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MikeCheshire

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Hi everyone I’m new to this forum. I just been told I’m type 2 and my blood is like syrup lol. My sugars was well over 20+ in 2017 and from last November I had a blood test and a doctor panicked and put me on tablet form. Reason is. I don’t like needles. So I’m on two type of tablets a day. 4 metformin a day and 2 Gliclazine a day. They manage to get my blood down to. In the range of 8.0 to 17.0. I knew I had a.problem in 2017 and didn’t see a doctor. So I was very silly. I’m thinking of buying them freestyle pads so I can check when and what is pushing my sugar over 10.0 can anyone let me know if they worth money. Don’t think I can get them over the NHS so I will need to buy them

Thanks in advance
Mike
 
If needles are an issue, and you're just starting on this journey, I do think a continuous glucose monitor'd be a good idea... You'd have to self-fund, but it'll make things much clearer for you. https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html might help a little with insight in how our bodies work when we don't process carbs well (practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested), so that might give some insight in how you can get things cleared up some. Keep in mind that low carb eating combined with gliclazide can cause hypo's, so do be careful. I'd say "test often", but with a CGM you'd be tested all the time anyway, so... That could very well work for you. Maybe, if that would be a goal of yours, get you off medication entirely. But that's for you, your meter, and your GP/specialist to decide. Also, if you hate needles, it'd be good to get a handle on this before you start requiring insulin. Motivator, maybe?)

You knew you had a problem and didn't do anything about it. You have no idea how many people had the same response you had, so not entirely sure how silly it is... Just human, I suppose. But you're ready to do something about it now. Good luck!
Hugs,
Jo
 
Welcome Mike
Better late than never, as the saying goes.
If you were to look for positives of T2 compared to other health issues that afflict us.
I think it would be that with T2, the changes you make to your diet and lifestyle can have a big impact on your future health.
If you do nothing and expect the Dr's and drugs to sort it, well, you can expect your future to involve an ever increasing amount of meds, and other medical conditions caused by high blood sugar.
T2 is still seen by most Dr's as a progressive condition, mainly because that's what they see, people just taking the drugs thinking it's all they need to do.
Testing is a great idea, the Cgm's are expensive though, a finger prick meter would be a little easier on the pocket. Don't think needles, think more little pin that is entirely enclose in its housing so you can't see it.
The nutritional thingy from Jo is a great introduction, here's a couple of more links you should find useful
https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb
 
I spoken to a sister/Nurse about that freestyle CGM she said it is good but she told me because of the price I should leave it. I have that nerve damage in my feet and hands I’m taking two lots of pain killers for it. Pregrabalin 200mg 3 times a day. And a slow release drug.

NOTE I was told do a test 2 times a day because of that Gliclazine. I’m new to this drug. They told me if I start feel like my sugar it’s too low is to test myself right away

At the moment my sugars is way out of control. I was a carer for my mother and father who had diabetes and I had them under control with food I gave them. So I’m not new to diabetes.

I I’m new at the nerve damage.

Back to the CMG. Reason I wanted to try it. If it tells me what time of the day when my sugar hits the roof. Also what happening when I eat. Even no sugar in food is pushing up my blood and it stays high for ages I did a test last night at 11pm 4 hours after food and my sugar was 13.9 and this morning fasting test at 7 30am 19.2

I love that blood sugar tester the bringer of bad news lol
 
JoKalsbeek, post: 2598651, member: 401801 If needles are an issue, and you're just starting on this journey, I do think a continuous glucose monitor'd be a good idea... You'd have to self-fund, but it'll make things much clearer for you. might help a little with insight in how our bodies work when we don't process carbs well (practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested), so that might give some insight in how you can get things cleared up some. Keep in mind that low carb eating combined with gliclazide can cause hypo's, so do be careful. I'd say "test often", but with a CGM you'd be tested all the time anyway, so... That could very well work for you. Maybe, if that would be a goal of yours, get you off medication entirely. But that's for you, your meter, and your GP/specialist to decide. Also, if you hate needles, it'd be good to get a handle on this before you start requiring insulin. Motivator, maybe?)

You knew you had a problem and didn't do anything about it. You have no idea how many people had the same response you had, so not entirely sure how silly it is... Just human, I suppose. But you're ready to do something about it now. Good luck!
Hugs,
Jo


Thanks Jo.
Reason about the needles is. I know a lot of people having to inject themselves in the stomach.
I’m a bit of a coward when it comes to self injecting lol. But saying that. In the back of my mind I’m expecting to go on insulin.

I’m up to 4 metformin a day. It’s been 19 days now from 3 metformin to 4 tablets a day. And 2 Gliclazine a day. One in the morning and one in the evening. Since November last year and I don’t see much of a difference in the sugars. I have it all written down for my diabetes Nurse.

