How did you come to be diagnosed?

[HpprKM]

Bazza P - Quite a shock for you I imagine, like you I knew very little about diabetes, certainly did not consider I was at risk in becoming diabetic. My readings at the time were 12.4 which is high, but some people have reported much higher. I hope you will find this site as useful as I have.

 

[spendercat]

I was losing weight, A stone over two months or so - without dieting :shock: Went to the doctor because I thought my thyroid might be acting up. I did not know weight loss is a T2 symptom.

Now, you may think, what a fool - my brother and my cousin are diabetic and I had gestational diabetes 26 years ago. How we close our eyes to what we do not want to see.

Nobody in the last two generations had it, but... most of my grandparents siblings died in their 60s with heart failure, and as I recall nobody had heard of type 2 in those days.

 

[huggybear]

went into hospital with a foot injury, thinking I would only be in for a check up , forty minutes I was told. Sixteen days and two seperate hospitals later. they told me they had too do some check ups and came back and told me I had gangrene and had to have an operation and amputate two toes. I thought I can live with that, down too the theatre and several hours later I woke up and too my surprise I had not two toes removed but four toes and half my right foot.plus the checkups confirmed I had type two diabetes and had too take insulin regulary twice a day. I hate needles, but got use too stabbing myself in the tummy twice a day. :roll: :roll:

 

[))Denise((]

I went to my GP with a sore throat that wouldn't go away. He told me that it was a virus and I would get over it soon. As I was leaving I mentioned that I was getting out of breath walking up slight inclines. This set his alarm bells ringing and I was booked in for a blood tests, an ecg and a chest xray. Had this lot taken on a Friday and went away to stay with my friend. On the Saturday I got a phone call from the GP saying I was very anaemic and was Type 2 Diabetic and would need to come into the surgery on the Monday. It rather spoilt my weekend away as I didn't know what to do with the diabetes diagnosis.

A uterine fibroid was causing the anaemia, so that was sorted with major surgery. I really felt that life had really come back at me and slapped me round the face.

If I hadn't gone to the surgery with a sore throat, who knows how long I would have remained undiagnosed, drinking the sweet sugary drinks I loved so much. I think the fibroid would have caught up with me sooner than the diabetes.

 

[ColinJ]

My diagnosis did not come as surprise as i had been getting close to it over the last 3/4 years with blood tests,i am 6ft 3ins tall and weighin at 20st i have never had the thirst symtoms or weeing problems,neither feeling tired or lethargic,the only thing that did surprise me when i told my GP that i was getting tingling/pins & needles in both my little toes on both feet,i have been told by my
GP that i am only borderline with T2 but he as put me on Metformin and his arranging for me to see a diatician in the near future.
I would be grateful if anyone can advise me if its OK to have drink at night with T2 and Metformin.

Regards Colin. :thumbup:

 

[HpprKM]

My diagnosis did not come as surprise as i had been getting close to it over the last 3/4 years with blood tests,i am 6ft 3ins tall and weighin at 20st i have never had the thirst symtoms or weeing problems,neither feeling tired or lethargic,the only thing that did surprise me when i told my GP that i was getting tingling/pins & needles in both my little toes on both feet,i have been told by my
GP that i am only borderline with T2 but he as put me on Metformin and his arranging for me to see a diatician in the near future.
I would be grateful if anyone can advise me if its OK to have drink at night with T2 and Metformin.

Regards Colin. :thumbup:

Hi Colin,

I think you may find this useful from Diabetes.org http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Healthy_lifestyle/Alcohol_and_diabetes/

Kind of surprised to see you are on metformin as a borderline T2, I started out as diet only, but maybe that will change once you have seen your dietian, I am sure your GP is erring on the side of caution.

I am not much of a drinker, but I know that the occasional glass of red wine is supposed to have beneficial qualities. I am sure you will receive many other replies from forum members that you will find most useful. This is a very useful forum and I am very glad I found it, certainly helps me in so many ways

Wishing you luck.

