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How long have I had diabetes?

T

Tootse

Well-Known Member
Messages
65
Obviously, I know that no one will be able to answer this, but I am wondering how long I have had diabetes before being diagnosed.

As someone who has been on medication for a few years for high blood pressure, I need to see doctor every 6 months before reinstating my repeat prescriptions. I am usually sent for blood test around every 2 years. I had a blood test in November 2010. I guess it was a general health check which I assume included a glucose check.. I figured it was fine because I never heard anything. Almost 2 yrs later June 2012 doctor sends me for another blood which revealed above 8.5 bg levels after fasting. A GTT revealed that I am type 2 diabetic

Since diagnosis I have trawled the net for as much information as I can. During my trawling I read about Neuropathy and it's symptoms, with particular interest to numb feeling at tips of both big toes and getting hot feet usually at night. I have had this problem for a long time, much longer than the 2 years between blood tests. This makes me wonder if I could have had diabetes well before my 2010 blood test, and if so, what was the doctor checking for that didn't include a glucose test?
 
hi tootse

My gp said the hba1c would give us an idea of how long I'd had it, my first one was done a month after diagnosis (and starting to change diet)and was 7.1%.

He said based on that I hadnt had it long, or it had been caught early, something to that effect.

I have no idea how accurate what he said was but it kind of makes sense.

Mary x
 
Hi Tootse, :)

You can request your previous records (limited), from your Medical Practice for a small cost. They may reveal borderline indications of your diabetes in the past. However the data is very difficult to understand yet interesting.

It is probably better to go forward and use all thoughts and efforts to keep your health in good order.

You could also ask your Doctor to explain why diabetes was not picked up sooner.

Good Luck, :)
 
Hi Tootse!

Just ask your doctor to talk you through the relevant part of your 2010 tests! He won't lie to you! If possible, get a printout. If not, make a note of the numbers and we can tell if they're high, normal etc. you will need to know if they were fasting or random blood tests and, if random, what you ate and when prior to the test. Anyway, start. With asking for the results.

Smidge
 
Hi. The fasting test isn't particularly accurate/reliable as it can be affected by overnight liver dumps so what is on your records may not tell you that much? The Hba1c is a pretty good test but cannot tell you anything about your state, say, 4 months ago and earlier. I guess many of us wonder how long we actually had diabetes at diagnosis and all we can do is check that there is no damage and manage sugars from then on.
 
It is a "how long is a piece of string" question, we all wonder how long we have had it.

You can get some idea by trying to think about your general health before diagnosis.

Did you feel tired? Blurred vision? Frequent fungal infections? Bladder infections? Itchy skin? and so on.

From what you say I think yours was caught early, I know I was T2 for at least 5 years before diagnosis simply by becoming aware of the various symptoms I had and associating them with T2.

H
 
Hi. Yes, Hallii is right. I had a candida infection about 6 months before diagnosis and my GP just prescribed ointment and it didn't occur to him it might be a symptom. I gather it is one of the most common early signs and my GP should have suspected diabetes (the good old NHS again)
 
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