New diagnosis - blood sugars won't come down!

[Natthenewbie]

Hi all!

Got a diagnosis of type 2 a couple of weeks before Christmas. A bit of background:

- 35 years old
- Healthy BMI of 23 and an OK diet (love my fruit and veg, no major sweet tooth, just love a glass of red or two at the weekends and a slice of bread and butter)
- Exercise regularly - around 3/4 times a week. Although I have a sedentary job
- Had gestational diabetes with my twins.

Felt something was off so had a blood test which showed by HbA1C as 48 (ish) so pre-diabetic. Went through a stressful period in life and - WHAM - HbA1C went up to 86 (or something like that). Wondering if the stress caused the spike as nothing else in my life was different? They think the fact I had gestational diabetes is now why I have it - although why it took 4 years to come on all of a sudden I don't know.....

Now on 2 x metformin and 4 x gliclazide a day (which we have just been increasing incrementally each week). However, my blood sugars just will not come down! I have a test kit which I brought myself from Amazon. This morning, fasted, I was 18 mmol/L! Then after lunch, pretty much the same. Not been below 14 since I started self testing.

I have two questions - could I be type 1? The medication just isn't making a difference. Should I push for a referral to a specialist? Second question is - given that I don't have weight to loose - do I have to adjust my diet wildly? I could cry at the thought of not having some bread in my life, or that glass of red wine which is a lifeline on a Friday night. The nurse advised to keep my diet the same and 'stick to what I know'?~

Sorry for the long message. I am just so confused on where to go next and how to get these sugars down!

Thank you so much in advance!

A brain-addled Type 2 Newbie (Natalie).

 

[Andydragon]

Hi all!

Got a diagnosis of type 2 a couple of weeks before Christmas. A bit of background:

- 35 years old
- Healthy BMI of 23 and an OK diet (love my fruit and veg, no major sweet tooth, just love a glass of red or two at the weekends and a slice of bread and butter)
- Exercise regularly - around 3/4 times a week. Although I have a sedentary job
- Had gestational diabetes with my twins.

Felt something was off so had a blood test which showed by HbA1C as 48 (ish) so pre-diabetic. Went through a stressful period in life and - WHAM - HbA1C went up to 86 (or something like that). Wondering if the stress caused the spike as nothing else in my life was different? They think the fact I had gestational diabetes is now why I have it - although why it took 4 years to come on all of a sudden I don't know.....

Now on 2 x metformin and 4 x gliclazide a day (which we have just been increasing incrementally each week). However, my blood sugars just will not come down! I have a test kit which I brought myself from Amazon. This morning, fasted, I was 18 mmol/L! Then after lunch, pretty much the same. Not been below 14 since I started self testing.

I have two questions - could I be type 1? The medication just isn't making a difference. Should I push for a referral to a specialist? Second question is - given that I don't have weight to loose - do I have to adjust my diet wildly? I could cry at the thought of not having some bread in my life, or that glass of red wine which is a lifeline on a Friday night. The nurse advised to keep my diet the same and 'stick to what I know'?~

Sorry for the long message. I am just so confused on where to go next and how to get these sugars down!

Thank you so much in advance!

A brain-addled Type 2 Newbie (Natalie).

Given your age, bmi and the fact drugs aren’t working it does seem further tests would be sensible to check. Have you spoken to your doctors?

 

[Antje77]

I have two questions - could I be type 1? The medication just isn't making a difference. Should I push for a referral to a specialist?

Yes and yes.
Quick onset, not overweight, medication including gliclazide doesn't help, all reasons to have it looked at. And with fasting sugars that high, don't wait.

Should you develop a stomach ache, nausea or funny breathing, seek medical help immediately.
I'd also go buy some ketostix today or tomorrow to check for ketones.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @Natthenewbie
Although it is possible that you are really a Type 1, there are lots of skinny Type 2's (about 10 to 15% , I was one).
You say that you love your fruit and veg. I hope you know that very little fruit (actually just berries) is definitely OK for Type 2 diabetics (fruit juice is like liquid sugar) and that root veg and legumes can be almost as bad as grains for some?

What makes you think that your red wine is bad for you? -Unless it's sweet, most red wine, like dry white wine is fine as are spirits but only with a low calorie mixer.

So I would question how OK your diet really is. If it's the UK Gov/NHS 'Eatwell plate' then that is pretty much what gave me Type 2 diabetes in the first place.

 

[Natthenewbie]

Yes and yes.
Quick onset, not overweight, medication including gliclazide doesn't help, all reasons to have it looked at. And with fasting sugars that high, don't wait.

