A worried newbie!

[Cazzaline]

Hi everyone,
I am a very worried newbie! I have recently been diagnosed as T2 ( hopefully not T1 but waiting to have antibodies results) and started on 5mg Met then doc doubled this after my results. Test again in 12 weeks. Happy to adjust lifestyle etc etc which I’m doing. Now another complication of v high cholesterol and they want me to start statins adaptable an ecg and take blood pressure meds as well. So frightening! Am I just being a baby and need to get a grip and deal with this. I am a cancer survivor and free for over 5 years so now my body has thrown me another curveball and I’m feeling overwhelmed tbh. I’m 64 in November. Any advice and sensible suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Cazzaline 🙂 No, you’re not being a baby. A diabetes diagnosis is a shock, and having those other issues too must be a concern. My advice is to go slowly and systematically. Make a food diary of what you ate pre-diabetes diagnosis and look to see where you can improve it. Generally Type 2s need to watch how many carbs they eat - all carbs not just sugary ones. I’d also buy a blood glucose meter so you can test at home. That way you can see how foods affect you. Also, as Type 1 is being considered, it’s wise to keep a close eye on your blood sugar.

What was your HbA1C result when you were diagnosed? Did you have any symptoms?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and the anxiety it is causing you. It’s absolutely normal to feel frightened and overwhelmed when you are diagnosed with a long-term condition. But you have shown your strength and resilience in the way you dealt with your cancer - so you certainly aren’t a baby.

Is it an ambulatory ECG? (it might have been autocorrected). Hopefully this will give you and your Drs some helpful information about your heart health, and suggest the best way forward.

Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. It’s generally quite a slow moving foe, so you have time to adjust, experiment, and adapt as you begin to find a management strategy that works for you long-term.

Good luck, and let us know how you are doing. Feel free to rant, moan, offload, or just ask questions as they come up 🙂

 

[Cazzaline]

Welcome @Cazzaline 🙂 No, you’re not being a baby. A diabetes diagnosis is a shock, and having those other issues too must be a concern. My advice is to go slowly and systematically. Make a food diary of what you ate pre-diabetes diagnosis and look to see where you can improve it. Generally Type 2s need to watch how many carbs they eat - all carbs not just sugary ones. I’d also buy a blood glucose meter so you can test at home. That way you can see how foods affect you. Also, as Type 1 is being considered, it’s wise to keep a close eye on your blood sugar.

What was your HbA1C result when you were diagnosed? Did you have any symptoms?

It was 120+ so v v high! No symptoms at all ! Got a blood test kit.. it was 20+ at start now 12 after food in eve so lessening.. but this statins thing is worrying me even more.. they are for life.

 

[Drummer]

If it was your Hba1c which was 120, it would be wise to reduce the amount of carbohydrate you eat, and to test your blood glucose levels after eating, so your levels gradually reduce down to normal.
If you are an ordinary type two then over a period of months you should start to see significant changes and they will be reflected in a lower Hba1c.

I was prescribed Metformin and Atorvastatin when diagnosed type 2, and I had such nasty side effects I stopped taking them - I don't think I ever needed them. I manage very well just by diet.

 

[Cazzaline]

If it was your Hba1c which was 120, it would be wise to reduce the amount of carbohydrate you eat, and to test your blood glucose levels after eating, so your levels gradually reduce down to normal.
If you are an ordinary type two then over a period of months you should start to see significant changes and they will be reflected in a lower Hba1c.

I was prescribed Metformin and Atorvastatin when diagnosed type 2, and I had such nasty side effects I stopped taking them - I don't think I ever needed them. I manage very well just by diet.

Thanks for your advice. I am cutting carbs drastically and taking Met as prescribed. Am determined to try and beat this! This forum has reassured me greatly

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Cazzaline
It is very understandable that you are worried about this recent diagnosis, but you have already managed other health issues and this is also manageable.

I have taken statins since my Diabetes diagnosis as my cholesterol was very high. I think it had probably been high for a while but not picked up until I got the full MOT that came with my D diagnosis. I have had no side effects from the statins and it has helped me to get my cholesterol back in normal range. I also take meds for high BP. My only issue with them is remembering to take them! I know that some of the meds are prescribed as a precautionary measure, but since I had high readings I was happy to reduce my risks by taking the meds. We all react in different ways and the important thing is to monitor what happens and discuss it with you HCPs.

It is possible to be diagnosed with T1 later in life (I was 53) and there are plenty on this forum who were. There is also a wealth of experience to tap into on here, so fire away with any questions that you have.
Keeo in touch and let us know how you get on with the other results.

 

[ianf0ster]

My total cholesterol is high (and I had a 3x cardio bypass 4 years ago 2yrs before T2D diagnosis). So why did I stop taking Statins?
1. I prioritised reversing my diabetes. Now I'm in the normal HbA1C range.
2. No evidence of statins reducing all cause mortality. So swings and roundabouts. Taking statins means reduced immune function, possible increasing Blood Glucose and possible side effects such as muscle pain and mental fog versus a slightly lower risk of death from heart disease.
3. If you put my Lipid panel numbers into any advanced risk calculator I now have a lower risk than when I was first diagnosed with T2D and was still on statins. My HDL is much higher (counts in the raised total) and my Triglycerides are much lower (doesn't count toward Cholesterol Total).

