Hello from a Newbie

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Ruby Red

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Hi Everyone,

I am newly registered here.

I am awaiting confirmation of the type of diabetes that I have, although it is thought that I will most likely be Type 1 due to a strong family history.
I am feeling pretty dreadful at the moment, I have an incredible thirst which I cannot seem to cure no matter how much water I drink!
I would like to ask for suggestions of anything that helps you when you have a thirst as I am really struggling!
Thanks for reading
Ruby
 
Hello Ruby and welcome to the forum. 🙂 What did the doctor's say? If they think you're T1 you should be on insulin. The 4 T's - thirst, tired, toilet and thin are the classic signs of T1. You really need to push them for a correct diagnosis. If you're really unwell you need to go to A&E as it can be an emergency situation.
 
Hello Ruby, welcome to the forum. 🙂
 
Hello, many thanks for your reply. I have seen my GP today following blood tests last week (I first went due to my thirst and being extremely tired), although have been putting my tiredness down to a stressful and demanding job!
GP has said following my blood test my sugar level was 10.7 which they have said is high and I am waiting for a referral to the 'community diabetes team' and to go back in January for a repeat liver function test.
 
Ruby Red said:
Hi Everyone,

I am newly registered here.

I am awaiting confirmation of the type of diabetes that I have, although it is thought that I will most likely be Type 1 due to a strong family history.
I am feeling pretty dreadful at the moment, I have an incredible thirst which I cannot seem to cure no matter how much water I drink!
I would like to ask for suggestions of anything that helps you when you have a thirst as I am really struggling!
Thanks for reading
Ruby
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Hi Ruby Red, welcome to the forum 🙂 Have they offered any treatment yet, or conducted further tests? When will you next have an appointment? Untreated Type 1 can go downhill very quickly, so if you are feeling awful, and particularly if you are feeling sick and losing weight, then please seek urgent help. Do you have a meter so you can measure your blood glucose and something to measure either blood or urine ketones? If so, what are your levels? I am concerned that your GP may not realise the potential urgency of your situation. Did they give you a timescale for the referral?

How long have you had the symptoms for? Sorry for all the questions!! 😱 😉
 
Northerner said:
Hi Ruby Red, welcome to the forum 🙂 Have they offered any treatment yet, or conducted further tests? When will you next have an appointment? Untreated Type 1 can go downhill very quickly, so if you are feeling awful, and particularly if you are feeling sick and losing weight, then please seek urgent help. Do you have a meter so you can measure your blood glucose and something to measure either blood or urine ketones? If so, what are your levels? I am concerned that your GP may not realise the potential urgency of your situation. Did they give you a timescale for the referral?

How long have you had the symptoms for? Sorry for all the questions!! 😱 😉
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Hi
Many Thanks for your reply, I've been told to wait for a letter in the post and that the referral today would be sent as urgent.
They are saying it is most likely type 1 due to my family history. My mum and maternal grandmother were both type 1 and because of this I have always been taught to watch sugar etc. These last few weeks I've had a incurable thirst and this is what caused me to go to the GP in the first place, they did bloods and I went back today for the results although my appointment was over quickly as the GP was running late.
She said my blood test showed that my sugar levels were 10.7 dipped my urine with a stick but said it was fine.
She just said to really watch what I eat - no sugar (which I already do, due to the family history) and to keep drinking water (which I am as I am so thirsty.
My appetite is poor (but I think it is because I am thirsty constantly) and although I don't know my exact weight - I am a wheelchair user due to Cerebral Palsy since birth, I know I have lost weight because of my clothes. I have always needed to watch my weight due to being non mobile.
 
