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PRD123

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What a week it's been!

So how did I get to be here?

To cut a long story short my elderly mother had a nasty fall and fractured her knee. With all the worry and running about since she was admitted to hospital my brain was fast becoming frazzled. The ward sister at the hospital remarked on how stressed I was looking and acting and suggested a visit to my GP to get something to help me sleep.

This was Friday. An appointment was made for Monday.

Over the weekend I considered all the other niggles I have been experiencing over the past, at least, 3 months. Maybe more.

As well as not sleeping, thirst ranging from just a dry mouth to ravenous consumption of water, frequent trips to the loo, bouts of thrush, wonky eyesight, shaking and wobbly legs all for starters.

GP did a finger prick blood test and the reading was 23!

Scared me as I have never seen a doctor spring into action so quickly, he had my bloods taken and tested over night and I went back to see him on Tuesday morning where he arranged for me to be seen at the hospital.

Most of what they told me there went over my head to be honest, but I guess I will take things in better as time goes on.

I have been put on 500mg metformin and 80mg Gliciazide both twice daily and given a blood monitor thingy and urine test strips (had keytones on Tuesday morning but none have shown since)

Although only a couple of days into it all I have begun to be sensible about what I eat...am going on a day's education course next month and hopefully things will make more then. Stupidly, however, did not think about the possible effects of a Chinese and probably too many cherries for dinner last night.

To be honest I was on quite a high yesterday, depsite a day with Mum as they transfered her from one hospital to attend fracture clinic and back again I felt better than I have for ages and even managed to do Asda in the evening calmly and quite enjoyably for a change. My levels had dropped to 8.6 (test done after dinner).

So, I get up this morning test before breakfast and I am back up to 11 something. Had breakfast...same as yesterday Granary toast with benecol spread and a scrape of marmite washed down with a cup of black tea and an actimel yoghurt drink.

An hour later 16 something and feeling pretty ropey again.

I suppose I have to give the medication time to work before things settle down.

I guess I am asking if its 'normal' to be all over the place at first.

Thanks for listening.

PRD123 xx
 
Hi PRD and welcome to the forum :) It will take some time for your levels to settle down - this is normal. The medication will also take time to take effect. In the meantime, ask as many questions as you like as there is always someone here to help. To get you started, here is some information written by our former monitors for new members which I am sure you will find useful. I hope your Mother is doing well now.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.
Click to expand...
 
Hi, welcome to us all here, blimey your head must be all over the place ! With all thats gone on in such a short space of time recently for you. :shock: Yes its very normal to have peaks n troughs with the BG levels to begin with, and you can feel fine for a while then can go as you say bit ropey and feel bit rough other times. Stress too is a factor and does raise your BG levels also. Medication can take up to 10weeks to 3months to kick in and stablise things. You will find over time what will work for you with diet, meals, active lifestyle etc. It is very much an individual journey, and you will need support along the way too. Infections and as you mention thrush will also raise your BG levels. What follow up aftercare has your GP set in place for you? We are all here to help n support you along , please just ask any questions you feel/need to. Anna.x :D
 
Thank you for your replies. A little rasurrance goes an awful long way.

In reply to your question about follow ups anna29. I will be attending the hospital diabetes clinic again in about a month's time but am able to phone them at any time if I need to. Also the GP practice diabetes nurse has already been in touch and I'm seeing her a week on Monday
 
Hi, brilliant , they have put a care plan in place to monitor and support you. Just a tip for you with the metformin meds take it either with food or just before you eat, as it can upset the stomach n digestive system a bit. If you browse around on the forum you will come across this tip and it helps other members too. Any questions just ask and someone will come along to help you along. Anna.x :D
 
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