• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Just diagnosed BG12.2 & confused

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dcr565

Member
Messages
16
Result for a fasting BG was 12.2. GP taken another specimen to confirm. I'm 59, 16stone and have bp 155/85. Is this likely to be T2 as my GP thinks? I have no symptoms other than thrush for the first time ever 6 months ago. Confused as to treatment and prognosis. All other blood tests normal. I wonder how long I have had this and if damage has been done. Is there life after this? I'm still in a state of shock. Anyone else faced similar and how did you get on?
 
It's possible that you are a T2 however we cannot diagnose so you will have to wait for confirmation from the HCP's. Once you have though we can advise you better.

Whatever the diagnosis your BP is high and will need addressing too.

For now, here is the advice that my pal Sue and I hand out to newly diagnosed, have a read, it should help you understand things better......

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, Diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy Carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of Insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause Insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting Carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total Carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a Diabetic.

As for a tester, try asking the Nurse/Doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own Diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try !!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Ken / Sue.
Click to expand...
 
HCP means Health Care Professional.....Dr's / Nurses / Dieticians etc. Sorry, I have been doing this so long I sometimes forget not everybody knows the 'jargon.' :)
 
dcr565 said:
Result for a fasting BG was 12.2. GP taken another specimen to confirm. I'm 59, 16stone and have bp 155/85. Is this likely to be T2 as my GP thinks?

Likely? yes, not certainly though, you have to wait for the Docs diagnosis, there are other forms of diabetes, not just type 1 and 2.

I have no symptoms other than thrush for the first time ever 6 months ago. Confused as to treatment and prognosis.

That's how sneaky diabetes is, you don't feel ill until it's to late, thrush and other fungal infections are common, your blood sugar "feeds" them.
Prognosis is good, your fasting BG ( is this HbA1c? if you had an armful of blood taken to test it will be) is high but not a disaster, a few pills might be all you need.

All other blood tests normal. I wonder how long I have had this and if damage has been done. Is there life after this? I'm still in a state of shock. Anyone else faced similar and how did you get on?
Click to expand...

We have all been there (T2s) don't get to worried, it's early days for you, with lots of learning to do.
I was much the same as you 8-9 years ago and now take medication and watch my diet, my BG is OK at 5.2 but it was 13. It takes time to come down, some months, start on a diet, a) to lose some weight and b) eat fewer carbohydrates.

One final bit of advice, you should take control of your diabetes, be prepared to ask your Doc. questions, be pro-active, but for now just sit back and wait for a final diagnosis.

Ask as many questions as you like on here, you will get good advice.

H
 
I can remember being in shock after I was diagnosed. :( It takes a while. I hope you have the support of your family and friends. But just keep asking questions to your medical staff, and here on the forum. I am still haveing to ask about the abreviated words, as well as about my T2 diabeties. I coped with diet for the 2yrs but now just take 2 500mg metfornim a day.
take care. :D
 
Thanks for all the replies. Is it likely I will need insulin now or in the future and do most t2s end up on insulin? How long have I probably had t2?
 
dcr565 stated :

Is it likely I will need insulin now or in the future ?
You do not even know if you are a Diabetic yet, it is premature to ask what you will need as many Diabetic's happily exist on diet alone. Some have to have medication, tablets, other injections besides Insulin. As for the future. No Crystal Ball here......

do most t2s end up on insulin?
I doubt it but really have no idea.....

How long have I probably had t2?
Again, who knows, may have just appeared, may have been quite some time.

You really need to be patient and wait for confirmation or not of any diagnosis. We can help later when we know more. We don't speculate we deal in hard facts. Sorry !
 
Just had diabetes confirmed (2nd fasting BG 10.5 taken 24hours after 1st of 12.2 - I had been on low carb diet for 24 hours before 2nd - is this significant?). GP has doubled my low ACE inhibitor regime to lower BP further after I pressed him. Also prescribed metformin. Been referred to nurse tomorrow. I need to know the following:
1 Is it reasonable for me to ask for an assessment of any damage that may have been done (as a baseline) by asking for microalbumin for renal function, assessment of any periferal neuropathy and whatever else they test, eye test to determine if any damage, hbA1C (should I ask for anything else?).
2 Am I entitled to a glucose meter as I want to be proactive, especially at first (which ones are best/cheapest).
This is an excellent forum, I have learned so much in just afew days.
 
