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Some help please

Speedbird

Well-Known Member
I’m here again. And it’s the usual problem only worse. A few of you may remember some of my older posts. I am quite at my wits end.


I was diagnosed type2. 5 years ago and luckily found this forum. Such a lot of useful information and a great help to kickstart my way of eating. For a while it worked well and I came down to prediabetic levels and so hopeful it would keep dropping.

I am slim. BMI 20. Visceral fat 6 according to Tannita readings. Low carb to keto and IF and occasional EF. Dog walking daily, good exercise routine and even some weights. But now nothing seems to work. I was advised to take one 500mg of Metformin a day. This I started last year, but nothing much changed. I did have some good weeks but that didn’t last long and the last few weeks my BS has been on a steady rise.

My Hba1C came back last March at 50mmol (6.7) this September it is 62 (7.8)

My morning readings are in double figures 12 to 14 and during the day I am lucky if they come down to 10.

I called the surgery last week and the doc has just doubled the Metformin dose and did mention that my pancreas may just have stopped producing insulin. Still high figures after double dose of Metformin for almost a week now. The DN is calling me on Friday. I have made a private appointment with a consultant to get more answers but that is not until November.

In the meantime is there anything else I can do? I feel rubbish with these high numbers and very anxious. Thank you.
 
Speedbird said:
I called the surgery last week and the doc has just doubled the Metformin dose and did mention that my pancreas may just have stopped producing insulin.
Click to expand...
I think you want a blood test for C-peptide. This tells you something about the amount of insulin your pancreas is making.

If the result is on the lower side you might want to push for more tests to see if you might be a misdiagnosed LADA/T1.
 
Your story does sound very like my own; after initial diagnosis as T2 I adopeted a low carb diet and was put on a daily sulponylurea and this worked well for a while and I nudged into remission. However eventually my levels started rising again and it was decided that my pancreas had gone on strike and were no longer producing insulin, so I was put onto insulin therapy.
The only thing I can suggest is that while awaiting your consultation is to continue to eat low carb and exercise.
Your HbA1c actually seems quite reasonable. Are you sure that your own readings are reliable and accurate?
 


Type 2's can be thin, but with your BMI of 20 and being diagnosed in the last 5 years which is the cut-off, you may still qualify for the referral pathway to see a specialist. Here is the link (below) you need to quote/send to your GP.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/rightcar...40/2018/07/nhs-rightcare-pathway-diabetes.pdf

(edited by mod to insert working link)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi. It sounds very likely that you could be T1/LADA. You need to ask for a C-Peptide and GAD test. Your surgery should be following the NICE diabetes pathway (Google it) and at your HBA1C level you should be on further medication. I had to suggest to my ignorant diabetes GP that he started me on Gliclazide in addition to Metformin which is one possible additional drug to stimulate the beta cells.
 

You both sound similar to me too!
 

Get the Doc to get you checked for LADA / T1.5 do not stop asking until they have done the test GAD and C-pert. Do not let it go until you have been tested
 
Hi and thank you, everyone, for your replies.
I had a telephone conversation with my GP (who specialises in diabetes) today who has just upped my medication to the full dose of Metformin and suggests we give it 4 to 6 weeks to see if anything changes. He seemed a bit dismissive of the c peptide test and it’s is something they don’t usually do as the results are not always accurate enough and diabetes is progressive. Sigh. But also suggested that there are other medications I can try. He said I was probably insulin resistant. From some private blood checks I had in 2019, it showed low insulin output but normal when it came to resistance. I mentioned this and he said to wait for the few weeks anyway. I may do the c peptide privately again just for some peace of mind.
I am looking forward to seeing the consultant privately and hope he suggests another approach. He is well known and worked in Bournemouth. Wish me luck. X
 
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