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Relevance of age to diabetes??

C

chocoholicnomore

Well-Known Member
Messages
639
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi All

Just been to the doctor and, as usual, only thought about what he said after I came home.

I went for an antibiotic for my chest infection. I also got pneumo jab (totally unexpected) and an appointment for next Thursday for my first set of blood tests since being diagnosed (also totally unexpected although glad it will be done before Christmas :) )

I am currently on 2 x 500 metformin. The doctor said he is looking for my Hb1ac to be around 7. He also wants to give me a third metformin tablet. I explained to him that I have changed my diet drastically, lost weight and am now exercising and would that not be enough. It's the next bit that puzzles me.

He said "because of your age I want to keep a tighter control over it " I am only 44 so what did he mean by that :?: :?:

At the time when he mentioned "tighter control" my first thought was testing and I took the opportunity to mention it again. I told him the nurse wouldn't give me prescription for testing and I had thought about buying one myself. His answer was "it's a waste of money-you'd be better spending it on a wii fit" . I did tell him that I already have a wii fit and that's what I've been using to exercise.

Anyway, am looking forward to my first hb1ac ( :eh: :crazy: ) and hoping I am not disappointed. My average reading on my meter is 6.3 so fingers crossed.
 
chocoholicnomore said:
Anyway, am looking forward to my first hb1ac ( ) and hoping I am not disappointed. My average reading on my meter is 6.3 so fingers crossed.
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I'm sure you won't be dissapointed, but do remember that your average meter reading isn't a great guide to your HbA1c for 2 reasons;
1) It's simply an average of your readings, NOT of your average blood glucose level. It doesn't allow for what happens in between readings, or on occasions when you don't test.
2) It's a different "currency" to your meter readings. It's a %, although that works in your favour as the BG readings are a slightly higher figure than the HbA1c figure.

Regarding your age, he might just mean that because you're comparitively young, there are more years ahead for the diabetes to potentially progress, so he wants to keep tight control now, which is a good thing.

Remember also that the figure for HbA1c is now changing, so your results may not be shown as, for example, 6.8%. It could be 50 in the new figures (about 6.8) but he should be abkle to translate it to the old numbers for you! If not, we can! 53 is the equivalent of the magic 7 in the old numbers, although I know you're hoping for less than that.
You will let us know the result won't you?
 
Grazer said:
You will let us know the result won't you?
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Of course I will. If it's good the whole world will know it :lol:

Thanks grazer for your advice. It seems quite logical about age when you put it like that. I was thinking all sorts of things like will it get worse quicker because I am young(ish) or is it harder to prevent complications. I also thought maybe it's something to do with the impending menopause :lol:

I did realise that my meter reading is only a very rough guide and I know the readings have changed but will worry about converting it when I get there.

All the information that I now know is thanks to your good self and others on this forum. I know I definitely would not be as in control as I am without all your help. If I'd listened to DN and NHS advice I don't think my BG level would be any lower than it was on diagnosis. I am so glad I found this forum when I did and I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for all your help. :)

Marina
 
I suppose by "your age" he means that as you are so young, you have to live with diabetes for longer than most T2s, so the better your control, the longer you will maintain good health.

Hope you do!
 
IanD said:
that as you are so young, you have to live with diabetes for longer than most T2s
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I had thought that being over 40 and overweight were 2 of the common categories for diabetes to develop. I had assumed that there are loads of people in my age group with diabetes. Does it not say somewhere that type 2 develops in those over 40? Does that mean that, contrary to my belief, I am "young" to have developed diabetes at my age i.e. it's not common at my age?

Sorry, I'm back to being confused again :?
 
Don't be confused! There are lots at your age, and getting more common, which is why I said RELATIVELY young, compared to old codgers like me (61). Just that you have more years with diabetes than I do - I only have about 30 to go! :D
 
That comment is word for word what my doctor said to me :crazy: I had just turned 36 and was put straight on Metformin, with Gliclazide a few weeks later.

I took it to mean that there were many years ahead for me to get some nasty complications :shock:
 
Sorry, I guess I'm just making a mountain out of a mole hill and over reacted. :oops:

Maybe hit a raw nerve and I'm more sensitive to age than I thought :lol:
 
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