Hello All I'm new to the forum

[chezw]

Looking for opinions in relation to me please.
I was diagnosed with T2 about 10 years ago and initially was diet controlled. Over the years I have been prescribed Metformin
Gliclazide and Forxiga.

Ive note had my bloods done for over 17 months because of my surgery changing dates of bloods. I was told that I slipped through the net! When I tried to make an appointment I was told I would have to wait until my birthday month as things had now changed. At a recent Drs appointment she picked up the length time since last checked and arranged a blood test.

The result 97 or 9.7. I knew they would be high as I had been eating far too much of the wrong thing. I also have a daughter thats been recently been diagnosed with Bi Polar and had 2 overdoses to contend with.

I was also diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis nearly 3 years ago.

When I saw the diabetic nurse last week her first words words were that my readings were terrible and that I should start on insulin. I refused point blank. She said that I would have to start on it eventually and so why not now. I said I'm not at eventually yet! I have no doubt that I will have to start on insulin in the long run but having it pushed at me is not good in my view. Something I didnt know was that stress can cause blood levels to rise.

After much tooing and froing she had arranged for me to go on a course for diabetes and wants to see me in another 2 weeks. I have been given a meter to do my readings 2 or 3 times a day before breakfast lunch and dinner and am to take them back with me when I see her next. She has not changed my meds so far.I did tell her that because of the sickness and nausea from the pancreatitis I don't always eat she didn't say anything about that.

What I'd like to know is despite not eating should I still take my meds as if I was eating and should I still do the readings 2 or 3 times a day. I would ask at the course but that doesn't start until 26th April.

I am approximately 63kg and 5.2 in height.

Any advice in relation to what I can eat for both conditions would be wonderful please.

Finally although I have been very lucky with the pancreatitis I have now been in a constant attack for 19 days particularly feeling sick, bloated and pain. I have been prescribed codeine for the pain but I'm finding that's not really doing much now to help. My husband is badgering me to go back to see my GP but I'm not sure she can help as when I had a 2nd severe attack particularly with pain she said it was codeine or morphine. I don't want morphine if I can help it! #

Sorry for the very long post. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

 

[HSSS]

Ending up on insulin is not a forgone conclusion. Your diet has the power to dramatically change your numbers and health.

Two weeks will not show a big difference in hb1ac as it’s an average over about 12 weeks, but it could show an improvement in daily numbers.

Testing only before meals won’t tell you a lot. The only way testing tells you anything useful is fasting numbers in the morning (which are usually the last ones to improve btw). And then the difference before AND AFTER food.

Your medication can cause hypos. If you’re not eating or cutting carbs without adjusting these drugs to match intake it’s my understanding that a hypo would be more likely. But I am not a dr. And I find if disgraceful that your nurse didn’t explain this on prescribing them or tell you how to check or what to do if indeed that does happen. Because of this and your pain the I agree with your husband. Go see your dr.

Based on the experience of people in here, science and lots of people around the world - Can I suggest you take a good look at low carb high fat methods of eating (keto is just a version of this). It helps many of us lose significant amounts of weight, if desired, keep our numbers down and for some even safely eliminate medications and achieve remission and reduce or improve complications. Try clicking these links for more detailed explanations that are well worth readings

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/jokalsbeek.401801/ for info including low carb made simple

And https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/success-stories-and-testimonials.43/ to show it really works

and https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/what-have-you-eaten-today.75781/ for food ideas

also https://www.dietdoctor.com/ for more food ideas and general info of carb content of foods. Lots of other websites for recipes out there too. Just use the term low carb or keto with whatever you fancy.


Also it’s very important to be able to check for yourself what’s happening so you can make the necessary adjustments day to day and meal by meal rather than wait 3,6 or even 12 months and then have no idea what had what effect. Getting a blood glucose meter is the only way to do this (no matter what contradictory advice you may have heard - it’s usually budget based rather than anything more scientific). Test first thing fasting. Then immediately before and 2 hrs after starting your meal. You ideally want no more than 2mmol rise between these two readings. And ideally the higher figure should be no more than 7.8


IMPORTANT: if you lower your carbs then any glucose lowering meds may need to be adjusted accordingly to make sure you aren’t taking more than your new diet requires. It can cause a hypo if you have more gliclazide or insulin etc (this is not relevant for metformin on its own) than your new carb intake requires. Keep a close eye on your numbers (less than 4mmol is a true hypo and needs prompt action - you may get symptoms which feel horrible but aren’t dangerous at noticeably higher numbers if you are accustomed to much higher figure it’s called a false hypo) and ideally adjust doses with your dr. Please don’t be put off by an ill informed out dated rubbishing of low carb diets or being told you should eat carbs to match meds, it should be the other way around.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

Looking for opinions in relation to me please.

Welcome to the forum, we can't advise but can share experiences. You have a lot going on which doesn't make life any easier.

When I tried to make an appointment I was told I would have to wait until my birthday month as things had now changed. At a recent Drs appointment she picked up the length time since last checked and arranged a blood test.

Glad to see the GP picked up on it, if your birthday had been last month you could have waited almost another year, ridiculous, where do these people get their ideas from?

The result 97 or 9.7. I knew they would be high as I had been eating far too much of the wrong thing.

Am I right in thinking that's 9.7 mmol/L (174.6 mg/dL)? Or could it be 97 mg/dL (5.4 mmol/L)? Probably the first.

I was also diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis nearly 3 years ago.
When I saw the diabetic nurse last week her first words words were that my readings were terrible and that I should start on insulin. I refused point blank.

The first sentence has a baring on the second, if your insulin production is affected as a result of the chronic pancreatitis then insulin does seem a very logical step. The problem is that no one knows how much insulin your pancreas is producing unless you have a c-peptide test and some surgeries may not feel the need, which is why I paid for my own c-pep test.

What I'd like to know is despite not eating should I still take my meds as if I was eating and should I still do the readings 2 or 3 times a day. I would ask at the course but that doesn't start until 26th April.

If you're cutting back on carbs just be careful with the Gliclazide which works by augmenting insulin secretion. Only a qualified person can really advise whether to take meds or not. If you are looking into LCHF you will be aware that high fat can aggravate pancreatitis.