How can I be diabetic ???

[unhappy]

Hi,I am a 63 year old woman, due to a problem with losing my hair which began about 7 years ago, I have been diagnosed with a type of alopecia which means it will never grow back. I now wear a wig whenever outside of my house as this was making my confidence dip lower and lower. When I have to go to the local hospital where they are trying to treat me in the hope of stopping what hair is left from also going, I have to have a blood test done before the appointments so that the consultant has the result at each appointment. Two years ago she started saying my blood sugar result was a "bit high", then last year told me to go to see my GP. When I did this I was told there is nothing wrong with the levels and no I'm not diabetic. But they didn't tell me what the results were. I work in a nursing setting so I have begun to do my BM when at work. These have been readings like 5.5, 5.8, 6.3, 4.9, the highest just after having something to eat was 7.1 ???
Recently I had a problem with my ankle and had to have time off work as I couldn't walk properly for several days. I went to my GP for some more pain killers and she decided to do more blood tests and then began again about my "abnormal" blood results!! I then had a test done which was to see what my levels were for the last 12 weeks. Now they are trying to say I am type 11 diabetic and want to put me straight on metformin !!!!! NO WAY!!!, when I asked what the result was I was told it averaged at about 7.0 over the 12 weeks. I have no symptoms - no excess drinking or going to the toilet. My weight even though I think is a bit up, by all the weight charts for my age and height is OK ?? The only tiredness i have is when I don't get enough sleep and also my thyroid is dying so I am taking levothyroxine to regulate it. The only other medication I take is provastatin because the medication I take for my hair loss is effecting my cholesterol. I am vegetarian, stopped having sugar in drinks about 25 years ago and only have sweets or cakes occasionally as a treat. I have talked about what I eat with several doctors and they say I'm not eating enough. If I cut anything from my diet I'll be on hunger strike!!
They can't possibly be right, and I think its more likely that its all the extra medication I have to swallow which is causing the problems as they aren't helping anyway, and the nurse I saw today was nasty, snappy and unsupportive, almost angry that I wasn't submissive and agreeing with her, she said their results couldn't possibly be wrong so why am i arguing ?? I feel fine apart from the illnesses I've mentioned but all this is just causing me more and more stress, can someone help or come up with any suggestions please ???

 

[mo1905]

Well, if you are diabetic, you seem to be managing it very well ! I'm not a doctor so I can't comment on your diagnosis but I'm sure you could ask for a second opinion or can you see another doctor ? Hope things work out for you !

 

[unhappy]

Thanks, the problem is the nurse and the GP and the consultant I see for my hair problem don't seem to agree. they all think I'm diabetic and need metformin now. They can't understand why I am questioning their diagnosis and I have only escaped for another 12 weeks when I will have to have yet another blood test !!! After posting this I have gone on the web site looking for symptoms and as I said before i don't have any of them so I am getting more confused than ever ???

 

[mo1905]

I understand your frustration but is it not better to treat BEFORE you get any signs/symptoms ? Surely once you start feeling thirsty etc and urinating more frequently then your blood sugars will have risen much higher and may start to cause damage to your body ? I am not trying to say you're wrong but on the other hand I can't understand why 3 healthcare providers are saying you've got diabetes for nothing ! I do think it's ok to ask for 1 more test though. Also, even if you do havd to take tablets, is it so bad ? If you do have diabetes and continue to delay treatment you could end up having to inject insulin ! As I said before, good luck and keep us posted ;-)


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[unhappy]

Hi I understand what you are saying but while waiting for replies I have been researching the effects of metformin and they sound horrific - diarrhea, headaches, dizziness etc none of which I'm not suffering with at the moment ??? One person on one web-site said the side effects were worse than the illness !!!!

