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Diabetes for Christmas

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Lea123

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So hba1c 43 last year, and annoyingly moved up to 75 just before Christmas this year (i didn’t give it the serious attention it required for the last few years after gestational diabetes) ……… little NHS support available now until my first review due mid February! Feeling completely left in limbo ………. Is there any hope of remission with the right motivation and determination on those levels?
 
Leanne123 said:
So hba1c 43 last year, and annoyingly moved up to 75 just before Christmas this year (i didn’t give it the serious attention it required for the last few years after gestational diabetes) ……… little NHS support available now until my first review due mid February! Feeling completely left in limbo ………. Is there any hope of remission with the right motivation and determination on those levels?
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum. That is quite an increase from last year, have you been prescribed any medication yet as that may influence what dietary approach will be suitable, but if not or only metformin then a low carb approach as described in this link is one many have found successful. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
It is very possible to get into remission by making serious changes but they have to be sustainable otherwise it will not be maintained, many have got there from higher than you.
 
@Leannd 123 welcome to the forum. How long ago did you have gestational diabetes?
There are plenty of threads about remission and how to get there. I have read if you have gestational diabetes it can increase the risk of T2 later but that's a big leap. Could you be type 1?
If you are overweight a low carb approach has worked for many, the principles of which are set out on the Freshwell site.
@Leadinglights often posts a link to it. Have you been given any medical advice or is it wait for the next result?
 
Thank you! First doctor sent me to re do hba1c as he said was a very big jump. Second result was 73. Due to an unexpected trip to a and e Christmas day i was prescribed 1500mg metformin to keep me going till mid feb. No further advice or kit to test any effectiveness so just hoping for the best and adjusting my diet un the hope that that combination will help .
 
saffron15 said:
@Leannd 123 welcome to the forum. How long ago did you have gestational diabetes?
There are plenty of threads about remission and how to get there. I have read if you have gestational diabetes it can increase the risk of T2 later but that's a big leap. Could you be type 1?
If you are overweight a low carb approach has worked for many, the principles of which are set out on the Freshwell site.
@Leadinglights often posts a link to it. Have you been given any medical advice or is it wait for the next result?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply…… I don’t know which sort I have. The diagnosis of ‘diabetes’ was given to me by a receptionist and after a trip to a an e i was prescribed 1500mg metformin to start with
 
saffron15 said:
@Leannd 123 welcome to the forum. How long ago did you have gestational diabetes?
There are plenty of threads about remission and how to get there. I have read if you have gestational diabetes it can increase the risk of T2 later but that's a big leap. Could you be type 1?
If you are overweight a low carb approach has worked for many, the principles of which are set out on the Freshwell site.
@Leadinglights often posts a link to it. Have you been given any medical advice or is it wait for the next result?
Click to expand...
Thanks Saffron15, gestational diabetes was 11 years ago and then fell into pre diabetes range in 2022. Ive been given no info really, just to wait till mid Feb when i can see diabetes nurse
 
Leanne123 said:
Thanks for the reply…… I don’t know which sort I have. The diagnosis of ‘diabetes’ was given to me by a receptionist and after a trip to a an e i was prescribed 1500mg metformin to start with
Click to expand...
Metformin will help your body to use the insulin it produces more effectively and reduce the output of glucose by the liver and still needs dietary changes in reducing carbohydrate intake. So the Freshwell approach would be very suitable.
As type 2 it is unlikely you will be prescribed a monitor so many self fund to be able to take control of their condition by keeping a check on morning levels day to day, week to week and to find out how well you tolerate the carbs in your meals by testing before you eat and after 2 hours.
Monitors can be bought on line (cheaper than the pharmacy) those with the cheaper test strips are GlucoNavii,TEE2 and Contour Blue.
 
Thankyou, really helpful
 
@Leanne 123 hasn't a doctor discussed medication or do they think you are knowledgeable because you have previously had gestational diabetes? You can be diagnosed with type1 as an adult but it means your body isn't producing sufficient insulin and you need to inject insulin. Type 2 means you have problems using the insulin produced effectively.
Have you been given slow release metformin. It will have SR on the packet. I started on one tablet increasing to 4 over 4 weeks. I'm now on two a day. You should take it with food. At first it bunged me up and later it had the oppisite effect. I suggest you start keeping a food diary and also note when you pass a motion ( just to check if you are bunged up or not)
Hopefully you have an appointment for another blood test and advice.
 
