Gezzabelle
Well-Known Member
Thank you
Thank youYour high ferritin is probably haemochromatosis - another serious condition your HCPs have overlooked, I think. The test for this is not a liver scan, it's genetic testing of a blood sample. You may not even need the liver scan. If you have it, forget treating it with food changes, that won't do a thing. You would need to donate blood until the levels come down. Your level is not too high (it can be in the 1,000s) so you might only need to do it a handful of times, then once every 3 months or so. I don't know, but this is just to give you an idea of how haemo is treated. IMO with the increased red blood cells, something else could be going on so you should be referred to a haemotologist (blood specialist). You might still need the liver scan, but if I were you I would be more comfortable with a haemotologist deciding that.
I am a carrier for two types of haemo, so if I had kids with someone who was a carrier for one of those types, our kids would have full-blown haemo and need blood taken off periodically. I don't have kids. If you test positive for haemo, your whole family should also be tested. I was the first in my family to be diagnosed, and because of that, the life of one of my uncles was probably saved.
It's a very common condition. Approx 1 in 8 people of celtic descent are thought to be carriers. Doctors are supposed to be aware of it and to notice it when ferritin is high, but despite decades of awareness-raising education, some still don't.
Oh and the nurse who answered text messages during a consultation? I would love to see a formal complaint.
Well done on kicking diabetes into remission, you inspire me
Wonder if my blood would be acceptable with the diabetes problem and also the high ferritin levels? I would gladly donate blood, especially if it also eased a problem for me as well as being great for any poor soul that needed it. I just had to tell my dentist the tale when he asked about any health changes. He was stunned at the advice I was given to go home and eat broccoli and drink wine as well as the total lack of care and understanding of the blood results. I will just carry on as I am and stay safe rather than risk complications further down the line because of the neglect from my doctors.Congratulations, Gezzabelle, well done you!!!
I'm not even going to comment on the stupidity you were exposed to. Regarding your high ferritin, although I have this knowledge from the other side (too low in my case, I sometimes have to take supplementary iron), I agree with CatLadyNZ - blood donations are the way to go! Imagine, you're helping other people and helping yourself at the same time!Obviously, do go through all the recommended tests first.
I cured mine. I don't think there was anything physically wrong with me that caused my diabetes, just something terribly wrong with the food I ate. I didn't eat particularly unhealthily, just too much processed food made from whole grains (believing that was healthy for me). What sets my hair on fire is when people say that if you go back to eating what caused your type 2 diabetes you would get it again so you're not cured. That's a very silly argument.A better word would be remission.
http://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/2015/08/words-matter-why-you-cant-reverse-diabetes/
"I feel constantly bombarded with claims that type 2 diabetes can be reversed and prevented. I even hear absurdities about how type 2 diabetes can be cured. I expect these things from the scams that we all see in our email inboxes and across the web. But what really sets my hair on fire is the use of these words by people who should know better. Medical professionals and our government should know better........."
Yes...a silly and frustrating argument...especially when I do everything right to put my bg figures back to those of a non diabetic only to be told to go back to eating as many carbs as I want, including bread, potatoes, cake and whatever else I fancy. Sadly I fear the health authorities will never quite get it right and while their ignorance persists the number of people being diagnosed and then needing drugs to control it will go on growing.I cured mine. I don't think there was anything physically wrong with me that caused my diabetes, just something terribly wrong with the food I ate. I didn't eat particularly unhealthily, just too much processed food made from whole grains (believing that was healthy for me). What sets my hair on fire is when people say that if you go back to eating what caused your type 2 diabetes you would get it again so you're not cured. That's a very silly argument.
As far as I know, haemochromatosis and diabetes do not exclude people from donating blood. Haemo used to, but I think that has changed. There are lots of other reasons why blood may not be accepted though. Haemo patients can still get it drawn off, because that benefits them. It's just a shame when all that iron-rich blood can't be used for someone else.Wonder if my blood would be acceptable with the diabetes problem and also the high ferritin levels? I would gladly donate blood, especially if it also eased a problem for me as well as being great for any poor soul that needed it. I just had to tell my dentist the tale when he asked about any health changes. He was stunned at the advice I was given to go home and eat broccoli and drink wine as well as the total lack of care and understanding of the blood results. I will just carry on as I am and stay safe rather than risk complications further down the line because of the neglect from my doctors.
I cured mine. I don't think there was anything physically wrong with me that caused my diabetes, just something terribly wrong with the food I ate. I didn't eat particularly unhealthily, just too much processed food made from whole grains (believing that was healthy for me). What sets my hair on fire is when people say that if you go back to eating what caused your type 2 diabetes you would get it again so you're not cured. That's a very silly argument.
