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Undiagnosed and Untreated

S

Spridgett 56

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello there,

My case is very lengthy and very complex, but I would still be interested in receiving some input from the Forum. I have undergone extensive gastro intestinal surgery in the past, the most relevant of which here is a partial pancreatectomy 21 years ago, for a benign cystic tumour. I have never been diagnosed as diabetic, until recently. As part of a routine six monthly blood panel, my GP decided to include a fasting blood glucose. This was found to be 7.4 and repeated a month later, when it had fallen slightly to 6.3. At the same time, my long standing hypothyrodism was also found to be not optimally controlled on my current dose of Thyroxine. My GP, however, is "unkeen" to label me as diabetic and has advised no further action in relation to either condition, other than to ask me to return for an Hb1Ac test at the end of the year. I should say that my GP has known and treated me for over 25 years and believes in "treating the person and not the blood results". He is of the opinion that I currently exhibit no specific symptoms of either diabetes or overt hypothyroidism and consequently is content to leave matters as they are, trusting me to present further if I begin to demonstrate symptoms specifically related to either condition. Although I understand this approach in my particular situation, I am now concerned that such delay in confirming the diagnosis of diabetes might increase my chance of developing complications down the line. Any comments would be welcomed by a newbie to this forum.
 
Hi. The HBa1C test at the end of the year which is not too long now will be a good guide to whether you have diabetes and how bad it might be. I think your GP is perhaps being a little optimistic in watching for symptoms of diabetes, as one of the insidious aspects of the condition is that it can be symptomless until your blood sugar is very high. Your fasting blood test result implies you currently probably don't have diabetes. So I would wait for the HBa1C test and you can always get hold of a glucose meter and check your blood sugar occasionally 2 hours after a meal when it should be below 8.5 mmol.
 
Hi. I would go along with Diabells suggestion, get a meter , the SD codefree is fairly cheap, and the strips are about the cheapest on the market. Do some tests yourself and see what your readings are, to get a feel for what is really going on. Your fasting is a little bit higher than normal, but not dreadfully so, however, you could be getting some pretty high spikes after eating, these may not be giving you any symptoms whatsoever, but that doesn't mean that they aren't doing harm. Because of past treatment your pancreas might well be compromised, so it would be as well to find out how well it is doing . Regarding the thyroid, it really depends on how badly is it being controlled, how it is making you feel etc. remember that the thyroid is responsible for regulating many hormones in the body and if its out of kilter, then its throwing other things out too. Maybe your thyroxine just needs a slight tweaking to bring it back in line. Ask what your levels were. Sometimes it just needs half a tablet (12.5 ugs) to bring it back or you may need more. Mine was well controlled last year, then went right off and the endo phoned at christmas and said please double your dose ! ! so they can go off suddenly, then settle down again. Remember its your body and its the only one you've got.
 
Hi there,

Thanks very much for responding to my post. I think I will go ahead with the meter idea and thank you for your helpful suggestion in this regard.

With regard to my recent blood test results, my T4 was 18 and TSH 11, on 100ugs and 50ugs of Thyroxine on alternate days.
 
With regard to my recent blood test results, my T4 was 18 and TSH 11, on 100ugs and 50ugs of Thyroxine on alternate days
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I am not a doctor, but when my TSH went to just over 9 it provoked the endo to phone me at Christmas to adjust the dose, it also made me feel very ill, mine is autoimmune so maybe there is a difference, but I would say that you should get that adjusted.
 
Spridgett 56 said:
Hello there,

My case is very lengthy and very complex, but I would still be interested in receiving some input from the Forum. I have undergone extensive gastro intestinal surgery in the past, the most relevant of which here is a partial pancreatectomy 21 years ago, for a benign cystic tumour. I have never been diagnosed as diabetic, until recently. As part of a routine six monthly blood panel, my GP decided to include a fasting blood glucose. This was found to be 7.4 and repeated a month later, when it had fallen slightly to 6.3. At the same time, my long standing hypothyrodism was also found to be not optimally controlled on my current dose of Thyroxine. My GP, however, is "unkeen" to label me as diabetic and has advised no further action in relation to either condition, other than to ask me to return for an Hb1Ac test at the end of the year. I should say that my GP has known and treated me for over 25 years and believes in "treating the person and not the blood results". He is of the opinion that I currently exhibit no specific symptoms of either diabetes or overt hypothyroidism and consequently is content to leave matters as they are, trusting me to present further if I begin to demonstrate symptoms specifically related to either condition. Although I understand this approach in my particular situation, I am now concerned that such delay in confirming the diagnosis of diabetes might increase my chance of developing complications down the line. Any comments would be welcomed by a newbie to this forum.
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I had part of my pancreas removed five and a half years ago and was told it was a case of when not if I would develope diabetes. In less than a year I had blood results of 9.7 and started on tablets and within another six months I was on insulin. A meter would be useful to keep an eye on things as that is how I knew to get tested by GP after a string of high readings.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hello there,

Thank you very much for your input. It is the first time I have had contact with another partial pancreatectomy patient. I hope you are doing well, diabetes not withstanding. I suppose I have done very well 21 years down the line. I had two thirds of my pancreas removed, along with my spleen and a third of my stomach. Previous to that, I also had half of my liver taken out, together with my gall bladder. It is amazing what bits and pieces you can do without! Do you also have to take pancreatic enzyme supplements with your meals?
 
I had two thirds of my pancreas removed, along with my spleen and a third of my stomach. Previous to that, I also had half of my liver taken out, together with my gall bladder. It is amazing what bits and pieces you can do without!
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Anything left :lol: :lol: :lol:

Seriously though, sounds as though you are doing OK really .
 
I know. It is quicker to list what is left! :roll: :crazy: I am doing well, considering, and appreciate that I am lucky to be alive.
 
Daibell said:
Hi. The HBa1C test at the end of the year which is not too long now will be a good guide to whether you have diabetes and how bad it might be. I think your GP is perhaps being a little optimistic in watching for symptoms of diabetes, as one of the insidious aspects of the condition is that it can be symptomless until your blood sugar is very high. Your fasting blood test result implies you currently probably don't have diabetes. So I would wait for the HBa1C test and you can always get hold of a glucose meter and check your blood sugar occasionally 2 hours after a meal when it should be below 8.5 mmol.
Click to expand...

I stand to be corrected, but I thought that 8.5 mmol 2 hours after eating was the target for a well controlled diabetic to aim for. Below 7.8 mmol is what a non diabetic should be 2 hours after food.
 
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