols blood sugar at 22 and it just won't drop so frustrated with it all I was healthy last week !! And now I'm in hospital!!! I know I have to go through this to come out the other side but I didn't expect it to be so rapid and debilitating so yeah I'm learning to accept the outcome of it I didn't fail at this my body's kinda failing me but I'm going to remain positive and I'm going to get through this as best as I can one step at time I mean after all I'm British stiff upper lip jolly hockey sticks wot wot .....
 
Well I really hope you get thru this @Munkey as that is the attitude that many could learn from. Please take care and wishing you well . Mike :)
 
Munkey said:
Hi guys quick update collapsed at work last night rushed in to a-e my kidney is not running at shall we say max power and this in turn has caused a whole back up of waste material etc in my bloodstream cholestrol level at 15 .3 h1 at ninety mmols blood sugar at 22 and it just won't drop so frustrated with it all I was healthy last week !! And now I'm in hospital!!! I know I have to go through this to come out the other side but I didn't expect it to be so rapid and debilitating so yeah I'm learning to accept the outcome of it I didn't fail at this my body's kinda failing me but I'm going to remain positive and I'm going to get through this as best as I can one step at time I mean after all I'm British stiff upper lip jolly hockey sticks wot wot .....
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Wishing you all the very best and keep up that sense of humour, it`s a real help in tough times :).
 
Munkey said:
Hi guys quick update collapsed at work last night rushed in to a-e my kidney is not running at shall we say max power and this in turn has caused a whole back up of waste material etc in my bloodstream cholestrol level at 15 .3 h1 at ninety mmols blood sugar at 22 and it just won't drop so frustrated with it all I was healthy last week !! And now I'm in hospital!!! I know I have to go through this to come out the other side but I didn't expect it to be so rapid and debilitating so yeah I'm learning to accept the outcome of it I didn't fail at this my body's kinda failing me but I'm going to remain positive and I'm going to get through this as best as I can one step at time I mean after all I'm British stiff upper lip jolly hockey sticks wot wot .....
Click to expand...

Keep at it Munkey, thinking of you in hospital - you are keeping the medical profession very busy at the moment. It is a good job that you worked on your fitness levels as they will help you to recover from this more quickly. Keep us posted, please.
 
Munkey said:
Hi guys quick update collapsed at work last night rushed in to a-e my kidney is not running at shall we say max power and this in turn has caused a whole back up of waste material etc in my bloodstream cholestrol level at 15 .3 h1 at ninety mmols blood sugar at 22 and it just won't drop so frustrated with it all I was healthy last week !! And now I'm in hospital!!! I know I have to go through this to come out the other side but I didn't expect it to be so rapid and debilitating so yeah I'm learning to accept the outcome of it I didn't fail at this my body's kinda failing me but I'm going to remain positive and I'm going to get through this as best as I can one step at time I mean after all I'm British stiff upper lip jolly hockey sticks wot wot .....
Click to expand...
Hey I'm so sorry to hear what's happened! Your attitude is awesome though!!!! And I wish you a speedy recovery!!!
 
Enclave said:
I hope you mean low carb high fat way of eating ..
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Having tried LCHF after some years of LCLF (or even LCNormalF), I know which one works better for me. LCHF = Weight Gain, LCLF = Weight Maintenance or loss. For me, and it's a very personal thing because all our bodies work differently, it's a no brainer.
It's only a personal opinion but I think too much emphasis is put on the HF bit. We need it of course but . . . . . .
 
DavidGrahamJones said:
Having tried LCHF after some years of LCLF (or even LCNormalF), I know which one works better for me. LCHF = Weight Gain, LCLF = Weight Maintenance or loss. For me, and it's a very personal thing because all our bodies work differently, it's a no brainer.
It's only a personal opinion but I think too much emphasis is put on the HF bit. We need it of course but . . . . . .
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Hi @DavidGrahamJones I'm very interested in your findings. I'm either not eating enough fat or too much as I've stopped losing weight on lchf. What I really want to know if how is your cholesterol on lclf and any fatty liver?
 
Sometimes it is the type of fat that will stall weight loss. Dairy is the 1st that comes to mind, then saturated. I do best with weight and healthy lipids with plant fat like avocado olives olive oil and mayo. I need to watch the nuts too. I also do best with normal fat. I need some at all meals to keep bs steady but certainly not gobs. Like a tablespoon of mayo on my protein and some guac.
I recently started gaining so I cut back on fat and lost 7 # s in two weeks. Even better I had to cut insulin in half. The only other thing I did different was switched red wine to vodka water. Not sure if the carbs in wine put me over my carb threshold or not. Most likely a combination of lower fat as well as lower carb. Anything over 20 I start gaining.
 
Kristin251 said:
Sometimes it is the type of fat that will stall weight loss. Dairy is the 1st that comes to mind, then saturated. I do best with weight and healthy lipids with plant fat like avocado olives olive oil and mayo. I need to watch the nuts too. I also do best with normal fat. I need some at all meals to keep bs steady but certainly not gobs. Like a tablespoon of mayo on my protein and some guac.
I recently started gaining so I cut back on fat and lost 7 # s in two weeks. Even better I had to cut insulin in half. The only other thing I did different was switched red wine to vodka water. Not sure if the carbs in wine put me over my carb threshold or not. Most likely a combination of lower fat as well as lower carb. Anything over 20 I start gaining.
Click to expand...
I lose when I reduce my insulin. Most people do. I'm looking for fat only making a difference. Sorry @Kristin251 . However I find your findings very interesting too. :)
 
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