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What type am I?

F

friar tuck

Active Member
Messages
26
Location
Travelling
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi folks

Been reading some interesting posts recently and wondered, with all the knowledge on here, if anyone would be able to give me some advice.

I was diagnosed T2 a couple of years ago. I am early 40s, slim, mother and 2 brothers on insulin. I am always tired and after a little exertion feel shattered. I break out with sweats and shakes if I go below 4.5.

On diagnosis I was prescribed 3 x 500mg metformin and 3 x 80mg gliclazide daily, together with statins. I am now on 4 tablets each of met and glic (which I believe is the max allowed/ recommended) and still get readings from 3 to 15, even when following a sensible diet with a moderately active lifestyle.

I am also constantly thirsty and thought that was cured when you were on the drugs.

Has anyone had any similar experiences and if so what is your diagnosis/treatment.

I have heard and read up on type 1.5 and well as MODY or LADA. Are these tested for routinely?

Sorry for all the questions but I would just like to be able to keep it all under control a bit more

Many thanks for any replies

Friar Tuck
 
Hi Friar Tuck and welcome to the forum :) The tests to determine what type you are, 1.5, MODY or LADA, are not carried out routinely, you will probably have to ask for them to be done.

Here is some information that will probably help you in your control of your levels. It was put together by our friends Sue and Ken, former monitors, for new members. I know you are not newly diagnosed but I think there are things in here that will be useful to you.

Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2011 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.
Click to expand...
 
Hiya, friar tuck. Welcome to us all here, to answer your question they usually dont just routinely test for type 1.5 mody/lada on just tablet meds, I have been told by my own GP its expensive to test for this so early on and its usually done after trying first the tablet meds , then other peptides and finally insulin 'if' your BS levels remain higher than should be. You can still request and ask them about this test if you wish. Hope this helps? Anna.x :)
 
Hiya, januvia [sitagliptin] tablet form is a GLP4 peptide it goes to your pancreas as a stimulator to secrete more insulin, Victoza injection form is a GLP1 peptide works as an enzyme mimicker it mimics your own body, when you have eaten it goes to the pancreas to knock out the insulin, there is other types but I dont know exactly what they do as never used them, best to look these up [byetta]. I am and used the 2 above though. We do have both victoza and byetta threads plus there is also the januvia thread too. If you would like to read about these? I do hope I havent bamboozled you with all this, I have tried to answer your questions tho. You can always ask your DN or GP about these if you wish to. Anna.x :)
 
Hi Friar Tuck

I don't know if this will help you but here goes.

(Sorry to those that have seen my same story for the umpteenth time :lol: )

I am nearly 34, slim, eat healthily, drink moderately and keep fit. Both my parents are T2, diagnosed mid 50s, mum overweight, dad not too much, mum went to insulin 4 years after diagnosis, dad still on pills.

You'll see from my signature my tests and results so far (although I'm unsure what the c-peptide being normal really indicates - my assumption is that's it's a clearer indicator if someone has T1/LADA rather than MODY/T2 but that's just my understanding, I'm not a medical expert).

A routine urine test showed that I was 'glucose intolerant' but GP didn't seem bothered and advised no further actions.

March this year, I was put into the Diabetic category but classed 'don't fit criteria' and referred to the Diabetologist who told me further tests were required and either I have MODY or standard T2 and unlucky to have it early in life.

I'm one of 4 women in my local area that have similar physiology and two of them have been told MODY, with the other T2.

My DN decided best not to put me on any medication until a truer diagnosis is done i.e Metaformin/Glicozide, unless my Hbac1s continue to rise. My Diabetologist thinks I'll be on medication of some form before the end of the year.

Because I was denied a meter, I found this wonderful forum, and started self testing. Interesting (and confusing) stuff, my periods of fatigue usually show readings that are 11 -13 or if I wake feeling hot/sweaty/thirsty in the night I test and this range shows. My mornings are never lower than 7.5 - even if I ate nothing from 8pm the night before...I need to test more post exercise as my readings can be more normal 5.5 - 6.5 but I can feel ill and spaced out as if I've 'dropped in energy'. No low readings though but I've only been testing two weeks.

I'm constantly drinking water and at night I wake up sometimes feeling as if I've swallowed sand.

Maybe mention to your GP/DN that I'm getting all these tests and pretty early after diagnosis.
 
Hi Anna
I have heard of byetta but did not know the term "peptide". The Dr did mention an injection that was not insulin when I saw him last, it must have been this type.

I am seeing the Dr again in 2 weeks and later the same day the new diabetic nurse (the fourth in two years!) for my 6 month review. I will grill them both on what is available now I know what it is.

Thanks
Friar Tuck
 
Hi Sanober
Thanks for your history. I can see similarities especially with the fatigue and thirst. I am around 8-12 after fasting, but what is frustrating me is I was diagnosed Mar 2009 with tests of 20ish. After 3 months on tabs I was down to low 6 on Hba1c but my last was 7.8! I have been told I will be on insulin eventually but for me - the sooner the better

Friar Tuck
 
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