Questions for a nurse

[Jacinta (Australian)]

Hello everyone , I was wondering if you all could give me some pointers to ask my nurse who I am seeing tomorrow ?? What are some questions to ask her ?? I have no idea what to ask as I have never been in this situation before . Can I ask her for a dietician ??? Cause I know she is using a bm machine to see how healthy I Am inside of the body instead of outside then after that I’ll be starting muscle exercise . I also know she is going to help me read labels aswell . I don’t know what else to expect to be honest . My emotions are all over the place again .I don’t show it we’ll try not to and my moods are c**p as hell is this normal ? Or is it cause I don’t crave my old eating habits and my body is punishing me for it by having crappy mood swings for no reason.
Please help, Thankyou 🙂.

 

[BlueArmy]

It's probably because your fatigued and ratty? Are your BG levels ok?

There is also a link between diabetes and depression etc, there is a useful link here. Might be worth having read, not suggesting you have it, but, it's worth a look.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

www.diabetes.co.uk

First question - where and when is the next DESMOND course and how do I sign up for it.

Believe you can ask to see a dietician, although I have had zero help on that, also, I had no help when I asked for a c-peptide test so I wouldn't bother with that either. Was just told I was classic type 2 and didn't pass the low blood sugar level thresholds to warrant the test.

Key questions I would ask perhaps (assuming you've had a blood test)

1) What is my Hb1AC level
2) Is my kidney, liver, bone function ok
3) Are there any signs of other issues, such as fatty liver disease.
4) Is my blood pressure and cholesterol ok
5) When will my eyes be tested
6) Are my feet ok
7) Will I be on medication, or if I am why is it the right medication for me specifically.

Good your getting a BM test, is that anything beyond the normal height / weight measurement and calculation of BMI?

 

[Leadinglights]

It's probably because your fatigued and ratty? Are your BG levels ok?

There is also a link between diabetes and depression etc, there is a useful link here. Might be worth having read, not suggesting you have it, but, it's worth a look.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

www.diabetes.co.uk

First question - where and when is the next DESMOND course and how do I sign up for it.

Believe you can ask to see a dietician, although I have had zero help on that, also, I had no help when I asked for a c-peptide test so I wouldn't bother with that either. Was just told I was classic type 2 and didn't pass the low blood sugar level thresholds to warrant the test.

Key questions I would ask perhaps (assuming you've had a blood test)

1) What is my Hb1AC level
2) Is my kidney, liver, bone function ok
3) Are there any signs of other issues, such as fatty liver disease.
4) Is my blood pressure and cholesterol ok
5) When will my eyes be tested
6) Are my feet ok
7) Will I be on medication, or if I am why is it the right medication for me specifically.

Good your getting a BM test, is that anything beyond the normal height / weight measurement and calculation of BMI?

I be

It's probably because your fatigued and ratty? Are your BG levels ok?

There is also a link between diabetes and depression etc, there is a useful link here. Might be worth having read, not suggesting you have it, but, it's worth a look.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

www.diabetes.co.uk

First question - where and when is the next DESMOND course and how do I sign up for it.

Believe you can ask to see a dietician, although I have had zero help on that, also, I had no help when I asked for a c-peptide test so I wouldn't bother with that either. Was just told I was classic type 2 and didn't pass the low blood sugar level thresholds to warrant the test.

Key questions I would ask perhaps (assuming you've had a blood test)

1) What is my Hb1AC level
2) Is my kidney, liver, bone function ok
3) Are there any signs of other issues, such as fatty liver disease.
4) Is my blood pressure and cholesterol ok
5) When will my eyes be tested
6) Are my feet ok
7) Will I be on medication, or if I am why is it the right medication for me specifically.

Good your getting a BM test, is that anything beyond the normal height / weight measurement and calculation of BMI?

I believe Jacinda is in Australia but your list of questions are all good things to ask but obviously won't have access to UK resources.

 

[BlueArmy]

Ahh, Wasn’t aware of that! Thanks for correcting. Maybe she can ask her Nurse why Australia keep beating England at sports, namely Cricket

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

It can be tricky not to get anxious before an appointment, particularly if you aren’t exactly sure what it will be like or what will be involved. And this can impact on your wider mood and mental state.

The nurse should hopefully put your mind at ease, and will probably have a few things to want to discuss - ideally they will ask you how you are feeling, and want to know how you have been coping, and if you have any questions or worries.

So do make sure that you mention the emotional upheaval you have been going through, and how tricky things have been for you.

 

[Struma]

It's probably because your fatigued and ratty? Are your BG levels ok?

There is also a link between diabetes and depression etc, there is a useful link here. Might be worth having read, not suggesting you have it, but, it's worth a look.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

Struggling to manage difficult emotions and lows connected to diabetes is very common for people with both type 1 and type 2, those who are newly diagnosed and those who have been living with the condition for many years.

www.diabetes.co.uk

First question - where and when is the next DESMOND course and how do I sign up for it.

