Help needed

[pinkjude]

I was diagnosed type 2 in 2018 and did everything my nurse said. My levels initially went down from 58 to 42 but when last tested in October 2020 had gone back to 54 and metformin was mentioned. Recently I have had thrush, dry mouth, being very tired and have lost weight. My Gp said yesterday he is concerned its my diabetes and wants me in for another HBA1c. I am scared that if my readings are very high it might mean there has been some damage to my organs and also what medication I might be put on.
I was told by my nurse not to monitor my own BS levels at home as it isn't necessary so never have, may be I should have.
I have been feeling sick and not wanting to eat but know I have to and try to drink plenty of water.
Has anyone else experienced this and has any advice. Thankyou

 

[Sally71]

Big SIGH. It really irritates me that so many type 2s are told they don’t need to test. The ONLY reason you are told this is because they don’t want to pay for the ongoing cost of strips! Your symptoms would fit with high blood sugar which explains why your hbA1c is going up again.
If you want to purchase a testing machine there are some online which are quite cheap (it’s the cost of the strips which is tricky, and you have to buy the strips which work with your meter), hopefully someone will be along in a minute with the name of it because I can’t remember! Best times to test are just before you eat and then 2 hours afterwards and you are hoping for a rise of no more than 3 mmol/l. When you go to see your GP ask him how exactly you are meant to keep your diabetes under control if you can’t test at home, hbA1c is only a 3-month average reading and tells you nothing about how you are doing day to day. It’s like driving your car and being told you must keep to an average of 50 mph or you will be punished, but you aren’t allowed to look at the speedometer!

What are you eating? People usually know that obviously sugary foods such as biscuits, cakes, chocolate etc should be avoided when they have a diagnosis of type 2, but all carbohydrates will raise your blood sugar, so this includes bread, pasta, cereals, rice, potatoes and most fruits. Could you cut down on how much of these you are eating? Or there are swaps you can do, e.g. mashed or chopped cauliflower instead of potato, berries are the lowest carb fruits so eat those instead of bananas for example, fill up on veg and reduce portion size of things like pasta and potato. Brown versions may go through your gut slower but they are still carbohydrate. Many type 2s are not given very good diet information either as well as being told not to test!

The other thing which is concerning is your weight loss. Many type 2s are only diagnosed as such because of their age - some GPs think that if you are over the age of about 20 then you must be type 2 but this is incorrect, type 1 can strike at any age, and there is a type 1.5 LADA which is basically the same as type 1 but takes much longer to come on, which would explain why type 2 medications initially appeared to work but now don’t any more. Ask the GP to explain exactly why he things you are type 2 and is he sure that you couldn’t possibly be type 1.

Don’t be afraid of any medications - if you need them you need them, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed! Good luck 🙂

 

[pinkjude]

Thankyou. I was diagnosed type 2 so will check that as type 1 and 2 runs in our family. I eat shredded wheat for breakfast at nurses advice! Have a salad with protein most lunchtimes or an omlette and in the evening fish/ chicken/ tofu with veg . I was told i could eat small portions of brown rice and wholegrain bread and potatoes in moderation. I eat fruit mostly berries and watch my portion sizes. I am having a stir fry later with tofu, mushrooms, pakchoi, broccoli and salad peppers.

 

[chaoticcar]

The cheapest monitor is the Navvii from Home Health it is a basic monitor easy to use and the strips seem to be the cheapest especially if you can afford 5 boxes of strips because you can get a discount code .It is easy to find on line
Carol

 

[pinkjude]

Thankyou. I was diagnosed type 2 so will check that as type 1 and 2 runs in our family. I eat shredded wheat for breakfast at nurses advice! Have a salad with protein most lunchtimes or an omlette and in the evening fish/ chicken/ tofu with veg . I was told i could eat small portions of brown rice and wholegrain bread and potatoes in moderation. I eat fruit mostly berries and watch my portion sizes. I am having a stir fry later with tofu, mushrooms, pakchoi, broccoli and salad peppers.

The cheapest monitor is the Navvii from Home Health it is a basic monitor easy to use and the strips seem to be the cheapest especially if you can afford 5 boxes of strips because you can get a discount code .It is easy to find on line
Carol

Thankyou. I will ask when I go for my test. I could wait a week to go or go this week so I have decided there is nothing to gain from leaving it so may as well get it over and done with! I have worried about liver disease but worrying isnt going to help whereas official numbers might

 

[Drummer]

Thankyou. I was diagnosed type 2 so will check that as type 1 and 2 runs in our family. I eat shredded wheat for breakfast at nurses advice! Have a salad with protein most lunchtimes or an omlette and in the evening fish/ chicken/ tofu with veg . I was told i could eat small portions of brown rice and wholegrain bread and potatoes in moderation. I eat fruit mostly berries and watch my portion sizes. I am having a stir fry later with tofu, mushrooms, pakchoi, broccoli and salad peppers.

Well that is where the glucose is coming from - all that 'good' advice.

 

[rebrascora]

Just to clarify, it is the Gluco Navii meter or the Spirit Healthcare Tee2. They are both comparable for economy of use and reliability.

I also think you may be misdiagnosed if you have had sudden noticeable increase in HbA1c and weight loss so doi ask about Type 1 testing but please don't delay in going to get your blood tested. Sticking your head in the sand is not a sensible option as I am sure you know and you need to get checked out and appropriate treatment started.

 

[chaoticcar]

The Gluco Navvii I believe the Tee 2 has increased the cost of strips ..Just to clarify that Type 2 diabetics usually have to buy their own meter
Carol

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I'm also wondering if you are a slow onset type 1, Hope you get things sorted asp.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear what a tough time you are having. Hopefully things will become clearer about your diagnosis, and you can move towards reducing your A1c.

If there is a questionmark that you may be slow-onset T1, do be careful if you get abdominal pains, breathlessness or vomiting, and especially if you get a ‘pear drop’ smell on your breath. This can be very dangerous and possibly indicate DKA, for which you should go to A&E urgently.

Keep us posted with how things go. Good luck!