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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Hba1c?!
- Thread starter Rosiecarmel
- Start date
- Status
Rosiecarmel
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
I think you're all right. I think I'm going to request to see someone else and hopefully I'll get a bit more advice! I'm also going to do some reading up on carbohydrates and stuff so at least I'll have a little bit more knowledge even if the nurse doesn't help me much!
I'm going to ask again about a meter. She point blank refused buy from what I've read on here, it might be very helpful in understanding what exactly has the biggest effect on my sugars so I can cut down/cut them out! This is a silly question but will I also need a Sharps bin if I end up having to buy one myself? Will I need to take it to a pharmacy to be emptied etc? I don't know how any of this works!
Hopefully I will be able to see someone much better and at least a little sympathetic to my situation.
A dietician sounds like a good idea! Is that something I bring up with the doctor and they refer me or do I do it myself? I feel like all this is a mine field and I'm going in blind!
I thought it was just me that thought she was unprofessional so thanks to you all for making me realise I should definitely go back and see someone else!
I'm going to ask again about a meter. She point blank refused buy from what I've read on here, it might be very helpful in understanding what exactly has the biggest effect on my sugars so I can cut down/cut them out! This is a silly question but will I also need a Sharps bin if I end up having to buy one myself? Will I need to take it to a pharmacy to be emptied etc? I don't know how any of this works!
Hopefully I will be able to see someone much better and at least a little sympathetic to my situation.
A dietician sounds like a good idea! Is that something I bring up with the doctor and they refer me or do I do it myself? I feel like all this is a mine field and I'm going in blind!
I thought it was just me that thought she was unprofessional so thanks to you all for making me realise I should definitely go back and see someone else!
Amigo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
You can ask the doctor to refer you to a dietician Rosie and one of the education courses called DESMOND they run at local hospitals/health centres.
You don't need a sharps bin it's not like the needles used by insulin users. They're little sharp testing needles at the end of plastic and you just need to press them down and bend them back before disposing in an ordinary bin.
Great idea to read about carbs and you'll be amazed at how certain foods affect you. Read some of the links provided, they really do help. We can all react differently to certain foods. White bread pushes me into the stratosphere! Good luck!
You don't need a sharps bin it's not like the needles used by insulin users. They're little sharp testing needles at the end of plastic and you just need to press them down and bend them back before disposing in an ordinary bin.
Great idea to read about carbs and you'll be amazed at how certain foods affect you. Read some of the links provided, they really do help. We can all react differently to certain foods. White bread pushes me into the stratosphere! Good luck!
Ralph-YK
Much missed Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I got on DESMOND by asking my Diabetes Nurse. I'd heard about it years ago.
Dietician - I self refered. There were some leaflets about this, including some at the side of the room when I did DESMOND. I filled it in and the people doing DESMOND said they'd pass it on for me. You could try asking at your doctors.
Try looking in your doctors waiting room. There may be a couple of leaflets about there.
The address I have for DESOND is the local hospital. You could try there. I've got a letter that says Community Diabetes Education Administrator, DESMOND Administrator and Diabetes Centre.
Dietician - I self refered. There were some leaflets about this, including some at the side of the room when I did DESMOND. I filled it in and the people doing DESMOND said they'd pass it on for me. You could try asking at your doctors.
Try looking in your doctors waiting room. There may be a couple of leaflets about there.
The address I have for DESOND is the local hospital. You could try there. I've got a letter that says Community Diabetes Education Administrator, DESMOND Administrator and Diabetes Centre.
Rosiecarmel
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
No I didn't either, Ralph! Thanks for the advice though 🙂
So I have another question I'm hoping you can answer(!): do the side effects of metformin go away?! I'm on 2 x 500mg tablets but next week that's going up to 4 x 500mg tablets a day. Im praying the, err, side effects don't increase also!! I'm also getting stomach pains which is adding to my "discomfort".
