The drs have been running tests and are treating me for type 2. I've been asked to take my BG levels every morning and they are increasing despite me reducing my carb intake. They started at 15 and now 4 days later are at 18! Should I contact the Dr? Does this mean I'm not type 2?!
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Fasting levels
- Thread starter Elaine63
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Welcome to the forum @Elaine63
Have you got a follow-up appointment booked to discuss the readings you have been taking?
They are much higher than you would expect in a person without diabetes, which must be quite worrying for you.
It would be worth mentioning that you have made changes to your carb intake during the testing period so that your Dr has the whole picture.
Usually it is an HbA1c check that will be done(with blood taken from the arm) to confirm a diagnosis.
Let us know how you get on!
Have you got a follow-up appointment booked to discuss the readings you have been taking?
They are much higher than you would expect in a person without diabetes, which must be quite worrying for you.
It would be worth mentioning that you have made changes to your carb intake during the testing period so that your Dr has the whole picture.
Usually it is an HbA1c check that will be done(with blood taken from the arm) to confirm a diagnosis.
Let us know how you get on!
SB2015
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Welcome to the forum @Elaine63 Glad that you have found us.
Sorry to hear that your levels are still a problem especially as they are continuing to rise, in spite of your lowering your carbs . Well worth getting another appointment as they are unusually high.
Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
Sorry to hear that your levels are still a problem especially as they are continuing to rise, in spite of your lowering your carbs . Well worth getting another appointment as they are unusually high.
Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
Thank you!
My HbA1c taken last week was 84, not sure what this means!? I'm new to all of this!
I feel terrible most of the time. And I cannot get rid of this sweet taste in my mouth. It's makes me feel very sick. I've mentioned to the diabetes nurse several times but she doesn't say much about it.
The diabetes nurse is calling me to check results later this week.
My HbA1c taken last week was 84, not sure what this means!? I'm new to all of this!
I feel terrible most of the time. And I cannot get rid of this sweet taste in my mouth. It's makes me feel very sick. I've mentioned to the diabetes nurse several times but she doesn't say much about it.
The diabetes nurse is calling me to check results later this week.
Sally71
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There are tests they can do to establish which (GAD antibody and c-peptide I think they are called)
Also ask them to do a blood ketone test (it's a fingerprick one the same as glucose and gives the result as quickly), if that is high also you need to get started on treatment straight away. I think if you have high ketones you are much more likely to be type 1 (I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong there!)
Good luck, hope you get sorted soon 🙂
Also ask them to do a blood ketone test (it's a fingerprick one the same as glucose and gives the result as quickly), if that is high also you need to get started on treatment straight away. I think if you have high ketones you are much more likely to be type 1 (I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong there!)
Good luck, hope you get sorted soon 🙂
Docb
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In very simple terms the fingerprick test tells you what your blood glucose was at the time of the test. Your blood glucose goes up and down through the day depending on a lot of things including what you eat and when, how well your pancreas is working and how well the glucose is being absorbed from the blood. This is where the HbA1c comes in. It does not measure blood glucose but something which is influenced by what your average blood glucose has been over the last couple of months. A HbA1c of 84 is consistent with your average blood glucose having been in teens for some while so your finger pricks match the HbA1c result.
The automatic assumption, especially if it was not picked up after being rushed to hospital in distress, is that you are type 2 and work will start on treating you as such. If that is ineffective then other variants of diabetes ought to be considered. Your GP is a bit more switched on than most if he/she has given you meter and asked you to gather some information in order to work out the best approach for you. Far better than the straight onto the pills and come back in 6 months which seems to be the norm. I suggest you help them by keeping a food diary recording everything you eat/drink together with your blood glucose readings.
My other suggestion for you is that you get your self informed about diabetes (being here is a very good place to start) and work with your surgery to get your blood glucose levels down to something nearer normal. That's the way to make sure you do not have complications in a few years time.
How to tell if type 1 or 2? Not easy. In type 1 the problem is a reduced insulin supply, the c-peptide test indicates how much insulin is being made. The problem is that mature onset type 1s often make some insulin long after the reduced supply becomes a problem,
The GAD test looks for the things that kill off the insulin prodocing cells (this is what causes type 1). These are not always found even in type 1.