Statins may be the way to go for some but I suspect majority of those taking them are doing so under false pretences.

 

[Cazzaline]

My total cholesterol is high (and I had a 3x cardio bypass 4 years ago 2yrs before T2D diagnosis). So why did I stop taking Statins?
1. I prioritised reversing my diabetes. Now I'm in the normal HbA1C range.
2. No evidence of statins reducing all cause mortality. So swings and roundabouts. Taking statins means reduced immune function, possible increasing Blood Glucose and possible side effects such as muscle pain and mental fog versus a slightly lower risk of death from heart disease.
3. If you put my Lipid panel numbers into any advanced risk calculator I now have a lower risk than when I was first diagnosed with T2D and was still on statins. My HDL is much higher (counts in the raised total) and my Triglycerides are much lower (doesn't count toward Cholesterol Total).

Statins may be the way to go for some but I suspect majority of those taking them are doing so under false pretences.

Thanks for this. Like you I’m going to prioritize my diabetes and blood pressure at the moment. The statins can wait for the moment I think.

 

[Felinia]

Hi and welcome. It can be overwhelming having that all thrown at you at once - we all felt like that. But it's amazing how quickly we can adapt.
You've had lots of very helpful information. I would just like to add a word of caution about carb reduction. If you cut them too drastically straight away, it can affect your vision, as others have found, particularly as you're starting at a high level. If you start with a reduction to, for example, 130gm a day, you can then reduce gradually until you find a level that suits your body. I experimented between 50gm and 130gm, finally settling on 90gm a day. You may be one of those people who are very sensitive to carbs, and eventually need a lower daily limit. I notice someone has already recommended you test your blood glucose levels, before and 2 hours after the first bite of eating. That way you'll know what affects you.
I have familial high BP like half my family, and have been on medication for over 40 years. I also have high cholesterol but had very severe reactions to various statins. My GP took me off them and advised me to take one cholesterol lowering drink a day, and a cholesterol reducing spread, which to my surprise resulted in a reduction. With those and a low fat diet, I went from 7.8 to 5.4. It's still higher than recommended, but my ratio is good. But there are other cholesterol reducing drugs, albeit not quite as effective.
I have a routine where I take my morning pills with my cholesterol drink, and my evening pills half way through my evening meal. It's just an automatic way of life and I get on with it. I'm active at the pool 3 days a week, and meet friends regularly for my social life. They all know I'm diabetic and watch what I eat, so nobody gets offended if I say "no thankyou". I'll look up a restaurant menu in advance, to make sensible choices, and plan my day around that. I also have an app to plan and record my cals and carbs in advance - it was the first thing I did when diagnosed. So much easier than paper records, and you can look things up walking round the supermarket.
Best wishes

 

[Cazzaline]

Hi and welcome. It can be overwhelming having that all thrown at you at once - we all felt like that. But it's amazing how quickly we can adapt.
You've had lots of very helpful information. I would just like to add a word of caution about carb reduction. If you cut them too drastically straight away, it can affect your vision, as others have found, particularly as you're starting at a high level. If you start with a reduction to, for example, 130gm a day, you can then reduce gradually until you find a level that suits your body. I experimented between 50gm and 130gm, finally settling on 90gm a day. You may be one of those people who are very sensitive to carbs, and eventually need a lower daily limit. I notice someone has already recommended you test your blood glucose levels, before and 2 hours after the first bite of eating. That way you'll know what affects you.
I have familial high BP like half my family, and have been on medication for over 40 years. I also have high cholesterol but had very severe reactions to various statins. My GP took me off them and advised me to take one cholesterol lowering drink a day, and a cholesterol reducing spread, which to my surprise resulted in a reduction. With those and a low fat diet, I went from 7.8 to 5.4. It's still higher than recommended, but my ratio is good. But there are other cholesterol reducing drugs, albeit not quite as effective.
I have a routine where I take my morning pills with my cholesterol drink, and my evening pills half way through my evening meal. It's just an automatic way of life and I get on with it. I'm active at the pool 3 days a week, and meet friends regularly for my social life. They all know I'm diabetic and watch what I eat, so nobody gets offended if I say "no thankyou". I'll look up a restaurant menu in advance, to make sensible choices, and plan my day around that. I also have an app to plan and record my cals and carbs in advance - it was the first thing I did when diagnosed. So much easier than paper records, and you can look things up walking round the supermarket.
Best wishes

Thanks. Which cholesterol drink do you use? Aren’t they high n sugar tho?

 

[Felinia]

Hi
Some of them are - as much as 6.4gm sugar per bottle. These seem to be mostly the supermarket own brands - they are cheaper but bigger. But if you look around, although Benecol is the most expensive, the dairy free option is just 1.9gm and the dairy option is up to 3.2gm. I always get Benecol as I think it actually tastes better as well, and I allow for it in my daily carb count.