 

[mo1905]

True, they don't agree with everyone but I take them with no problems at all. Also, metformin also do a slow release version which many people find are a lot kinder. Thing is, you don't know how they will affect you until you try ? Maybe wait until your next blood test and make your decision then. There are many ways to treat diabetes though. Ignoring it is not a good one though ! I really hope the professionals are wrong and you are right ! Good luck and please letus know how you progress.


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[stevew073]

Hi yes the tablets have lots of side effects but i think i would rather take tablets than have to inject myself 4+ times a day but personaly my view is while you delay in taking anything you are doing damage to your body eyes feet legs etc i have neuropathy in my legs which i can tell you is more painfulnthan injecting or having to take a tablet and if i were you i wouldnt delay anymore and how can three health care prof be wrong one of which is a consultant they are not saying it for their benefit its for yours and hasnt diabetes been labled the silent killer before now just because you dont display any of the common symptoms that you have read about everyone is different so DONT DELAY you might regret it

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[lukkymik]

Hi unhappy... You may not think you're diabetic but your doctors etc do.. Easy answer as none of them are diabetic specialists is to pop along to your local diabetic clinic and ask for advice. Wish I had listened to people as was on insulin within 5 years of being diagnosed having fought against medication initially!!! Not the answer you are looking for I know and I appologise but its your body so get some proper advice or ????

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[Sid Bonkers]

Hi unhappy and welcome to the forum.

I hate to be the one to break this to you but denial is one of the symptoms of diabetes and is why it is known as the silent killer, it is common for people to testify to similar stories to your own of not having any symptoms. I myself although I did have a thirst and the accompanying need to "go" but felt perfectly OK until a trip to the hospital saw me admitted and put straight on insulin!! That was extreme though and doesnt happen to most :lol:

But please accept what your doctors are telling you, once you have accepted it you can then deal with it, it doesnt need to be a death sentence or the end of your life just a new chapter in it, although it is normal to be confused and a little bewildered at first but it doesnt take most too long to get used to once you can accept it. Oh and many people manage to live perfectly normal and healthy lives despite this condition.

Metformin is a wonderful drug that has many positive benefits including helping to protect against several cancers, others have mentioned side effects but these are just like any other drug they are not compulsory and the vast majority of people dont experience them and those who do usually settle down and get over any initial side effects quite quickly.

So dont delay, accept your diagnosis and start learning all you can about diabetes, most well controlled diabetics end up knowing much more about diabetes than the average GP who tend to have a very blinkered view of it based mainly I believe on historic outcomes and thankfully things are much much better now for diabetics both in treatment and in our understanding of how to control it.

And again welcome to the forum, you have stumbled upon a great resource of diabetic knowledge and experiences.

 

[Andy12345]

awesome reply sid!

 

[lifesway]

You're not alone I too had no symptoms at all and found it hard to believe that I was indeed diabetic even though the fasting blood test came back at 13. I hadn't felt ill at all and no need to go any more frequently than before. I was told I'd probably had it for years and learnt to cope with the symptoms. I still find it hard to believe but here I am on Metformin and stavastatin also for the chlorestrol which they tell me was double what it should be.
At first it's so hard to take in especially as you've had no symptoms .lyou'll come around to the idea and you are one of the lucky ones like myself diagnosed before you collapse from too high blood sugar. Have courage .

 

[elaine77]

I'm on Metformin and I actually demanded to go onto it as opposed to gliclazide which is a whole lot worse for your pancreas... I have type 1.5 though apparently and although I have had a few gastro problems with Metformin they haven't been that bad and I'm not on the slow release version either which is apparently better for side effects


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[unhappy]

Hi, I understand what you are all saying but my BM readings are not high, the highest has been 7.0 after food and this is without any medication or diet control. Also I have never had any effects when eating lots of sugary foods or high card foods so I don't understand where this is all coming from. The GP and the doctor who is seeing me for the hair loss haven't mentioned diabeties only that my sugar levels are 'a bit high' and it may be an idea to check them. The only person saying I am diabetic is the nurse I saw on Friday and as she was so nasty I am reluctant to believe her.

