Any advice please

[Angie J]

Hi I’m a newbie here . I was diagnosed with type 2 18 months ago . I’m on metformin 1g x 2 daily and Canagliflozin 100mg in the morning . I’m so disappointed in my care from my gps . I saw the diabetic nurse ‍⚕️ ha ha and she told me to join here and I’d learn all I needed to know . She never checked my feet for pedal pulses she gave me no information other than to join here . I have felt extremely ill from first diagnosis . I have liver cirrhosis due to a fatty liver and long term use of prescribed medications. I asked my gps repeatedly to refer me to a diabetic specialist so was given an urgent referral to community . This has taken 5 months !!!! My sugars are between 7.4 and 30 my last hba1c was 67 . I feel so Ill I go from sweating to chills within minutes my feet and hands hurt I’ve had constant thrush for months . I’ve tried everything with my diet . I only eat low Gi carbs . I’m not sleeping due to the sweats and just generally feeling bad . . I was put on Gliclizide but had bad hypos . I’m just about at the end of my rope now .....starting to feel suicidal

 

[Northerner]

Hi I’m a newbie here . I was diagnosed with type 2 18 months ago . I’m on metformin 1g x 2 daily and Canagliflozin 100mg in the morning . I’m so disappointed in my care from my gps . I saw the diabetic nurse ‍⚕️ ha ha and she told me to join here and I’d learn all I needed to know . She never checked my feet for pedal pulses she gave me no information other than to join here . I have felt extremely ill from first diagnosis . I have liver cirrhosis due to a fatty liver and long term use of prescribed medications. I asked my gps repeatedly to refer me to a diabetic specialist so was given an urgent referral to community . This has taken 5 months !!!! My sugars are between 7.4 and 30 my last hba1c was 67 . I feel so Ill I go from sweating to chills within minutes my feet and hands hurt I’ve had constant thrush for months . I’ve tried everything with my diet . I only eat low Gi carbs . I’m not sleeping due to the sweats and just generally feeling bad . . I was put on Gliclizide but had bad hypos . I’m just about at the end of my rope now .....starting to feel suicidal

Hi Angie, I'm very sorry to hear about the problems you have had, and the fact that you are feeling so low. Having such fluctuating blood sugar levels and feeling you are not getting the help you need will most certainly be having a big effect, but hopefully we can help you to change that. Daft as it may sound, your nurse was actually being quite wise in suggesting you join up here 🙂 There are loads of very friendly, knowledgeable people here who can appreciate just how you are feeling, so you are not alone in this, and we all want you to reach a much happier, positive and healthier place 🙂

I'd suggest starting from scratch and thinking of yourself as new to the whole business - try not to focus on the past. Diabetes can be a complicated thing to manage, but it can be managed well with the right knowledge and application. Diabetes is 99.9% self-managed, and that is largely due to the fact that it can affect people quite differently, meaning it is difficult - if not impossible - to come up with a 'one-size-fits-all' solution. People's tolerances for particular food choices can vary considerably from person to person, so it's important to learn your own. Have you been given a blood glucose meter and test strips so you can measure your blood sugar response to the food and drink you are choosing to consume? This is by far and away the best means of working out what foods affect you the most, what you should remove, replace or reduce in your diet, but also the things that you can tolerate well so don't need to exclude. Have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S to understand how this process works. If you don't have a meter and strips then it is worth getting your own whilst you learn about your meals - the cheapest option we have come across is the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50, which many of our members use.

I'd suggest starting by writing a Food Diary, writing down the amount of carbohydrates in everything you eat and drink each day. This will give you a true picture of your overall carbohydrate consumption. Then, using a meter, you can test before and after eating to see how those choices impact your blood sugar levels. All this can take a little time and patience, and can be a little tedious, but it will set you on the right track to get improvements in your levels, and at the same time help you to start feeling much better and with more energy.

I would also recommend reading the excellent Maggie Davey's letter, and see how the sorts of foods she describes would fit into your own diet. Another great, very positive read is the highly recommended Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker. I know it's not your first year, but we're starting afresh! 🙂

Finally, are you able to exercise regularly each day? If so then this will really help to 'sensitise' you to the insulin your body is producing, and help improve your blood sugar levels. Doesn't have to be much, just a brisk walk of 30 minutes a day will really help 🙂

Please let us know if we can help in any way 🙂 As I've said, we are all here for you and want you to feel happy and healthy, so please aks any and every question you have 🙂 I look forward to hearing more from you 🙂

 

[Angie J]

Hi thanks so much for the reply I think maybe it’s a good idea and start from scratch I already do a diary for the community dietician. It’s the sweats that bother me the most everyone is blaming the diabetes but I also have cirrhosis and fibromyalgia. Exercise is not a possibility really at the moment it’s too cold .I like to swim but my joints suffer badly . Then I can’t walk for a few days . Thanks for replying ....x I’m just a mess I will read all the articles you mentioned xx

 

[Northerner]

Hi thanks so much for the reply I think maybe it’s a good idea and start from scratch I already do a diary for the community dietician. It’s the sweats that bother me the most everyone is blaming the diabetes but I also have cirrhosis and fibromyalgia. Exercise is not a possibility really at the moment it’s too cold .I like to swim but my joints suffer badly . Then I can’t walk for a few days . Thanks for replying ....x I’m just a mess I will read all the articles you mentioned xx

I think diabetes often gets the blame when it may not be the cause. However, I know myself that when I was getting levels swinging from single figures to upper 20s/30s I would suffer the most terrible sweats It's a really difficult things for your body to cope with when under normal circumstances (i.e. a person without diabetes) the numbers would be in a very narrow range between about 3.5-6.5 mmol/l. Finding out what is contributing to those large 'spikes' in your levels should really help 🙂 The aim at first should be to get more stability in your levels, even if they are not ideal, as you can then work on bringing down that overall level in time 🙂 Think 'small steps' - this doesn't all have to be fixed overnight, but small improvements will be encouraging and the whole thing will become less overwhelming 🙂

 

[JMyrtle]

Hi Angie
Forgive me for asking but how old are you.?
Some of the problems you describe could be related to the dreaded menopause!
Just a thought.

 

[Drummer]

I found that low GI carbs are simply cabs - they produce the same unwanted increase in blood glucose as other carbs, and sometimes for a lot longer.
The key seems to be low carb foods, ten percent carb content is my limit, except for small amounts of high cocoa chocolate and not every week.
I have normal results eating meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, cheese, I put cream in my coffee and have small amounts of berries with cream.
To get normal results I ate no more than 50 gm of carbs a day, but now I am eating fewer to try to lose more weight.

 

[CathyB]

Hi Angie, I feel for you as I remember those awful symptoms very well 😳 do take a little time to read what Northerner has suggested, he has a wealth of experience, as have the other guys. Don’t despair, you have support now and I’m sure you can turn this around 😉

 

[KARNAK]

Hello Angie 🙂 welcome to the forum. Well done for joining our community, lots of friendly but experienced folk at your service, listen to what @Northerner says a very experienced person.