Believe you can ask to see a dietician, although I have had zero help on that, also, I had no help when I asked for a c-peptide test so I wouldn't bother with that either. Was just told I was classic type 2 and didn't pass the low blood sugar level thresholds to warrant the test.

Key questions I would ask perhaps (assuming you've had a blood test)

1) What is my Hb1AC level
2) Is my kidney, liver, bone function ok
3) Are there any signs of other issues, such as fatty liver disease.
4) Is my blood pressure and cholesterol ok
5) When will my eyes be tested
6) Are my feet ok
7) Will I be on medication, or if I am why is it the right medication for me specifically.

Good your getting a BM test, is that anything beyond the normal height / weight measurement and calculation of BMI?

8) Is my thyroid gland working normally?
9) When and where will I get my retinal screening done?

Actually, somewhere on DUK is a prepared sheet with possibly about 15 questions for newly diagnosed. I will prepare for an adventure!

Edit: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/care-to-expect

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

Hello Everyone , I went to my appointment today and the nurse is such a sweetheart , very bubbly , understanding and defianetly not judgemental at all . The nurse pulled up my file and said I failed my hole glucose / blood test thing. Appranetly I was over 2-3 mmol for one test but not to far over , then I was 15mmol for the two other tests and they like being under 10 . My HBA1c came back as 8.1 or 8.2 from 12% . 12% was when I got tested from my old doctors . Today’s appointment was about diet basically , weight , height . The question thing is appranetly for my doctor not the nurse, I see my doctor next Tuesday so I’ll have to come up with questions for her .
I asked about my liver and blood pressure and everything else , she said they are all perfect expect my iron is like a tiny bit down like just the tiniest bit . And she said wouldn’t hurt to take iron tablets . Other then that it’s just my blood sugars basically . She told me I’m type 2 but I’m still seeing a specialist to double make sure , I asked if I could control this through exercise and diet and she said unfortnately no , I need medication to help me out , if I don’t take it I could end up as type 1 appranetly ??!! So basically I’ll be starting on the medication on Tuesday and from today I’m counting calories from 1500 , I told her about low carb and she’s fine with it . So I have to see my nurse every week to keep an eye out on me . She has greatly explained everything to me and has put my mind at ease . Unfortnately I have depression and anixety and stress which I’ve had since early teens , but my doctor said that we will work on that after we deal with my blood sugar .
It’s a lot to take in at first but my nurse has been amazing and she’s in on this journey with me which helps ease my emotions and mind.

 

[EllsBells]

Nobody has responded to this and what you have relayed from your nurse is worrying me.

Type 2 cannot lead into Type 1 diabetes; they are two separate conditions. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas which generate insulin. Type 2 is having insulin resistance or generating insulin that does not work properly - thus causing the inability to process sugars.

Your nurse may be thinking of LADA which is actually slow onset T1. LADApatients often respond well to T2 treatments, at least at first. it's worrying that this was what she told you and indicates that she does not really understand about diabetes. Metformin need not be for life but that is a conversation with your GP further down the road.

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

Nobody has responded to this and what you have relayed from your nurse is worrying me.

Type 2 cannot lead into Type 1 diabetes; they are two separate conditions. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas which generate insulin. Type 2 is having insulin resistance or generating insulin that does not work properly - thus causing the inability to process sugars.

Your nurse may be thinking of LADA which is actually slow onset T1. LADApatients often respond well to T2 treatments, at least at first. it's worrying that this was what she told you and indicates that she does not really understand about diabetes. Metformin need not be for life but that is a conversation with your GP further down the road.

Thankyou so much for explaining it to me Ellsbells I appericate it , my nurse confused the absolute hell out of me when she was saying everything about type 2 going into type 1. Oh okay , can you end up later in life needing insulin like when you get older or is that not a thing either ??? , I just hope I can get this monster of a thing to calm its farm and to stay stabled (type 2) . I’m still terrified I know I shouldn’t be but it still scares me knowing I have it , I know it’s been 7ish weeks but I been brought back to reality again with it and I’m going to be honest I wish it was just a nightmare that I can wake up from and I don’t have it , but I pinch myself everytime and trying to accept it

 

[EllsBells]

Hmmm. I'll put the basics on here (as I understand them) and a recommendation to read Gretchen Becker's The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: A Patient- Expert Guide for the Newly Diagnose, if you haven't already. It a) explains it all so much better and b) will help you learn about what different medications do and how (where understood). I'm on my 3rd read on bits. Some of it is head-bendy.

T1 will always require insulin because their bodies are unable to produce any or enough insulin to survive without it.