Without both of these tests it is impossible to say, and the results need an expert to interpret them.
Type 2 is more likely as one gets older. more likely if one is overweight, but type 1 is always possible.
Type 1 often does not respond too well to changes in diet, but often does so initially for a short time.
Should you contact your Dr? Without doubt.
Does it indicate type 1? Makes it a little more likely,
The GAD test looks for the things that kill off the insulin prodocing cells (this is what causes type 1). These are not always found even in type 1.
Without both of these tests it is impossible to say, and the results need an expert to interpret them.
Type 2 is more likely as one gets older. more likely if one is overweight, but type 1 is always possible.
Type 1 often does not respond too well to changes in diet, but often does so initially for a short time.
Should you contact your Dr? Without doubt.
Does it indicate type 1? Makes it a little more likely,
trophywench
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You say they are treating you as Type 2 - hence I imagine they have prescribed a drug called metformin - have they? if not, what? First thing to know about metformin is that it doesn't work instantly - it takes a couple of not 3 weeks to build up (by taking it every day) to its full potential and then if that's not enough they add more to the dose and wait another couple of weeks etc.
Diabetes whatever kind it is, is a marathon, not a sprint.
The cut off point between not diabetic and diabetic, is an HbA1c result of 48 so you do have diabetes.
Diabetes whatever kind it is, is a marathon, not a sprint.
The cut off point between not diabetic and diabetic, is an HbA1c result of 48 so you do have diabetes.
Yes I am taking metaformin. 1000mg a day at the moment.
The Dr called this afternoon and didn't really give me any info. Just said my bloods came back and some were higher than they should be but didn't give any indication of why or what to do. She just said wait for the CT scan results which I am having this week.
I have a CT scan this week to rule out pancreatic cancer as my brother passed 18 months ago from this.
The Dr called this afternoon and didn't really give me any info. Just said my bloods came back and some were higher than they should be but didn't give any indication of why or what to do. She just said wait for the CT scan results which I am having this week.
I have a CT scan this week to rule out pancreatic cancer as my brother passed 18 months ago from this.
rebrascora
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Hi Elaine.
Welcome from me too.
Can you let us know the sort of things you are eating? People have very different ideas about what low carb eating constitutes, so it is difficult to form an opinion without knowing what you are actually eating. Low carb is usually a much more powerful tool in lowering your BG than Metformin, so the fact that you are seeing higher levels rather than some lowering is concerning, especially with the nausea and sweet taste in your mouth.
Has the doctor or nurse given you any means of testing ketones? If not get back on to them and explain about your continued high and increasing levels despite your restrictive diet and the sweet taste in your mouth and nausea and ask for a means of testing for ketones. If they are unhelpful, you can buy Ketostix over the counter at a pharmacy for approx. £5. You collect some urine and dip the strip in it for 15 seconds if I remember rightly and then compare to the colour chart on the container. I have concerns that you may not be type 2 and the sweet taste is ketones.... being able to test for those should at least enable you to know what course of action needs to be taken... if you have ketones then you need to get back onto your doctor or nurse pronto or get yourself to A&E.... Did they test your urine for ketones when you were diagnosed?
Can you tell us a bit more about how you came to be diagnosed? Did you have sudden onset symptoms and how severe were the symptoms or was it via a routine blood test. Have you lost any weight in recent weeks?
Welcome from me too.
Can you let us know the sort of things you are eating? People have very different ideas about what low carb eating constitutes, so it is difficult to form an opinion without knowing what you are actually eating. Low carb is usually a much more powerful tool in lowering your BG than Metformin, so the fact that you are seeing higher levels rather than some lowering is concerning, especially with the nausea and sweet taste in your mouth.
Has the doctor or nurse given you any means of testing ketones? If not get back on to them and explain about your continued high and increasing levels despite your restrictive diet and the sweet taste in your mouth and nausea and ask for a means of testing for ketones. If they are unhelpful, you can buy Ketostix over the counter at a pharmacy for approx. £5. You collect some urine and dip the strip in it for 15 seconds if I remember rightly and then compare to the colour chart on the container. I have concerns that you may not be type 2 and the sweet taste is ketones.... being able to test for those should at least enable you to know what course of action needs to be taken... if you have ketones then you need to get back onto your doctor or nurse pronto or get yourself to A&E.... Did they test your urine for ketones when you were diagnosed?