Welcome to the Forum and the wonderful confusing world of diabetes. :D

Now you have been diagnosed you should get a full blood test showing Renal Function, Hba1c and various other things.

You should also get appointments for retinal screening, chiropodist and the DN (Diabetic Nurse ) should test you for peripheral neuropathy by testing the sensitivity of your feet etc.

As for the Meter......Some doctors will prescribe the strips and some seem to think Type 2's should not test !

If you buy a Meter check with the local Pharmacist which test strips are mostly prescribed in your area. You MAY be lucky and get a free one from your GP/DN however !

Under NICE guidelines you are entitled to be proactive in the treatment of your Diabetes. This means show as much knowledge about how you want to control your Diabetes as possible. Showing food dairy and readings and the link between the blood sugar readings and the amount of carbs you have eaten all goes towards convincing the Doctor that you will use the test strips to good purpose.
 
The first visit to the diabetic clinic or GP/HCP is often very confusing. Here is a list of things Sue and I think you can ask..........

Here are a few questions you can ask.


What can I do to control it, diet, medication ?

Appointments to see dietician, podiatrist, retinal screening.

Test meter /strips.

Test results and what do they mean ? Get a print-out of the results for your own records.

Who will I be seeing the nurse or GP ? If I have problem can I see either of you ?

Are there any courses I can attend, DESMOND for Type 2, DAFNE for Type 1's ? Any other Diabetes Education classes available.

How often do I get blood tests, Hba1c/Cholesterol/full lipid panel.. Should be every 3 months initially till in control.

Take a notebook with you and write down what you are told. If the doctor/nurse says things that you do not understand then ask them to explain it so that you can write it down.

This is your condition, your diabetes, you should be encouraged to take part in the treatment that you will be getting, not dictated to.

If you find that the doctor/nurse is unsympathetic then we suggest you find out which doctor in the practice is good with diabetes. Some doctors have a special interest in certain subjects, it’s worth finding this out.

Ken / Sue
Click to expand...
 
Excellent 1st session with nurse today, felt much better. She answered all my queries and is very pro low GI diet. Arranged all tests and referrals and even gave me a new machine and prescription for everything. She threw in a microalbumin as well on the way out after I mentioned it! She suggested another GP in practice who has an interest in DM. She also agreed to my aggressive approach to this affliction with extra BP attention, statins, the lot. Said most patients don't follow her advice.
Just measured my BG for first time - 6.1 which was 4 hours after my lunch. I have not started any medication yet but have been prescribed metformin.
Results so far:
1st day 12.2 fasting
2nd day 10.5 fasting
6th day 6.1 four hours post prandial (smoked mackerel and salad)
Been following low carb diet since 1st day. Is it normal to bring it down so quickly? I was expecting it to take months. Do I really need medication?
Fasting/2 hour pp experiments begin in earnest now.
Early days yet though. This is truly a crazy world I've entered.
 
Yep...crazy world with differing advice
I started at 1BG 14+ last August but had lost 2 1/2 stone already because of the undiagnosed diabetes.
Now 6-7 in morning and around 8.5 before bed.
NO CHANCE of getting strips from my practice but Freestyle Light direct from Abbot are £14.84 for 50 rather than £25 from chemist.
I have had to refer myself to local HealthCare Podiatrist following advice from other kind forum members. Awaiting appointment.
Talk to others and you will be amazed at number you find who are diabetic...very reassuring.
Be good to yourself, Eat sensible and drink sensible and all will be well :D
and lastly.......remember the diseases you have not got and be so thankful...2 of my friends recently diagnosed with MN

Thats way past confusing
 
When the news came out that the strips were being stopped, I asked my diabetes doctor straight away if I had to worry about this and he reasured me that I would not have the strips taken from my repeat prescription because I am on Gliclazide.

