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Confused and feeling meh!

Inka said:
@Charmaine86 I agree with @rebrascora Your low carb diet could be masking how serious your condition is. We can’t give advice but if it were me, I’d eat a normal meal, then go to A&E, tell them you’re being investigated for Type 1 and are feeling unwell. It’s ridiculous to leave you until the test results come back.
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I think I will call 111 as I haven’t managed to get through to anyone of any use today. I was showing +1 ketones prior to lunch. I had 4 small crackers and cheese at 1:30 and some honeydew melon. I feel no worse than I have been but checked my blood glucose level and it’s 21.3, now not showing ketones
 
rebrascora said:
This must be so frustrating for you. I am tempted to say, eat a couple of Mars bars to provoke a critical high and then head off to A&E. I know that would be stupid and irresponsible but you need this sorted! Just for the record I am not actually suggesting you do that, but maybe have something healthy but higher carb like a big baked potato tonight and a big bowl of porridge tomorrow morning and if your levels go above 20 and particularly if you develop ketones, get yourself to A&E.
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I might just have to but if I’m at 21.3 without mars bars who knows what it will be after
 
@Charmaine86 I am not type 1 nor do I have medical training. I was brought up to not bother Doctors and think this may be a mistake. I've taken my sister to casualty when she has broken something. I've been able to self refer to eye casualty when I have a flare of uveitis. I've not referred for more than 2 years and if i do I speak to a Doctor who makes an appointment. As an adult I have only been three times. Once in 1977 with raging toothache on Jubilee Bank holiday weekend. Given paracetamol til could see dentist on Wednesday ( double bankholiday) in my thirties sent by GP with bruised retina and last November had an excruciating pain at joint of index finger after small cut gardening. Had appointment at surgery for blood pressure check nurse said no one could see me. Went to walkin centre in local city ( Saturday) and packed off to A and E with diagnosis of osteomylitis.

From what I've read of type 1 it seems important you are seen and absolutely definitely before you travel. Given how quickly untreated type 1 diabetics can go downhill I wouldn't want you on a plane I was on. You have said you are a nurse do you work in a hospital with an A and E? I think you should find your way tomorrow to an A and E with a diabetes department. Don't leave it till Saturday where staff rotas are depleted plus you may get sufficient treatment that you feel fit to fly as per Heli they can certify you fit to fly. If you cannot get appropriate treatment as your holiday involves flying logical you will know you should cancel.

Good luck.
 
Charmaine86 said:
I feel no worse than I have been but checked my blood glucose level and it’s 21.3, now not showing ketones
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If you’re worried go to a&e but without ketones you aren’t in immediate danger and they’ll likely just send you home, perhaps with some fluids first or a different tablet to try
 
Hi all, just an update- I have just been seen by a doctor after being in A&E since around 6 pm lastnight- got moved to a ward at 10 this morning and seen the doctor in the last half hour.

Feel stupid to be honest as it’s almost like the doctor was asking why I was here.

My glucose levels have been as follows:

Before A&E- 21.3
Arrival at A&E- 20.2
About 2am-18.6
10am- 16.9

All fasting numbers

The doctor told me they are leaning more towards type 2. Apparently a c-peptide result is back but they can’t tell me what it is and no antibody results are back but they think they will be negative as again leaning towards type 2.

They have advised to withhold networking and to start 2 Glicazide daily until seen again by outpatients.

I’m sorry I bothered coming!
 
You did the right thing @Charmaine86 Better to be seen and not have Type 1 than not to be seen and have Type 1. Your age and what you’ve told us all suggest Type 1 as a possibility so it’s not like you randomly plucked the idea out of the air.

Do find out the number of your C Peptide when you can, and your antibodies result.
 
