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SheilaJoan

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I have a few autoimmune disorders and recently had an hba1c blood test. My level was 66( not seen the paperwork) and my GP has referred me to the diabetic nurse. I have a glucose monitor here and since this morning my reading has been between 22 and 24. (Done 4 times, before and a couple of hours after food)What does this indicate?

In 2010 I was told I had type 2 diabetes but then told a mistake may have been made as my hba1c was 2.5

Whilst on steroids my readings were OK. it seems to be that since coming off steroids my hba1c has increased significantly.
 
Hi Sheila,
The numbers you mention are very very high readings and if your not feeling unwell Id be surprised usually an aim of between 5 and 7 is a good guide to what we need to be aiming for although of course sometimes thats not always easy, anything over 11 is classed as a hyper ,are you feeling any symptoms now?
 
Thanks for replying.
I am very thirsty and feel nauseous.
My reading this morning on waking was 16.8
I don't understand how things have changed so quickly.
I eat healthily and in the last few months have been doing more exercise than ever before( 3 mile walks 4 to 5 times a week)
It all seemed OK when I was on the steroids...only a problem now I am off them. My ALT liver function test is also raised.
 
I would contact your GP ASAP, and tell him/her about your higher numbers, they are high enough to cause concern. If you feel very unwell, go to A and E, because you might be developing something called DKA ( diabetic Ketoacidosis) which is very serious indeed.
Your levels are similar to mine when I was diagnosed, and I also had raised LFTs. This sent my GP down the wrong path to begin with, thinking Type 2, fatty liver, etc. But when I was referred to the hopsital, the consultant there correctly diagnosed Type 1, and said that the elevated LFTs were basically my liver getting angry at the high blood glucose levels.( I was 51 at the time, btw, you can develop Type 1 at any age, something my GP didn't seem aware of. I would also think you have an increased risk as you have other auto immune conditions, they seem to go hand in hand in a lot of our members).
 
Have you been prescribed any medication for your diabetes? The thirst was one of the signs I had that I was diabetic. If you feel unwell please see a doctor.
 
Robin said:
I would contact your GP ASAP, and tell him/her about your higher numbers, they are high enough to cause concern. If you feel very unwell, go to A and E, because you might be developing something called DKA ( diabetic Ketoacidosis) which is very serious indeed.
Your levels are similar to mine when I was diagnosed, and I also had raised LFTs. This sent my GP down the wrong path to begin with, thinking Type 2, fatty liver, etc. But when I was referred to the hopsital, the consultant there correctly diagnosed Type 1, and said that the elevated LFTs were basically my liver getting angry at the high blood glucose levels.( I was 51 at the time, btw, you can develop Type 1 at any age, something my GP didn't seem aware of. I would also think you have an increased risk as you have other auto immune conditions, they seem to go hand in hand in a lot of our members).
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I didn't realise you could get type 1 as an adult. I am 56 and try to manage my conditions well.
I have RA with scleritis, hashimotos, possibly pernicious anaemia( positive for anti parietal cell antibodies), arrhythmia ( nobody seems to be bothered by it...Heart rate 150 without bisoprilol) and hypertension. I have managed to get the scleritis under control with Humira and was able to come off my steroids but since then this has happened and also stomach issues(awaiting an endoscopy)
 
SheilaJoan said:
I didn't realise you could get type 1 as an adult. I am 56 and try to manage my conditions well.
I have RA with scleritis, hashimotos, possibly pernicious anaemia( positive for anti parietal cell antibodies), arrhythmia ( nobody seems to be bothered by it...Heart rate 150 without bisoprilol) and hypertension. I have managed to get the scleritis under control with Humira and was able to come off my steroids but since then this has happened and also stomach issues(awaiting an endoscopy)
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There are quite a few of us on here, @Northerner our admin, for a start. I suspect a fair few of us have joined because we weren't getting sensible answers from our GPs!
 
