Newly Diagnosed - Help Required

[ForMyGirls]

Hi - 6 years ago I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, post birth my baby and my levels were completely normal, a year later they were checked and all fine. At my NHS check age 40 I was told I was obese (1m72 and 105kg) and at risk of diabetes. I am now 44, same weight. Before Christmas I was asked to attend a routine blood test for diabetes (lots of people in the area seem to be being screened for pre-diabetes). The test came back high so they asked me to do another one straight away. Yesterday I was phoned by a lovely nurses who said my level was 55 and I was Type 2 diabetic and to get started on the tablets straight away. A friend had something similar but was told to wait 4-5 weeks before a re-test.

It all feels a bit sudden, could it be a spike over Christmas? Should I be immediately jumping on the tablets? Otherwise I am fairly fit and healthy.

 

[Rachox]

Hi @ForMyGirls and welcome to the forum. Two tests close together is what I had when I was diagnosed. It’s really just to confirm the first test was correct, so no point in delaying it for a few weeks. 55 isn’t super high so you could try to bring that down with diet alone. Many of us cut carbs (as well as simple sugars) as all carbs turn to sugar once digested. A glucose meter would be a good investment too. I doubt you’ll get one funded by the NHS as a type 2, but we can point you in the right direction for some which are suitable if you want to self fund.
The HbA1c is an average of the last three months glucose levels so although it may be a bit biased by Xmas I doubt it would be lower than the diabetic cut off point if it hadn’t been Xmas.
Hang around, this forum is full of helpful members. Ask any questions you may have, there’s no such thing as a silly question if you don’t know the answer.

 

[Melgar]

Hi there @ForMyGirls, welcome to the forum Having gestational diabetes does put you at risk for T2 diabetes. Not everyone who has gestational diabetes goes onto develop T2, but it does put you at risk. Gestational diabetes happens because some women develop what is called insulin resistance during pregnancy. Basically your body becomes resistant to your body’s insulin. In other words your body‘s insulin is less effective at bringing down your blood sugars. So your blood sugars rise. Unfortunately, a percentage of women go onto develop T2 diabetes. Mainly due to arise in insulin resistance.

 

[ForMyGirls]

Hi @ForMyGirls and welcome to the forum. Two tests close together is what I had when I was diagnosed. It’s really just to confirm the first test was correct, so no point in delaying it for a few weeks. 55 isn’t super high so you could try to bring that down with diet alone. Many of us cut carbs (as well as simple sugars) as all carbs turn to sugar once digested. A glucose meter would be a good investment too. I doubt you’ll get one funded by the NHS as a type 2, but we can point you in the right direction for some which are suitable if you want to self fund.
The HbA1c is an average of the last three months glucose levels so although it may be a bit biased by Xmas I doubt it would be lower than the diabetic cut off point if it hadn’t been Xmas.
Hang around, this forum is full of helpful members. Ask any questions you may have, there’s no such thing as a silly question if you don’t know the answer.

Really appreciate this thank you, taking a look at low carb options, I don’t eat a lot of carbs my Achilles heal is chocolate and cake which I have struggled for years to curb, I stress eat! A glucose meter sounds good and a recommendation would be helpful, I am still haunted by the painful finger pricks during pregnancy. Suppose it’s the wake up call I’ve needed!

 

[ForMyGirls]

Hi there @ForMyGirls, welcome to the forum Having gestational diabetes does put you at risk for T2 diabetes. Not everyone who has gestational diabetes goes onto develop T2, but it does put you at risk. Gestational diabetes happens because some women develop what is called insulin resistance during pregnancy. Basically your body becomes resistant to your body’s insulin. In other words your body‘s insulin is less effective at bringing down your blood sugars. So your blood sugars rise. Unfortunately, a percentage of women go onto develop T2 diabetes. Mainly due to arise in insulin resistance.

Hi - thank you for taking the time to explain this, I am feeling immense guilt and disappointment in myself for letting this happen to me, I always plan to do exercise or stop eating cake but I always prioritised something else. Have I done this to myself?

 

[Rachox]

I still eat chocolate and cake! There are many recipes on line for low carb or keto cakes and I order sugar free chocolate form Deliciously Guilt Free, they do cakes too:

Low Carb & Keto Gluten Free Bakery | Deliciously Guilt Free

Deliciously Guilt Free offer keto cakes, brownies and desserts specialising in delicious, healthy treats specially formulated to work with a ketogenic diet.

deliciouslyguiltfree.com

Here’s some info with links for UK meters, and to be clear I have no commercial connections with any of the companies mentioned.


HOME HEALTH have the Gluco Navii, which is a fairly new model and seems to be getting good reviews.

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-produ...ose-meter-test-strips-choose-mmol-l-or-mg-dl/


Links to the strips for future orders:

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/glucose-navii-blood-glucose-test-strips-50-strip-pack/

Then they sell the older SD Code Free, details to be found here!

https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/



SPIRIT HEALTHCARE have a meter called the Tee2 + which is quite popular:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...e2-blood-glucose-meter?variant=19264017268793

The strips are to be found here:

https://shop.spirit-health.co.uk/co...py-of-tee2-test-strips?variant=19264017367097

If there is a choice of units of measurement then ‘mmol/L’ are the standard units in the UK, ‘mg/dl’ in the US, other countries may vary.

Don’t forget to check the box if you have diabetes so you can buy VAT free. (for all meters and strips)


If you’d like to try a free 15 day trial of the Freestyle LIBRE 2 plus follow this link:

Sampling | Diabetes Care | Abbott

 

[Rachox]

Also don’t feel guilty about your diagnosis. Have a read of this thread:

Type 2 Diabetes - It is NOT your fault!

There have been many newly diagnosed T2's who say they feel guilty and ashamed. I don't feel that way and neither should they. We have all been told to eat the wrong things, and that those are even 'healthy, for decades! T2D is all about diet - what the person has eaten in the past and going...

www.diabetes.co.uk

 

[Melgar]

Hi - thank you for taking the time to explain this, I am feeling immense guilt and disappointment in myself for letting this happen to me, I always plan to do exercise or stop eating cake but I always prioritised something else. Have I done this to myself?

No! Please don’t feel it’s your fault. Some people are more sensitive to rising insulin resistance than others. Plus, very likely you have a pancreas that simply cannot produce enough insulin to counter your insulin insensitivity. It doesn't help when you read on the internet that you have brought it on yourself due to bad diet and lack of exercise. That’s plainly not true. You get very thin people with T2 due to high levels of insulin resistance and a pancreas that simply doesn’t produce enough insulin in the face of insulin insensitivity. So no, it’s not your fault. @Rachox has provide a great link.

Turn it around, see it as a positive. You can now do something about it. Take a look at some of the dietary advice and forums on here. We have some great supportive groups of people who have all been where you have been and turned it around. It is very empowering to know that you are not alone and have the support of people who have been where you are, been through the guilt, but have now realized it was never their fault.

 

[AnnaBlind]

How I understand you. I was diagnosed with it a week ago. Now I decided to start learning more about this disease. Now I'm in your camp.

 

[_Steve_]

Also for info, Dexcom offer the One+ CGM trial as well as Libre

The Dexcom ONE+ CGM (Continuous Glucose Montoring) system | Dexcom

The Dexcom ONE+ is our newest Continuous Glucose Monitoring system that is smaller, faster and even easier to use.

www.dexcom.com