Not feeling too good and would appreciate some advice please

[pinkfoot]

Hi All.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

I have been diagnosed for 4 years now (ish..) and until recently had my T2 well in control. When I say recently, about the last 4 months I have noticed a change in my health, this co-incides with me changing my job. I used to drive Artics, on permanent days, unfortunately, I was made redundant, but fortunately had a job I walked straight into. This was as a distribution manager on permanent nights.

I take Gliclazide 80 mg once a day and simvastatin for cholestrol once a day also, I was a little confused with how to take the medication as I work the continental shift of 4 nights on 4 nights off, so my body clock is in a constant flux.

Last two weeks or so I have become increasingly tired, today I have slept for nigh on 15 hours, my thirst is increasing, as is my appetite. The water works dont seem to be too affected though. Also, as my appetite is increasing, so is my weight. I am 5 foot 9 and weigh just on 16 stone, yes I know I need to lose a lot of weight, but am fairly active. I have also joined a gym which I start in earnest tomorrow (Tuesday 15th).
My Hba1c was taken last week and I was 7.1%

I am having increasing hypos, sometimes two a day and am really getting scared that this bloody thing is getting the better of me, my last few blood checks show me running at 15.0 mmol measured on a lifescan ultra2 11/2 hours after eating and 12.3 mmol 2 hours after.
Last week I spoke to my doctor and all he aqdvised was to double the dose and have a telephone consult tomorrow, I feel that poorly today that I have managed to get in to see another GP this afternoon, a "specialist in diabetes" according to the receptionist.

Has anyone else experienced these symptoms please? If so, what did you do to get things back on track?

Thanks once again for reading.

best to all

Kev

 

[cugila]

Hi pinkfoot.
Welcome to the forum. Having read your post it looks like you may be consistently running high Bg levels ? This could be reponsible for the symptoms you describe. You are on very low dose of Gliclazide so that may need to be increased. Are you on any other anti Diabetic drugs ?

Can you give us an idea what a typical days food intake consists of please. It will help us to answer you better, breakfast, lunch, dinner and any snacks. Drinks etc.

 

[pinkfoot]

Hi Cugila!

Thanks very much for the response.

I was brought up in East Lancashire, by my Grandparents... They had the attitude that "Eat whats in front of you or you dont leave the table." Unfortunately this has lead to me being overweight in mid life and having an unhealthy appetite for food! I am a big eater, and as a hunter, I adore Game and Fish. I eat what I shoot or catch, and I also eat what others give to me..

I also love a pint or several.. Good Bitter is my tipple, but drink lager at home.

Food?

Breakfast would be a full breakfast bowl of shreddies, with semi skimmed milk.

Lunch would be chicken and pasta, or Black pudding with home made mustard sauce.

Tea would be Fish Pie or say Pheasant Roast with all the trimmings.

I dont take any sugar (bar whats in me beer) I dont have any boiled sweets, however I do have say 2 chocolate bars a week.

My weekly intake of beer is around 12 pints.

Does this shed any light?

 

[sugarless sue]

Hi Cugila!

Thanks very much for the response.

I was brought up in East Lancashire, by my Grandparents... They had the attitude that "Eat whats in front of you or you dont leave the table." Unfortunately this has lead to me being overweight in mid life and having an unhealthy appetite for food! I am a big eater, and as a hunter, I adore Game and Fish. I eat what I shoot or catch, and I also eat what others give to me..

I also love a pint or several.. Good Bitter is my tipple, but drink lager at home.

Food?

Breakfast would be a full breakfast bowl of shreddies, with semi skimmed milk.

Lunch would be chicken and pasta, or Black pudding with home made mustard sauce.

Depends what you use to make sauce.

Tea would be Fish Pie or say Pheasant Roast with all the trimmings.What are the trimmings ?

Depends what is in the pie.Potatoes ? pastry ?

I dont take any sugar (bar whats in me beer) I dont have any boiled sweets, however I do have say 2 chocolate bars a week.

My weekly intake of beer is around 12 pints.

Does this shed any light?

All highlighted are high in carbohydrates.Here is the advice we give to new members which may be useful.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars. Reducing and watching the amount of carbs is not just for a while with diabetes, it is a life style change.

Portion sizes are also important.Reducing the size of the plate that you eat from can make a big difference to the amount that you eat.

The main carbs to avoid or reduce drastically are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such a bread, potatoes, pasta and rice also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating then two hours after eating you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.

Does this shed any light?

A search light!!

 

[pinkfoot]

thanks Sue..

My main concern is that I have been ok on the food I eat for 3 years or so, but only the last 4 months have I felt to start unwell..