Soooooooo.... isn't it so that only type 2.s who are NOT on Gliclazide or eqivalent medication that brings down the BG and comes with the warning of possibly causing a Hypo, do not get the strips on prescription? --- :?
 
Eiche said:
When the news came out that the strips were being stopped, I asked my diabetes doctor straight away if I had to worry about this and he reasured me that I would not have the strips taken from my repeat prescription because I am on Gliclazide.

Soooooooo.... isn't it so that only type 2.s who are NOT on Gliclazide or eqivalent medication that brings down the BG and comes with the warning of possibly causing a Hypo, do not get the strips on prescription? --- :?
Click to expand...

No.....that isn't always the case. There are many who are on diet only who get the strips with no problem at all. Look around the Forum you will see them.

it usually is more the case that it is simply the whim of various GP's/Nurses/PCT's who decide on cost grounds that you won't get the strips. Even some T1's are being denied strips.....which is madness, they have to have them, more so than many T2's.

If you can show that you are being pro-active and understand exactly what the test readings mean and how to properly react to them then some HCP's WILL give you the strips....willingly. There are others who think we don't understand readings, that we will get paranoid about testing........many reasons with no validity at all.

My own GP told me of a man who was testing at least 10 times a day and when asked why he just said he wanted too......he had no idea what he should do with the results, he just liked doing it !! needless to say that man no longer gets test strips other than the odd prescription once in a while.
What a waste of strips that somebody else could use to good effect........
 
Ah ok, thanks for clarifying that for me :) In my honest opinion, the doctor or nurse in that case, with that man who just tested because he wanted to, should sit those people down, tell them the cost of those strips and how to use, when to test and how to interprit the readings and what to do in case of a high or low reading and see how they do after that instead of just taking the strips off everyone!
 
Hope you get the strips you need Eiche. I am using them at present to determine what foods I can eat and also to monitor (less frequently) my hopeful decline in fast BG and 2 hour PP BG. They seem to be essential if we are expected to take control of our illness. Agree they should not be used indiscriminately.
 
Oh you misunderstood there dcr... I do get the strips on prescription. I was just saying that health profecionals should educate their patients on how often, when and how to interprit readings and how to act accordingly to better their results instead of just taking them away because they say that people are not using them the right way and so on.... Some of us rely on those strips to help us keep an eye on our BG level and once you achieve a safe level and you know HOW you done it, it becomes a natural routine and we will need the strips less often.
 
After 12 days post diagnosis my fasting glucose today was 5.2, been dropping steadily. 2 hr PP between 6.6 and 8.9 and dropping. Any need for metformin or carry on low carb diet alone?
I've also noticed that my 2.5 hr PP tends to be 6.5 to 7.1. I.m wondering if this is because I'm eating complex carbohydrates (veg) and these are being absorbed more slowly. The non diabetic 2 hr PP is 6.6 but was this set using glucose as in GTT and it would be interesting if a new range for non diabetic be set using 50g of complex carb instead of glucose? Anyone else having same effect?
 
dcr565 said:
After 12 days post diagnosis my fasting glucose today was 5.2, been dropping steadily. 2 hr PP between 6.6 and 8.9 and dropping. Any need for metformin or carry on low carb diet alone?
I've also noticed that my 2.5 hr PP tends to be 6.5 to 7.1. I.m wondering if this is because I'm eating complex carbohydrates (veg) and these are being absorbed more slowly. The non diabetic 2 hr PP is 6.6 but was this set using glucose as in GTT and it would be interesting if a new range for non diabetic be set using 50g of complex carb instead of glucose? Anyone else having same effect?
Click to expand...


I think it's a bit too early to think about any changes yet, in any case you should always discuss changes in medication with your HCP first. It's good that the levels are getting better but you really need to see how things are after a month or so, not a couple of weeks. You have done good work so far, you could mess it all up by changing things too soon.

As for the ranges they were set using Glucose as it is a known consistent baseline........complex carbs would have too many variables to be accurate. I can and often do have non-Diabetic numbers after 14 yrs of Diabetes, that doesn't mean I am not Diabetic any more just that I am a well controlled Diabetic.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top