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How did this happen

M

musky

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hi folks, I'm new to the world of diabetes, let me tell you something about myself. I'm a 59 year old male, fairly fit and healthy, but probably about 2 stone overweight!! I have been going to my Doctors at least once a month for the past five months complaining about not sleeping to good, this as I have explained to him was mainly due to the acute pain that I was getting from my arthritic shoulder whilst lying on my side. Fairly straight forward, no, my Doctor either couldn't figure out a solution or there isn't one, either way to keep me happy he sent me for a 'routine' blood test, that's when my world fell apart when the results showed that I had slightly raised blood sugar levels, 6.8. I have just had my 3 month average blood test today, (not sure what this is called) and will get my results on Monday. I don't have any of the common symptoms or any other related problems so this has really knocked me back, the nurse has prepared me for similar results to the previous test so I'm not looking forward to Monday. Sorry to be so long winded, but I really needed to talk about it with like minded people.
Cheers
Steve
 
Hi Steve,

It is a bit of a shocker to be given the diagnosis. We've all been there, but you are "lucky" (if any of us can be called lucky) because it has been found early. 6.8 is not drastic at all and hopefully the 3 month average test (HbA1c) will also be reasonable at diagnosis. You can now start to help yourself and do something about it whilst it is still at any early stage. Firstly, and most important, is to lose those extra stones and cut down on the carbohydrates especially bread, potatoes, rice and pasta, sweet stuff and things made with flour such as pastry. Increase the exercise if you can - brisk walks, swimming, cycling, whatever you enjoy doing. Stay tuned to this forum as it is the best place for advice and tips from some very experienced and knowledgeable people.
Good luck.
Oh .... and get yourself a glucose monitor for home testing. This is essential.
 
Hi and welcome Steve, your situation sounds similar to mine, I didn't have any of the usual symptoms either, my routine blood tests were for glandular fever. It's not the end of the world though, in all honesty I'm now feeling fitter than I have been for years!
Daisy will be along shortly with lots of fantastic information for you.
The information you can pick up on this forum is better than any you will get from your GP/DSN, don't be afraid to ask any questions, everyone here is going, or has gone, through the same as you, so we all understand how you feel
Good luck for Monday, let us know how you get on.

Steve (yes I'm a Steve too!)
 
G'day mate, relax and breathe. The good news is that 6.8 is called pre diabetic, although it's getting up to the 7.1 which is diabetic. Anyway enough splitting straws. The Dr will prescribe watching your diet and exercise. If you follow the advise, you will stay healthy and out live your peers. you don't need to know everything in the first week, as it has probably been this way for a long time
have a read around the site and ask about anything you're not sure of.
Is there anything in particular you are concerned about?
 
Hi and welcome. Yes, it sounds like you have been found at an early stage which is actually good news. If you low-carb as Bluetit suggests you may well be able to bring your blood sugar back to a normal level and reduce your weight which will in turn reduce the insulin resistance you probably have. You may be prescribed Metformin as most of us have. It's a good safe drug which doesn't work miracles but helps a bit.
 

I was under the impression 6.5 and above is classed as diabetic. I was 7 when diagnosed.
 
Hi Steve and welcome to the Forum. I am newly diagnosed Feb this year and I know what hits you first is panic and fear of the unknown. Your levels are good at 6.8 mine were much higher.

Type2 diabetics are not usually prescribed with a meter or strips (unless you are really lucky), so you will need to buy your own. Most people get the code free meter from Amazon as the strips are much cheaper. Regardless of what your GP/DSN tells you, it is important to check your blood sugar levels before and 2 hours after meals to check to see what foods raise your bg. Bluetit has given you some very good advice about the foods to cut down on.

Have a good look round the forum and other people's posts and you will pick up lots of information and tips. Stay calm and don't try to take in too much in one go. If you have any concerns please ask, there is no such thing as a daft question on here, and you can be as long winded as you like nobody minds, we have all been there and understand how you feel.