T2 can be treated from anything from diet and exercise only through to a full insulin regime depending on circumstances. Common medications falling between the two are metformin, which suppresses glucose production by the liver and gliclizide which stimulates the beta cells to produce more insulin. There are many other drugs out there and what is prescribed will reflect on co-morbities, weight, kidney damage, CVD, cholesterol, blood pressure and so on. It gets complicated. Some people will gain control and come off meds, some never will.

T1.5 or LADA may respond to T2 treatments - sometimes for years - but, eventually enough beta cells will be killed off that they must then go into insulin.

Gestational diabetes is treated with insulin because it won't harm the foetus and other medication can.

GPs will generally treat with metformin first and then move people onto other meds depending on how they react to it.

So, in answer to your question is insulin inevitable? No, it isn't. May it ultimately be the best treatment regime for you? Yes, it may.

Diabetes is a slow moving condition. Definitely treat it with respect but no need to fear it. You control your input and doing that well will keep you safe for decades. You're only 7 weeks in - heck, I'm only 6 months in myself!

 

[Lucyr]

Thankyou so much for explaining it to me Ellsbells I appericate it , my nurse confused the absolute hell out of me when she was saying everything about type 2 going into type 1. Oh okay , can you end up later in life needing insulin like when you get older or is that not a thing either ??? , I just hope I can get this monster of a thing to calm its farm and to stay stabled (type 2) . I’m still terrified I know I shouldn’t be but it still scares me knowing I have it , I know it’s been 7ish weeks but I been brought back to reality again with it and I’m going to be honest I wish it was just a nightmare that I can wake up from and I don’t have it , but I pinch myself everytime and trying to accept it

As EllsBells says, T2 can need insulin but it doesn’t make you T1, unless you were misdiagnosed in the first place. It’s a very individual thing whether you move to insulin or not, I was diagnosed T2 age 20 and on 2 seperate insulin’s on a similar regime to T1s, by age 22, others might go many years controlling through diet and exercise, and many are somewhere in between.

Whichever treatment you need doesn’t make you a better or worse diabetic, or mean that you’re failing. It’s just that each person is different and finds their own way.

 

[BlueArmy]

It worth getting this book- if you have a amazon kindle its available on that or through ibooks, or just go old school and order a paperback. It will answer all of your questions and put you more in control and therefore at ease.

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

Hmmm. I'll put the basics on here (as I understand them) and a recommendation to read Gretchen Becker's The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: A Patient- Expert Guide for the Newly Diagnose, if you haven't already. It a) explains it all so much better and b) will help you learn about what different medications do and how (where understood). I'm on my 3rd read on bits. Some of it is head-bendy.

T1 will always require insulin because their bodies are unable to produce any or enough insulin to survive without it.

T2 can be treated from anything from diet and exercise only through to a full insulin regime depending on circumstances. Common medications falling between the two are metformin, which suppresses glucose production by the liver and gliclizide which stimulates the beta cells to produce more insulin. There are many other drugs out there and what is prescribed will reflect on co-morbities, weight, kidney damage, CVD, cholesterol, blood pressure and so on. It gets complicated. Some people will gain control and come off meds, some never will.

T1.5 or LADA may respond to T2 treatments - sometimes for years - but, eventually enough beta cells will be killed off that they must then go into insulin.

Gestational diabetes is treated with insulin because it won't harm the foetus and other medication can.

GPs will generally treat with metformin first and then move people onto other meds depending on how they react to it.

So, in answer to your question is insulin inevitable? No, it isn't. May it ultimately be the best treatment regime for you? Yes, it may.

Diabetes is a slow moving condition. Definitely treat it with respect but no need to fear it. You control your input and doing that well will keep you safe for decades. You're only 7 weeks in - heck, I'm only 6 months in myself!

Hello Ellsbells , Thankyou so very much for taking the time to explain everything and I will be grabbing that book so I can read it and understand it aswell. Now that you have explained everything I will defianetly respect myself and my diabetes and gets it under control no matter what . As the saying goes respect yourself and it will respect you , no matter how hard I tried with everything the unfortnate part is I’m now a T2 but from here on in I can keep doing what I’ve been doing by exercising, dieting and a lot of water , hopefully it will be in my favour and I can maintain the beast. Yes I have let people judge me by my age but as I been told very brutally who cares what they say , don’t let people judge you and no point in keep beating yourself up over it . I’m going to be honest , I needed a kick up the panties to be more healthier and way more active . I won’t let this T2 defeat me . Hey Ellsbells is there a medication I need to be wary of that may affect me , as I drive a car ?? And could I compromise with the doctor if I have to ???

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

As EllsBells says, T2 can need insulin but it doesn’t make you T1, unless you were misdiagnosed in the first place. It’s a very individual thing whether you move to insulin or not, I was diagnosed T2 age 20 and on 2 seperate insulin’s on a similar regime to T1s, by age 22, others might go many years controlling through diet and exercise, and many are somewhere in between.