Out of 23 days.
The lowest it’s been is 7.1

And the highest it’s been is. 19.2

Mike x
 
MikeCheshire said:
I’m new at the nerve damage.
Click to expand...
The nerve damage(peripheral neuropathy) is caused by high blood sugar levels, getting your levels down will prevent any further damage and hopefully improve the pain you're in. I'll tag @KennyA for you, I think he's had some experience with peripheral neuropathy.
MikeCheshire said:
Reason I wanted to try it. If it tells me what time of the day when my sugar hits the roof. Also what happening when I eat.
Click to expand...
You can do that with your blood glucose meter, test just before you eat, note down the result. Then test after your meal, usually at 2hrs, the difference in the before and after results tell you how that meal affected your blood sugar. If your second test is more than 2mmol above the first, there ere too many carbohydrates in that meal for you.
MikeCheshire said:
Even no sugar in food is pushing up my blood and it stays high for ages
Click to expand...
It's not just sugar you have to watch, carbohydrates when digested apart from the fiber which passes right through, will be converted to glucose. So it's not just chocolate, cakes, biscuits that you have to watch, bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, pastry, fruit, any carbs will turn to sugar after you eat them.

MikeCheshire said:
4 hours after food and my sugar was 13.9
Click to expand...
After food readings tell you nothing without a before food reading.
MikeCheshire said:
this morning fasting test at 7 30am 19.2
Click to expand...
That is ridiculously high, did you do a second test to check the first? Occasionally you can have faulty or contaminated strips that give wildly inaccurate results.
The reason your first test in the morning is higher than the one last thing at night is because of something called the dawn phenomenon.
Because of your high blood sugars your body has been storing it away in an attempt to reduce the amount in your blood. When you are asleep your liver pushes some of that stored sugar back into your blood.
 
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If you do not put some effort into improving your levels, then you will end up injecting Insulin.
You must be eating a lot more carbs than you realise, and that is the root of the problem. If you could give us an idea of what your meals are like, we may be able to help.
The Glic' is basically turbo charging your Insulin production, and the more anything is pushed to it's limit, the quicker it wears out, or eventually fails. Hence injecting Insulin as you can no longer produce enough for yourself, a long way off but better to avoid altogether.
By reducing the amount of carbs you eat, you are reducing the amount of Insulin required, to handle the sugar level.
( hence the need for extreme care whilst taking the glic', monitoring levels so as not to go too low)
As the levels drop and the Insulin level drops, then Insulin resistance improves, so again less Insulin is needed. When reduced enough the glic' should be able to be kicked into touch, BUT only when your doctor says so.
Don't concentrate on sugar, concentrate on carbs, they ARE sugar.
Below is a link to a chart which i think graphically shows the effects of what we eat.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Dr Unwin’s sugar infographics

lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk

I suffered from terrible neuropathy, with burning feet in bed (excruciating), and electric like shocks. As my blood sugar levels dropped, they have virtually disappeared. I know when my levels are a little higher at bed time because my feet get hot, but hanging them out of the covers cures that.
As for your dislike of losing your hair, mine went along time ago. My laid back thinking was the more i worried about it, the quicker it would go.
 
Hi Mike. I'd endorse what people have already said - it's not just sugar but all carbohydrates that you need to watch out for. Testing before and two hpours after eating will show you exactly which foods to what to your blood glucose. As you're finding out, high blood glucose levels over time start to do physical damage. Along with a fair few other symptoms, I had neuropathy in both feet for a few years prior to diagnosis: started as tingling and progressed to burning pain that stopped me sleeping. That improved very quickly - I mean weeks rather than months - after I switched to a very low carb lifestyle. However, it looks like I've got a bit of permanent damage as I still get a bit of tingling every so often, fortunately not painful.

If my experience is any guide it should be possible to reduce your neuropathy before it gets any worse. I have never taken any diabetes medication so you would need to get proper advice on how your medication interacts with low carb eating.

I tried a CGM as part of a free trial. They give you some information you can't get otherwise (what happens while you're sleeping, for instance) but for me I didn't feel that they would be worth the cost. Fingerprick testing (particularly around food) will give you the most important information anyway.

best of luck
 
My machine is a Accu chek mobile. It’s like a drum you put in the machine. I find that better then the little strips. it been tested by my nurse and she passed the machine as working fine. I’m under strict food from her and I’m still going through medical tests to see if any other damage as been done. Thanks for the CGM info. I might try the free version. I knew about Carbs with my mother and father. I had them both in the 5.0 to 5.6 range. Anyway best thing to do is don’t worry about it. If anyone else is as high as me. That will just make things worse. I go for another blood test in May so waiting for that to happen. Thanks everyone
Mike
 
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