scared and worried

Hey pheonix, thank you to you for taking the time out to reply also, well I have managed to keep my BG's down to below 10 most days....but that's if I don't eat much and exercise, not sure how long I can maintain that, mentally and physically but while I am feeling that I can, I will. I have been up in the late teens before, but my take on it is that surely it's better to get it down with exercise than to do nothing? I am due to pick up some strips to test for Keytones on monday....something inside me says, don't test as it's just something else to worry about? I have always felt better after exercise when it's been this high so why stop now?
Hopefully I will be like you :thumbup: Waiting for the appointment from the hospital for the test if it's Type 1.

Lorri.

Hi Jan54, Maybe you need to look at being tested again? but what do I know lol atm I am not sure what I am :? Why would you put on weight if you eat sensibly? is it the medication? I saw that you are on asprin and other drugs...are they for other health issues?
Lorri

Hey guys, just to let you know that I got my appointment through for testing for T1, however it's not untill the 22nd may I called the doc and spoke to another GP as my normal one was away, he told me that he would send me tomorrow if he could but they are inundated!!( actually believed him) he also gave me the results of my HPAC1 and it was 105 mml, I found a chart on the web and this converted to 11.8? it has gone down from 110mml due to the exercise and living on fresh air!, but clearly not enough by any stretch of the imagination. I am not producing Keytones so that's something. I am seeing my normal GP next tues but I guess that nothing is gonna change untill I have the tests, in which time I am in limbo. Can't face going back to work, as that will only make my levels worse and I am not prepared to put my health at risk doing it.
It seems to be dragging on and on

lorri. x

Hey Lorri!

The response you are getting from your GP/hospital really is not good enough. You are a suspected Type 1 and are living without insulin - you need to be referred urgently. I had exactly the same issues as you and it made me very ill. Even if they can't do the tests yet, they can and should prescribe insulin while you wait, so that you can eat a bit. I'm afraid you are going to have to make a big fuss - I know it's not pleasant, but you cannot go on like this. Get back on to your doctor and tell him you need an urgent referral to a diabetes clinic. If he can't get you one, you need to make a formal complaint. Your health is at risk here.

When finally got to see a consultant, he was furious with my GP for not getting me an urgent referral - he wrote to them and told them that my situation is what urgent referrals are for. He told me he would have expected the DSNs at the hospital to see me within a few days of the GP urgent referral and then for him to see me immediately on the DSN request. He said the GP should have phoned for an appointment and explained the situation, not just write a referral letter.

Good luck and keep in touch

Smidge

Hey Smidge, oh really?? when you say ill...in what way, I know you don't mean to worry me. The thing is I don't feel that bad, well apart from being knackered from all the exercise.....don't get me wrong, I know the high levels aren't doing me any good. I have an appointment next weds and hubby is gonna come with me for support, if I can have some ammunition? Not sure if it will get me anywhere... GP seems to think my readings arn't too bad? :x what planet it she on when she knows I am killing myself to keep them as low as possible....

But thank you for your support

ps, gave in to a toasted tea cake today.....got straight on my bike, scared me! lol

Lorrie

Hey Lorri!

Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I' m concerned for you cos of your weight and not getting proper nourishment. I was just like you. I thought I had it under control cos kept my BG down to 10 ish by eating nothing and exercising a lot, but my body couldn't cope. Got fungal skin infection that spread across my body and attacked my internal organs - it was very frightening. My immune system just sort of packed up - couldn't fight the infection. On top of that, I had a continual period that led to severe anaemia. My weight suddenly plummeted - and I was only 6 and a half stone to begin with. You are already very underweight and can' afford to lose any more -and it is sudden when it happens. I'm worried that if you don't see a doctor til end May, it can be another 4 weeks before you get your results, so could be late June before you get proper treatment. That's a long time and your body might not be able to fight infection for so long. Also, you are already feeling depressed and this will not be helping - I was pretty emotionally strong, but would find myself sitting and crying cos things were so bad and I was so scared. Knowing what I do now, I wish I'd made more fuss and got things sorted out sooner. If you can get some insulin you can eat a bit more and get your body weight up a little. Then you can wait for the tests and results, but you need insulin while you're waiting.

Take care

Smidge

Hi Lorri

Just to reitterate as a few have already said It does sound like type 1. I was 36 when diagnosed T1 and again told I was not the old text book case ( Young adults and children ) I had an overactive thyroid about 6 yrs b4, treated with radio iodine then went underactive. I had a 10lb baby and like you was slim during and after pregnancy. I also lost more weight and had muscle wasteage....a sympton along with all the others of T1. You will be fine once you get on insulin and if you can learn how to carb count. The fact you have a healthy diet and fitness will help you manage it even better than someone who is not used to a healthy diet and fitness regime. I agree with the person who mentioned autoimmune as I do think that is a big factor..............Someone said about if your T1 your born with it T2 not born with it and develop it later.......I have never heard that explaination before. I hope the sort it for you soon...........

Grazer is right and Smidge I can see why you are so concerned. I was reffered really quickly and was told 1 more week and I would have been very, very poorly. Had blurred vision, optitions gave me a letter to go to DRs with. Got appt next day BG 16. Had blood test, following week p/call to go into DRs ( tues ) I was told T1. Thurs consultants secretary called me asked me to go to hosp next day.( fri ) I was just developing ketones. I was injecting insulin on the Monday.......So you can see with T1 usually things need to get sorted out quickly......BTW what is T1.5?

Hi Smidge and Shop, thank you again for your responses I really appreciate your support I have just come back from the Docs and she was amazed to hear that my app was end of May, she is going to call them and see what she can do. In the meantime she has increased my Glic to 160mg twice a day, hoping this wil help and I can eat a bit more, although initially she was worried about hypos I think she felt that was the best she could do for now? She gave me lots of strips to test more incase I do start to have them, but then that confuses me :? if this works why do I need insulin?