I appreciate what you are saying and need to take advice (unfortunately our PCT is a bit lame...) on what foods and portions.

I see there is a "diabetic plate" for sale on the site, does anyone use them please?

Off to see the quack this afternoon, will post back later with whats been said.

Best to all

Kev

 

[cugila]

The Diabetic Plate advertised on the main site might be of use to some Diabetic's.

Personally I found that just using a side plate for meals was a much cheaper way of controlling portion sizes, most people already have them.

The advice that is mainly given out here is most likely not going to be the same as the advice from many HCP's. It is then up to you as to whose advice you wish to take.

You might have been Ok on your diet but as you have put on weight, your natural Insulin resistance will have increased therefore the tablet's that you are now on will be less effective in controlling your Bg levels.

 

[pinkfoot]

Hi All!!
Just a quick line to follow this post up..

I went to the doctors and expressed my concern at the hypo's I was having, he has changed my tablet control to slow release metformin and a statin that I can take at anytime.

The biggest difference I have found is through the regular testing advised by both sue and cugila. I have DRASTICALLY cut my carbs intake, I don't know if you'd call it low carb but I guesstimate at about a 75% cut in previous consumption is a fair estimate.. The difference is amazing, I feel brighter, can concentrate easier, am sleeping better and my sugars are now between 5.4 and 7.1 ( Is this healthy??? I feel better!!). I have decided to give up Lager and Bitter in the short term and limit myself to a glass of Red now and again. In the 3 days or so since my original post, this forum has given me far better advice than my doctor has in 4 years...

Thank you.. It looks like I have got to grips with a basic understanding of what this illness is about. Both Sue and Cugila, you have made a difference to my life and lifestyle, I am VERY greatful.

Kev

P.S. Are bran flakes low in carbs?

 

[sugarless sue]

Bran Flakes !!! These range from 67 to 85.7 of carbs per 100 gms depending on the brand used.

Therefore a portion of 30 gm would be 25.7 gm of carbs .The best thing is to test before and two hours after to see just how it affects your blood sugars.

my sugars are now between 5.4 and 7.1 ( Is this healthy??? I feel better!!

Great levels for such a short time !


( source Calorie,carb and fat bible 2010)

 

[hanadr]

pinkfoot,
now might be a good time to discuss your control and medication with your care team.
gliclazide is good at causing hypos and it also burns out your pancreas.
There is a less well known Medication(tablet) called Starlix, which is taken just before you eat. It might be that this is a possible for you, but you'd need to ask your doctor.
Hana

 

[sugarless sue]

I went to the doctors and expressed my concern at the hypo's I was having, he has changed my tablet control to slow release metformin and a statin that I can take at anytime.

Are you still taking Gliclazide, Pinkfoot ?

 

[wallycorker]

...........I have DRASTICALLY cut my carbs intake, I don't know if you'd call it low carb but I guesstimate at about a 75% cut in previous consumption is a fair estimate.. The difference is amazing, I feel brighter, can concentrate easier, am sleeping better and my sugars are now between 5.4 and 7.1 ( Is this healthy??? I feel better!!). I have decided to give up Lager and Bitter in the short term and limit myself to a glass of Red now and again. In the 3 days or so since my original post, this forum has given me far better advice than my doctor has in 4 years.........

Hi Kev,

That is usually what happens! You've learnt very quickly - it took me eight years to get there!

........Are bran flakes low in carbs?.......

My advice would be to stay well clear of all cereals and try a grilled (or even fried in a little olive oil) breakfast instead - bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms = with an egg if you prefer.

When I started testing myself the first thing that I learnt was that cereals - including porridge - was the worst food that I'd been eating as far as my diabetic situation was concerned. My well-respected-in-diabetes-circles GP had been trying to get me to eat porridge for lunch as well as breakfast. :?

Best wishes - John

 

[pinkfoot]

Hi All...

Are you still taking Gliclazide, Pinkfoot ?

Sue.. No, I came off it as soon as I could, my Meds are now Metformin 2x daily and Atorvastatin (?I think?) once per day. I havent had a hypo since coming off Gliclazide.


John

[/My advice would be to stay well clear of all cereals and try a grilled (or even fried in a little olive oil) breakfast instead - bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms = with an egg if you prefer.

When I started testing myself the first thing that I learnt was that cereals - including porridge - was the worst food that I'd been eating as far as my diabetic situation was concerned. My well-respected-in-diabetes-circles GP had been trying to get me to eat porridge for lunch as well as breakfast

That'll do for me cocker!!

Thanks for all the replies and great advice, if anyone else would be kind enough to share some tips, I'd really appreciate their trouble.

Best to all

Kev