Ruby Red said:
Hi
Many Thanks for your reply, I've been told to wait for a letter in the post and that the referral today would be sent as urgent.
They are saying it is most likely type 1 due to my family history. My mum and maternal grandmother were both type 1 and because of this I have always been taught to watch sugar etc. These last few weeks I've had a incurable thirst and this is what caused me to go to the GP in the first place, they did bloods and I went back today for the results although my appointment was over quickly as the GP was running late.
She said my blood test showed that my sugar levels were 10.7 dipped my urine with a stick but said it was fine.
She just said to really watch what I eat - no sugar (which I already do, due to the family history) and to keep drinking water (which I am as I am so thirsty.
My appetite is poor (but I think it is because I am thirsty constantly) and although I don't know my exact weight - I am a wheelchair user due to Cerebral Palsy since birth, I know I have lost weight because of my clothes. I have always needed to watch my weight due to being non mobile.
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Hi Ruby, given your family history and the fairly quick onset of symptoms I am surprised at your GPs apparent lack of concern :( 10.7 is not particularly high, although much higher than 'normal', so there is clearly something going on, and it seems unlikely to be Type 2 from what you have said. The advice your GP has given you, to restrict your sugar intake, might also suggest a lack of real knowledge of diabetes, and Type 1 in particular. This isn't unusual for a GP as they will rarely, if ever, encounter a Type 1 - it is relatively rare in the population. In order to keep your blood glucose levels under the best control you can, for now, you need to restrict ALL types of carbohydrate - bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, as well as the sugary items because they will all have a significant impact on your blood glucose levels.

If you do not feel much better - or indeed, if you feel worse, by the morning, I would ask for an urgent appointment or possibly go to A&E - you need a proper assessment and not wait days or weeks for it to possibly come through. If it is Type 1 it's better to treat it early rather than wait for it to become urgent, and you already sound like you are in some distress :(
 
Northerner said:
Hi Ruby, given your family history and the fairly quick onset of symptoms I am surprised at your GPs apparent lack of concern :( 10.7 is not particularly high, although much higher than 'normal', so there is clearly something going on, and it seems unlikely to be Type 2 from what you have said. The advice your GP has given you, to restrict your sugar intake, might also suggest a lack of real knowledge of diabetes, and Type 1 in particular. This isn't unusual for a GP as they will rarely, if ever, encounter a Type 1 - it is relatively rare in the population. In order to keep your blood glucose levels under the best control you can, for now, you need to restrict ALL types of carbohydrate - bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, as well as the sugary items because they will all have a significant impact on your blood glucose levels.

If you do not feel much better - or indeed, if you feel worse, by the morning, I would ask for an urgent appointment or possibly go to A&E - you need a proper assessment and not wait days or weeks for it to possibly come through. If it is Type 1 it's better to treat it early rather than wait for it to become urgent, and you already sound like you are in some distress :(
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Thank you for your reply, I guess I just feel 'like a fish out of water' and know that this is absolutely not like me. I've gone from never being thirsty and hardly drinking anything to drinking pints and pints of water but still feeling thirsty! I've also lost my appetite which was 'normal' I feel sickly and last week for the first time ever I overslept and had to call work to say I'd be late :(.
Then, I've been reading on here its not just about sugar and fat but carbs too (and I love rice, pasta, bread etc. and although I don't eat these excessively I do love them, but feel confused as the GP never mentioned carbs.
Also I am confused because GP said a normal blood sugar is 6.2 and I keep reading normal is 5? I just don't know what to believe? Or where to start?
Thank you again for all your advice🙂
 
Ruby Red said:
Thank you for your reply, I guess I just feel 'like a fish out of water' and know that this is absolutely not like me. I've gone from never being thirsty and hardly drinking anything to drinking pints and pints of water but still feeling thirsty! I've also lost my appetite which was 'normal' I feel sickly and last week for the first time ever I overslept and had to call work to say I'd be late :(.
Then, I've been reading on here its not just about sugar and fat but carbs too (and I love rice, pasta, bread etc. and although I don't eat these excessively I do love them, but feel confused as the GP never mentioned carbs.
Also I am confused because GP said a normal blood sugar is 6.2 and I keep reading normal is 5? I just don't know what to believe? Or where to start?
Thank you again for all your advice🙂
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Hi Ruby, your GP is being over-simplistic - possibly because he was in a rush? 'Normal' non-diabetic blood glucose levels can vary between 3.3 and 6.0 mmol/l, although they can be slightly higher if you've recently eaten, plus the meters don't have 100% accuracy (but they are close enough!). Fat isn't a problem as far as diabetes is concerned, or protein, so cheese and nuts are excellent snacks. The fat slows the impact of carb digestion on your levels so is actually useful for people with diabetes. You're so thirsty because your body is trying to flush out the excess glucose through your urine, making you dehydrated. You probably feel sick because of higher-than-normal levels of blood glucose.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and over-simplifications where diabetes (of all types) is concerned :( If you've been losing weight it's because your body can't use the energy supplied by the carbs you have been eating, so it turns to a more difficult process that involves burning body fat, and this can make your blood more acidic - again, you need a good supply of insulin in your body to get rid of this acidity. Your body's normal regulatory systems are not working properly, so your brain is trying to get different parts of it to attempt to stabilise things. Unfortunately, if you are producing insufficient insulin it just can't put things right :(

