Wow, shocked another newbie

[jeangoo]

Had flu/respiratory tract infection twice since just before Christmas. Still didn't seem to be fully clearing up as still felt like a blockage in my throat so went back to the doctor again. Also had noticed a deterioration/blurring with my eyesight and had only just had my eyes tested prior to my flu and had a new prescription for glasses. This time the doctor checked my throat and back and referred me to have a barium swallow (due 5.4.13) and a blood test (2 week wait to book in with practice nurse to have, which was done last week). 3 hours after having the blood test I received a call at 7.30 in the evening from the walk in centre informing me that the sugar level results were alarmingly high at 33.4 and asking me how I felt and if nauseous or very unwell and if I could get to them, but I may even have to be admitted. I live on my own and have pets and so would be rather awkward to have to do that and as I didn't feel too bad I decided not to go in to see them. The lady I spoke to gave me an out of hours number if I worsened and told me to phone into work the next morning to inform them that I would not go in to work that day but to contact my GP first thing.
I really couldn't believe what I was hearing, I hadn't felt that great since the first bout of flu and to pick it up again only a few weeks later with exactly the same symptoms was just drastic and then to hear that it was most likely that I had diabetes, well you can imagine! The next morning I phoned the my surgery for a telephone consultation and was seen later on that morning, firstly by a nurse that took a finger prick test and a urine sample, both showed high sugar although no ketones in urine. Then saw GP who confirmed that I was type 2, consulted with another GP who specialises in Diabetes and put me on 80mg of Gliclazide to bring levels down, told to cut out any sugar and booked me in with diabetic nurse 4 days later.
I was so good over the weekend although I dont have a sweet tooth anyway, but lets face it everything has sugar in it. When I went in to see the nurse, I had dropped to 20. Bearing in mind this was my first visit with the nurse the allocated time of 20 mins soon ran out and she was unable to carry out the full examination and so had to re-book me in for a further continuation the following week (this coming Tuesday) so she could carry out the feet check and blood pressure as well as increase my medication. I was given a monitor to check my bloods each morning prior to brekkie and completed an application for the Desmond course plus an application for an exemption certificate for future meds. Said my aim was to reach 10.
Also I had to contact the surgery for yet another telephone consultation with another GP as there were not sufficient test strips enclosed with the monitor pack nor needles and so had to get another prescription for them.
But I really was most disappointed and disgusted that the appointment time for my 1st appointment with the nurse was insufficient to carry out all the necessary examinations and especially when my levels were dangerously high. All this week I have been very up and down with my results, although still lower than my first visit with the nurse and only today am at my lowest of 15.5. Due to see nurse on Tuesday so hoping it will have dropped some more although doubt will have reached 10 by then, can only hope.
My dad was diagnosed in much later years as diabetic although there was some confusion with doctors if he was or was not diabetic as while in hospital they kept changing their minds. Also 2 of my cousins (brother and sister) on my mothers side were diagnosed with diabetes, sadly the brother who lived alone did not take care of himself and died at the age of 37. His sister, previously a nurse was diagnosed in her late 50's and is now on insulin.
Am so glad I've come across this forum as there are just so many questions that hopefully I will find answers to here.

 

[daisy1]

Hi Jean and welcome to the forum

I expect there is a lot you need to know and this information which we give to new members should be useful to you. Ask all the questions 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 30,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html

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

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.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Hello and welcome jeangoo :wave:

Best wishes RRB

 

[spmccann]

Hi jeangoo , welcome . Have a good look at the post Daisy replied with there's a lot of great information there in one post . Its a really good starting point. Its a bit of a shock but type 2 diabetes is manageable. Its a great place to ask questions or even have a bit of a rant if you need it.

 

[jeangoo]

Thank you everyone for your replies. They have been very helpful. At the moment my eyesight is causing me concern as I am not able to read anything. The diabetic nurse has informed me that this is normal and will eventually settle down once my sugar levels are a bit more stable. I do hope so as I am a secretary and so finding it very difficult. My levels were 14.9 this morning.

 

[mrman]

Hi jean and welcome. I also struggled to read anything on my diagnosis of type 1. It did return to normal the more stable my levels became. Its just the blood vessels adjusying as high sugars cause them to enlarge. As your levels reduce the vessels also shrink to normal size and eyes just take a few weeks to catch up. I was advised not to get eyes tested for 3 months once my levels were under control although I did need reading glasses in the meantime. Happy to say I now don't need them.

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[mo1905]

My vision was very blurred when first diagnosed but soon returned to normal. Apart from your rushed initial consultation, it looks like you are finally receiving good care. Keep us updated and good luck ;-)


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