Whichever treatment you need doesn’t make you a better or worse diabetic, or mean that you’re failing. It’s just that each person is different and finds their own way.

Thankyou for that reassurance and advice Lucyr I do very muchly appericate it 🙂

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

It worth getting this book- if you have a amazon kindle its available on that or through ibooks, or just go old school and order a paperback. It will answer all of your questions and put you more in control and therefore at ease.

View attachment 17420

I defianetly will be getting this book to read and learn more and take more control of it , Thankyou so much BlueArmy I appericate it .

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

Hmmm. I'll put the basics on here (as I understand them) and a recommendation to read Gretchen Becker's The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: A Patient- Expert Guide for the Newly Diagnose, if you haven't already. It a) explains it all so much better and b) will help you learn about what different medications do and how (where understood). I'm on my 3rd read on bits. Some of it is head-bendy.

T1 will always require insulin because their bodies are unable to produce any or enough insulin to survive without it.

T2 can be treated from anything from diet and exercise only through to a full insulin regime depending on circumstances. Common medications falling between the two are metformin, which suppresses glucose production by the liver and gliclizide which stimulates the beta cells to produce more insulin. There are many other drugs out there and what is prescribed will reflect on co-morbities, weight, kidney damage, CVD, cholesterol, blood pressure and so on. It gets complicated. Some people will gain control and come off meds, some never will.

T1.5 or LADA may respond to T2 treatments - sometimes for years - but, eventually enough beta cells will be killed off that they must then go into insulin.

Gestational diabetes is treated with insulin because it won't harm the foetus and other medication can.

GPs will generally treat with metformin first and then move people onto other meds depending on how they react to it.

So, in answer to your question is insulin inevitable? No, it isn't. May it ultimately be the best treatment regime for you? Yes, it may.

Diabetes is a slow moving condition. Definitely treat it with respect but no need to fear it. You control your input and doing that well will keep you safe for decades. You're only 7 weeks in - heck, I'm only 6 months in myself!

hey Ellsbells
i went to my doctor today , she has put me on the slow realese merform (500mg) (sorry for spelling to take 1 daily , I did ask if I need to up the tablets to 2 each week and she said no just 1 at the moment . I’m taking it at night but I’ll be taking it with dinner so I don’t have any problems with it (fingers crossed) , I finally have my date to go see the specialist which is next month and hopefully I’ll have my full diagnoses by then . My doctor really thinks I have type 2 because of everything , she looked into my results so to confirm my 8.2 = 66 , 2-3mmol = 7. Something , 1 hour mark 10 mmol = 15 mmol , 2 hour mark 10 mmol = 15.5 mmol that’s my results and appranetly my nurse said they like 10 as a result but my doctor said 11 . There was another high reading (can’t remember what it was called) but she said she isn’t worried or stressed about it because there glucose/sugar hanging around in my blood . My doctor also mentioned about how there is a third type the 1.5 lada (appranetly people call it different but I am right with the name and she said don’t worry about anything else because I am been pulled by 1 way by all this and she doesn’t want to pull me the other way . I asked about the feet and eyes and she said yes but that will be at the 3 month mark if the specialist hasn’t done it . Also at the 3 month mark will be another HBA1c test done to see where I am at . I also mentioned a blood glucose machine she kinda agreed at the start then she said being type 2 you don’t need it , it’s only generally for type 1s and she said not to worry about that . I’m also now taking vitamin d cause my iron is low other then that she said everything else is perfectly fine , my thyroid is also really good aswell . Don’t know if that means anything but it’s just my blood sugars that aren’t quite right. She also mentioned about how I’m loosing weight and I said yes through low carb, I don’t eat pasta , rice, bread apart from low carb at 80% but that’s not all the time , I been drinking 2 litres of water and she’s impressed with that and the exercise and said cause I been doing this on my own and getting results she’s happy with it. Now my doctor mentioned this I didn’t in anyway shape or form , she told me that there is a high chance of being taken off merform and sticking to diet and exercise to control it this way and she said that this will be my goal and she thinks I’ll be able to do it . My doctor has the knowledge of diabetes she specialises in it and she firmly believes I’m type 2 with everything going on she really thinks it’s type 2 , I’m not going to lie I feel my gut is saying the same thing . Like I told my doctor I feel better already on cutting out the bad things and being on low carb I feel like I have more energy then I did . But I’ll wait and see what the specialist test results say .

 

[mage 1]

Well done

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

Well done

Thankyou mage1 now the first step to taking the medication

 

[EllsBells]

Excellent. You'll have lots more energy once your vit D levels come up too!

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

Excellent. You'll have lots more energy once your vit D levels come up too!

Yess , doctor has me taking 2 in winter a day and 1 a day in summer