Are you with someone? The more I read, the more I believe that you should seek more urgent help, particularly given your other health issues. If things get any worse, then get help immediately, if you think you will be OK overnight, seek help in the morning.Take care.
 
Northerner said:
Hi Ruby, your GP is being over-simplistic - possibly because he was in a rush? 'Normal' non-diabetic blood glucose levels can vary between 3.3 and 6.0 mmol/l, although they can be slightly higher if you've recently eaten, plus the meters don't have 100% accuracy (but they are close enough!). Fat isn't a problem as far as diabetes is concerned, or protein, so cheese and nuts are excellent snacks. The fat slows the impact of carb digestion on your levels so is actually useful for people with diabetes. You're so thirsty because your body is trying to flush out the excess glucose through your urine, making you dehydrated. You probably feel sick because of higher-than-normal levels of blood glucose.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and over-simplifications where diabetes (of all types) is concerned :( If you've been losing weight it's because your body can't use the energy supplied by the carbs you have been eating, so it turns to a more difficult process that involves burning body fat, and this can make your blood more acidic - again, you need a good supply of insulin in your body to get rid of this acidity. Your body's normal regulatory systems are not working properly, so your brain is trying to get different parts of it to attempt to stabilise things. Unfortunately, if you are producing insufficient insulin it just can't put things right :(

Are you with someone? The more I read, the more I believe that you should seek more urgent help, particularly given your other health issues. If things get any worse, then get help immediately, if you think you will be OK overnight, seek help in the morning.Take care.
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Hi

Yes I am with my partner, thank you. I do feel ok (aside from being thirsty) but I am definitely going to call my GP tomorrow to talk things through and find out how long this referral will take.
Thank you again, the info above has been very helpful along with the other topics on the forum. Lots of good information here 😉
Sounds like I will start to feel better once they sort out insulin etc
 
As Northerner has said, you sound as if you have all the symptoms of T1. It does not surprise me that your GP is unfamiliar with T1as they will meet so few and most T1s, certainly in the early stages will be in the hands of specialists.

I am very concerned and would want you to get urgent medical help. You certainly cannot wait until January, or for a letter to arrive. If you are T1you need insulin NOW. Once you get that you will feel a lot better. It is amazing.
 
Hi ruby I would take yourself to A&E If you are feeling unwell, as symptoms of diabetes can get worse quickly and you need to get specialist help fairly soon like in the next day or so.

Sugars of just over 10 are abnormal but not an emergency but that can change fairly quickly so please get some rapid help with someone who understands diabetes as your GP seems to be not taking this as seriously as he needs to.

As you probably know the excessive drinking is your body madly trying to flush excessive glucose out of the blood. You will progressively get more and more dehydrated as your water you are drinking is being filtered out through your kidneys into urine as soon as you drink it.

Your body is not able to use your glucose as Fuel for your body's cells as your insulin is not there to make it work so you will start braking down fat to make energy the byproduct of that is ketones and ketones are not good for your body in large amounts and will make you very unwell so that is why it is quite regent you get seen at your local hospital before you become acutely unwell!!!!!!!!
 
