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What Type Of Diabetes Do I Have?

R

Rmoliv

Active Member
Messages
34
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
And should I be medicated or non-pharmacological measures should be enough such as exercising and diet?

I’m asking it here and now because I got my blood test results today but my appointment is only on Thursday. It’s making me anxious.

The blood test was requested after the sudden onset of symptoms like blurry vision, dry mouth, hot flushes, dizziness, fatigue, thirst, nausea. I weight 128kg (282 lbs) and am 33 year-old male.

These are some of the results:

Blood
Glucose - 178 mg/dL (9.9 mmol/L)
Hb A1c [NGSP] - 9.9 %
Hb A1c [IFCC] - 85 mmol/mol
Average blood glucose - 237 mg/dL (13.2 mmol/L)
Total cholesterol - 245 mg/dL (13.6 mmol/L)
HDL cholesterol - 28 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L)
Triglycerides - 353 mg/dL (19.6 mmol/L)

Urine
Glucose - 500 mg/dL (27.8 mmol/L)
Ketones - 60 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L)

Thanks
 
Balance of probabilities suggest (emphasise that word strongly) that you're T2 but only your doctor can confirm that.

Way more to understand about your diet, but that is a LOT of weight you need to shed. Cholesterol figures aren't that flash either. Both can be changed but much discipline called for

You'll get there as I've seen a lot worse

Tagging @daisy1 for the info pack. Read it well

Good luck
 
As Mike says, only your doctor can make the diagnosis but for the moment let's assume you are a T2. Medication is a certainty while they find out which pills help and which pills cannot be tolerated (if any).

Changing your diet and doing a little exercise are likely to have a significantly greater impact on your condition if a T2. Read Daisy's starter pack and ask questions.

The good news is that changing your diet does not involve starving or any lettuce leaves and carrot juice. Good luck.
 
@Rmoliv

Hello Rmoliv and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 
My diet has been a mess for the past years... Basically 70% carbs I would say. I'd eat several cakes and cookies during the day until I went to sleep and much of my lunch and dinner consisted on pasta, pizza and similar stuff. I went through a low-carb diet (+ exercise) in 2014/2015 and I lost about 40kg (~88 lbs) but regained 50 kg (~110 lbs) in the last 6 months or so due to anxiety issues (it makes crave for sugary food).

Considering my blood work results do you think doctors will put me on insulin or oral medication first?
 
Rmoliv said:
And should I be medicated or non-pharmacological measures should be enough such as exercising and diet?

I’m asking it here and now because I got my blood test results today but my appointment is only on Thursday. It’s making me anxious.

The blood test was requested after the sudden onset of symptoms like blurry vision, dry mouth, hot flushes, dizziness, fatigue, thirst, nausea. I weight 128kg (282 lbs) and am 33 year-old male.

These are some of the results:

Blood
Glucose - 178 mg/dL (9.9 mmol/L)
Hb A1c [NGSP] - 9.9 %
Hb A1c [IFCC] - 85 mmol/mol
Average blood glucose - 237 mg/dL (13.2 mmol/L)
Total cholesterol - 245 mg/dL (13.6 mmol/L)
HDL cholesterol - 28 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L)
Triglycerides - 353 mg/dL (19.6 mmol/L)

Urine
Glucose - 500 mg/dL (27.8 mmol/L)
Ketones - 60 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L)

Thanks
Click to expand...
Odds do suggest T2, but the doc'll know for sure. No idea whether the doc'll go straight to insulin or will try metformin and/or gliclazide first. (Many other options, but those are usually the first that get tried.). Get yourself a meter so you know what's going on and what foods do what. Test before a meal and 2 hours after first bite. If you go up more than 2 mmol/l, there were more carbs than your body can handle. You've low-carbed before; try to dive back in. I'm dealing with mental issues myself (introverted borderliner, clinical depression, anxiety), so I know all too well food can be a crutch and a comfort... But this is a comfort that's hurting you, badly. I got my numbers down to the non-diabetic range and my cholesterol is better too, (and dropped 46 pounds to date) so a diet change really does help, but you have to stick with it. It's not something for a couple of months, it's a lifetime commitment once you're a T2 who wants to stay off insulin. But it is a choice, and you can make it whenever you want to. Or change your mind. Up to you. But taking your age into account... I do think it's worth a shot. Good luck!
 
Rmoliv said:
Considering my blood work results do you think doctors will put me on insulin or oral medication first?
Click to expand...
I was diagnosed with an HbA1c of 87 mmol/m and given metformin as a start.
Dietary changes should have a far greater effect though so I would start low carbing pretty quickly in your shoes.
One slight concern is your ketone levels which seem high-ish. Had you changed what you ate much before the test (although urine sticks are notoriously inaccurate) or had you fasted for a long time pre test?
 
bulkbiker said:
One slight concern is your ketone levels which seem high-ish. Had you changed what you ate much before the test (although urine sticks are notoriously inaccurate) or had you fasted for a long time pre test?
Click to expand...

I fasted for 12h before the blood and urine tests (yesterday’s morning). I changed my diet on
Saturday after getting a >500mg/dL read using a glucose meter, I was feeling pretty bad. Since then I have been eating vegetables and some protein for the most part and a loaf of bread at breakfast.
 
bulkbiker said:
that won't be helping.. do you like eggs and bacon? a far better low carb breakfast that will keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Click to expand...

I do it’s just that I’m used to a “continental” breakfast so eating eggs for breakfast is something that I’ve never done but I’ll do it if need be. Should I totally avoid bread at all times?
 
Rmoliv said:
I do it’s just that I’m used to a “continental” breakfast so eating eggs for breakfast is something that I’ve never done but I’ll do it if need be. Should I totally avoid bread at all times?
Click to expand...
Bread isn't a T2's friend. At all. If you want to hit the ground running, cut out bread, pastry, rice, pasta, cereal, sugary drinks, fruits, potatoes and underground veggies. Stick with eggs, bacon, cheese and mushrooms, above-ground veggies, full fat (greek) yoghurt, real butter, double cream, tea, coffee, cauliflower rice, courgetti, water, meat, fish, olives, avocado's, nuts... That sort of thing. When in doubt, or in need of meal ideas, check Dietdoctor. But for breakfast, some scrambled eggs with cheese and/or bacon are whipped up in no time at all. Buttering a loaf'd take longer!
 
Your weight is quite high which would imply you have insulin resistance thru fat around the body. Normally that would indicate T2 and be treated with a low-carb diet and some meds
 
Rmoliv said:
I do it’s just that I’m used to a “continental” breakfast so eating eggs for breakfast is something that I’ve never done but I’ll do it if need be. Should I totally avoid bread at all times?
Click to expand...
I do.. I try to eat what I would put on the bread without eating the bread.. and yes that includes the butter... but then again I am a bit odd!
 
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