Lorri
x

Hi Lorri, I am pleased that your GP is going to see what she can do. I dont know what Glic is as i just went straight on to insulin so cannot help you there. I can tell you how to treat a hypo. If you test and get under 4 then it is a hypo. Some of the symptoms are ....feeling very hungry, shakey, sweating, not really able to concentrate, tingly mouth/tongue, heart beeting faster, butterfly tummy. ( you may not get all of these together ) You need to keep some dextrose energy sweets buy from shops/ chemist. Take 3 dextrose sweets and eat an apple or a glass of milk etc ( the dext tabs will act quickly to get your sugars up. The apple etc will ensure that your sugars stay stable.) You need to sit quiet for 10 mins then test again. I ideally you should get a reading betweeen 5-7. I can't answer your question if you need insulin or not. One think I have learnt from this forum is that there seem to be other colours of diabetes not just T1/ T2 back/white. Hope that your GP gets you seen to soon. Try not to worry...........let us know how you get on...

Hi Lorri!

I'm pleased the doctor is ringing the hospital for you - let's hope you get a quicker appointment.

If you are LADA, the Glic probably won't work - or if it does, it will only work for a short time. I was only on it for a week while the nurse was still insisting I was Type 2 :roll: It gave me a very bad headache and made me sick, but had absolutely no impact on my BG. As soon as I saw the consultant he stopped the Glic and put me straight onto basal insulin while we awaited test results. I then went onto bolus insulin as well. He told me that for slim people 'diagnosed' with Type 2 diabetes, Glic tends not to work very well or works for a very short time only. He also said that around 20% of those diagnosed with Type 2 are actually Type 1 (LADA or other variants) and if Glic and metformin have no impact, and you are slim, the chances are you are not Type 2.

I think Shop's answered your hypo question. I'd just add, take small amounts of glucose to correct hypos and keep testing. LADA is very spikey and you can easily over-correct and swing from too low to very high! I use 1 jelly baby to raise my BG from e.g. 3.4 to 5.4 (unless i've got injected insulin still active and then I might need a couple).

Keep letting us know how you're doing.

Smidge

Hey Shop, thanks for the info, Not looking forward to experiencing hypos! but the jelly babies...definately!p . You two have helped me so much. I will have to see what happens with the Glic I guess, but hopefully the appointment may be brought forward, so I won't be on it for long.

Smidge when you are exercising what level would you think I should look to be at before say an aerobic class? and what would you eat if it's on the low side?....this is just incase I start to get low on the extra Glic. I know that the levels can drop pretty quickly when exercising, so I'm a little concerned about what to do if It should happen in between the class. I can't see myself testing mid class, it's not really easily done, hardly have time to take some water on board!.

Sorry for all the questions !

:wave: lorri x

Hi Lorri,

You are welcome. Hopefully you won't have a hypo, but at least if you do then at least you know what to do now. Smdge has also highlighted the difference that you also need to be aware of as I can only comment on straightforward T1. Hope you get on Ok and there is nothing wrong with asking questions.....

Hi Lorri!

Don't be sorry for the questions - ask away and if I can help I will.

Exercise is a difficult one. I try to start with my BGs in the 6s if possible but that depends on how much exercise I'm intending to do and when my last insulin was injected - many people like to start with their BG higher than that. If I think I have quite a lot of insulin active, I'll eat a small amount of carb before exercising - just a ryvita with cheese or something. However, my preference is to reduce my insulin dose by a unit to avoid the situation if possible. I find that exercising tends to mask my hypo awareness a little, so i do test during the exercise - I can do this because I tend to use the gym rather than being in a class. I keep a few jelly babies with me and just eat one if I think I need to. I then eat a proper meal after the exercise and reduce the bolus insulin slightly for that meal. I'm not sure how that would work with Glic - you really need someone who has taken it for a while to advise on that. It might be worth asking the question on the exercise section of the forum? The thing you should be aware of is that exercise can drop your levels hours later, not just immediately, so you need to factor that into your night time levels and medication.

It's a bit trial and errro I'm afraid, like so much is with diabetes, but you do find something that works for you in the end. Testing and having some quick-acting carb at you side is the key in the early days.

Good luck

Smidge

Hey Smidge, I sent you a PM but not sure if you received it? :? Just wanted to tell you that the Doc increased my Glic to 120 twice a day and amazingly my BG's have come down a hell of a lot, ok yes, I have increased risk of the hypo's but I have been able to manage things quite well and even able to eat more . I just wondered if this would carry on or only just work for a little while as you last posted to me? I am so happy to be feeling almost normal again that I feel I will come down with a big bump should they stop working for some reason? Even if they get me through to my hospital app at the end of may it's something :eh:

love lorri
x

Hey Lorri!

I didn't get your PM, so I don't know what happened to that.

I'm glad the Glic is working for you. It is such a relief when your BG comes under control after such a long while.

As you know, Glic makes your pancreas produce more insulin, so it can work for as long as your pancreas is capable of producing insulin. I don't think it would suddenly stop working, but you might see your BG start to rise again if your pancreas cannot cope. It depends on what's really going on with you. If you've got LADA, the Glic can only work temporarily because your beta cells are being killed off and eventually you won't have enough to produce the insulin you need. If it's Type 2, the Glic could be your solution. Anyway, at least it gives you a bit of a break while you wait for those tests.

Smidge

Hey Smidge, yea this is what I suspected, thank you for confirming, will just have to wait and see I guess.

Thanks again.

Lorri