Hello Ruby, and welcome 🙂

Just to add my voice to everyone else's - please don't rely on just talking things through with your GP, as s/he probably knows very little about type 1 - in fact, it sounds as though s/he knows very little about diabetes generally if you were just told to cut down on sugar and not on all carbs. You need to see a diabetes specialist, find out what type you are, and if you are type 1, which sounds likely, you need to be on insulin NOW, not at some point in the future when the referral comes through. And you need to be given appropriate advice from a medical specialist who knows what they're talking about, ideally a diabetes specialist nurse (DSN).

Please do go to A&E if you feel any worse, or if your GP isn't taking you seriously, because otherwise you could end up very seriously ill.
 
Hello all, thank you for your comments. I have had a difficult week to say the least! I called the GP on Thursday AM and was told I definitely had to wait to be contacted by the community Diabetes team. To cut a long story short I finally had a phone call today at around 4pm...
I spoke to a lovely nurse who asked me how I was getting on and what my blood sugar readings were... I burst in to tears and I told her I have no idea as I haven't been given any testing kit and although I have tried to buy my own I keep being told to wait for my referral to the team.
I told her that I am drinking for England, being occasionally sick, totally exhausted and genuinely feel dreadful.
She wanted me to go to a&e for a key tone check and although I declined a&e as I don't feel too bad today she said she would go to my GPs surgery to speak to them in person (as they have only received my referral today)! and would also leave a blood metre and info for me to collect.

I went down to the GPs surgery pretty much straight away and collected the info and machine. The gp has apologised and have raised a 'serious incident' the surgery said new doctors at the surgery don't know the processes and that they can only apologise.

So now I have been told the nurse will call me in the morning for my readings.

My readings so far are:
Blood - 24.5
Keytones 1.2

Any advise on keytones and what they mean please? Is that reading good/bad?

Thank you all
Ruby
 
Martin Canty said:
Hi Ruby, sorry to hear of your tales of woe..... I hope you can get the advice you need quickly....

As for the readings

Blood Glucose 24.5 - not good
Ketones 1.2 - OK, puts you in nutritional ketosis, but coupled with high BG you do need to monitor closely

If you feel bad then go down to A&E,


https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i2.wp.com/optimisingnutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/image11.png?resize=474%2C234&ssl=1&imgrefurl=https://optimisingnutrition.com/tag/ketone-levels-chart/&h=234&w=474&tbnid=B-gVnZzUvHMz0M:&tbnh=137&tbnw=277&usg=__KdUtckht3bKK7msx5JFxmj4IQdw=&vet=10ahUKEwjJ-f3c9PPXAhXL5SYKHWRmD5YQ9QEILjAA..i&docid=uJ59hAiAhStJsM&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJ-f3c9PPXAhXL5SYKHWRmD5YQ9QEILjAA
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Thank you for the reply Martin
 
So glad you were able to speak to a diabetes nurse and get a blood glucose meter, @Ruby Red - it's awful that your GP didn't organise this for you straight away when you first went to see them.

Blood sugar should be between 4 to 8, so 24.5 is very high indeed, and needs to be treated right away. Talk to the nurse about it in the morning, but if you feel worse in the meanwhile, please go in to A&E asap. I know A&E is horrible, but it really is dangerous for you to have such high blood sugar, and having any ketones at all is not good either. Ketones mean your body is unable to digest your food properly so it's breaking down your body tissue instead: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/diabetic_ketoacidosis

At the moment your ketones aren't very high, but if they get higher (which they will if your diabetes remains untreated) you will be going to A&E in an ambulance and staying there for some time, being really seriously ill, so it's much better to go in now. Diabetes ketoacidosis is life-threatening, you really can't wait around. I know because I've been there and done that, and I ended up spending a week in hospital on an insulin pump - if I hadn't gone in when I did I might not have survived.

Having said all that, once you get some insulin (or other meds if you turn out to be type 2, but you sound much more like a type 1 to me) you will feel fantastic and there is no need for diabetes to have any major effect on your future life, so please try not to worry.

Please let us know how you get on, I for one am quite worried about you.
 
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