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Hi Everybody :)





My doctor bypassed the diet stage and put me straight on metformin as i dont eat sugary foods (sweets, cake, etc) at all..except the odd pkt of crisps..and the speed of my weight loss and sudden blurry vision he decided metformin was the way to go, i started on 1/2 500mg tab then he increased to 1 full tab twice a day within a month, and i'm back to square 1 with the weight loss and vision problems, back to the doc on friday and ive taken a day's leave to get this sorted out.
 
Stuart

Things will take time to settle and ill health and complications arent inevitable if you take charge. There are lots of long time diagnosed people who dont have any problems, As for life expectancy, can any of us really know. In the part of Glasgow where I work, its about 58 for a man so just be glad your not a diabetic there!

What i would say is to monitor yourself closely. How did they diagnose type 2? It may be current diet and metformin is not working but is there a possibility that you arent a type 2? You wont be the first type 2 to be diagnosed wrongly and to be honest if you are overweight and over 40, assumptions are made. Thats why medics are almost negligent (you are right, if they give you the impression its not a big deal, why on earth would you worry?) but thats just blame culture

However, you can take charge, and you will feel better. Promise!

L
 

Thanks for the reasurance i'm reading a lot about people that have had the same experiance as us and it is worrying, i had to pay for my first batch of meds!! was only till later i found out its free :? I'm feeling abit more confident now reading everbodies posts and having the same probs as me...and no i wasnt sent to a diabetic clinic etc, kind of felt abandoned ..disabled even...just ushered out the door
 
 
Hey Stuart

I've not been on the site for a few days, but wanted to comment on your posts I think everyone has given you A1 advice so far. When I saw the diabetic nurse I had to ask for the moniter, she didn't offer it up lol and she was very reluctant to give me extra strips for it, she said there were 10 in there..I checked in the car before we left..there wasn't! I phoned her straight back and she then issued me 50! I also have had to wait fo a test solution to turn up before I can start testing with it! She didn't show me how to use it at all, i've had to read the instructions and so far have wasted 5 needle things because I didn't know about the test solution or how to get blood out of my fingers! (due to bad circulation).

I am finding out that if you have diabetes, its very much a case of being expected to just sort it out yourself, which is why this site is so great! Glad to hear your are going to take your diabetes seriously, no point hiding from it, will only get worse if you do, so well done you

Becca
 
Sugar in your diet is only one factor: in view of the volume *starch* is a major offender and the other thing you need to reduce.

Metformin is usually started at a low dose and walked up slowly to avoid brown trousers. Many patients don't have much effect from it until they are up to 1500 - 2500 mg so I'd certainly ask about increasing the dose.

Best of luck tomorrow!
 
Many thanks for your comments, however i am slightly confused. Are you saying that if i ate an apple this would stop a 'liver dump' from happening? it is only recently i have heard of the liver dumping 'glucose', is this something that we all experiance or do i have another defect (lol) and how does anyone know when to expect this extra dose of glucose?

My mid morning highs (not every day) are approx 2 hours after breakfast. The annoying thing is that my insulin (novorapid) to carb ratio breakfast intake is sufficiant to balance and would if i were to consume the same at either lunch or evening meal.

I have continually put my morning rises down to the fact that the 'body' is slower to adjust to the insulin intake during the morning due to it being in relaxed state etc, (even though i am pretty active)! i have tried taking my fast acting insulin sooner than the reccommeded alloowance of 10mins, but even this does not consistantly work.
 
Hi Stuart

Kick on son you appear to be in a positive state now so - go for it - absorb what you can knowledge wise and just take it bit by bit and dont get down it one day it goes belly up

Just get back on the straight and narrow and just try and figure out what went wrong

Its amazing the experience and treatment you had I think its appauling - for me in EDINBURGH it was totally different. It was actually all too much and very overwhelming - I was in for a check up for a cough (turned out to be reflux) and during the tests they asked me why I hadnt told them I was a diabetic - I said I wasnt. Within the next two hours I was sent down to the diabetic clinic - diagnosed - an appointment made for the next day. At the end of the next day I had seen Doctor - Nurse - Dietician - Had my eyes / feet looked at - had budles of testing strips - a monitor - couple of leaflets and a Magazine type book and a DVD - what the hell ????????????????
 
Hi LWA,

When blood glucose levels are low the pancreas releases a hormone called glucagon. This causes the liver to convert its stores of glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. This generally happens during the night when blood sugar levels generally fall, but can also happen at any time during the day if the body feels that it is being starved. Once food is digested this causes the pancreas to stop releasing glucagon and instead to start producing insulin. There is just enough sugar in an apple to get the insulin started and so stop the glucagon.

