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Help/Advice, Please!

B

BlindFaith

Well-Known Member
Messages
260
Location
South UK
Hi there!

When I was first diagnosed (about 6-8 weeks ago), my B.S was at around 26-28 mmol/L :shock:
The first fasting blood test saw it go to 23 mmol/L and the second fasting test saw it go down to 21 mmol/L.
The Hba1c was done and was (apparently) "way too high", although I can't for the life of me remember what it was now.

Obviously, I was diagnosed as Type II :lol:
I was given Metformin 500mg twice a day, which did nothing, so it was upped to 3 a day, then 4.
When it was upped to 4 a day, it was changed to the prolonged release and I had horrible painful indigestion; so the nurse at my surgery suggested taking 2 in the morning, 2 in the evening.
This didn't help - I ended up being rushed into hospital with chest pains, difficulty breathing and then finally going totally unresponsive and then unconcious...the paramedics clocked my heart rate at 138bpm and took me in.
Considering I'd only had the chest pains, breathing problems, etc...since I'd started the different Metformin, I went back to the original one at the request of one of the doctors I was looked at in hospital.

So now I am on the highest possible doses for both Metformin and Sitagliptin and my blood sugar is STILL HIGH.
I don't mean 8 or 9 high, I mean 14+ constantly.

I had modified my diet, but the diabetic dietitian at the hospital clinics I had to attend told me that I had to eat MORE (I physically can't eat the amount she's telling me to) and that I need to eat more carbs, less protein, not a lot of fruit, etc...and EXERCISE.
I'm in a wheelchair due to pretty severe fibromyalgia. I just looked at her for a while before she realized.
Watching the penny drop was fun, though. But I digress...

I spoke to a doctor today about how high my bloods are and she was worse than useless.
Just told me to "modify diet", "exercise", etc... and that I would have to wait to see the diabetic consultant at the hospital.
Which isn't until mid July. Not overly helpful!

So I've been looking at the low carb ideas.
I know that things like bread, pasta, potatoes (I'm okay with sweet potatoes, but not a huge amount) bloat me, make my blood sugar spike like crazy and make me feel generally yucky and I've done the Atkins type diets a few years ago and I did lose weight.
I was looking at the low carb diets and came across something called the Paleo Diet.
I've been reading up on it all afternoon and I have to say, I like the idea behind it.
So, I was wondering if anyone here follows that type of way of eating and if they'd had any success with it weight-wise and if it helped lower the blood sugar?

Also, has anyone else experienced the unhelpful "advice" from their doctors, nurses, clinics? If so, what on earth did you do to get them to actually help you?

Thank you and sorry for the long winded post - if you're still with me then I applaud you :lol: :lol:
 
Hi BF, Paleo Diet!!!!!! Oh have you come to the right place !!!!!!!!! :D

We have a member called borofergie who is probably the forums main exponent. Just use the search option at the top of the page to look for the word Paleo and you will have days of reading material.

As for the unhelpful medical profession ... well unfortunately a lot of us are in the same boat. There are some more enlightened nurses and doctors out there but they do seem to be in the minority. :(
 
I would start checking ketones ASAP
I have no evidence from what you've written, but you wouldn't be the first person to be misdiagnosed. If Metformin and Sitagliptin are having verylittle effect, you COuld be T1.
Another tactic I would suggest is that you try severely cutting back on your carb intake. this won't hurt you whatever type of diabetes you actually have and it should help any type too.
Hana
PS paleodiet is an excellent suggestion and co-incidentally pretty low in carbs
 
Hi. I agree with Hanadr that you must try low-carbing and see what effect that has on your BS. How old are you? If you are below, say, 50 then it is possible you are a late onset T1 (LADA). If you are overweight and the low-carbing works then you are more likely to be a T2. I am appalled that your diabetic dietician should suggest increasing your carbs, reducing proteins etc; that is simply irresponsible advice I'm afraid. If your BS remains very high and gets worse, then watch out for ketones and if necessary get to A&E if you haven't had your diabetes appointment.
 
Thanks for the replies :)

Denise - thanks for the link, I'll have a look at that in a bit. I did have literally everything checked before the diagnosis of CF was made (that was a long winded process, lol!) and the only other thing they found was that I have quite high C-Reactive Protein which has to be monitored.
I will ask about having a test for Vitamin D anyway - no harm in having that done and if I'm lacking then I can tackle that.

catza - love your avatar...so SO true!! :lol:
I have to admit I found one of the diabetic nurses at the clinic I had to go to fairly helpful; but so far that's been it.
Fingers crossed the consultant I'm seeing in July will be able to offer some help.

hanadr - funny you mention that...I had my (apologies for the slightly overshare here) urine tested every week for 4 weeks and there were ketones present although the nurse didn't seem to think it was a problem. I *think* she said there were ketones present in my blood, I could be remembering this wrongly though.
Stupid questions:
how would they know if I've been misdiagnosed? I've had about 6 blood tests, urine tests, etc...and they seem confident I'm Type II; although the nurse said I seem to have certain Type I "leanings" (whatever that means...)
how do I check my ketones or is this something I would need to have done via my doctor?

Daibell - I was 30 in January, so the diabetic nurse at the hospital is concerned about how high my B.S is with my age which is why they've made the appointment with the hospital consultant.
My nurse told me there's no way I'd be Type I because that only happens in childhood.... :***:

I told the doctor I spoke to today that eating things like porridge made my blood sugar go up the same as if I ate a bar of chocolate or something and she just shrugged it off completely.
Easier for her to shuffle me off to the consultant rather than deal with me I suppose.

I'm definitely looking into this Paleo way of eating. I like that I can have fruit, limited due to their sugar content, but I'm happier with that than I would be with hardly any if I chose Atkins.

I've had ketones mentioned a couple of times - what do I need to be on the lookout for with that?
 
Hi

Ketones with low blood sugar isn't a bad thing, it means your body is burning fat for energy. Ketones with high blood sugar is bad as it is a sign of ketoacidosis, which can be a dangerous condition if not treated.

The HCP's you have encountered are amazingly lacking in knowledge (not that unusual unfortunately). You need to ask for a definitive test (think its a GAD test) to determine if you are indeed type 1.

In the meantime get those carbs down to help your BG's come down, regardless of what type end up being diagnosed as.

Regards

Mary x
 
Thanks for the info, Mary, much appreciated.

I think I'm going to pester the nurse I'm under on Wednesday until I get some flippin' answers :lol:
 
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