Age of diagnosis, type 2 diabetics only please

[Ally beetle]

I Just thought this may be an interesting poll and wanted all type 2 diabetics to tell us what age they became diabetic, the reason the think they became diabetic and what your levels were if you can remember, if you could give us a brief description of how long it took you to get on top of diabetes if you have and any other useful info that would be great.

If you read this and feel left out as you are not type 2 I am doing the same poll for type 1 diabetics and other types of diabetics

 

[Ljc]

I was 41/42. Was diagnosed by accident really as I had no symptoms, had a uti which as it later turned out was not to do with diabetes but an infected kidney stone 😱.
My care was very good initially, where I lived at the time all diabetics were seen at the hospital diabetes clinic by specialists in the field. After couple of years my care was passed over to my gp and the practice nurse, the nurse was very good . Back then testing was advised for all T2s .
What a difference now.

 

[ajax]

I was 50 at Dx ..and it took me roughly 6 months to get down to ✻normal values✻

My first glucometer reading was 23.8 mmol/l (full credit to Diabetes UK for co-organising the national screening programme with a high street pharmacist.)

I could speculate about how why I became a diabetic ..but no value.

My advice to all folk affected by diabetes is to maintain a ✻logbook✻ ..to keep track of HbA1c, BP, appointments, etc.

 

[Mark Parrott]

I was diagnosed age 44 in January 2016. I went to the GP because I had a sore tongue. They asked me if I was losing weight recently & I said yes, but without trying. The next day I got a call to come in for a blood test as they think I may be diabetic. Apparently, my last blood test in July showed my HbA1c to be 56, yet this was overlooked at the time. The GP that overlooked it apologised, but still didn't consider 56 a bad number.😱 Anyway, had blood test & was confirmed diabetic with a HbA1c of 86. Had a fantastic DSN who advised me to test, though they couldn't provide me a meter unless I was on medication (just Metformin would've done). She also advised me to reduce carb intake, avoid fast acting carbs & fat is OK. Type 2 runs in our family. Brother has it (and does nothing about it), my Grandad on my Mum's side had it, and i'm convinced my Mum did but never diagnosed (she lost her eyesight through damaged optic nerves caused by burst blood vessels in the eyes) but she wasn't checked for diabetes, or at least she never told us anyway. Anyway, I took control immediately and got my HbA1c down to 45 in 3 months. A result my GP practice have never seen without meds! This was down to 35 for the next 2 tests & next test is this Friday & if it's still under 42, I will be taken off the diabetic register.

 

[Ally beetle]

Thank you Mark, Stephen and Lin it is really good and interesting to find out about your experience.

 

[Louise79]

I was diagnosed December 2016 at the age of 37 my hba1c was 97, it took me 3 months on a low carb diet with metformin to get my level back down to 38, then June this year my hba1c was 35 without metformin and low carb diet! Doctors don’t want to see me till next June x

 

[Susie P]

I was diagnosed Sept 17 at the age of 61. I had gestational diabetes during both my pregnancies many years ago. For the last 2 years when I had my yearly blood tests for my blood pressure medication they have done an hb1ac.This year they said they needed to repeat it and that's how I got the diagnosis am now waiting to be seen by the nurse appt is for 18 th Oct.

 

[Ally beetle]

I was diagnosed December 2016 at the age of 37 my hba1c was 97, it took me 3 months on a low carb diet with metformin to get my level back down to 38, then June this year my hba1c was 35 without metformin and low carb diet! Doctors don’t want to see me till next June x

thanks for taking part you seem to be well controlled well done it looks like you are now back to being prediabetic/nondiabetic if you keep up the low carb diet you may stay that way well done!!!

 

[Ally beetle]

I was diagnosed Sept 17 at the age of 61. I had gestational diabetes during both my pregnancies many years ago. For the last 2 years when I had my yearly blood tests for my blood pressure medication, they have done an hb1ac.This year they said they needed to repeat it and that's how I got the diagnosis am now waiting to be seen by the nurse appt is on 18th Oct.

well I hope your appointment goes well my wife had gestational diabetes for 3 of her children and both her parents have type 2 diabetes so I think she may be quite a high chance of type 2

 

[Susie P]

well I hope your appointment goes well my wife had gestational diabetes for 3 of her children and both her parents have type 2 diabetes so I think she may be quite a high chance of type 2

Yes my Grandfather had type 2 my dad died at 62 so will never know if he would have got it also several of my cousin's also have it.

 

[Beck S]

38, diagnosed the beginning of September when I went in for kidney pain. Had been having symptoms of thirst and excessive peeing, (and probably tiredness, although I suffered from Glandular Fever a few years ago so I'm always tired and it was hard to tell!!). From initial appointment to being tested, given results and diagnosed was less than 24 hours so a whirlwind really. Initial hba1c was 107, so they were unsure of the type and discussed giving me insulin, but decided to tackle it with just tablets for now, which I'm glad about because it seems to be working. I am kind of looking forward to me next three monthly test because I want to see how much my numbers have gone down.

 

[Ally beetle]

I am finding it interesting that quite allot of people are getting type 2 fairly young. i know there are so many reasons why people are type 2. I am loving reading your comments it really helps me get an understanding of your conditions thank you!!!!!