Can you tell us a bit more about how you came to be diagnosed? Did you have sudden onset symptoms and how severe were the symptoms or was it via a routine blood test. Have you lost any weight in recent weeks?
Thank you for your detailed reply.
Yesterday I had
Breakfast Ready Brek
Lunch fruit and nuts only
Dinner Chicken Roast
Evening snack cheese and crackers
Today I've had
Breakfast One slice of wholemeal toast with 2 scrambled eggs
Lunch cheese and crackers
Dinner salad (leaves, avocado, radish, carrot, cucumber, chicken)
I haven't been tested for ketones nor have I been asked to provide a urine sample as yet. I will try and get to the pharmacy tomorrow.
I had a routine blood test last year which suggested I was pre diabetic. Then in march this year I had a continuous severe pain at the top of my stomach (right in the V bit under ribs). Bloods were taken and my diabetic levels were double what they were a year ago. I had an endoscopy and ultrasound end of May but it all came back clear. I have been taken endoprazole (?) Which has eased the severe pain I was getting but I do still get pain, especially in the evenings. Hence why I am going for a CT scan on Weds. My brother passed 18months ago of pancreatic cancer and he had similar symptoms. He's the only person related to me who's had diabetes and his was as a result of the cancer. I'm absolutely terrified that I'm facing the same fate as my levels are so high. The Dr doesn't seem to be giving me much info/advice which is concerning me even more and making me think it's because it could be cancer.
Yesterday I had
Breakfast Ready Brek
Lunch fruit and nuts only
Dinner Chicken Roast
Evening snack cheese and crackers
Today I've had
Breakfast One slice of wholemeal toast with 2 scrambled eggs
Lunch cheese and crackers
Dinner salad (leaves, avocado, radish, carrot, cucumber, chicken)
I haven't been tested for ketones nor have I been asked to provide a urine sample as yet. I will try and get to the pharmacy tomorrow.
I had a routine blood test last year which suggested I was pre diabetic. Then in march this year I had a continuous severe pain at the top of my stomach (right in the V bit under ribs). Bloods were taken and my diabetic levels were double what they were a year ago. I had an endoscopy and ultrasound end of May but it all came back clear. I have been taken endoprazole (?) Which has eased the severe pain I was getting but I do still get pain, especially in the evenings. Hence why I am going for a CT scan on Weds. My brother passed 18months ago of pancreatic cancer and he had similar symptoms. He's the only person related to me who's had diabetes and his was as a result of the cancer. I'm absolutely terrified that I'm facing the same fate as my levels are so high. The Dr doesn't seem to be giving me much info/advice which is concerning me even more and making me think it's because it could be cancer.
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rebrascora
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So sorry to hear about your brother and good that they are getting you checked out for that. It is still much more likely that you are just straightforward diabetic rather than pancreatic cancer, so try not to worry too much.
I am guessing that menu constitutes a significant reduction in carbs compared to your previous diet but still plenty of room to go lower carb. Porridge was the last carb rich food I gave up before my levels dropped into single figures. I appreciate that it is often recommended by nurses as a good food for diabetics but many of us find our bodies convert it to glucose just a quickly as white bread and need to avoid it, especially a type like Ready Brek which is more highly processed than say jumbo oats. Nuts are OK in small portions but dried fruit (if that is what you meant by fruit and nuts) is high in sugar as is fruit in general, so that is something as diabetics that we need to ration.... Most of us opt for a few berries like rasps or strawberries, as berries tend to be the lowest carb fruits.
Cheese and crackers is not a bad choice proving you go steady on the crackers and limit yourself to just a couple. I tend to buy the multigrain variety and the sesame seed Ryvita. I am guessing you had gravy and potatoes and possibly Yorkshire Pud with the chicken dinner?.... these all add to the carb total and need to be reduced or just eaten very occasionally.
Salad is good and feel free to have a nice dollop of creamy coleslaw or full fat mayonnaise with it.
Eggs are a great choice for breakfast. I prefer an omelette so that I don't need a slice of bread/toast with it and I can add a variety of fillings and I tend to serve it with a plate of salad and cheese coleslaw.