So sorry you had such a long wait to see a doctor and are really no further forward. Did you get a fitness to travel letter?
I personally do not have much faith in that doctor's opinion. There is nothing about your story that suggests Type 2 and everything that suggests Type 1 and even with Type 1 you will still be producing some insulin yourself at this early stage so unless you are producing large amounts of insulin which I doubt, the C-peptide isn't really much of an indication of anything.
I am of course not medically qualified but unfortunately some of the doctors in hospital who are, still seem to know little about diabetes, even some of the so called experts/consultants. We have had so many members who have been misdiagnosed and had to really fight or change consultants or even go private to get it sorted out that I am somewhat sceptical of someone making an off the cuff probable diagnosis when they don't have all the facts.... and your high levels right before going on holiday are a serious concern in my opinion.
 
PS. I assume you didn't have the couple of Mars bars I jokingly suggested before heading off to hospital or the jacket potato?
 
no I missed the fat jacket potato washed down with a couple of mars bars as I figure the bloods sugars were a disaster without further input.

I don’t have a lot of faith in what they are saying either- the doctor even said that I’ve to re-introduce metformin in a few weeks again as it’s possible I have a bug/ infection that’s causing all the numbers and symptoms to be as they are- honestly you couldn’t write it- looks would show infection and if I had a bug m, stopping metformin wouldn’t stop the symptoms!
rebrascora said:
So sorry you had such a long wait to see a doctor and are really no further forward. Did you get a fitness to travel letter?
I personally do not have much faith in that doctor's opinion. There is nothing about your story that suggests Type 2 and everything that suggests Type 1 and even with Type 1 you will still be producing some insulin yourself at this early stage so unless you are producing large amounts of insulin which I doubt, the C-peptide isn't really much of an indication of anything.
I am of course not medically qualified but unfortunately some of the doctors in hospital who are, still seem to know little about diabetes, even some of the so called experts/consultants. We have had so many members who have been misdiagnosed and had to really fight or change consultants or even go private to get it sorted out that I am somewhat sceptical of someone making an off the cuff probable diagnosis when they don't have all the facts.... and your high levels right before going on holiday are a serious concern in my opinion.
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hello, I did ask about my holiday and was told outright it wouldn’t be a problem and why I think it would be and also that my blood sugar levels are not uncontrolled so have nothing to worry about- is it just me or are they for real here!!
 
A fasting reading of 18-20 is uncontrolled! What planet are they on!
 
Oh that’s not all that was said, she asked me was I planning on becoming pregnant to which I said no and she said that fine then as that’s the only way we would consider insulin!! Actually never hear of this in my life and I have been nursing for 20 years!
 
Maybe you are better off going on holiday to Dubai and risking needing medical attention there as you are perhaps more likely to get a proper diagnosis and treatment there, but just make sure you are well covered by insurance if you do go.
The NHS really is failing people rather too frequently for comfort these days. Lots of people here on the forum with diabetes have experienced sub par treatment even those who are on insulin.... and just no joined up thinking. It is worrying and you really need to advocate for yourself and be persistent to get what you or your loved ones, need.

My sister has spent 2 days on the phone chasing up anti seizure medication that the neurology consultant said my brother needed 2 weeks ago but the report was sent to the wrong GP practice for some reason and now we have tracked it down and got it sent to the right GP practice, they say that the consultant should have issued a prescription for it at the hospital pharmacy, not the GP. We have had to check there is no prescription issued by the consultant at the hospital pharmacy before they will do anything and have now reluctantly agreed to dispense it from the GP practice but it will not be available to collect until next week. My brother lives in Cumbria and is not mentally capable of chasing it up and my sister and I live nearly 2 hours away in the North East, so it is not an easy task getting him to hospital and doctors appointments, let alone chasing up medication for him which has gone astray and this is happening all too often across the country to other people.
 
Charmaine86 said:
no I missed the fat jacket potato washed down with a couple of mars bars as I figure the bloods sugars were a disaster without further input.