 

[Amigo]

I was in my 50’s and have a family history of type 2. I was dx after a full battery of blood tests for unrelated things but had probably been in denial for some time. Had high urine output and thirst. GP failed to follow up on borderline test for some years.
I’d had acute pancreatitis (non alcoholic) over a decade early and they’d expected me to become diabetic then.

Took me 3 months to get back in range. I admit I’d neglected my diet due to other considerable pressures I was living under.

 

[Ally beetle]

I was diagnosed age 44 in January 2016. I went to the GP because I had a sore tongue. They asked me if I was losing weight recently & I said yes, but without trying. The next day I got a call to come in for a blood test as they think I may be diabetic. Apparently, my last blood test in July showed my HbA1c to be 56, yet this was overlooked at the time. The GP that overlooked it apologized, but still didn't consider 56 a bad number.😱 Anyway, had blood test & was confirmed diabetic with a HbA1c of 86. Had a fantastic DSN who advised me to test, though they couldn't provide me a meter unless I was on medication (just Metformin would've done). She also advised me to reduce carb intake, avoid fast acting carbs & fat is OK. Type 2 runs in our family. Brother has it (and does nothing about it), my Grandad on my Mum's side had it, and I'm convinced my Mum did but never diagnosed (she lost her eyesight through damaged optic nerves caused by burst blood vessels in the eyes) but she wasn't checked for diabetes, or at least she never told us anyway. Anyway, I took control immediately and got my HbA1c down to 45 in 3 months. A result my GP practice have never seen without meds! This was down to 35 for the next 2 tests & next test is this Friday & if it's still under 42, I will be taken off the diabetic register.

this seems like a success story if ever I saw one wish it was that easy for everyone, just to change your diet and you could be diabetes free/prediabetes but I know you are an exception rather than a rule I feel please tell me if I am wrong and do not mean any offense or not amazed by your achievement as I am amazed I have only read this in theory and in documentaries

 

[Ally beetle]

I was in my 50’s and have a family history of type 2. I was dx after a full battery of blood tests for unrelated things but had probably been in denial for some time. Had high urine output and thirst. GP failed to follow up on borderline test for some years.
I’d had acute pancreatitis (non-alcoholic) over a decade early and they’d expected me to become diabetic then.

Took me 3 months to get back in range. I admit I’d neglected my diet due to other considerable pressures I was living under.

I suppose pancreatitis can start diabetes if it is bad enough. no one wants to be told they have diabetes so I suppose a bit of denial is normal

 

[Amigo]

I suppose pancreatitis can start diabetes if it is bad enough. no one wants to be told they have diabetes so I suppose a bit of denial is normal

I don’t think the denial was connected to that to be honest Ally as it was more than a decade earlier. I was diagnosed with cancer before my diabetes diagnosis and probably had enough to contend with. Cake very likely helped at that point! 🙄

 

[Ally beetle]

38, diagnosed the beginning of September when I went in for kidney pain. Had been having symptoms of thirst and excessive peeing, (and probably tiredness, although I suffered from Glandular Fever a few years ago so I'm always tired and it was hard to tell!!). From initial appointment to being tested, given results and diagnosed was less than 24 hours so a whirlwind really. Initial hba1c was 107, so they were unsure of the type and discussed giving me insulin, but decided to tackle it with just tablets for now, which I'm glad about because it seems to be working. I am kind of looking forward to me next three monthly test because I want to see how much my numbers have gone down.

Quite a new thing having diabetes then. Did you know much about diabetes before you got diagnosed then or was it a case of learning on the run so to speak?

 

[Amigo]

this seems like a success story if ever I saw one wish it was that easy for everyone, just to change your diet and you could be diabetes free/prediabetes but I know you are an exception rather than a rule I feel please tell me if I am wrong and do not mean any offense or not amazed by your achievement as I am amazed I have only read this in theory and in documentaries

Mark hasn’t mentioned that he also lost a great deal of weight which really helps. Most success stories do seem to have weight reduction at their core.

Mark, my last 3 levels have been 42 or under but I know my doc won’t take me off the Diabetes Register.

 

[Ally beetle]

I don’t think the denial was connected to that to be honest Ally as it was more than a decade earlier. I was diagnosed with cancer before my diabetes diagnosis and probably had enough to contend with. Cake very likely helped at that point! 🙄

Sorry, I confused the sentence, cake is so nice Istill partake but suffer after. It seems you did have a lot to contend with at that time. it is good it only took 3 months to get back on track.

 

[Ally beetle]

Mark hasn’t mentioned that he also lost a great deal of weight which really helps. Most success stories do seem to have weight reduction at their core.

Mark, my last 3 levels have been 42 or under but I know my doc won’t take me off the Diabetes Register.

well, you both look on the surface like you are kicking ass when it comes to diabetes. I am trying to lose weight and have found that my diabetes is so much easier to control now I have lost a few kgs. I had a bit of insulin resistance my consultant thinks and was on metformin but now I have stopped it and my blood glucose has been fairly stable. I think losing weight has only got to help if you are a little chunky