Getting worse?

[fender57]

Hi, i was diagnosed last november 2011, usual symptons, i am now on 4 metformin and 1 sitigliptin daily. Everything seemed to settle, i was only going to the bathroom every 4 to 5 hours instead of busting to go every 40 mins, which as a bus driver is very awkward to say the least. However in the past month i am now needing to go every 45 mins to an hour, my doc took a urine sample and said my sugar levels were ok, but what worries me is could my diabetes be getting worse. I am type 2.

 

[MeganN]

Could you request they give you an hba1c? A urine test is very inaccurate and only shows what your body was doing 2 hours before hand and not what it's been up for for the last few weeks. Only a blood test can tell you that

 

[Northerner]

Hi fender57, sorry to hear about this It does sound like it could be a symptom of higher than normal blood sugars, although it could be something else of course, like a bladder infection - is your GP testing for anything else?

I'd also wonder about the efficacy of a urine test for this. Glucose only spills over into urine at about 10 mmol/l, and for me this level would probably be enough to start sending me to the loo more often. Also, a urine test shows levels two hours or so after your blood sugar levels have been high. Really, you need to be able to test your blood before and after meals for at least long enough to determine if levels are going high after eating, and also how high they are generally. Doctors are reluctant to issue blood test strips, but it's hardly going to break the bank to prescribe a few for this purpose, so I would go back and ask him for the facility. Did he just send you away saying nothing was wrong? If so, then he's clearly wrong otherwise you wouldn't be having this problem!

 

[fender57]

Hi megan, i never asked for nor was offered a blood test, i am new to this i am just gonna google hba1c because i dont know what it is, i only know how to read the blood glucose meter, perhaps my nurse or doctor cant be bothered to explain fully what i need to know, not ignorant just not been given enough info. Thanks.

 

[fender57]

Hi northerner, basically my doc did the urine test and said i was ok, think i might visit a different doc, i have plenty of blood test strips, because of my job, the dvla say i have to test at least twice a day, an hour after eating my meter reads around the eleven mark, i dont know if this is normal, because my nurse told me i should be between 4 and 7. And an hour after eating i get shaky and my blood is about 11, methinks i should read up a lot more on this, as it seems i have not been given enough info. Many thanks.

 

[Northerner]

Hi northerner, basically my doc did the urine test and said i was ok, think i might visit a different doc, i have plenty of blood test strips, because of my job, the dvla say i have to test at least twice a day, an hour after eating my meter reads around the eleven mark, i dont know if this is normal, because my nurse told me i should be between 4 and 7. And an hour after eating i get shaky and my blood is about 11, methinks i should read up a lot more on this, as it seems i have not been given enough info. Many thanks.

Have a read of the following to get a better understanding of what's what:

Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter

Also:

Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S

I'd also recommend getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. With that lot, you'll probably know more than your GP! 🙂

 

[fender57]

Just read it, gonna request a blood test this week, thanks