Just had my new HbA1c result and it's down from 6.5 or 48.5 to 5.7. I am totally confused and according to the nurse I am not diabetic ...BUT....WILL be if I eat carbs again and am retested in 12 months !!!! Confused as hell
Sorry to hear you have had a similar experience. I have now come to the conclusion that there is only ME that will take care of my diabetes. It is scary to think we put our trust in these people. I am now in a position where I won't go to the doctors anymore despite needing to. I would rather suffer in silence than listen to their claptrap and bs.Was shocked to find myself in a similar situation after my second A1c test. Numbers fell from 6.9 to 5.9 but ONLY because I was on metformin 500mg x 2, was walking more and using a meter to cut out foods which caused spikes. I actually think that I had deteriorated (inspite of lower numbers) because I had to cut out more and more carbs over the 3 months.
So my doctor came up with, now the number was lower, I could stop taking the metformin. Absolutely insane. Had to argue with him. I said provided they were relatively safe I wanted to keep taking them. So he came back with there might be an increased heart attack risk. I am sure he is confusing the ACCORD study 2008 which NICE uses to justify giving only the cheapest medications to patients. They say that reducing A1c below 6.5 is dangerous. This is complete claptrap. All non-diabetics will have A1c's below this. Following doctors' criticism in the Lancet of this policy I am convinced I will not get proper treatment and that NICE will be there to knock the last nail in the coffin.
I'm sorry to hear this. I agree we need to withhold our trust in doctors until they have shown they can be trusted, but there are still going to be times when we need them. They may get this aspect of one illness wrong, but the rest of their work might be ok?Sorry to hear you have had a similar experience. I have now come to the conclusion that there is only ME that will take care of my diabetes. It is scary to think we put our trust in these people. I am now in a position where I won't go to the doctors anymore despite needing to. I would rather suffer in silence than listen to their claptrap and bs.
In my own personal experience sadly no. My gp constantly makes light of any illness. All of the nurses have left the practice leaving just one very overweight lady who eats chocolate the whole time you are in with her. I have lost faith in the whole set up and may have to find a new doctor because as you say there will be a time when I have to go.I'm sorry to hear this. I agree we need to withhold our trust in doctors until they have shown they can be trusted, but there are still going to be times when we need them. They may get this aspect of one illness wrong, but the rest of their work might be ok?
When it goes too high? Maybe it won't go so high that you will need meds? I used to think diabetes was progressive, but the more I read about people's stories here, the more I think maybe it isn't? So I now say things like "if" I need more meds, or insulin, one day.Just to say I have been low carb/low Gi + exercise for 10 years and I test regularly . I don't go near the doctor cos I know I am doing OK on my own. I know that if I ate carbs like a non diabetic my bg would go up into diabetic levels. My bs goes up if I am ill with a cold or something and won't come down until it goes away. I have a HbA1c once a year and accepot that I will have to go on meds when it goes too high but at the moment I am doing OK.
I think you have done brilliantly and obviously caught it at an early stage.
What optimism - I wish I shared it. The whole of my dad's family were Type 2 but in those days they didn't know about low carbs. What makes me think I am progressing the wrong way is that my fasting bs are now usually over 6 although when I take them before lunch they are often in the low 5's. I also know that if they are high a 20 mins very fast walk will bring them down!!When it goes too high? Maybe it won't go so high that you will need meds? I used to think diabetes was progressive, but the more I read about people's stories here, the more I think maybe it isn't? So I now say things like "if" I need more meds, or insulin, one day.
I would rather suffer in silence than listen to their claptrap and bs.
Shouldn't be replying to myself, I know. Outcome totally predictable. Just came out with the same old rubbish. If I tried to reduce A1c further I might have a hypo. Not just on Metformin of course. I am also concerned that sulfonylureas are the second line treatment. Actually got quite stroppy when I questioned him. He could quote things back to me; except, of course, that he couldn't - not off the top of his head anyway. So that is my faith in my doctors to manage my condition correctly totally destroyed.I have come to see that all too clearly. I am going to see another doctor later to see if I can get any sense out of him. Only alternative would be private prescription I suppose.
How can you hypo, when your not on meds?Shouldn't be replying to myself, I know. Outcome totally predictable. Just came out with the same old rubbish. If I tried to reduce A1c further I might have a hypo. Not just on Metformin of course. I am also concerned that sulfonylureas are the second line treatment. Actually got quite stroppy when I questioned him. He could quote things back to me; except, of course, that he couldn't - not off the top of his head anyway. So that is my faith in my doctors to manage my condition correctly totally destroyed.
Shouldn't be replying to myself, I know. Outcome totally predictable. Just came out with the same old rubbish. If I tried to reduce A1c further I might have a hypo. Not just on Metformin of course. I am also concerned that sulfonylureas are the second line treatment. Actually got quite stroppy when I questioned him. He could quote things back to me; except, of course, that he couldn't - not off the top of his head anyway. So that is my faith in my doctors to manage my condition correctly totally destroyed.
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