Complete Newbie

[Fife1012]

Hi Everyone

Very new here. This week I went to the GP for the first time in 15 years with a small chest infection. Blood work was done and turns out I am diabetic. Was now told this morning that they are 99% sure I am type 1 (due to glucose levels and family history), but they are in some doubt because I am not completely symptomatic. However they also stated I am not a “typical” type 2 - not entirely sure what this means.

i had two blood tests this week. Glucose was 22 in first and 18 in second. Which I know from what I’ve read is extremely high.

Ive also been told that my blood test that looks back at the last 3 months (apologies I can’t remember the name right now) was very high.

I have now been given medication for 1 month but not told much else. Talking to my family isn’t helping because I don’t think I have come to terms with it myself. I know they mean well but I’m frustrated that I haven’t got the answers and all I’ve been told was that if it’s type 1 I was always going to get it because of genetics.

I now have to check my glucose levels but the GP didn’t explain how often etc that I do it. Just gave me a machine to do it with. Does anyone have any advice please.

I don’t mean to sound so, poor me, I guess it’s just a big shock. And sorry if this isn’t the right place to be posting this. Just wanted to put it out there to people who may be in the same situation.

many thanks

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome

Sorry to hear of your diabetes diagnosis and initial uncertainty over Type. The good news is that they are keeping an open mind about it as many people are just assumed to be Type 2 if they are not children or young adults.

Regardless of which type, a diabetes diagnosis is very overwhelming at first and it is often described to be like grief with the various stages of that like denial and anger and hopefully eventually acceptance but it takes time to process it all and in the mean time there is the problem of getting to grips with the practicalities of it like diet and exercise and medication and learning all about it and experimenting to find what works best for you..... You Blood Glucose meter is going to become your best friend and tutor in that respect.

In the current Covid climate, many newly diagnosed diabetics are getting less than the bare minimum of support from Health Care Professionals. This is partly because the NHS is under extreme stress and the diabetes support services in particular because the Covid virus is causing or increasing the severity of diabetes in many people.

Can you tell us which medication they have given you?

Some basic stuff about diabetes....

Diabetes is not just about sugar but all carbohydrates which are broken down in the digestive system and absorbed into the blood stream. That means starchy foods made with grains and grain products and root veg like potatoes as well as sugars including fruit sugars. What I find amazing is that porridge can be broken down by my digestive system within 20 minutes of eating it and the glucose from it can get from my gut to the tip of my finger in that time!! And porridge is supposed to be low GI (Glycemic Index) which means that it is supposed to break down slowly!
All these sugary or starchy foods, like bread, pasta, rice potatoes, breakfast cereals etc will cause your Blood Glucose levels to rise quite quickly and because you have diabetes they go too high or don't come down again as quickly as they should. Reducing the amount of these things you eat will help to reduce your BG levels.

BG levels vary throughout the day and night and there are about 42 factors which can cause it to rise or fall so it is constantly in a state of flux, but the 2 biggest factors which have the most impact are food and exercise.

Most people here on the forum find that testing before eating a meal and then 2 hours after helps them to see the impact that food has on their BG levels. Basically this shows you the rise in BG that that food/meal caused. You can then tailor your diet to minimize BG upheaval.
Keeping a food diary along with these readings will help you and your medical professionals to see what is going on and work out an appropriate treatment strategy along with diet and exercise routine.... and I use the word "diet" in terms of things you eat, rather than weight loss program... which may or may not be appropriate.

Anyway, I am not going to write too much more just now as i know how easy it is to get overloaded with info in these early days, but hopefully that has addressed your question and given you a bit of food for thought, but keep coming back and asking questions and dipping into the forum for ideas and support or just feel free to sound off about the ufairness of it all because we understand not only that feeling but the need to vent it.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Fife1012 🙂 You don’t sound all ‘poor me’ - a diabetes diagnosis is a shock. The good news is they’re keeping Type 1 in their mind. Far too many adults are misdiagnosed as Type 2. In fact, Type 1 can occur at any age (many people think it’s just children who get it). While it’s true you ‘need the genes’ to get Type 1, most people with the Type 1 genes do not get Type 1. There’s an environmental trigger that is as yet unknown. So no, you weren’t ‘destined to get it’. If you do have Type 1, that’s just bad luck.

My advice is to push for confirmation of your type and, if they’re pretty much sure, it’s Type 1, then push for insulin if only in small doses. Some of the oral Type 2 drugs (which it sounds like you might have been put on despite them saying your Type 1) are not ideal for Type 1s whereas early introduction of insulin can help preserve your remaining insulin-producing cells longer.

 

[Ljc]

Hello @Fife1012 . Welcome to the forum. I am glad you have found us but sorry that you needed to.
Firstly give yourself some breathing space ok as you are probably rather shocked .

You have already been given some good advise here so I won’t reoeat it .

Their are quite a few different types of diabetes, or I rather I should say different causes and it is really good to hear your Gp is more than aware that you are not typical of T1 or T2 .

S/he may well be thinking of LADA , latent immune diabetes in adults .
It’s like a slow onset T1 , initially it responds to T2 management and T2 meds then in times, weeks , months and in some cases years only insulin will do.

I wish to reassure you that no type of diabetes is worse than another , it’s just how it’s managed and treated that’s different .

It will help us greatly if you can tell us what if any diabetic medications you have been prescribed.
Sadly not being told when to test your own glucose levels (BG) by GPs or their practice nurses is not unusual.

Don’t worry about the terminology used here or elsewhere. You have explained things very well and you will soon get to know and use the abbreviation’s we use .
If any terms are unclear please just ask ok, many of us When someone is new , fire a time will use an abbreviation but also explain it, but sometimes we do forget.
Their us also a list if abbreviations

Abbreviations & Acronyms

A guide to some of the diabetes abbreviations and acronyms that you may find being used throughout this forum, as gathered and collected by members. :) Diabetes Acronyms A1c - Shortened version of HbA1c. An average blood glucose level from approximately the last three months. Different...

forum.diabetes.org.uk

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Fife1012

Which medications have you been prescribed, and do you know if they took additional blood samples to help clarify your diabetes type?

An appropriate BG checking schedule should fit in with your daily activities, and give you the information you need to manage your BG levels from day to day. If you are T1 the minimum level seems to be 4x a day (before each meal and before bed), but when you add in extras to check when you are feeling a bit wobbly, or to check before driving and/or before and during exercise, they can soon add up to 6,8,10 or more!