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Feeling down

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M

Mamawoody

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I suppose I just want a bit of a moan really - apologies in advance! I’ve been diagnosed as Type 2 since 2015, after developing gestation diabetes in my last two pregnancies. My HbA1c was 98, which went down to 48 after taking Dapagliflozin and being very strict with my diet. Since then my levels have steadily gotten worse, and I now take Alogliptin as well. My last two levels were 65 and 69. My last blood test was 6 months ago, but I still haven’t been able to see my diabetic nurse as there are no appointments available! I feel so frustrated that nothing seems to help long term. I’m just told to lose weight anyway, although my bmi is in the normal range. I’ve been ill this past week with Covid. I went to see my GP today, as I’ve been really struggling with my breathing and dizziness. I thought I’d better get it checked out due to being higher risk ( or so I thought) but I was told that “you’re only type 2 and your levels aren’t THAT bad” I felt silly for worrying. I feel like I should just stop with all the pills etc and just get on with my life as normal.
 
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No need to apologise - I feel like that sometimes (who doesn't?) despite my levels being back in normal range, but then I'm "only T2" as well. Unfortunately if you stop with all the pills and get on with your life as normal (your words) you'll likely end up regretting it.
 
Hi @Mamawoody we all need to moan or rant at some stage (just wait till I start) so don't worry about it.

Sorry things aren't going as you think or would like them to, it happens to us all from time to time.
Keep badgering your surgery for an appointment to see the DN (sometimes it's those that shout the loudest get the appointments), but in the meantime and as @Martin.A has said keep taking the meds until you see the DN

Alan 😉
 
Definitely don’t stop your pills @Mamawoody ! That would be handing victory to the diabetes and nobody here wants it to win anything. Annoying as it is, we can keep it in its place as much as we possibly can.

You’re not silly for worrying and it was sensible to get checked out 🙂 Can you put your finger on exactly what’s getting to you? Is it the lack of appointments? Is it your HbA1C? Is it just the general grind of diabetes? I find articulating the problem as precisely as possible helps me think of things that will help.
 
As you are taking a couple of medications which one might assume would help but it may be that they are still not sufficient to allow your body to cope with the amount of carbohydrates you are having. It may be worth revisiting your diet as you said you were managing before with diet.
Do you have a blood glucose monitor so you could do some strategic testing of your meals to see if that is where the problem lies.
Getting your blood glucose to a better level should help with your mood as high glucose affects all the cells in your body including the brain.
 
Sorry to hear you have been feeling down @Mamawoody

And I suspect the conversation you had with that HCP didn’t help! But you were right to get it checked out.

Diabetes IS serious.

Yes it can be managed, often well managed, with some tweaks and changes, constant attention, balancing meds & menu, regular check-ups, and a lot of self discipline… but there really isn’t any such thing as ‘only diabetes’ IMO.

I like the illustration by Wil an American diabetes blogger who likened diabetes to living with a tiger. You can live with a tiger if you are careful, and keep it well looked after. But if you ignore it, or mistreat it… it can turn on you and rip you to shreds.
 
@Mamawoody I felt ignored by my surgery, diagnosed in July. I haven't and don't expect to see a GP. You should be treated with kindness and respect. I assume you have at least two young ones to care for. I was chatting to someone in our Spanish class today who said she has just recovered from her second dose of covid but her husband who also caught it seems to have a chest problem.She is in her sixties but very active ( unlike me) she is a former PE teacher and she and her husband enjoy ocean sailing.
Hopefully your GP was having a stressful day and maybe regrets how you were treated. Did they check your chest was clear? Given your readings are climbing again and any illness can increase your readings you should try and speak to the DCN. Are your reviews annual or 6 monthly?Were you under the care of a Diabetic clinic at a hospital when you were pregnant? Can they help?

Don't give up. Keep a diary of what you are eating any readings and how you feel. Do you have links with a local diabetes group?
 
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