 

[HpprKM]

My diagnosis did not come as surprise as i had been getting close to it over the last 3/4 years with blood tests,i am 6ft 3ins tall and weighin at 20st i have never had the thirst symtoms or weeing problems,neither feeling tired or lethargic,the only thing that did surprise me when i told my GP that i was getting tingling/pins & needles in both my little toes on both feet,i have been told by my
GP that i am only borderline with T2 but he as put me on Metformin and his arranging for me to see a diatician in the near future.
I would be grateful if anyone can advise me if its OK to have drink at night with T2 and Metformin.

Regards Colin. :thumbup:

Hi Colin,

I think you may find this useful from Diabetes UK (another useful place to visit on the web for diabetics) http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Healthy_lifestyle/Alcohol_and_diabetes/

Kind of surprised to see you are on metformin as a borderline T2, I started out as diet only, but maybe that will change once you have seen your dietitian, I am sure your GP is erring on the side of caution.

I am not much of a drinker, but I know that the occasional glass of red wine is supposed to have beneficial qualities. I am sure you will receive many other replies from forum members that you will find most useful. This is a very useful forum and I am very glad I found it, certainly helps me in so many ways

Wishing you luck.

 

[viviennem]

Metformin is known to assist weight loss in some people, which may be why you were prescribed it, ColinJ. I actually asked for it for just that, while I was still in my "denial" phase (GP - you're diabetic; Viv - no I'm not!). That resulted in the **** hitting the fan when the practise diabetic specialist got to hear of it, and it was easier to give in and let them register me!

Metformin also gives some protection against heart and vascular problems, and I'd rather take Met than statins. It may give you problems with wind, diarrhoea and so on. Hang on - it should settle. If not, you can ask for the Slow Release version.

Viv 8)

 

[HpprKM]

Yes, it can cause weight loss - I was concerned as I am slim at best of times and my weight started dropping off when I first started taking 2 a day metformin. Recently changed to slow release, though not had time to assess properly I can say that the nausea I was feeling each morning has disappeared . Like Viv, I would rather take met than statins, I have several posts running on the matter of those - and I am in an ongoing 'friendly' dispute with my GP about taking them :wink:

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Classic symptoms - I was 14 1/2 stone (6 foot tall) and lost half a stone very quickly along with tirdness and thirst.

Went to Lloyds Pharmacy, had a finger prick, BG around 14 and went straight round the corner to the surgery.

I wasn't diabetic the previous year as I had had a full medical on the company health scheme.

I had a nephew who has been T1 since pre-teen.
I have since discovered that a cousin is also T2.
So probably some genetic component.

I am now 12 stone 10 pounds (best weight 12 stone 6 pounds) and diet and exercise are keeping my BG under reasonable control.

Cheers

LGC

 

[HpprKM]

LittleGreyCat, it is good that you can pinpoint when you became diabetic, I suspect that many of us - like myself - have no idea. I did not have the classic symptoms and only went to GP because I did not have the energy I used to have and two of my children have thyroid disease, I thought I had better get my thyroid checked. Diabetes was the last thought on my mind! I now know that some of the symptoms outside of the thirst and peeing, were existing for some years and wonder just how much real damage had occurred by time of diagnosis :roll:

 

[LittleGreyCat]

A good case for health screening of the general population.
Blood pressure and a couple of finger pricks doesn't take long and can pick up quite a few things which might need investigasting further.

 

[elviscole]

january 2005 i started to lose weight and by march 05 id lost 3 and half stone so thought i was doing something right, then started drinking about 6 litres a day and also peeing a lot :shock: and also was very tired all the time so started doing red bull and pro+ to try to stay awake,
then by april i was getting the odd eye prob so went to the opticians and they said eyesight was perfect but needed glasses for distance, argued with them that i couldnt read close up as it was blurred but the said it was down to eye infection, by may eyesight was really blurred and couldnt reconise anyone due to faces being blurred,
had a look on the net for blurred eyes and up came diabeties and the site i looked at listed 6 symptoms, i had 5 so made an appointment with the dr, took bloods and told me he wanted to do a fasting blood test so went back next morning and did the finger prick and it was 17.5 :shock: been on pills ever since and eyesight went back to perfect about a month after i started on the pills

 

[sammo68]

Was lined up for another post rugby knee injury op when hospital spotted irregularity on my pre-op ecg. Went to GP who did fasting blood test on off chance. Was declared borderline at 5.6. Since diagnosed and put on medications never been as low as 5.6 in nearly 4 years!!! Average is 10. Has to be a link there somewhere, especially as I am more concious of my food choices. Finally got referral to NHS diabetic nurse and dietician. Might get some answers, might not. Almost tempted to quit meds fo a month and see what happens. Obviously let "experts" know what I'm going to do.

