Need help

Joanna, don't give up your first point of contact, should be your DSN they will assist you, do you have a phone number for you to be able to contact them?

Hi. Yes, you really must contact the DN or GP. Can I ask what insulin regime you are on and whether you are having a low-carb diet together with a reasonable amount of proteins and fatty foods?

Are you not under clinical (Hospital) care? If not contact your GP and they should be able to refer you to a diabetic clinic or be able to give you the number to the local DSN's.

Joannacarter0018 said:

I dont have an accessible nurse there is currently no one for me to contact

Click to expand...

Who did you get your results from?
I suggest talking to them or your GP and demanding (not asking) you see a diabetes specialist to provide the assistance you need.

Also ask if there is a DAFNE course in your area. This should give you the tools you need to manage your diabetes and access to people who can help.

Joannacarter0018 said:

I dont have an accessible nurse there is currently no one for me to contact

Click to expand...

Are you in the UK? If so you are presumably registered with a surgery and have a nominated GP?

Joannacarter0018 said:

i didnt expect it to be that bad as my bloods are high but not extremely high

Click to expand...

That HbA1c converts to an average of 12.2mmol/l so your levels are higher than you think. Are you testing your blood regularly?

You seem to have slipped through the net. I second the advice to see your GP and get referred to a specialist Diabetes clinic or at least a DSN to tide you over.

Hi, I’d really recommend calling the surgery you had the HbA1c done at, and making an appointment with either their DN or a GP ASAP - and get them to refer you to the nearest hospital clinic x

Hey, an average of 12 is not great but it is not the worst either ok? It is safe enough for now. Put that to the back of your mind and as others say try and get in touch with someone that can help. There will be a nurses department number you will be able to find through google. I am sure that anyone who answers will be willing to help you and set up a meeting. They might note your details and become your permanent nurse or pass on the details later. It is important to only tackle one aspect at a time but we're not experts in you so make that call and see where it goes. I am sure it will go well from there. Again, 12 is not horrendous for an average. Go forward. Don't look back.

@Joannacarter0018 - how are things today? Did you get hold of anyone?

Joannacarter0018 said:

I couldnt get hold of anyone who can help so ive had a think about it and im starting to write a food diary to monitor foods that spike high bloods and im joining slimming world as they do a diabetic food plan which will help alot. I do my insulin reguarly when i need it so i think i jist need to up the doses and look at when they increase to sort it out. Hopefully this will work ill give it 4 weeks and get my hba1c done again and hopefully it will of improved. Thankyou for your help i really do appreciate it xx

Click to expand...

I’m so glad you’re taking charge of it. If you have a smartphone, I’d highly recommend the MySugr app to track BG and food.

Joannacarter0018 said:

I couldnt get hold of anyone who can help so ive had a think about it and im starting to write a food diary to monitor foods that spike high bloods and im joining slimming world as they do a diabetic food plan which will help alot. I do my insulin reguarly when i need it so i think i jist need to up the doses and look at when they increase to sort it out. Hopefully this will work ill give it 4 weeks and get my hba1c done again and hopefully it will of improved. Thankyou for your help i really do appreciate it xx

Click to expand...

You really need to speak to your GP and demand to be seen by a diabetes specialist ASAP because of your poor control. Fingers crossed you can turn this around pretty quick

Joannacarter0018 said:

and i correct with insulin after foods

Click to expand...

Hi, I wasn't sure if you meant you always corrected when high after food? or you mean you normally take your insulin after food?

If the latter this will in explain why you are running a lot higher than you think - novarapid is just not quick enough for injecting after meals and your bg is rocketing upwards while you are eating. You need to look at pre-bolusing (injecting before eating, for some on nova that can be upto 1 hour) as well as dose. I just wanted to check you are not waiting to finish eating before injecting as that is not good at all re your numbers.

But the bit that concerns me most is are you testing for keytones? Sleeping for 16 hours a day, the other symptoms you describe and the fact your average bg is 12 - all mean you must do so urgently, if you don't have a meter then please go to hospital.

See link here https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/testing-for-ketones.html

But you should routinely test when over 17 bg, but also when you have been repeatedly over 13 bg - and with an average of 12 bg you will almost certainly be repeatedly over 13 bg unfortunately.

Hopefully keytones are not an issue here, after that your best tools for getting your bg down are

1. pre-bolusing
2. low or lower carb meals (even eating the exact same meal repeatedly to get good control and fine tune your understanding)
3. Libre - so you get a better picture of what is going on across the day