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A lost case perhaps

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A

afaq

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Thank you so much for letting me join this esteemed forum.

I am diabetic for the last 4 years. A short time before that I had this problem of breathlessness on less than normal activity and my lower back started to hurt badly on walking a few paces or even standing for more than a few seconds. That eliminated all chances of physical activity from life and my blood sugar level continued to rise. My consultant said I have right heart failure but being a doctor myself I cannot understand his diagnosis. There must be some concrete evidence of heart failure. My ECG, ECHO, Cardiac enzymes all are normal. The orthopedic friends couldn't find a solid reason for my low backache. Currently I am on INSULATARD and ACTRAPID insulin 3 times a day with oral metformin and sitaglu 50 mg twice daily. Blood sugar level is between 120-200.
Any advice by an expert in this regard will be most appreciated. I also offer myself in the forum for any questions/ remarks about the disease or related problems.
God bless you all.
 
Hi @afaq and welcome to the forum and thank you for offering to share your experiences. Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with the diagnosis of your heart failure.

You have mentioned BG levels of 120-200. Is this in regards to finger prick testing? It sounds like you are using the USA measurement system of mg/dl rather than the UK method of mmol/l:
https://www.joslin.org/info/conversion_table_for_blood_glucose_monitoring.html
120-200 works out at around 6.7 - 11, which is ok, just a little high at times, but it depends how frequently this occurs. Your results are partly within the NICE guidance and partly above. If you have other health conditions however, it may be that these are impacting your BG levels. How are you finding insulin? Have you had any guidance in regards to foods and do you find that there are any in particular that raise your levels?
 
Welcome to the forum Afag from a fellow T2. It'll be 4 years next month for me.
Although I have heart problems myself, I have no insights to help. I've had pain/discomfort across my chest and shortness of breath. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, silent heart attach, unsustained VT (caught on ECG).
afaq said:
Cardiac enzymes
Click to expand...
Do you mean the thing they do a blood test for when you have a suspected heart attack; that goes up when your heart is under stress I believe?

Have you been on any kind of course on using insulin, does adjustment ect. (DAFNE?)
 
Welcome to the forum!
 
Hannah DUK said:
Hi @afaq and welcome to the forum and thank you for offering to share your experiences. Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with the diagnosis of your heart failure.

You have mentioned BG levels of 120-200. Is this in regards to finger prick testing? It sounds like you are using the USA measurement system of mg/dl rather than the UK method of mmol/l:
https://www.joslin.org/info/conversion_table_for_blood_glucose_monitoring.html
120-200 works out at around 6.7 - 11, which is ok, just a little high at times, but it depends how frequently this occurs. Your results are partly within the NICE guidance and partly above. If you have other health conditions however, it may be that these are impacting your BG levels. How are you finding insulin? Have you had any guidance in regards to foods and do you find that there are any in particular that raise your levels?
Click to expand...

Thank you so much Hanna DUK.
I am not in UK. I should have given this info in the first place. I live in Lahore, Pakistan and the UK standard of measuring blood sugar in mml/l is not in vogue here. According to US standards the patients of DM T2 should have a fasting BG level of less than 120 mg/dl and random less than 180 mg/dl. With the insulin I am taking now (thrice a day) it is pretty controlled, thank God. I find insulin from a nearby medical store and since I am a doctor myself they don't ask me for any written proof, even though I do have the prescription of my consultant (diabetologist). I knew the area of food restrictions and my doctor also gave me standing instructions about it. If I use fruits more than what is needed and/or if I take white bread in the breakfast, my BS levels shoot up. I have stopped taking bakery items (cakes, pastries and stuff) altogether and it has helped me. I have also noticed that if I pace around my study/ living room for very short periods of time, my BS levels tend to be on the lower side. As if I didnt have enough medical problems, there is this added problem of not being able to give blood for my tests. Nobody can find a vein even with a butterfly small gauge needle. Last time I got all blood tests done when the physician took my blood from the inguinal region but you know it can't be repeated often.
I once again thank you for replying. God bless you.
 
Ralph-YK said:
Welcome to the forum Afag from a fellow T2. It'll be 4 years next month for me.
Although I have heart problems myself, I have no insights to help. I've had pain/discomfort across my chest and shortness of breath. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, silent heart attach, unsustained VT (caught on ECG).

Do you mean the thing they do a blood test for when you have a suspected heart attack; that goes up when your heart is under stress I believe?

Have you been on any kind of course on using insulin, does adjustment ect. (DAFNE?)
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response Ralh-YK.
It is not heart attack. I was informed that I have right heart failure; without having cardiomyopathy. The shortness of breath is really mysterious as it is always there. In the morning my wife (who has polio and a bilateral bone surgical attempt which failed to correct her problems) goes to kitchen to make tea for me as I can't even stand there for more than perhaps 1 minute. When she is finished making it I just drag myself to the kitchen and bring the tray in my bedroom and its hardly 10 paces but I am breathless on coming back and have to sit on my chair for some time to get normal again. I am perfectly OK when sitting or lying though. Apart from the daily ( read usual ) stresses of life, there hasn't been any stress lately either so there is no question of exacerbation of a cardiac condition. I am taking metformin 1000 mg twice daily along with insulin 3 times a day.
Thank you once again, God bless you.
 
Welcome Afaq, I am also type 2 but I don’t use insulin, I do also have heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) and have experienced heart failure in the past prior to my diabetes. You will find loads of support and friendship here 🙂
 
Hello @afaq welcome to the forum. Oh you do seem to be in the wars and your lovely wife also, I cannot offer you any advice at the moment but rest assured we are here for you, take care.
 
KARNAK said:
Hello @afaq welcome to the forum. Oh you do seem to be in the wars and your lovely wife also, I cannot offer you any advice at the moment but rest assured we are here for you, take care.
Click to expand...

thank you so much KARNAK. God bless you.
 
CathyB said:
Welcome Afaq, I am also type 2 but I don’t use insulin, I do also have heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) and have experienced heart failure in the past prior to my diabetes. You will find loads of support and friendship here 🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you so much CathyB. Initially (and that is about 2 years ago) my BS was totally under control with oral medications. But the persistent inactivity on my part and lack of physical part led me to use first Lantus Solostart and when that was not enough (after 6 months) then I was given Insulatard and Actrapid. What scares me is that when my body gets used to this insulin where will I land! I am grateful for your encouragement. God bless you.
 
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