Some birthdays are better than others

[Sweet Pete]

Good evening everyone.

My name is Pete, I Just turned 60 and I got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (Some birthdays are better than others)

This came as a surprise because although I have a sweet tooth, and my diet is not perfect. I never had any of the symptoms associated with the onset of diabetes (and still I don't).

My blood was tested in November 2021 as part of a routine back to work after Covid 19 medical assessment (done by my employers as I drive for a living) and nothing showed up in those tests, I am about 2 stones too heavy, (im 13 and a bit and should be around 11) but I do get a bit of exercise walking my 3 dogs (about 4 - 6 miles a week - double that in the summer months ) there is no history of it in my family I don't smoke, rarely if ever drink alcohol and get good regular sleep ... So how did I get diagnosed ?

In August last year I got what I though was a bout of athletes foot, I got a telephone appointment with the doctors surgery, after which I was asked to submit a photo and I was prescribed an anti-fungal ointment, which didn't help, over the next two months, the infection spread to both feet (just the soles) then started to affect the skin on the (palms only) my hand.

I was asked to submit more photographs and this time I was granted a face to face audience with an actual real life doctor.
They looked at my hands and feet, said it looked like contact dermatitis, gave me more cream, told me to eat loads of fruit and veg, but said I best get my bloods checked.

My first blood was taken on the 6th of January, I was called 3 days later and asked to make another blood appointment two weeks down the line as they were not happy with my HbA1c levels. (I hadn't a clue what that was and didn't ask) I dually went along and 2 weeks after that I was called and asked to make an appointment with the medical centre's local nurse. (3 weeks waiting time)

It was at this meeting I was given the results of my full Blood test.

Vital organs, Heart, Liver, Kidney were fine, Cholesterol and Iron fine, I was given a Blood Pressure, test all fine.

HbA1c level 44 - second 53 I told I was diabetic type 2.

I was relived that nothing more serious showed up, but also a bit surprised.

The Nurse said the issues with my skin were a warning sign, (I have never read anywhere that diabetes can cause dry skin on hands and feet) but she said a change of diet, get my blood glucose levels stable and I will see a difference in my skin

I was given a few websites to check, this one included.

I was told that a balanced diet was the best way to keep it under control, Low calories to lose the weight and that I should get my carbs from starchy veg and whole-wheat pasta and bread with lots of protein and fibre.

I joined the site a couple of weeks back, I trolled through hundreds of posts on this site, got inspired by the number of people who have managed to embrace their diabetes, live a decent lifestyle and some have even managed to reverse the condition.

I bought a BG monitor and began a more healthy eating routine - I have ditched the idea of going low calorie and I am instead going the low card route.

So far my BG have been good - between 4 - 6 fasting - then low 4's high 5's 2 hours after food. I have only had one reading over 6 and that was 1 hour after trying 2 weetabix with low fat milk for breakfast, which gave me chronic heartburn, my BG was down an hour or so later

I am going back to the nurse in May to get my bloods done again -

Thanks for the inspiration

 

[jjraak]

Welcome to the club of those with "eyes wide open"

Nothing like that DX smack in the face to make us take food a lot more seriously.

Sound like you got a good grasp on this...fair play to ya, fella .

 

[HairySmurf]

The Nurse said the issues with my skin were a warning sign, (I have never read anywhere that diabetes can cause dry skin on hands and feet) but she said a change of diet, get my blood glucose levels stable and I will see a difference in my skin

Congratulations on getting your blood glucose levels so low. It's a great achievement, and I hope your next HbA1c result reflects your good work.

On this point about skin - high blood glucose causes infections, and this is likely what the nurse was referring to. I've read on this forum that when your BG is high you actually sweat glucose, and this is food for pathogens.

One of the few symptoms I had before I was diagnosed was a recurring rash in my left armpit. I knew it was fungal because I had an identical experience in my early 20s which, as it turned out, was caused by a change in my asthma inhaler. The steroid in the new inhaler was promoting fungal infection. Changed back to the old inhaler, a bit of anti-fungal powder for a few weeks, and the infection disappeared.

About a year before diagnosis I had the same rash. No inhaler this time as I haven't needed a steroid inhaler since my late 20s. I tried the powder and it worked, for a few weeks, then the rash would come back. Tried the powder again, repeated regularly for several weeks - rash gone. Stopped the powder and within 2 weeks the rash was back. Over and over I tried killing it off, going so far as to buy new t-shirts in case that was where the fungus was lurking. Only the left armpit bizarrely, never the right.

It's only now that I read your post that I realize the infection hasn't returned since I got my blood glucose levels under control. I haven't needed to use the powder since maybe late November or so. Looking back, this was probably a warning sign that I didn't know was a warning sign. Hopefully your skin will clear up the same way mine did, and our skins will never be sweet again

 

[MissMuffett]

Well done for joining this forum and taking control

 

[Outlier]

That's really impressive! Well done for such a pro-active attitude and the results are well-deserved.

 

[derekhansen]

Well done for taking control. I am 61 and was diagnosed with an HbA1c of 49 back in September 2023. Sounds like the first advise you were given was the standard NHS dietary information. Thankfully you found this site where most people agree that low carb is the best approach. I was fortunate because the nurse that gave me the bad news (the equivalent of your little birthday kiss) pushed me towards trying a low carb diet instead of going straight on to medication and told me to ignore the NHS advise. I am happy to tell you that I have stuck with it, lost 45lbs and my 3 month blood test showed an HbA1c of 37. An added bonus is that this has also improved my health in all sorts of other ways. Hope it goes as well for you.

 

[LivingLightly]

Evening @Sweet Pete and welcome to the forum. We're pleased you could join us.
Sounds as though you've seized the initiative and lined up your ducks. Well done you.