 

[Andybiff]

Well i was diagnosed by accident i think. Had a cough since September this year, been to the doctors to get antibiotics after the cough changed into a chest infection. this didnt solve it. noticed i was tired most of the time even after waking up and having terrible itches... not saying where. Chest infection still not gone. went back for a second set of antibiotics, this time with steroids and had a few blood test inc Fasting glucose. came back as 10.7. this was blamed on the steroids so a repeat was done and the 3 month average test. ( cant remember the name ) results back as 8.7 for the fasting and 9 for the other. chest infection still not gone on third set of antibiotics. and seeing the nurse a week tomorrow. have had more symptoms too now the thirst... ( lol sound like a vampire from Blade ) and the grouchyness.

and thats me. only found out 3 days ago.

 

[suzie_girl]

I had a wrist strain, I have a bone in my right wrist which died through a rare condition a few years back, and I started to get scared I had the same problem in my left wrist. So they x rayed, and also did general blood tests to look out for any other cause like arthritis.

They accidentally falsely told me that my left wrist WAS dying, which devastated me as I play lots of string instruments. Then they told me my rhematoid count was high which made me think I had rhematoid arthritis (have you seen that, its TERRIFYING!). Then they said, Meh, your fasting bs was 7.....

So I go private and find out my left wrist is FINE, some git just can't read an xray, and the rhematoid count is a total red herring it doesn't mean anything much. Then I find out, yup you got a 7 again fasting, and the longer term reading thing you got a 40 so you're diabetic.

Essentially I spent two weeks thinking my music playing was ended and so compared to the joy of being told that's not the case diabetes recorded pretty much as a minor footnote to me, I'd rather loose sugar then music

My mum is diabetic and I have all her other dumb genetic diseases, so I have been eating 'like a diabetic' for years, in expectation of getting it, so the impact to me is minimal. My boyfriend has diabetic grandparents on both sides, one grandfather had his legs cut off, so I already had him on a 'diabetic' type diet, and will make sure he's regularly tested too. Sugary drinks and processed **** isn't allowed in our home, I would never buy full sugar coke, I think it should be banned.

I think if its in your family you should pre-empt it ultimately, you *may* not get it, but I'm 37 and don't have a filling in my head so I don't feel avoiding sugar is a bad life choice for anyone. Just a bit ****** off to have it early in life but there are worse conditions, and I'm glad to know early on so I can avoid damage. I don't believe you can control getting it, but I do think you can control your levels at type 2 so that at least means you don't feel helpless.

 

[Andybiff]

Ouch suzi sounds like you have had a rough time of it. :cry: as far as i am aware no one in my family has it and im 36 so a little bit earlier if that makes you feel a little better about it ? always stay positive is my motto, gets you through alot of "stuff". wishing you all the best

Andy

 

[Helenababe]

I was diagnosed by a random test. I had to have blood tests for something unrelated, and got told my sugar was 12.8!
I had no idea I was having a sugar test done, but my GP said whenever they do blood tests for anything they do a sugar one. I should think the Government's told them to do it.
I had one done, apparently, a year before that and it was normal.

Helena

 

[Sula]

I had symptoms of terrible tiredness, hot flushes and morning headaches with nausea, most of which I put down to the menopause. Was about to visit the doctor when I was approached in Waitrose by the stroke foundation checking blood pressure, I had it checked even though I was on medication already for HBP just to keep them happy. They found my BP to be high and recommended I see the doctor which I did, she gave me a blood test and found I was T2 diabetic, just over the recommended base line figure for the diagnosis of diabetes, their advice was to 'give up sugar' and I have had no dietary advice from the medics since (which is probably a good thing as I low carb and they can't handle that) I found this site and it was the best thing that happened. It was such a shock as there is no diabetes in my family, I have spent years urging my husband to get checked regularly as his father was a type2, needless to say he hasn't got diabetes.

 

[cathy m]

anna sorry to hear your blood sugars out of control....are you taking statins for high cholesterol by any chance