Yesterday I went to a&e and was admitted, after it was found that I had glucose levels of 28 and keto levels of 5.4. I’ve not had diabetes before, nor known anyone with diabetes. I spent a certain amount of the silent (or not so silent) watches of the night googling diabetes, in between having regular repeat glucose and keto tests, and following on from insulin injection and infusion (still in progress).. I am seeing the diabetes team this morning and feel entirely unclear what I should be asking them / hoping for. Advice pls.
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Advice on what to ask the diabetes team
- Thread starter MollyBolt
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Proud to be erratic
Well-Known Member
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- Type 3c
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Hello @MollyBolt, not sure I have much advice, but perhaps some reassurance
I assume you went to A&E because you either had symptoms that could be D or you just felt rubbish and had to get to somewhere for help. Certainly your BG of 28 is very high and keto @5+ not great either, but you are in the right (and safe) place just now. What treatment have you had so far? What are your readings now?
One immediate question I would ask is what is your HbA1c? This is the formal lab based blood test that confirms D; if your highly elevated snapshot tests are from a very short period then the HbA1c shouldn't be particularly abnormal. This test looks at glycated blood cells over the last 3 months; 3 months because as these glycated cells age they are moved out of your blood by normal metabolic processes. If you've had elevated BG for a longer time, that will show up in the HbA1c result; anything above 47 mmol/L, is the UK diabetes threshold. Knowing that figure will tell you and the medics how much work needs to be done to improve and recover the situation.
Otherwise make yourself a hasty written list of those questions that are bouncing around in your mind; doing that will at least give you some structure to cling to. Many of us often lose track of what to say / do / ask at such times; we can become like rabbits in headlights and freeze (feeling stupid prhaps).
There is plenty within this Forum to look at. Personally I would say Google can be very useful for all sorts of research, but right now Diabetes UK as the sponsor of this independent Forum is a genuine and competent place to find answers for UK patients. Other nations may be just as "correct" in their various and conflicting interpretations of D, but in the final analysis right now you need to know the NHS position because that's the treatment you are getting.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
I assume you went to A&E because you either had symptoms that could be D or you just felt rubbish and had to get to somewhere for help. Certainly your BG of 28 is very high and keto @5+ not great either, but you are in the right (and safe) place just now. What treatment have you had so far? What are your readings now?
One immediate question I would ask is what is your HbA1c? This is the formal lab based blood test that confirms D; if your highly elevated snapshot tests are from a very short period then the HbA1c shouldn't be particularly abnormal. This test looks at glycated blood cells over the last 3 months; 3 months because as these glycated cells age they are moved out of your blood by normal metabolic processes. If you've had elevated BG for a longer time, that will show up in the HbA1c result; anything above 47 mmol/L, is the UK diabetes threshold. Knowing that figure will tell you and the medics how much work needs to be done to improve and recover the situation.
Otherwise make yourself a hasty written list of those questions that are bouncing around in your mind; doing that will at least give you some structure to cling to. Many of us often lose track of what to say / do / ask at such times; we can become like rabbits in headlights and freeze (feeling stupid prhaps).
There is plenty within this Forum to look at. Personally I would say Google can be very useful for all sorts of research, but right now Diabetes UK as the sponsor of this independent Forum is a genuine and competent place to find answers for UK patients. Other nations may be just as "correct" in their various and conflicting interpretations of D, but in the final analysis right now you need to know the NHS position because that's the treatment you are getting.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello and welcome. Sorry you ended up in hospital, but you are in the right place to have your levels stabilised. I'm sure that like most of us, you will not take in all the information you are given, and will think of many questions after the event.
This is where the Forum is so useful. You can come here with all your questions (no question is silly - I probably asked them myself!!) and learn from the experience of fellow diabetics. We can offer practical suggestions, share what we have learned, and offer encouragement and reassurance.
