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- People that feel the need to put others down in order to make themselves feel better. A closed mind. A Fiscal view of life. Oh and Emu he used to scare the **** out of me when I was a kid :-s
Hello all,
My name is Richard I was diagnosed roughly two weeks ago (type 2) and this past Thursday had my meeting with my diabetes specialist to be given the diabetes info pack and basically be shown what all the figures etc. mean. What to control what to do and the best way to go about it. This site was one of two recommended by the GP that is the diabetic specialist at the medical centre I attend. I've had a few days to take everything in and about how much of an impact and change in lifestyle is required although the changes started two weeks ago now.
During my talk first with the nurse then the GP I didn't really appreciate the fact that so many people go undiagnosed for so long. I was expecting my GP to deny the fact that I think my diabetic symptoms or 'journey' began back in 2001/2002 (stupidly I just carried on without making any adjustments ). I have had a number of blood tests between that time and now seemingly falling into a grey area. Since 'perhaps' a few months ago I have been experiencing pins and needles in the legs and sometimes in the hands. About nearly a month ago this basically became a 24/7 symptom (always the legs very occasionaly the hands), which I now understand to be peripheral neuropathy. I have been given metformin (500mg pm meal) to hopefully help and also have increased my activity and more or less jumped straight into an extremely healthy diet. I have a few other health issues that I think have helped masked the diabetes namely spinal problems particularly cervical issues that also present with numbness and tingling in the extremities.
I understand from my GP that my readings and my hba1c test was not too bad 6.2 (44) and I have in the last couple of weeks managed to get my reading down further from the one taken two weeks ago just by increasing activity and restricting diet (although my activity levels are somewhat restricted). I have also noticed the tiredness and fatigue diminishing as I have started to use things such as fibre/pasta/bread(Wholemeal) and rice(Basmati/Brown) and space my meals at regular intervals.
One thing that I am a little confused and concerned over is how peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease are linked or in some articles I have read are actually taken to mean the same thing. As I understand it peripheral neuropathy refers to the nerves that can affect a change on circulation (this doesn't mean the vessels are damaged) just the nerve action on opening and closing the vessels ? Peripheral arterial disease is actually referring to plaque build up or hardening of the vessels themselves (this can be a main vessel (artery) or a peripheral vessel) ? I hope someone can shed a little light on this before I get the chance to pose the question to my GP.
I guess what I am really trying to ask is that if you have peripheral neuropathy does that mean you have peripheral artery disease ? I apologise for the long winded background and question but its something that's been on my mind as I come to grips with what to do, the best course of action and what things to be aware of.
All I can liken diabetes to at the moment is ... I guess like having children because your lifestyle completely changes overnight. One day your a couple doing your own thing hardly any restrictions the next you have something to care about 24/7 that imposes certain restrictions and changes your quality of life by demanding more time and effort from you. With children there is of course the joy in seeing them develop; it's just odd that the joy of diabetes I guess is not seeing it develop
Ooops nearly forgot ! Is it worth buying a meter and the strips to monitor my blood sugar or is that not really needed at the moment ?
Anyway enough ramblings from me enjoy what's left of the weekend and a great week to all
My name is Richard I was diagnosed roughly two weeks ago (type 2) and this past Thursday had my meeting with my diabetes specialist to be given the diabetes info pack and basically be shown what all the figures etc. mean. What to control what to do and the best way to go about it. This site was one of two recommended by the GP that is the diabetic specialist at the medical centre I attend. I've had a few days to take everything in and about how much of an impact and change in lifestyle is required although the changes started two weeks ago now.
During my talk first with the nurse then the GP I didn't really appreciate the fact that so many people go undiagnosed for so long. I was expecting my GP to deny the fact that I think my diabetic symptoms or 'journey' began back in 2001/2002 (stupidly I just carried on without making any adjustments ). I have had a number of blood tests between that time and now seemingly falling into a grey area. Since 'perhaps' a few months ago I have been experiencing pins and needles in the legs and sometimes in the hands. About nearly a month ago this basically became a 24/7 symptom (always the legs very occasionaly the hands), which I now understand to be peripheral neuropathy. I have been given metformin (500mg pm meal) to hopefully help and also have increased my activity and more or less jumped straight into an extremely healthy diet. I have a few other health issues that I think have helped masked the diabetes namely spinal problems particularly cervical issues that also present with numbness and tingling in the extremities.
I understand from my GP that my readings and my hba1c test was not too bad 6.2 (44) and I have in the last couple of weeks managed to get my reading down further from the one taken two weeks ago just by increasing activity and restricting diet (although my activity levels are somewhat restricted). I have also noticed the tiredness and fatigue diminishing as I have started to use things such as fibre/pasta/bread(Wholemeal) and rice(Basmati/Brown) and space my meals at regular intervals.
One thing that I am a little confused and concerned over is how peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease are linked or in some articles I have read are actually taken to mean the same thing. As I understand it peripheral neuropathy refers to the nerves that can affect a change on circulation (this doesn't mean the vessels are damaged) just the nerve action on opening and closing the vessels ? Peripheral arterial disease is actually referring to plaque build up or hardening of the vessels themselves (this can be a main vessel (artery) or a peripheral vessel) ? I hope someone can shed a little light on this before I get the chance to pose the question to my GP.
I guess what I am really trying to ask is that if you have peripheral neuropathy does that mean you have peripheral artery disease ? I apologise for the long winded background and question but its something that's been on my mind as I come to grips with what to do, the best course of action and what things to be aware of.
All I can liken diabetes to at the moment is ... I guess like having children because your lifestyle completely changes overnight. One day your a couple doing your own thing hardly any restrictions the next you have something to care about 24/7 that imposes certain restrictions and changes your quality of life by demanding more time and effort from you. With children there is of course the joy in seeing them develop; it's just odd that the joy of diabetes I guess is not seeing it develop
Ooops nearly forgot ! Is it worth buying a meter and the strips to monitor my blood sugar or is that not really needed at the moment ?
Anyway enough ramblings from me enjoy what's left of the weekend and a great week to all