Confirmed Diabetes blood test

[leanned_84]

Hi,
I’m a bit shocked that I have been diagnosed with diabetes, unsure of what type as my GP said I don’t ‘fit the bill’ for type 1 or 2. My bloods have both come back with a reading of 79 which after some research appears to be quite high.
I feel quite annoyed if my lifestyle has caused this and feel in a bit of a daze about it all!

I’m 40 years old with a normal bmi I workout most days and are very active with a reasonably healthy diet.
I have an appointment with the nurse next week and just wondering if anyone has any advice on questions I should be asking

 

[Ieva DUK]

Hi and welcome to the forum no one wants to join, @leanned_84 . Sorry you've had to join us, but do know you're in a great place to ask any questions, share rants or personal victories, or simply have a chat here - the forum has an amazing supportive community with decades of experience.
Getting a diabetes diagnosis can be a real shock, especially when you’ve been active, eating well, and looking after yourself. It's totally normal to feel confused, frustrated, or even a bit dazed at first - you're definitely not alone in that.
One really important thing to mention is that diabetes isn’t 'caused by lifestyle', while it can have an impact, every person is different and there's many things that can lead to receiving the diagnosis. There’s still a lot of misunderstanding out there, even among health professionals, and many people are diagnosed despite having a healthy weight, regular exercise routine, and balanced diet. It’s possible your GP suspects something like LADA, which starts more slowly than classic Type 1 and doesn’t always follow the usual patterns, but that’s something the diabetes nurse or a specialist might help figure out with further tests like C-peptide and antibody blood tests.
You’ve got an appointment coming up, which is great. It can feel like a lot of information at once, so I’d suggest bringing a notebook or jotting things down on your phone - it’s easy to forget details when there’s so much going on. You could also ask about being referred to a diabetes specialist or what kind of support or education is available (like a course or support group - they might or might not be available in your area, a bit of post code lottery there), ask about blood sugar testing, do they recommend any changes when it comes to eating for now (they'll have to take into account any other conditions or medication you might be on). I'm sure some users will come along soon with more advice!
You’re asking all the right questions already, and the fact that you’re seeking out support shows you’re taking this seriously. Keep reaching out - there are lots of people here who've been through similar situations and can help you find your feet.
I'm glad you've joined us and let us know how things go with the nurse if you feel up to it!

 

[JimmyBlue]

Hi @leanned welcome to the forum and I am sure that people can provide some help. When I was diagnosed last October, my Diabetes Nurse told me that while I was fit, with a good BMI and had a good diet, the reality is that diabetes develops over years and is not something that happens short term. Hopefully they will carry out some other tests as there is a type 3c version of diabetes that is linked to issues with pancreatic problems which may be the cause of your specific diagnosis.
While a HbA1c of 79 is high, it is not something that cannot be addressed. If they decide you are type 2 then reducing consumption of carbs like potato, rice, pasta and bread while increasing healthy fats and protein to make up for the reduced carbs. Low carbs diets are often beneficial for types 2s (I got from 86 to 46 in nine months following such a diet).
My advice though is before making any changes, make sure that the doctor sorts out the additional tests to ensure that they know what type of diabetes you have.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @leanned_84 🙂 Did they check your urine for ketones? If not, I’d ask about that. Do you have anyone with diabetes in your close family? Type 1 and Type 2 are very different conditions. Type 1 is an auto-immune condition and nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. It comes on more slowly in adults so can be missed. I’d ask the nurse if they’re going to do further tests to verify your diabetes type (and about the ketone testing).

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum. It is a shock to many as they think they have a healthy diet but if your body struggles to cope with carbohydrates then it may not be so.
This link will give some good explanation and perhaps give you come ideas for modifying your diet and comparing with their approach. It is low carb but if you don't need to lose weight then making sure you replace the carbs with protein and healthy fats. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[leanned_84]

Welcome @leanned_84 🙂 Did they check your urine for ketones? If not, I’d ask about that. Do you have anyone with diabetes in your close family? Type 1 and Type 2 are very different conditions. Type 1 is an auto-immune condition and nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. It comes on more slowly in adults so can be missed. I’d ask the nurse if they’re going to do further tests to verify your diabetes type (and about the ketone testing).