So I have another question I'm hoping you can answer(!): do the side effects of metformin go away?! I'm on 2 x 500mg tablets but next week that's going up to 4 x 500mg tablets a day. Im praying the, err, side effects don't increase also!! I'm also getting stomach pains which is adding to my "discomfort".
Pine Marten
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Coming back to this thread after a while I too am appalled at the treatment you've received, Rosie!
On the carbs thing, I used to love to scoff potatoes, pasta and bread, cakes & biscuits. Since discovering the effect they were having I cut them down drastically, and now I find that I don't crave them half so much as I've got used to not having so much. Cutting down the carbs really does work so see what foods are best for you by getting a meter. My surgery is pretty good, but still won't prescribe a meter or strips so I bought the Codefree one from Amazon (comes with the lancets and is around £12.99) and the strips, which cost about £7.99 for a box of 50.
The, er, unfortunate side effects from Metformin should clear up eventually.... 🙂
I hope you get some better advice & treatment - let us know how you get on. All the best
On the carbs thing, I used to love to scoff potatoes, pasta and bread, cakes & biscuits. Since discovering the effect they were having I cut them down drastically, and now I find that I don't crave them half so much as I've got used to not having so much. Cutting down the carbs really does work so see what foods are best for you by getting a meter. My surgery is pretty good, but still won't prescribe a meter or strips so I bought the Codefree one from Amazon (comes with the lancets and is around £12.99) and the strips, which cost about £7.99 for a box of 50.
The, er, unfortunate side effects from Metformin should clear up eventually.... 🙂
I hope you get some better advice & treatment - let us know how you get on. All the best
Catsmother
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Rosie!
Although I am a regular 'viewer' of this forum, I don't very often log on or reply to posts. Your dilemma, however, has prompted me to reply as I identify with your story in many ways.
Let me start by saying that I am much older than you and only diagnosed Type 2 about two years ago. These two years have been a steep learning journey! Firstly, let me say that my diagnosis was totally unexpected - even though my Mum had Type 2 in later life - and it threw me into a whirlwind of self-criticism (which is what I think your nurse was aiming for!). It took me quite a while to realise that looking to put the 'fault' on someone (anyone) was not important.
It is true that I have struggled with my weight all my life, tried all the diets going and had successful weight loss a couple of times, only for all the weight to creep back on over time. The key to this - for me - has been to accept that I am, have always been, always will be hungry! That seems to be the way I'm made. Could that be the same for you?
Until recently, the last time I lost a lot of weight was in the 90s when I did the Rosemary Conley diet which was popular then. It concentrated on low fat and, although it worked at the time, I now realise that my eating patterns changed totally and I replaced a lot of the fats with carbohydrates. I believe this has contributed to the development of diabetes.
When I was diagnosed I had an HbA1c of 109. I was told I should not (must not!) test my blood sugar as it would only make me obsessive. After finding this forum and reading avidly, I realised that I would only be able to influence the progress of my diabetes if I knew what was going on with my blood sugar and how I responded to different foods.
The doctor I saw soon after diagnosis told me to "eat healthily". I told her I thought I already did that, but here I was with a diagnosis of diabetes. She asked me to tell her what I ate, for example, for breakfast on a normal day. I told her that I would normally have a slice of home-made wholemeal toast with a little butter and a scrape of marmalade, plus a small glass of fruit juice. She said that was excellent. (I thought so too, at the time. Very restrained I thought!) When I finally decided to buy my own meter and tested two hours after such a breakfast the reading was 15.9! Way too high (in my opinion). Using the results from my meter I have been able to change the foods I eat to reduce the readings. I now eat far fewer carbs and - lo and behold - I have lost quite a bit of weight relatively easily and it has now stayed off for over a year, which is almost unknown for me.
