Hello all

[Madeline]

Hi I’m Madeline, I’m 50 and recently diagnosed diabetic. I’m assuming type 2, nobody actually told me, and tbh I’ve had scant help from the NHS. I have a lung disease, which means I’m on a lot of medication, including steroids, and had a prolonged and pretty hideous intensive care admission earlier this year, which seems to have triggered the diabetes. Up until then my blood sugars were absolutely fine. It’s been a bit of a shock on top of everything else, but I’ve given myself a shake, bought a meter testing thing, and the fridge now groans with Health.

 

[Northerner]

Hi I’m Madeline, I’m 50 and recently diagnosed diabetic. I’m assuming type 2, nobody actually told me, and tbh I’ve had scant help from the NHS. I have a lung disease, which means I’m on a lot of medication, including steroids, and had a prolonged and pretty hideous intensive care admission earlier this year, which seems to have triggered the diabetes. Up until then my blood sugars were absolutely fine. It’s been a bit of a shock on top of everything else, but I’ve given myself a shake, bought a meter testing thing, and the fridge now groans with Health.

Hi Madeline, welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear about the problems you are experiencing - how did your diagnosis come about? Unfortunately, steroid treatment is notorious for raising blood glucose levels, so that may well be a contributory factor. If they are unsure of your current type, do you know if they are doing any tests to help determine this? Are you on any medication for the diabetes, and what sort of blood glucose levels are you currently experiencing on your meter?

Sorry for all the questions! 😱 Please let us know if you have any questions and we will do our very best to help 🙂 A number of our members are having to manage their diabetes alongside other conditions, so hopefully we can help you find a path to managing things well 🙂

 

[Madeline]

Hi Northerner, thank you for the welcome. I was experiencing what I thought was after effects of the sedation whilst I was ill (was in respiratory arrest and put in an induced coma for 11 days - apparently I’m very hard to keep sedated ). When I started blacking out my family insisted on calling the GP out, and that’s when they found I had high BG levels of 16.5. Had the HbA1c which was 64mmols, fasting was 10.5mmols. Meter should arrive in next couple of days, initially I bought a GlucoRx Nexus, but it wouldn’t give correct readings on the solution test, nor would it’s replacement. That’s how I found you all, googling what was the best meter. Have now ordered a Codefree. Am on 500mg Metformin 2x daily.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Northerner, thank you for the welcome. I was experiencing what I thought was after effects of the sedation whilst I was ill (was in respiratory arrest and put in an induced coma for 11 days - apparently I’m very hard to keep sedated ). When I started blacking out my family insisted on calling the GP out, and that’s when they found I had high BG levels of 16.5. Had the HbA1c which was 64mmols, fasting was 10.5mmols. Meter should arrive in next couple of days, initially I bought a GlucoRx Nexus, but it wouldn’t give correct readings on the solution test, nor would it’s replacement. That’s how I found you all, googling what was the best meter. Have now ordered a Codefree. Am on 500mg Metformin 2x daily.

Those levels are a little on the high side, but not disastrously so for a recent diagnosis and probably reflect the effects of the steroid treatment. Hopefully with your new meter and following the advice in Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S you can make some adjustments that will help to mitigate the effects of the treatments. Please let us know if there is anything you are unsure of or that you find downright confusing! 🙂 Diabetes can be a complex condition because you need to find out how you are affected personally by things in view of the other challenges you face, but it can certainly be managed well as your experience builds and understanding improves 🙂 It's a marathon rather than a sprint, but the rewards at the finish line are worth working for! 🙂

 

[Madeline]

Thank you, I’m finding the dietary advice here so helpful. Have ordered the Car & Calorie Counter book, and am following the low carb diet that so many of you seem to find good. The brain fog has definitely lifted a lot, and I can tell if I’ve eaten too many carbs as I get all headachy and shaky a few hours after eating them. Looking forward to seeing if the meter corroborates my feelings! I guess I’m lucky, I’m very used to having to pay attention to what my body is saying, and interestingly when I was discharged from hospital in September I was hugely craving protein and vegetables. I’d also gone right off sweet things and coffee, and now can’t stand the thought of chocolate.