The above is certainly true of type-2s (like me) but I'm not sure what the situation is for a type-1. Perhaps one of our expert type-1s could comment?
 
hi Dennis, again thanks for your comments. I 'thought' you were type 1, hence the reason of the confusion. I do not think that my 'pancreas' react to anything leavinng me completely reliant on insulin (as you are probably aware for type 1) . Not sure if these suger dumps have an effect on a type 1 so ill guess ill have to do more research. Type 1 or 2 the similarity we both live with is the fact that our stability can at times be un predictible. Thanks for your time
 

They can do! One Type 1 I knew elsewhere had disease probably caused by radiation exposure (he was at Ground Zero for the original nuclear bomb tests) he suffered not only from a total lack of insulin but both massive glucose dumps when he didn't need them, and hypos necessitating an ambulance run to the hospital several times a year when his liver should have worked but chose not to.

Some people don't seem to suffer from them much, others do.
 
Hi LWA,
After a bit more research I have found that glucagon is produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas, whereas insulin is produced by the beta cells. It appears that the autoimmune attack that kills off the beta cells in a typical type 1 doesn't attack the alpha cells, which leaves type 1s in a situation where the pancreas can trigger glucose production but not the insulin needed to deal with the glucose! So, we've both learned something new!
 
Greetings Stuart,
I am recently diagnosed with T2 and have to take Metformin twice a day. These tablets are free because I have been diagnosed. When you next visit, ask the surgery to provide you with the form which needs to be signed by either your doctor or nurse. It is Help with health costs, Medical exemption.
There is an address in Newcastle Upon Tyne to send it to. They will send you a card which is valid for 5 years and will be renewed after that provided your condition remains. This card entitles you to free prescriptions for ALL your medication be it diabetes related or not. I received mint yesterday and was able to claim back the last 3 costs for the tablets and strips. This is one real bonus from being a member of this club.
Good luck and happy readings.
 

Yes I think that's what happened with the guy above, his alpha cells were also destroyed as a result of the radiation. This may also happen with pancreatitis
 
Hi Stuart,

welcome to the forum! You have taken a big step by starting to post here! Hopefully your team at the gp's can help you further since diabetes isn't a doddle. But once you get your sugars under control and down, you will feel like a new person! I felt absolutely rubbish for a few months and it only took about a week of exercise, metformin and diet and I was like a new person. And I'm not a keen exerciser at all, 30 mins of walking does me fine... :wink:

It took me a couple of weeks to get my head around reducing carbs but I started by cutting out all pasta, rice, potatoes and bread and replaced them with salads and veg. Booze isn't out of the picture but I stay now with red wine and whisky straight or diet coke so no harm done there either. Having diabetes doesn't have to be the end of the world but you must take control!!

Good luck! :wink:
 
Thank you very much everybody for your Information, i didnt think i would get such a response 3 pages worth

Just to update you all, I went to the Doc's on Friday the 13th and I'm now on Insulin(pen type) :cry:
started yesterday on 6 units and still on 3 metformin a day, The training with the nurse was quite an eye opener, i also got the new accu -check monitor and all the strips and lancers to go with it, i feel better knowing the NHS does actually care and my doctor and nurses are very very good in what they do, they even treated me afterhours.
Big thanks to all

ps . i still hate needles...even the small ones :wink:
 
Hi Stuart,

I hope that your medical team remembered to tell you that now you are on insulin, if you are a driver, you must inform DVLA. You must also tell your car insurers because they will need to update their records - they won't increase your premium but if you don't tell them and you were to have an insurance claim then they can refuse to pay on the grounds that you have withheld important information.

Here is a link to the DVLA information. From this site you can download the forms you will need to complete.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr ... G_10030957
 
Hi All,
Well its been over 12 months since diagnosed with diabetes,i'm still alive..lol
had a few up and downs until i was use to novorapid, its been ok otherwise.
I had a medical MOT yesterday and my BP was 140/104 which is a bit worrying and i've lost weight again, also glucose im my water works..but the most worrying as i told the Dr that my toe (left foot)closest to the big toe has gone numb/cold/odd colour 4 times this year and i'm getting pains at the top on my left leg..like an uncomfortable ache..as the Dr was an occupational Dr he said he would send the details to my GP, he did mention diabetic neuropathy, and i have to make an oppointment ASAP, Needles to say i was advised not to proceed with my application for my new career as it involved shifts and it would mess with my meds, well back to the doc again on Thursday..anybody else had odd pains around the leg/foot area..it concerns me as i was only diagnosed with T1 in 2008...I think i might of had it about 12 months at least before being diagnosed..could that be why i have nerve damage??
 
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