Regarding Metformin: I struggled on with the regular Metformin for six weeks with a permanent headache, bad stomach pains and explosive 'events' before I went back to the doctor and asked to be swapped to the slow release version. The symptoms didn't settle down for me. They don't for some people. I have been able to tolerate the SR version, however, and I am now on a lower dose due to a marked improvement in HbA1c from the original 109, to 69 after six months, then down to 40 thanks to the changes in diet. (PS Metformin seems to act as a slight appetite suppressant for me, which is a bonus! When I came off the meds briefly to see whether I could manage without, I could have eaten my own arms most of the time!!! I was almost glad to go back to them)
I'm sorry that this has turned into a rather long post, but I hope there might be some encouragement for you that things can get better - but not all changes will be suggested (or even supported) by the medical professionals. This forum, however, can help you on your way.
Although I am a regular 'viewer' of this forum, I don't very often log on or reply to posts. Your dilemma, however, has prompted me to reply as I identify with your story in many ways.
Let me start by saying that I am much older than you and only diagnosed Type 2 about two years ago. These two years have been a steep learning journey! Firstly, let me say that my diagnosis was totally unexpected - even though my Mum had Type 2 in later life - and it threw me into a whirlwind of self-criticism (which is what I think your nurse was aiming for!). It took me quite a while to realise that looking to put the 'fault' on someone (anyone) was not important.
It is true that I have struggled with my weight all my life, tried all the diets going and had successful weight loss a couple of times, only for all the weight to creep back on over time. The key to this - for me - has been to accept that I am, have always been, always will be hungry! That seems to be the way I'm made. Could that be the same for you?
Until recently, the last time I lost a lot of weight was in the 90s when I did the Rosemary Conley diet which was popular then. It concentrated on low fat and, although it worked at the time, I now realise that my eating patterns changed totally and I replaced a lot of the fats with carbohydrates. I believe this has contributed to the development of diabetes.
When I was diagnosed I had an HbA1c of 109. I was told I should not (must not!) test my blood sugar as it would only make me obsessive. After finding this forum and reading avidly, I realised that I would only be able to influence the progress of my diabetes if I knew what was going on with my blood sugar and how I responded to different foods.
The doctor I saw soon after diagnosis told me to "eat healthily". I told her I thought I already did that, but here I was with a diagnosis of diabetes. She asked me to tell her what I ate, for example, for breakfast on a normal day. I told her that I would normally have a slice of home-made wholemeal toast with a little butter and a scrape of marmalade, plus a small glass of fruit juice. She said that was excellent. (I thought so too, at the time. Very restrained I thought!) When I finally decided to buy my own meter and tested two hours after such a breakfast the reading was 15.9! Way too high (in my opinion). Using the results from my meter I have been able to change the foods I eat to reduce the readings. I now eat far fewer carbs and - lo and behold - I have lost quite a bit of weight relatively easily and it has now stayed off for over a year, which is almost unknown for me.
Regarding Metformin: I struggled on with the regular Metformin for six weeks with a permanent headache, bad stomach pains and explosive 'events' before I went back to the doctor and asked to be swapped to the slow release version. The symptoms didn't settle down for me. They don't for some people. I have been able to tolerate the SR version, however, and I am now on a lower dose due to a marked improvement in HbA1c from the original 109, to 69 after six months, then down to 40 thanks to the changes in diet. (PS Metformin seems to act as a slight appetite suppressant for me, which is a bonus! When I came off the meds briefly to see whether I could manage without, I could have eaten my own arms most of the time!!! I was almost glad to go back to them)
I'm sorry that this has turned into a rather long post, but I hope there might be some encouragement for you that things can get better - but not all changes will be suggested (or even supported) by the medical professionals. This forum, however, can help you on your way.
Last edited:
Amigo
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Excellent post catsmother. 🙂 You really should post more often!
Your story could certainly be mine even to the nurse telling me to 'just eat healthily.' I've managed to get my BG's down by 'eating by the meter' and despite some medical advice rather than because of it.
Hope Rosie can too.
Your story could certainly be mine even to the nurse telling me to 'just eat healthily.' I've managed to get my BG's down by 'eating by the meter' and despite some medical advice rather than because of it.
Hope Rosie can too.
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