Should you develop a stomach ache, nausea or funny breathing, seek medical help immediately.
I'd also go buy some ketostix today or tomorrow to check for ketones.

Eeek. Ok - will do! Will push for the referral too. Thank you xx

 

[Natthenewbie]

Given your age, bmi and the fact drugs aren’t working it does seem further tests would be sensible to check. Have you spoken to your doctors?

Yeah - practice nurse has been speaking to me weekly. I will push for the referral when she calls again next week. Thank you x

 

[Natthenewbie]

Hi @Natthenewbie
Although it is possible that you are really a Type 1, there are lots of skinny Type 2's (about 10 to 15% , I was one).
You say that you love your fruit and veg. I hope you know that very little fruit (actually just berries) is definitely OK for Type 2 diabetics (fruit juice is like liquid sugar) and that root veg and legumes can be almost as bad as grains for some?

What makes you think that your red wine is bad for you? -Unless it's sweet, most red wine, like dry white wine is fine as are spirits but only with a low calorie mixer.

So I would question how OK your diet really is. If it's the UK Gov/NHS 'Eatwell plate' then that is pretty much what gave me Type 2 diabetes in the first place.

I am sure my diet could be improved - definitely no angel and was not following a low carb diet specifically. Just like to get my 5-7 a day, drink water and then have a few treats over the week. Just want to avoid a very drastic change to my diet where possible.

And this is wonderful news on the red wine - can't imagine cutting that out completely!!

 

[TriciaWs]

Watch out for that 5-7 a day - it's not so good if it's loads of fruit and includes higher carbs veg (most root veg, and some that are really fruit but we call them veg). I usually restrict mine to one small serving of raspberries or rhubarb, 3-4 green veg and one other low carb veg, eg cauliflower rice or courgetti.
Kohlrabi is a nice replacement for roast potatoes just boil it for ages first and don't have too much.

 

[Hertfordshiremum]

Hi all!

Got a diagnosis of type 2 a couple of weeks before Christmas. A bit of background:

- 35 years old
- Healthy BMI of 23 and an OK diet (love my fruit and veg, no major sweet tooth, just love a glass of red or two at the weekends and a slice of bread and butter)
- Exercise regularly - around 3/4 times a week. Although I have a sedentary job
- Had gestational diabetes with my twins.

Felt something was off so had a blood test which showed by HbA1C as 48 (ish) so pre-diabetic. Went through a stressful period in life and - WHAM - HbA1C went up to 86 (or something like that). Wondering if the stress caused the spike as nothing else in my life was different? They think the fact I had gestational diabetes is now why I have it - although why it took 4 years to come on all of a sudden I don't know.....

Now on 2 x metformin and 4 x gliclazide a day (which we have just been increasing incrementally each week). However, my blood sugars just will not come down! I have a test kit which I brought myself from Amazon. This morning, fasted, I was 18 mmol/L! Then after lunch, pretty much the same. Not been below 14 since I started self testing.

I have two questions - could I be type 1? The medication just isn't making a difference. Should I push for a referral to a specialist? Second question is - given that I don't have weight to loose - do I have to adjust my diet wildly? I could cry at the thought of not having some bread in my life, or that glass of red wine which is a lifeline on a Friday night. The nurse advised to keep my diet the same and 'stick to what I know'?~

Sorry for the long message. I am just so confused on where to go next and how to get these sugars down!

Thank you so much in advance!

A brain-addled Type 2 Newbie (Natalie).

Hi Natalie

Don’t wait for a referral, it will take ages. The doctor can do a blood test to check for GAD antibodies. Also a c-peptide test to see if you are producing any insulin. Tell them the medication is not working and your numbers are high. This will rule in or out type 1. Please be aware of the symptoms Antje77 has listed for diabetic ketoacidocis. It can be very dangerous and landed me in hospital. I was told I was type 2 then after medication didn’t work the blood tests showed I was type 1 and urgently needed insulin. Hope you sort this soon.

 

[Natthenewbie]

Hi Natalie

Don’t wait for a referral, it will take ages. The doctor can do a blood test to check for GAD antibodies. Also a c-peptide test to see if you are producing any insulin. Tell them the medication is not working and your numbers are high. This will rule in or out type 1. Please be aware of the symptoms Antje77 has listed for diabetic ketoacidocis. It can be very dangerous and landed me in hospital. I was told I was type 2 then after medication didn’t work the blood tests showed I was type 1 and urgently needed insulin. Hope you sort this soon.

Thank you so much. The more I read the more I think more tests are needed. Good to hear I don't need a specialist referral as NHS wait lists are crazy at the moment. I'll give the gliclazine a couple more days and then push for more tests.