Newly diagnosed type 2 (probably!)

[Foz556]

Hi, I was diagnosed as diabetic last November. I’m 40 years old, normal BMI, no family history and the doctors seem very confused as to why I have developed diabetes. They have almost ruled out type 1 through blood tests but as I don’t fit type 2 criteria I’m left a little bit in no man’s land. I had a baby 9 months before diagnosis but no gestational diabetes.
I started on glyclizide but have now moved to linagliptin and have drastically changed my diet (have lost over a stone since cutting out carbs!)
New to all this but learning loads!
J

First HbA1c: 103!
Latest HbA1c: 43

 

[Northerner]

Hi, I was diagnosed as diabetic last November. I’m 40 years old, normal BMI, no family history and the doctors seem very confused as to why I have developed diabetes. They have almost ruled out type 1 through blood tests but as I don’t fit type 2 criteria I’m left a little bit in no man’s land. I had a baby 9 months before diagnosis but no gestational diabetes.
I started on glyclizide but have now moved to linagliptin and have drastically changed my diet (have lost over a stone since cutting out carbs!)
New to all this but learning loads!
J

First HbA1c: 103!
Latest HbA1c: 43

Hi Foz, welcome to the forum 🙂 I'm very sorry to hear about your diagnosis - how did it come about? It's certainly possible to develop Type 2 diabetes whilst being of normal BMI - around 20% of Type 2s are diagnosed at normal weight. Do you know what tests they have done to (almost) rule out Type 1?

It may still be possible that you are Type 1, with a slow-onset and gradual loss of insulin production. If this is the case it should become apparent when the current medication you are using has little or no effect on your levels, so it's important to keep a close check on those as things can change quite rapidly. If you've already moved off gliclizide that could be an indicator of slow-onset Type 1. What sort of levels are you getting currently?

 

[Foz556]

Hi! Thanks for that information. I was actually diagnosed after going to several doctors over several months with chronic vaginal itching. I think more people should know about this as a symptom as it was my only ‘tell’ and it was a hard time (especially with a young baby too). Eventually one doctor suggested a blood test and that was that.

I had a urine glucose test when in labour (not when pregnant) that came back negative so have probably only had diabetes for the last year.
The diabetes specialists were looking at LADA as a possibility but said it was unlikely after doing some blood tests on antibodies I think (C-peptide test) They said that I was producing insulin. I really need to write down what the docs say! I must say, the GPS were pretty useless in all this but I have had amazing support so far from the diabetes clinic.

I have reacted really well to medication so far as my initial HbA1c was 103 (!) and came down to 49 and now 43 on glyclizide and then linagliptin. I was managing to really control my levels with diet and linagliptin with no hypos but have recently had a steroid injection in my shoulder joint (frozen shoulder possibly a result of the diabetes or picking up baby or both?) and my levels are now all over the place so now take linagliptin and glyclizide. Hoping they settle soon.

At the moment my levels go between 4.5 and 10 with the occasional over 10. Before my injections I was able to stay within a 4-8 range but mostly under 7. Glyclizide sent me u see 4 although I would always feel it and have some sugar before I had a real hypo.
It’s a real learning curve!!

One worry I do have especially at the moment with readings all over the place is that I have a tendency to stop/reduce eating when I get a high reading and I don’t want to lose any more weight. I’m quite competitive by nature so I end up trying to beat my readings. I eat a very low carb diet and am vegetarian so my diet is mostly veg, dairy and some fruit. Again, hoping this will settle down as I get to grips more with what I’m doing. Still a newbie!

 

[Northerner]

Hi Foz, it can be a very difficult period in these early stages as there is so much to get used to and learn - especially when diabetes keeps mobving the goalposts! The medications you are taking are designed to stimulate greater insulin production, which is why they help to lower your levels - however, if your insulin production is declining then they may eventually lose their efficacy. Unfortunately, steroids are well known for completely messing up your control, so all you can do is keep testing and gathering information. Hopefully, it is just a short course of steroids and things will stabilise more for you soon 🙂

The tests such as C-peptide and antibody checks are not always conclusive. I personally experienced declining insulin production over a period of about 18 months prior to my diagnosis - it was a stomach virus that eventually overwhelmed my pancreas' ability to keep some semblance of control and I ended up in hospital. However, my pancreas does appear to have recovered some insulin production 4 years after my diagnosis, and is still producing some nearly 10 years now after my diagnosis - diabetes is never clear cut, it seems, and there can be some quite significant differences whatever type you have been diagnosed with!

If you get a high reading and are worried about pushing levels higher, I'd suggest having low/no carb snacks or meals - I turn to nuts or cheese usually - you will be getting the calories you need without making your levels worse 🙂

Good luck, please keep asking questions and keep us informed about your progress 🙂

 

[Foz556]

Hi Foz, it can be a very difficult period in these early stages as there is so much to get used to and learn - especially when diabetes keeps mobving the goalposts! The medications you are taking are designed to stimulate greater insulin production, which is why they help to lower your levels - however, if your insulin production is declining then they may eventually lose their efficacy. Unfortunately, steroids are well known for completely messing up your control, so all you can do is keep testing and gathering information. Hopefully, it is just a short course of steroids and things will stabilise more for you soon 🙂

The tests such as C-peptide and antibody checks are not always conclusive. I personally experienced declining insulin production over a period of about 18 months prior to my diagnosis - it was a stomach virus that eventually overwhelmed my pancreas' ability to keep some semblance of control and I ended up in hospital. However, my pancreas does appear to have recovered some insulin production 4 years after my diagnosis, and is still producing some nearly 10 years now after my diagnosis - diabetes is never clear cut, it seems, and there can be some quite significant differences whatever type you have been diagnosed with!

If you get a high reading and are worried about pushing levels higher, I'd suggest having low/no carb snacks or meals - I turn to nuts or cheese usually - you will be getting the calories you need without making your levels worse 🙂

Good luck, please keep asking questions and keep us informed about your progress 🙂

Thanks for this! I am quickly learning that diabetes is far from clear cut! And seeing all the stories in this site goes to prove it. Just found the ‘Cheese’ thread on one of the forums - my favourite so far

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome to the site Foz from a fellow T2.

One worry I do have especially at the moment with readings all over the place is that I have a tendency to stop/reduce eating when I get a high reading and I don’t want to lose any more weight. I’m quite competitive by nature so I end up trying to beat my readings. I eat a very low carb diet and am vegetarian so my diet is mostly veg, dairy and some fruit.

Sounds like you could be there with the diet. However, have you kept a food diary, along with a record of your levels? It might help any fine tuning, and give you confidence in what you can eat when you are higher.

 

[Foz556]

Welcome to the site Foz from a fellow T2.

Sounds like you could be there with the diet. However, have you kept a food diary, along with a record of your levels? It might help any fine tuning, and give you confidence in what you can eat when you are higher.

Thanks! I really should keep a food diary - great idea. It was a bit of a shock going from eating lots of cake while on maternity leave to a low carb diet but I am learning! Funny how some things make such a difference though and can change day to day (eg. depending on how active you are)

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[CathyB]

Welcome Foz