The Learning Zone is an excellent source of information which you can absorb at your own pace. I also suggest you look at the posts made by LeadingLights, who always offers great advice to newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetics.
This is where the Forum is so useful. You can come here with all your questions (no question is silly - I probably asked them myself!!) and learn from the experience of fellow diabetics. We can offer practical suggestions, share what we have learned, and offer encouragement and reassurance.
The Learning Zone is an excellent source of information which you can absorb at your own pace. I also suggest you look at the posts made by LeadingLights, who always offers great advice to newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetics.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
As things look as if they happened quite quickly you might want to ask if they think you my be Type 1 rather than Type 2 and there are tests that can be done to check that c-peptide and GAD antibodies. If you can then make some notes of what they say or have somebody there as a second pair of ears.
Hopefully you will feel better once your levels are stabilised and you can have an idea of an ongoing treatment plan.
Hopefully you will feel better once your levels are stabilised and you can have an idea of an ongoing treatment plan.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @MollyBolt 🙂 Sorry to hear you had to go to A&E but it was the right thing to do. I suggest you write down your questions for the team, then jot down the answers they give you.
I’d ask if they think you have Type 1 diabetes; how long you’ll be in hospital; if you’ll be put on insulin or other medication: if they say you’ll be put on insulin, ask them for more details of that plan and write it down; also ask if you’ll be sent home with enough meds from the hospital and whether they’ll be contacting your GP.
I’d ask if they think you have Type 1 diabetes; how long you’ll be in hospital; if you’ll be put on insulin or other medication: if they say you’ll be put on insulin, ask them for more details of that plan and write it down; also ask if you’ll be sent home with enough meds from the hospital and whether they’ll be contacting your GP.
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Sorry to hear of your situation @MollyBolt but pleased that you are now in a safe place.
From what you have said it looks like they have you on a drip of insulin which will be alongside glucose, which your team will be using to balance your current glucose levels and so reduce your ketones. As this has come on rather quickly I suspect that you have developed T1 diabetes. Scary and a lot to take on board, but it is manageable, and there is plenty of reliable support from people in this forum.
For questions to ask, write a list of what is going round and round in your head. It would be useful to have some figures to work with, such as your HbA1c, and also make a note of the glucose levels that they are getting from you when they are doing regular checks (finger pricks). It will help you to start to understand the numbers. See what they say about the type of diabetes you have and let us know how you get on.
Come back with any questions you have .
From what you have said it looks like they have you on a drip of insulin which will be alongside glucose, which your team will be using to balance your current glucose levels and so reduce your ketones. As this has come on rather quickly I suspect that you have developed T1 diabetes. Scary and a lot to take on board, but it is manageable, and there is plenty of reliable support from people in this forum.
For questions to ask, write a list of what is going round and round in your head. It would be useful to have some figures to work with, such as your HbA1c, and also make a note of the glucose levels that they are getting from you when they are doing regular checks (finger pricks). It will help you to start to understand the numbers. See what they say about the type of diabetes you have and let us know how you get on.
Come back with any questions you have .
manji
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
As a relative newb who can be very sceptical about health advice my suggestion is follow this forum start reading the actual Diabetes page and ignore everything else online , once you get the responses from the diabetes team of course.
Dont sign up and pay for any strict online plan.
Because of the different types of diabetes even at the beginning some of the info can appear to be conflicting but it’s good “ conflicting “ clearly I’m in a different situation to you but after a couple of months I actually received a visit from a diabetes nurse I was armed with a lot of info from this site. I’m confident her attitude was more positive and proactive.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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How did it go on Tuesday @MollyBolt
Have they answered your questions, and got you started on insulin injections that you can administer yourself?
Do keep asking away with any questions you still have here - while we can’t offer medical advice, the hive mind of the forum has had decades (centuries!) of diabetes appointments, so we can pass on any bits of helpful information we’ve been told over the years 🙂
Have they answered your questions, and got you started on insulin injections that you can administer yourself?