I don’t have a lot of faith in what they are saying either- the doctor even said that I’ve to re-introduce metformin in a few weeks again as it’s possible I have a bug/ infection that’s causing all the numbers and symptoms to be as they are- honestly you couldn’t write it- looks would show infection and if I had a bug m, stopping metformin wouldn’t stop the symptoms!

hello, I did ask about my holiday and was told outright it wouldn’t be a problem and why I think it would be and also that my blood sugar levels are not uncontrolled so have nothing to worry about- is it just me or are they for real here!!
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Did you get a fit to fly letter. Have you told your insurance company you are diabetic? ( old habits, retired lawyer) i do hope everything improves next week and you are able to enjoy a holiday. I'm sure given your job you need it.
 
Goodness, sorry to hear about your A&E ordeal @Charmaine86

And then to be basically brushed off and made to feel like you were wasting their time, when your levels are so significantly raised, you have an impending overseas trip, and unconfirmed diagnosis with the possibility of T1 which really can turn nasty in short order.

And if you ended up being blue-lighted to A&E after collapsing in DKA, I half suspect these same HCPs would be chastising you for not coming in earlier! 🙄
 
rebrascora said:
Maybe you are better off going on holiday to Dubai and risking needing medical attention there as you are perhaps more likely to get a proper diagnosis and treatment there, but just make sure you are well covered by insurance if you do go.
The NHS really is failing people rather too frequently for comfort these days. Lots of people here on the forum with diabetes have experienced sub par treatment even those who are on insulin.... and just no joined up thinking. It is worrying and you really need to advocate for yourself and be persistent to get what you or your loved ones, need.

My sister has spent 2 days on the phone chasing up anti seizure medication that the neurology consultant said my brother needed 2 weeks ago but the report was sent to the wrong GP practice for some reason and now we have tracked it down and got it sent to the right GP practice, they say that the consultant should have issued a prescription for it at the hospital pharmacy, not the GP. We have had to check there is no prescription issued by the consultant at the hospital pharmacy before they will do anything and have now reluctantly agreed to dispense it from the GP practice but it will not be available to collect until next week. My brother lives in Cumbria and is not mentally capable of chasing it up and my sister and I live nearly 2 hours away in the North East, so it is not an easy task getting him to hospital and doctors appointments, let alone chasing up medication for him which has gone astray and this is happening all too often across the country to other people.
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Hi Barbara, it sounds like you are having about as much success as I am. It’s really disappointing and I’m sorry you are having to go through this too. It’s hard enough feeling unwell or having someone close being unwell but to lose faith in the people we are trusting with our lives is really difficult. I can only hope the antibody bloods come through and I am seen by the diabetic specialists. If they tell me it’s type 2 then I will accept and deal with it and likewise if it’s type 1- o just need to get there first.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Goodness, sorry to hear about your A&E ordeal @Charmaine86

And then to be basically brushed off and made to feel like you were wasting their time, when your levels are so significantly raised, you have an impending overseas trip, and unconfirmed diagnosis with the possibility of T1 which really can turn nasty in short order.

And if you ended up being blue-lighted to A&E after collapsing in DKA, I half suspect these same HCPs would be chastising you for not coming in earlier! 🙄
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Thanks Mike, I really did feel like I was wasting their time but I did call 111 and they told me to go to A&E within the hour m. I was hoping when I called I may have been called by by a DSN who could have advised and maybe seen me as an outpatient but that didn’t happen and I had a wasted 24 hours in A&E and not any further forward other than I am now also on Glicazide. I will make sure to inform my insurance that I have Type 2 as advised by the doctor at the hospital and it all goes sideways I have done nothing wrong.
 
saffron15 said:
Did you get a fit to fly letter. Have you told your insurance company you are diabetic? ( old habits, retired lawyer) i do hope everything improves next week and you are able to enjoy a holiday. I'm sure given your job you need it.
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I asked about a letter and that if they advised I still take the trip and I was shot down and told there is no reason why I couldn’t go as my diabetes was not uncontrolled because my HbA1C has dropped from 90 to 87 so the metformin I’ve been on is working!
 
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