 

[mo1905]

So, ask your doctor for a blood test to clear things up for you. I think your earlier post suggested ALL your healthcare providers said you had diabetes ! Either way, you need to find out. We all hope your nurse is wrong, however, if not, you need to accept it and deal with it. Good luck ;-)


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[[email protected]]

Hi, I can't give you any advice on your diabetes but have you tried acupuncture to treat your alopecia? A friend of mine has and it was very , very effective.


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[unhappy]

Hi, I've just re-read my original post and sorry but it does appear from reading it as if all the healthcare's are saying I'm diabetic - in fact the only thing that has been said by the consultant I see about my hair loss is when any of the results (sugar,cholesterol etc) appear a bit high and she has suggested I visit my GP. When I went to my GP last year the blood test done proved I wasn't diabetic. The only reason for this present problem is a blood test done as I am having a lot of pain in my ankle which doesn't have any apparent reason, except that I have an enlarged joint and most shoes cause my pain. The result which came back was a result of an average of 7.0 over a 12 week period which again isn't high. But the nurse I went to see for the result was nasty, rude, very abrupt and told me I had no right to question her diagnosis and of course I'm type 11 diabetic and she wanted me to start immediately on metformin. If I was having high BM readings or if this was the result of ongoing bad results I would give in and ask first to speak to a dietician to see if its possible to control things with diet before I would ever consider more drugs. As I said I work in a hospital setting and have been taking my BM readings in the last few weeks and they are number like 4.9, 5.5, 5.3 all without any diet control and I haven't restricted my sugar intake except that I don't have sugar in tea or coffee and haven't for about 25 years !!!
In reply to the lady who mentioned acupuncture for my hair loss, I am under the hospital and so far this hasn't been offered. Unfortunately even though I still work its because I can' t afford to stop as my ex husband left me in a lot of debt which means I couldn't afford to pay for this, but many thanks for the suggestion anyway.

 

[mo1905]

I would still try to speak to your doctor and explain exactly what you've said here. It does seem as if you blood sugars are not overly high at present but you could still be pre-diabetes. As with any illness, the earlier treatment is started, the better. As I've mentioned a few times now lol, I truly hope you are correct and the nurse is wrong. You need to find out for sure though. Please keep us informed of your progress. Good luck :wave:

 

[Sketcher]

Hello unhappy. I also found out that I was diabetic when I went for a routine check, having not needed a doctor for 15 years. I was only too pleased to get medication at first, but now I have altered my diet and controlled it so well that I am off medication.

One thing that is confusing, is that the units for your everyday finger-prick blood glucose test are different from the units for the 12-week average (HbA1c) test. A reading of 7.0 on your BG meter after a meal is fine, but a HbA1c result of 7.0 is quite different and is a diabetic-level reading.

As others have said, if you do nothing until the complications start, you'll regret it later, I'm afraid.


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[elaine77]

Hi unhappy,

I agree, a reading of 7 on HbA1c is diabetic range but, as mentioned previously, ur in such a good position at the moment whereby u can stop it before it goes any further.... I would take precautions now rather than later...u know what they say, prevention is the best form of cure etc...

I honestly wish I was in ur situation whereby I had a chance to change things.... I was recently diagnosed with type 1.5 diabetes and have been told there is nothing I can do and insulin is inevitable.....I am only 26 and although its not a good thing for anyone to have diabetes I would switch mine with urs in a heartbeat if only I could... I have two young children aged 6 and 2 which makes it all the worse as well, in a way you are lucky that they have caught it at such a 'pre-diabetic' state, or at least very early and it's definitely worth taking action...what I wouldn't give to be in a position like that....


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[Stephanie Ingram]

Being diabetic has not anything to do with being fat and overweight. That is an often misconception. Being overweight does amplify your chances of getting it but that it. If you eat and consume a lot of sugar, you're bound to get diabetes. You probably and possibly have family members with diabetes too.