Do keep asking away with any questions you still have here - while we can’t offer medical advice, the hive mind of the forum has had decades (centuries!) of diabetes appointments, so we can pass on any bits of helpful information we’ve been told over the years 🙂
I just saw this having just posted somewhere else on the forum to ask about advice on when to go to hospital (though I now can't see where I posted).
Now home, and with blood prick test and insulin. The diabetes team were great, though not able to give a full diagnosis because of a cyber attack which has impacted the speed at which blood tests are coming back. But I'm a treat as type 1 for now...
The thing I'm finding hardest is actually the blood prick test and getting enough blood. I've put it to the most vigorous setting and also am washing my hands in hot water and then doing the upward massage but I've had two failed tests due to not enough blood. Presumably there's a knack - tips would be appreciated.
I would also (as I said in a different thread) be interested to hear advice on when to go to A&E with high blood glucose numbers - I was 17 this morning, 20 just now though minimal ketos. Though I hated being in hospital there's a bit of me which feels I should be back on a drip. But I think that's newbie panicking?
Now home, and with blood prick test and insulin. The diabetes team were great, though not able to give a full diagnosis because of a cyber attack which has impacted the speed at which blood tests are coming back. But I'm a treat as type 1 for now...
The thing I'm finding hardest is actually the blood prick test and getting enough blood. I've put it to the most vigorous setting and also am washing my hands in hot water and then doing the upward massage but I've had two failed tests due to not enough blood. Presumably there's a knack - tips would be appreciated.
I would also (as I said in a different thread) be interested to hear advice on when to go to A&E with high blood glucose numbers - I was 17 this morning, 20 just now though minimal ketos. Though I hated being in hospital there's a bit of me which feels I should be back on a drip. But I think that's newbie panicking?
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Watch the ketones @MollyBolt but just wait for your callback. For fingerpricking, which ‘pricker’ do you have? Some are a lot better than others. Wash your hands in warm water, then given them a shake forward at the wrist to ‘get the blood down’. Make sure you’re pricking the side of your finger pad and ‘milk’ the blood towards the end of the finger.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Make sure you are applying the drop of blood to the very end of the strip as it will be sucked in by capillary action not trying to put it on top of the strip, you only need a drop the size of a pin head for most strips.
Pricking just to the side of the pad is usually a good place, if you put your thumb onto the pad and then prick just to the side of that and put gentle pressure with your thumb the drop should appear, you should be ready with your strip.
Pricking just to the side of the pad is usually a good place, if you put your thumb onto the pad and then prick just to the side of that and put gentle pressure with your thumb the drop should appear, you should be ready with your strip.
Thanks for all the advice above on doing the prick - I'll try and implement next time. Cheeringly when I spoke to the nurse just now she said I'll get a freestyle libre when I see them in person in a couple of weeks, so I am hoping that this may end up being a temporary challenge (though obviously one I need to get right).
Different question, I went back to work today (although from home) and feel absolutely exhausted. This feels odd because I thought that the tiredness was when my insulin wasn't managing things? Obviously having been in hospital is a tiring thing in and of itself, but interested to understand if this is something I should anticipate continuing...
Different question, I went back to work today (although from home) and feel absolutely exhausted. This feels odd because I thought that the tiredness was when my insulin wasn't managing things? Obviously having been in hospital is a tiring thing in and of itself, but interested to understand if this is something I should anticipate continuing...
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You’ll still need to fingerprick when using the libre, just a bit less, so still something to sort out
- Relationship to Diabetes
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Top tip… If you click your name in the sidebar (or header above your posts if on a mobile) you’ll see a list of your recent posts, so you can see where you have posted 🙂
This was your other thread:
when to go to hospital?
I posted on here a couple of days ago to ask for advice on first seeing the diabetes team (many thanks to those who responded!). The question I didn't ask is how high blood glucose numbers should be before going back to hospital? When I went in first time my blood glucose was 28 and my keto...
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