Be reassured that this is a great place to be, there are some lovely friendly people here to help and support you.

Let us know how you get on at the docs on Monday.

Marilyn
 
thats ok, it's all good. even one of my Dr's mixed up the fasting and A1c numbers, which is why they are burned into my brain
 
Wow, thanks everybody, at the moment I'm still in denial and that when I go for my results on Monday she will tell me it's all a mistake and these results are ok. it's only when that doesn't happen will it really hit me. I suppose the main question I have today is:-
If my reading is 6.8 fasting, and similar for the other test, and assuming that I follow the recommended diet and lifestyle changes, lose weight and get fit,will my diabetes stay as now, or does it deteriorate regardless, will I develop the usual symptoms or will I stay as I am.
Thanks for replies, I've no doubt there will be many more questions after Monday.
Cheers
Steve
 
if you trim off any excess weight and cut back on the carbs, there is no reason why things should be progressive
 
Hi and Welcome Steve!

And that wasn't long winded at all. You should see some of my posts

Yep shock and denial are par for the course but being diagnosed pre-diabetic is a huge gift even if it doesn't feel like it. You have a great chance to improve your situation and maybe delay onset for ages! I wish I could have been pre but I know me, I expect I would have had the "It won't happen to me" scenario going on

Take note of your diagnosis, read all you can on here. There is a forum called Pre-diabetes if you haven't seen it already. Make a plan but be prepared for sceptism from your doc if you decide on the low carb path to health. The medical fraternity isn't very sympathetic but remember it's your body and your health ok? The majority of us have achieved good results by cutting carbs to a bigger or lesser degree and research on this site about it is essential really.

A big learning curve but it's pretty exciting in the oddest way. I am healthier and happier than I have ever been. A big statement but true.

Good Luck Steve, ask any questions you need to even if they sounds really daft to you
 
This is kind of ironic really, in March this year we lost a 2½ battle to save our 12 year old Husky from diabetes, every 12 hours of every day ( 06:30 and 18:30) I had to inject him with Canninsulin and feed him his strictly controlled diet and maintain his exercise levels and I used to think, poor little guy going through the all that grief, and here I am now starting the same journey, of course it is very difficult with a dog to figure out exactly what is going on and how to deal with it, so hopefully I'll have better luck than he did.
Cheers
Steve
 
look after yourself and it won't be an issue

http://www.australiandiabetescouncil.com/diabetes-education/faq
Will everyone with pre-diabetes go on to develop Type 2 diabetes?
It’s estimated that more than 16% or about two million Australians have pre-diabetes and research shows that a third or more of people with the condition will go on to develop the disease. The rate of development of diabetes from prediabetes is about 5 to 10 % annually.

It appears there are a number of terms being used… Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), Impaired Fasting Glucose, abnormal glucose metabolism, Syndrome X and metabolic syndrome. What is the difference between them and pre-diabetes?

IGT and IFG are definitions that relate to the type of diagnostic test being used but don’t clearly explain what it means to have higher than normal blood glucose levels. In easy to understand everyday terms, pre-diabetes is a condition that precedes diabetes, therefore a risk factor for both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The term helps to sound the alarm and trigger people at risk to take action. The other terms, abnormal glucose metabolism, syndrome X and metabolic syndrome apply to the more complex, full range group of cardiovascular risk factors, which encompass increased girth, high blood pressure, raised levels of blood fats and obesity, of which all are associated with insulin resistance.
 
Hi Steve and a big welcome from me....

So much information to take in and all a bit of a shock....
Please let us know how you get on....being picked up at pre diabetic can be positive , gives you chance to maybe take more advice , give yourself more time to think about how you are going to manage your health care and self....

No magic wand though.....:/ but plenty of support here x
 
Sorry for the loss of your dog , pets break your heart when they go over that rainbow bridge (((Hugs))) x
 
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