Type 1 diabetes as an adult is no longer as uncommon as it was once thought, and as you have other autoimmune conditions, type 1 diabetes would tie in well.
With blood glucose readings that high I would absolutely seek medical help fairly urgently, due to the very real risk of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) as you are experiencing extreme thirst and nausea, it would be an idea to get medical attention this evening, if you haven't already done so earlier today. Give 111 a call and see what they recommend 🙂
 
I saw the diabetic nurse. She has started me on gliclazide and metformin. See her again in 3 weeks if things don't sort themselves. My blood pressure was also high despite being on 3 blood pressure medications.
 
Hi Sheila.

If your levels remain that elevated three weeks is too long to wait. If you are still feeling nauseaous and have high readings there is a danger of Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Get some help if the levels remain that high and do not wait.

The nurse at your Practice is likely to assume you are T2, as has happened with many others on here who developed T1 as an adult. I am another late developer of Type 1, I was 53. I ended up in hospital feeling awful with DKA and felt a lot better once I was put on insulin. A steep learning curve but manageable
 
SheilaJoan said:
I saw the diabetic nurse. She has started me on glycosine and metformin. See her again in 3 weeks if things don't sort themselves. My blood pressure was also high despite being on 3 blood pressure medications.
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SB2015 said:
Hi Sheila.

If your levels remain that elevated three weeks is too long to wait. If you are still feeling nauseaous and have high readings there is a danger of Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Get some help if the levels remain that high and do not wait.

The nurse at your Practice is likely to assume you are T2, as has happened with many others on here who developed T1 as an adult. I am another late developer of Type 1, I was 53. I ended up in hospital feeling awful with DKA and felt a lot better once I was put on insulin. A steep learning curve but manageable
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Thanks for your reply. I actually asked the nurse if it could be type 1. She said only if my readings don't go down. I will be checking them closely over the next 24 hours. Luckily I had a meter.
 
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SheilaJoan said:
Thanks for your reply. I actually asked the nurse if it could be type 1. She said only if my readings don't go down. I will be checking them closely related very the next 24 hours. Luckily I had a meter.
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Keep an eye on them and let us know how you get on.
 
Ps
If she thinks you could be T1 three weeks would be a long wait!
 
Hi. I've been down the same route. If the Gliclazide works as mine did in the early days then it means you still have some beta cells left to stimulate but will need insulin when the HBa1C rises above NICE levels. Eventually even when on 320mg of Gliclazide my blood sugar went out of control and still my DN asked if I had any hypos being on Gliclazide assuming I was T2 even though stick thin. I was diagnosed with 'T2' at age 60 with a long honeymoon period after that. After some hassle I got my insulin and I've been under good control since but still wrongly listed as a T2. It sounds like your nurse is more on the ball.
 
Another thing unfortunately - is that anaemia leads to notoriously unreliable HbA1c results - they have to do a different blood test, for Fructosamine if you are actually anaemic.

However - Blood Glucose meters do NOT lie.

Nausea is an absolutely primary symptom of DKA - and it is actually life threatening and a medical emergency if you get it - so you need someone to check if you have blood (preferably) or urine ketones asap - it's just another fingerprick test with a different meter - so can you please ring the nurse tomorrow and ask her specifically if she has such a meter - if not has she in her possession the urine testing strips? (just dip em in the container of wee - nothing time consuming or invasive) In either case how soon can she see you to do either test?
 
trophywench said:
Another thing unfortunately - is that anaemia leads to notoriously unreliable HbA1c results - they have to do a different blood test, for Fructosamine if you are actually anaemic.

However - Blood Glucose meters do NOT lie.

Nausea is an absolutely primary symptom of DKA - and it is actually life threatening and a medical emergency if you get it - so you need someone to check if you have blood (preferably) or urine ketones asap - it's just another fingerprick test with a different meter - so can you please ring the nurse tomorrow and ask her specifically if she has such a meter - if not has she in her possession the urine testing strips? (just dip em in the container of wee - nothing time consuming or invasive) In either case how soon can she see you to do either test?
Click to expand...
 
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