Thanks your info, so no one in my family has diabetes but my nan and my cousin on the same side have had gall badder surgery, not sure if this is relevant if it’s type 3c?
Also I initially gave a urine sample with the first blood test but unsure if it was tested for ketones or what that would mean?
I am using progesterone only contraceptive and am also wondering if anyone has experienced a link between hormones and blood sugars?
Thanks in advance

 

[leanned_84]

Hi @leanned welcome to the forum and I am sure that people can provide some help. When I was diagnosed last October, my Diabetes Nurse told me that while I was fit, with a good BMI and had a good diet, the reality is that diabetes develops over years and is not something that happens short term. Hopefully they will carry out some other tests as there is a type 3c version of diabetes that is linked to issues with pancreatic problems which may be the cause of your specific diagnosis.
While a HbA1c of 79 is high, it is not something that cannot be addressed. If they decide you are type 2 then reducing consumption of carbs like potato, rice, pasta and bread while increasing healthy fats and protein to make up for the reduced carbs. Low carbs diets are often beneficial for types 2s (I got from 86 to 46 in nine months following such a diet).
My advice though is before making any changes, make sure that the doctor sorts out the additional tests to ensure that they know what type of diabetes you have.

Thanks for this, it’s all a bit overwhelming so your experience is quite helpful!

 

[leanned_84]

Welcome to the forum. It is a shock to many as they think they have a healthy diet but if your body struggles to cope with carbohydrates then it may not be so.
This link will give some good explanation and perhaps give you come ideas for modifying your diet and comparing with their approach. It is low carb but if you don't need to lose weight then making sure you replace the carbs with protein and healthy fats. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

Great thanks! I’ll take a look

 

[Inka]

Ketones are associated with Type 1 and can be dangerous at high levels @leanned_84 (Type 2s can sometimes get them too, but they’re often tested for when Type 1 is thought to be a possibility).

 

[helli]

Thanks your info, so no one in my family has diabetes but my nan and my cousin on the same side have had gall badder surgery, not sure if this is relevant if it’s type 3c?

No one in my family had diabetes but that didn’t stop me being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Do you or any of your family have any autoimmune conditions?
My mother (and I) had Reynauds and my father has psoriasis which are both autoimmune. So, while there is no diabetes in my family, autoimmune conditions tend to gather.

 

[mashedupmatt]

Hi @leanned_84 and welcome to the forum - sorry you've had to join us (but in a nice way!) - I was diagnosed 3yrs ago (unexpectedly, apart from me losing a lot of weight very quickly) and they didn't know which type I was - they should do the c-peptide and antibody tests to determine the type (but the results of the antibody ones do take several weeks to come back) - it is a lot to take in (and I speak from relatively recent experience) but you have found a great place here to answer any questions you may have - glad you have found us

 

[trophywench]

My first question would be, what tests are you going to do to firmly establish what actual type of diabetes I have? and, then always ask how that test proves it, should they not explain that so you personally fully understand how, what and why. If the person you see doesn't explain fully to your satisfaction - tell them and if they say Oh you'd have to see X to have that explained, ask them to arrange for you to see X asap please.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis @leanned_84

Did your Dr say what it was about your signs, symptoms and presentation that didn’t seem to fit with T1?

Is it perhaps that you are “not a child”? We do have newcomers arriving whose GPs are still under the mistaken impression that T1 is mostly a disease diagnosed in childhood. Whereas as many people each year are diagnosed as adults.

Hopefully you get some clarity over your diabetes type soon.

Had you been losing any weight without meaning to prior to being diagnosed?

 

[TMitch]

I’m so sorry that you’ve had such a shock / and it is a shock being labelled and being put in a position where you are suddenly told that you have a condition you have to mentally carry. It does get easier as you learn more about food and what to eat. Please don’t blame yourself; it’s nothing you’ve done- it really is a lot to do with the individual and of course our friends: genetics