Hi everyone,
I’m new here, but I’ve been fighting this battle for myself just a little over 2 years now. I was wondering if I could take some good advice from you. If not, no problem, I’d love to share my experience and hear from you anyways.
Ok, some basics. Chinese, in 40s, female. I've been trying to get an OGTT test for 2 years but kept failing.
I got Type 2 diabetic symptoms 2 years ago when I was 38 where I felt fatigue, craving for cabs and extremely thirsty. These were not surprising to me as my father side has a long history of type 2 diabetes. I bought the glucometer and my 2 hrs after meal was 8.9 mmol/L.
Since then, I have been on a long road to fight with the symptoms while researching this disease.
My first HbA1c was done 2 months after I noticed symptoms. However, I quit eating carbs when I found out my 2hrs after meal was 8.9, therefore my first HbA1c number was very nice. In hindsight, should I regret the self-control? If I hadn't controlled my diet, my numbers would have been so bad that the GP would have taken me seriously.
Over the 2 years, I have maintained my glucose numbers by
1) working out regularly
2) low-carb diet
3) intermittent fasting. I skip breakfasts.
However, in November 2024 I had symptoms again, this time with frequent urination and getting up as many as 5 times at night. My 2 hrs after mean were again 8.9. I thought I was doing everything right, but my body's ability to regulate glucose seemed to have deteriorated. Just a few moments ago, I finished my lunch, which contained very few carbs. Instead of exercising as usual after the meal, I only stood for 2 hours, and my blood glucose was as high as 7.6. I was keen to seek medical help but when I made an appointment with my GP for another medical check-up, not only was my HbA1c normal, but my blood tests were fine on all counts.
Despite telling the GP that I’ve worked very hard to maintain and the test I needed to have should be an OGTT, the GP said that only women who were pregnant could have this test. Combined with my normal blood test slips, I look like a crazy person. I'm wondering if I should make another appointment with the GP, start eating 2 hours before I see the doctor, and then test my blood sugar in front of them. If this is what a patient needs to do to be “diagnosed”, I find the system unbelievable!
I would like to take this opportunity to ask you a question:
Even if I am diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetic, will my GP help me find out what is causing my illness? Because this is what I want to know, and therefore to find ways to help myself.
My BMI is around 23, but I have a body fat percentage of 32% and normal muscle mass. So, assuming I'm doing all the right things with my methods (the 3 previously described), I suspect what is causing my current condition to worsen:
1) Increased insulin impedance, but this obviously requires more testing.
2) Weakened pancreas function. This is the worst-case scenario and may require medication.
I would be very interested to hear your comments and suggestions, or your experience of communicating with your GP.
I understand I can go for private but this will take up more than £1000.
I’m new here, but I’ve been fighting this battle for myself just a little over 2 years now. I was wondering if I could take some good advice from you. If not, no problem, I’d love to share my experience and hear from you anyways.
Ok, some basics. Chinese, in 40s, female. I've been trying to get an OGTT test for 2 years but kept failing.
I got Type 2 diabetic symptoms 2 years ago when I was 38 where I felt fatigue, craving for cabs and extremely thirsty. These were not surprising to me as my father side has a long history of type 2 diabetes. I bought the glucometer and my 2 hrs after meal was 8.9 mmol/L.
Since then, I have been on a long road to fight with the symptoms while researching this disease.
My first HbA1c was done 2 months after I noticed symptoms. However, I quit eating carbs when I found out my 2hrs after meal was 8.9, therefore my first HbA1c number was very nice. In hindsight, should I regret the self-control? If I hadn't controlled my diet, my numbers would have been so bad that the GP would have taken me seriously.
Over the 2 years, I have maintained my glucose numbers by
1) working out regularly
2) low-carb diet
3) intermittent fasting. I skip breakfasts.
However, in November 2024 I had symptoms again, this time with frequent urination and getting up as many as 5 times at night. My 2 hrs after mean were again 8.9. I thought I was doing everything right, but my body's ability to regulate glucose seemed to have deteriorated. Just a few moments ago, I finished my lunch, which contained very few carbs. Instead of exercising as usual after the meal, I only stood for 2 hours, and my blood glucose was as high as 7.6. I was keen to seek medical help but when I made an appointment with my GP for another medical check-up, not only was my HbA1c normal, but my blood tests were fine on all counts.
Despite telling the GP that I’ve worked very hard to maintain and the test I needed to have should be an OGTT, the GP said that only women who were pregnant could have this test. Combined with my normal blood test slips, I look like a crazy person. I'm wondering if I should make another appointment with the GP, start eating 2 hours before I see the doctor, and then test my blood sugar in front of them. If this is what a patient needs to do to be “diagnosed”, I find the system unbelievable!
I would like to take this opportunity to ask you a question:
Even if I am diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetic, will my GP help me find out what is causing my illness? Because this is what I want to know, and therefore to find ways to help myself.
My BMI is around 23, but I have a body fat percentage of 32% and normal muscle mass. So, assuming I'm doing all the right things with my methods (the 3 previously described), I suspect what is causing my current condition to worsen:
1) Increased insulin impedance, but this obviously requires more testing.
2) Weakened pancreas function. This is the worst-case scenario and may require medication.
I would be very interested to hear your comments and suggestions, or your experience of communicating with your GP.
I understand I can go for private but this will take up more than £1000.