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1st HB1Ac since returning to UK. It’s not going to be pretty!

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missclb

missclb

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I’m expecting my worst HB1Ac result ever. It’s just a case of what level of bad it’s going to be. Not a good start to my relationship with the NHS. Current estimation is 67 / 8.3% but that’s only 33 days of 90, since switching to LIbreLInk, whereas I think the worst of it was before then. Eeek.

They took my blood on Friday at my GP, and i’m due back this coming Friday for the results, which I’m obviously not looking forward to. Then I have to go to the local hospital on Saturday for my first clinic appointment. Seems like overkill to be honest, but the GP claims theirs is just an annual health check, whereas the hospital will be my usual clinic appointment.

I need to get a serious grip and turn this around. I’ve been back in the UK for 5 months now, which has gone by in a flash. Things are crazy. My husband and I are still working for Dubai clients, therefore doing Dubai hours (5am-2pm) then we’re working on the house renovation until bedtime. Sustained manual labour is proving quite challenging for me to adjust to, insulin-wise. I’m also trying to fit in our share of caring for the in-laws as well as studying for my degree. I think the big problem is that we had no kitchen for a while, so were eating really badly – lots of fatty foods, which seems to give a decent post-meal reading at the +1 / +2 hour mark, but then shoots up overnight. I’ve spent so many nights up in the 20s, it’s embarrassing. I’ve really not been looking after myself very well since coming back. Priorities need to change.

All my previous HB1Ac print outs are in a box somewhere, which i’m not about to start looking through, so I guess I just need to accept that i’ve been a terrible diabetic and turn it around for my next clinic appointment. Wish me luck folks.
 
Hey Caroline, I do hope it is nowhere near as bad as you fear {{{HUGS}}} Sounds like you have had a lot going on, so you know this hasn't been a 'normal' time, and sometimes life can do that to us. The main thing is that you recognise it and plan to get back on track 🙂 You can't change the result, whatever it turns out to be, but it's in the past, look to the future instead 🙂 Let us know how it goes, and good luck! 🙂

(I also have that annoying thing where I see the GP for blood results, and then about 2 weeks later see the hospital for exactly the same tests 🙄 At least it might verify whether the first set of results were correct! 😱 🙂 )
 
Good to see you posting again @missclb

Wow! It really sounds like you are in the middle of things. The stress and exertion of which will be adding their own chaos into the mix!

it is understandable that all this busyness has had an effect on your diabetes management. Like Northie, I hope your result isn’t as bad as you are fearing, but that you keep your motivation to turn things around and try to make some positive changes in your diabetes management.

Hope the Libre, and your hospital clinic, give you the information and good support towards more in range numbers.

Please don’t think of yourself as ‘terrible’. You have been dealing with a bunch of stuff that has squeezed the amount of brain space available for diabetes management. But now you want to change that... and we’ll be right here cheering you on.
 
That has always been the way in the NHS round here - no NHS GP has anywhere near the expertise to offer really sound advice to well informed T1 nor are they expected to do so - we all get seen at the (teaching hospital) diabetes clinics with a decent complement of excellent DSNs who, though I have 6 monthly clinic appointments I can ring up at any time IF I need them.
 
No such thing as a terrible diabetic . And you have every right/need to run your business, do up your house, study, care for relatives etc ( just hope you manage to get some rest sometimes!)
Have you thought about a slow cooker to help with the meal time challenge ? Strictly speaking a kitchen is not needed just somewhere to plug it in ( preferably on a heat proof surface which will catch any splashes or overflow) plus a knife/ chopping board...
 
Thanks guys! I love the support of this group, it really does help to bounce stuff off you all.

I get so frustrated when my control slips. I can normally get it back pretty quickly with a bit of focus, but for some reason this time, i'm not really getting on top of it. It's totally bringing me down mentally, which I know is also down to the sustained high BGs. I'm literally just taking it one hour at a time and testing loads. Hopefully I can show the DNs that I'm clawing it back, even though the A1c will be high.

Abi - that's a great idea about a slow cooker! I wish I had thought of that.

I can't help but feel like i've probably shot myself in the foot in terms of getting my libre sensors on prescription, seeing as they're not 'appearing' to help me manage things very well right now. Grrrrrr. And i've developed a bit of a tingle / slight swelling in my hands, which I had originally put down to days and days of painting, but I'm beginning to fear that it's more than that. Is it possible to get neuropathy in your hands without it affecting your feet?
 
missclb said:
I can't help but feel like i've probably shot myself in the foot in terms of getting my libre sensors on prescription, seeing as they're not 'appearing' to help me manage things very well right now. Grrrrrr. And i've developed a bit of a tingle / slight swelling in my hands, which I had originally put down to days and days of painting, but I'm beginning to fear that it's more than that. Is it possible to get neuropathy in your hands without it affecting your feet?
Click to expand...
Regarding the Libre, you can argue that things could have been a whole lot worse during this hectic period without it 🙂 Regarding neuropathy - yes I think you can get it in your hands without feeling it in your feet, but I would suspect that, if it is diabetes-related which it may not be, then it is transient and will disappear once you get your levels back under better control. You generally need to have been poorly controlled for quite a long period before it really takes hold, unless you are very unlucky.
 
I agree with Northie on both counts. Also... is the tingling even on both sides. Apparently that would be the way neuropathy develops. At least that’s what I was told when I asked about one slightly tingly leg.
 
That’s how I feel about the past few months. However 1) you are aware of it 2) you seem to be on the brighter side now you’ve had the test and booked the appointments 3) you want to do better

I think I have been thinking it will sort itself out if I just pretend it’s not happening, but now I have realised it’s like a denial issue, even after all this time. So I’ve booked the appointments and I am testing more. The past few months maybe 5 items a day which we all know is useless for control.

Remember it’s just result and if you know why it is the way it is then you can take steps to improve. It’s going to be my baseline for improvement
 
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