Scared newbie feel so young

[Leylo]

Hi all, so bit of long story last year hbac1 came back 42 in November skip to 3 weeks ago I thought it was an horrendous fibro flare which it was also but Dr checked all bloods and hbca1 came back 96 this all happened Friday so I'm still in shock about it all. Put me on glicazide 80mg twice a day. Sugars been averaging between 14 to 25. Nurse just called to up the glocazide to two 80mg twice a day.
I'm scared I'm only 36 but she's asked for the antibodies test to see whether type 1 or 2.edging on two but triple checking. I just don't know where to start I'm so poorly with it right now I have no energy and sleeping a lot. Nurse said this is due to high bloods, no ketone so happy my body's not struggling too much but I just don't know where to start.
Diet,exercise its all new. See another nurse tomorrow and hopefully I will get some more answers and help I'm just upset I'm so young with this.

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum.
I'm afraid diabetes is no respecter of age and if you look you will see a huge range of ages from a few months old to people in their eighties.
The first thing is do not panic, you have been given some tests which should clarify what Type you are, some people have to wait months for their G P to decide to do those tests.
A good starting plan is to keep a food diary of what you are eating at the moment particularly being aware it is all carbohydrates which will be converted into glucose. It is better to make gradual adjustments to your diet and as you are on glicazide you should be given a blood glucose monitor to check your glucose levels as that medication can cause hypos which you should be aware of especially if you drive.
I'm sure others will be along to offer more advice. Looking around the forum and learning zone will give you lots of information. If you make a list of questions for your appointment tomorrow as it's easy to forget something in the heat of the moment when you are being given lots of information sometimes in terminology you don't understand.
Do ask any questions here and you will generally get some prompt answers.

 

[Ljc]

Hello @Leylo , welcome to the forum.
Firstly please try not to panic, whichever type you turn out to have , diabetes is doable once you have the right diagnosis, info and medication if needed ,some lifestyle changes may be necessary too.

It is so good to hear that you are being tested for T1 , as many GPs/nurses don’t know that T1 can occur at any age, not just in children as they were probably taught.

Atm as you have been put on Gliclazide, for the time being do not make any drastic changes to your diet till you have more info, Gliclazide works by forcing your pancreas to produce more insulin, the trouble is Gliclazide can’t do it in a controlled way like our pancreases used to be exceptionally good at and though I never had any hypo’s whilst on it, some folks do , they started you off on it gradually which is good too.
Many many things affect our blood glucose levels (bg) pain is one , some medications do too .

 

[Ljc]

Have you lost any weight unexpectedly recently ?

 

[Inka]

Hi @Leylo 🙂 It’s understandably you’re upset. Feeling unwell is wearing at the best of times, and getting a diabetes diagnosis is always a shock.

But - your post contains excellent news. Unlike so many other people, you’re actually being tested to check your diabetes type. This is fantastic, and will save you a lot of trouble in the future. Focus on that great healthcare.

Diabetes is something you can manage whatever type you have. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you like here.

 

[Leylo]

Have you lost any weight unexpectedly recently ?

Yes I'm down 11 pounds in 3 weeks

 

[Leylo]

Hi @Leylo - some good advice provided already so all I will add is that Gliclazide has implications if you're a driver so suggest you check out the 'Diabetes & Driving' section of the website.

Thank you I did check it and as I am testing all the time at moment in not in any hypos yet my sugars haven't come down enough yet but nurse called today to see how I am an told me to up the glicazide so will be extra careful now. Thanks again

 

[Leylo]

Thanks everyone seems I'm in the best hands at the moment then. My nurse called today she's been excellent calling again on Wednesday even though I'm seeing another diabetic nurse tomorrow. She's upped my glicazide to two twice a day now so will watch for hypos. I'm testing around 7 times a day morning before food's hour after and before bed and also as I've started exercising I'm taking note of how it affects that also.

Thanks so much guys. I panicked and started cutting everything out but think my bodies gone into shock from it so will be mindful of portion sizes which I have cut down over the past few months anyway.... seem to be unable to eat which I know is not ideal with diabetes but its kick me in the ass to start eating breakfast

 

[Drummer]

Thanks everyone seems I'm in the best hands at the moment then. My nurse called today she's been excellent calling again on Wednesday even though I'm seeing another diabetic nurse tomorrow. She's upped my glicazide to two twice a day now so will watch for hypos. I'm testing around 7 times a day morning before food's hour after and before bed and also as I've started exercising I'm taking note of how it affects that also.

Thanks so much guys. I panicked and started cutting everything out but think my bodies gone into shock from it so will be mindful of portion sizes which I have cut down over the past few months anyway.... seem to be unable to eat which I know is not ideal with diabetes but its kick me in the ass to start eating breakfast

It all really depends on the type of diabetes, as in some respects they are opposites - however, they share the inability to deal with carbohydrates, so protein and fat can be eaten pretty freely, starch and sugar being the main concerns.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis @Leylo

It is bound to be a shock, and it’s great that you are being checked for antibodies. Unexpected and unintentional weight loss might give another clue too.

Hopefully you’ll get your results back before too long (though it can take a while), you’ll get some clarity, and be able to begin an appropriate treatment plan for whichever type you end up being.

Take things steady and be kind to yourself. Diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s generally a slow moving foe, so you have time to find your feet... to experiment... and to begin to work your way through the maze. 🙂

 

[Ljc]

You need to eat else you will get ill.
Once you know for sure what type you have , we can give you more appropriate advise re foods.
You see T1 and T2 are managed differently to each other.
LADA (latent auto immune diabetes in adults) is like a slow onset T1 , the tests you’ve had should determine this, it often responds to T2 medications for a time .

No type of diabetes is worse than another type , it’s just how they are managed and treated that’s different.

I am really pleased that your Gp practice is so knowledgeable about diabetes, you wouldn’t believe how many folks who come here desperate for info because they are getting little from the diabetes nurse (dn) at the practice