The abdominal pain is concerning when your BG is high and you should have a means of testing for ketones to rule out diabetic ketoacidosis.
I am guessing that menu constitutes a significant reduction in carbs compared to your previous diet but still plenty of room to go lower carb. Porridge was the last carb rich food I gave up before my levels dropped into single figures. I appreciate that it is often recommended by nurses as a good food for diabetics but many of us find our bodies convert it to glucose just a quickly as white bread and need to avoid it, especially a type like Ready Brek which is more highly processed than say jumbo oats. Nuts are OK in small portions but dried fruit (if that is what you meant by fruit and nuts) is high in sugar as is fruit in general, so that is something as diabetics that we need to ration.... Most of us opt for a few berries like rasps or strawberries, as berries tend to be the lowest carb fruits.
Cheese and crackers is not a bad choice proving you go steady on the crackers and limit yourself to just a couple. I tend to buy the multigrain variety and the sesame seed Ryvita. I am guessing you had gravy and potatoes and possibly Yorkshire Pud with the chicken dinner?.... these all add to the carb total and need to be reduced or just eaten very occasionally.
Salad is good and feel free to have a nice dollop of creamy coleslaw or full fat mayonnaise with it.
Eggs are a great choice for breakfast. I prefer an omelette so that I don't need a slice of bread/toast with it and I can add a variety of fillings and I tend to serve it with a plate of salad and cheese coleslaw.
The abdominal pain is concerning when your BG is high and you should have a means of testing for ketones to rule out diabetic ketoacidosis.
ColinUK
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KARNAK
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Hello @Elaine63 welcome to the forum.
I`m a bit concerned about the sweet taste you have, suggests the presence of Ketones as others have said.
If the nurse is not willing to listen ask to speak to the Dr and explain your concern about the sweetness in your mouth.
If you get no joy from your surgery get yourself off to A&E just mention Ketones.
Sorry about your brother sad times, hope your scan goes ok? please keep us up to date and follow the advice
on reducing carbs, take care.
I`m a bit concerned about the sweet taste you have, suggests the presence of Ketones as others have said.
If the nurse is not willing to listen ask to speak to the Dr and explain your concern about the sweetness in your mouth.
If you get no joy from your surgery get yourself off to A&E just mention Ketones.
Sorry about your brother sad times, hope your scan goes ok? please keep us up to date and follow the advice
on reducing carbs, take care.
Drummer
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Perhaps if you switch to eating a fairly low carb diet you might possibly, hopefully, see your numbers reducing.
Avoiding grain is usually a good place to start and swapping such things as roast potatoes (or any potato come to that) for lower carb options such as cauliflower celeriac swede or turnip can make a big difference, though it is of most benefit to ordinary type twos, less so for other more interesting types, but until you can get a proper diagnosis from the doctor it might help to treat it as ordinary type two, just to find out if it will help you to lower blood glucose levels.
Avoiding grain is usually a good place to start and swapping such things as roast potatoes (or any potato come to that) for lower carb options such as cauliflower celeriac swede or turnip can make a big difference, though it is of most benefit to ordinary type twos, less so for other more interesting types, but until you can get a proper diagnosis from the doctor it might help to treat it as ordinary type two, just to find out if it will help you to lower blood glucose levels.
Sally71
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Yes I think if you can somehow get a test for ketones (whether that's at the doctor or by buying your own pee sticks or whatever works easiest for you) please do, if your ketones are high then that makes the whole situation A LOT more urgent and you need to get to A&E. If you don’t have high ketones then you are probably safe to wait for your scan, although trying to eat virtually no carbohydrate in the meantime to see if it gets your blood sugars down at all is a good idea. Then once you've had the scan hopefully the doctor will help you find the treatment regime that works best for you.
Hi all,
I further reduced my carb intake and my levels are now around 12. This is still too high so the diabetes nurse has put me on different meds. Can't remember what they're called but I am not at risk of having a hypo.
Still waiting for CT results. Dr is chasing today.
I further reduced my carb intake and my levels are now around 12. This is still too high so the diabetes nurse has put me on different meds. Can't remember what they're called but I am not at risk of having a hypo.
Still waiting for CT results. Dr is chasing today.
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