I had missed some of your replies. I see you have had a second test. If you don't have other health problems I'd crack on with dietary changes and moving more. I joined in August and have read many inspiring tales. I will try and add the names of a few later. I think testing is helpful but be strategic. Some people can eat bread some potatoes we all react differently. I've decided not to eat pasta. I have bought an alternative to pasta from Holland and Barrett
 
saffron15 said:
@Leanne 123 hasn't a doctor discussed medication or do they think you are knowledgeable because you have previously had gestational diabetes? You can be diagnosed with type1 as an adult but it means your body isn't producing sufficient insulin and you need to inject insulin. Type 2 means you have problems using the insulin produced effectively.
Have you been given slow release metformin. It will have SR on the packet. I started on one tablet increasing to 4 over 4 weeks. I'm now on two a day. You should take it with food. At first it bunged me up and later it had the oppisite effect. I suggest you start keeping a food diary and also note when you pass a motion ( just to check if you are bunged up or not)
Hopefully you have an appointment for another blood test and advice.
Click to expand...
No discussion with a doctor at all. Whilst at A&E the in hospital GP service prescribed me metformin (not slow release) to start 3 a day. (Maybe that’s as good as a discussion with a GP at my local surgery). Ive ordered a test kit in the mean time - thanks for all the replies, much appreciated
 
Leanne123 said:
No discussion with a doctor at all. Whilst at A&E the in hospital GP service prescribed me metformin (not slow release) to start 3 a day. (Maybe that’s as good as a discussion with a GP at my local surgery). Ive ordered a test kit in the mean time - thanks for all the replies, much appreciated
Click to expand...
Hopefully you won't suffer any stomach problems but it is usual to start on 1 per day building up over 3 weeks to 3 or what ever you need to a max of 4. If you get problems then drop back and follow that so it can settle down or ask your GP for slow release version.
Taking mid meal will often help.
 
Thank you
 
Good to hear you have got a finger prick monitor. It will help you check the effects your diet has on your levels.
If you get into the...i don't know, 12 is quite high, 15 or over definatly, if you are that high a lot of the time it may be worth calling 111 cos it could be t1 or you may need help before feb
 
Tdm said:
Good to hear you have got a finger prick monitor. It will help you check the effects your diet has on your levels.
If you get into the...i don't know, 12 is quite high, 15 or over definatly, if you are that high a lot of the time it may be worth calling 111 cos it could be t1 or you may need help before feb
Click to expand...
Thank you. I was at 10 first thing at the hospital without having had breakfast and before metformin so hopefully combination of diet changes and metformin will show some difference when i can test myself.
 
Leanne123 said:
Thank you. I was at 10 first thing at the hospital without having had breakfast and before metformin so hopefully combination of diet changes and metformin will show some difference when i can test myself.
Click to expand...
Can I ask what prompted you to go to the hospital, did you have some symptoms or had you tested and your blood glucose was high or did you go for some other reason as that may account for a sudden change in blood glucose eg infection, injury etc.
 
I felt very tired, i tested using someone else’s monitor midday and it was 15 a couple of days before Christmas and ketone levels were creeping up and i had had a constant headache for a week so i panicked, called 111 who sent me straight to a and e
Christmas morning! Sugars were 10 on arrival there and ketone levels normal ‍♀️ but i did get a prescription of metformin as a result
 
Leanne123 said:
I felt very tired, i tested using someone else’s monitor midday and it was 15 a couple of days before Christmas and ketone levels were creeping up and i had had a constant headache for a week so i panicked, called 111 who sent me straight to a and e
Christmas morning! Sugars were 10 on arrival there and ketone levels normal ‍♀️ but i did get a prescription of metformin as a result
Click to expand...
What a day to spend in A&E but as least you know what the issue was.
Now Christmas is nearly over then you can focus on making those needed changes but worth keeping an eye on both your glucose level and ketones, do you have some ketone urine dip sticks, if not worth getting from the pharmacy.
 
Yeah could have picked a better day lol!…… i have been shocked at how much i would have consumed over Christmas had i not been aware of the blood results prior to Christmas. There lies part of the problem i guess. Feeling focussed now and hopefully checking will show something changing. Thanks again
 
Did you walk to A and E? That may have brought levels down.
I say that cos when i was diagnosed and sent to a&e it was friday night and so no taxi to be had so walked there. Still not sure if that was wise!
 
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