Hello I’m a newbie to this forum and diabetes

[Chrissie24]

Hi I was diagnosed with type 2 about 4 weeks ago with levels of 32.1. I’m now on Metformin x 2 and Gliclazide x 2 twice a day. My levels are much lower now but still high. My problem is that I feel so nauseous and just want to sleep all day. I was previously active, ate really well and not overweight. I’m 71 years old. I now feel unable to resume my normal life. Will the nausea and tirednesses go away? I haven’t seen a doctor only the practice nurse who speaks to the diabetic nurses re my treatment. I just feel I want to speak to a specialist nurse or doctor and ask questions but i haven’t been given the opportunity to do this.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Chrissie24 Sorry you’re feeling rough. You say your blood sugars are still high - what are they? And what kind of things are you eating in an average day?

 

[Docb]

Hi @Chrissie24 and welcome to the forum. More questions for you I am afraid. Was the blood glucose of 32.1 a reading from a finger prick and have bloods been taken for a full set of tests including an HbA1c?

 

[Chrissie24]

Hi @Chrissie24 and welcome to the forum. More questions for you I am afraid. Was the blood glucose of 32.1 a reading from a finger prick and have bloods been taken for a full set of tests including an HbA1c?

Oh thank you so much for getting back to me. The 32 and 31 readings have been from finger prick tests. I have had a blood test but wasn’t given the reading. It was 14.5 this morning so has really come down. The evenings have been around 18 -24 during the last week. I’ve obviously been told to cut out sugar, only drink occasionally and to watch my carbs. It seemed to just come on over a weekend and within 2 weeks I’d lost nearly a stone in weight. I’ve also had a scan of the abdomen and pelvis and been told that was satisfactory but that the Dr wanted to talk to me but I’ve heard nothing. I’m just a little overwhelmed by it all.

 

[Chrissie24]

Welcome @Chrissie24 Sorry you’re feeling rough. You say your blood sugars are still high - what are they? And what kind of things are you eating in an average day?

Thank you for getting back to me. My levels this morning were 14.5 and I’m the evening are about 18 - 22. I’ve only been told to watch my carbs. My eating habits, although previously were very good, are now not so good as the Metformin is making be nauseous and sometimes I can only face a little cereal (always 27gm) with fruit and a banana. I have 1 slice of bread a day and when feeling ok chicken or fish, veg and a medium sized potato.

 

[EmmaL76]

I know somebody will say it so it may as well be me… have your doctors considered type 1? My diabetic nurse has people diagnosed in their 80’s on her books. It’s rare but worth a consideration if you lost weight quickly and your diet was good those are a couple of red flags. Be good to find out what your hba1c was. I’m sorry the doctor left you hanging with regards to your scan. Give them a call see if you can put your mind at rest. Unfortunately cereal and banana is pretty much a lethal combination carb wise. I used to love bananas so easy and filling but they spike my sugars more than cake !! Not fair is it.

 

[Chrissie24]

Oh thank you so much for getting back to me. The 32 and 31 readings have been from finger prick tests. I have had a blood test but wasn’t given the reading. It was 14.5 this morning so has really come down. The evenings have been around 18 -24 during the last week. I’ve obviously been told to cut out sugar, only drink occasionally and to watch my carbs. It seemed to just come on over a weekend and within 2 weeks I’d lost nearly a stone in weight. I’ve also had a scan of the abdomen and pelvis and been told that was satisfactory but that the Dr wanted to talk to me but I’ve heard nothing. I’m just a little overwhelmed by it all.

I’ve just looked at my bloods on line and my HbAIC level was 10.5%.

 

[Chrissie24]

I know somebody will say it so it may as well be me… have your doctors considered type 1? My diabetic nurse has people diagnosed in their 80’s on her books. It’s rare but worth a consideration if you lost weight quickly and your diet was good those are a couple of red flags. Be good to find out what your hba1c was. I’m sorry the doctor left you hanging with regards to your scan. Give them a call see if you can put your mind at rest. Unfortunately cereal and banana is pretty much a lethal combination carb wise. I used to love bananas so easy and filling but they spike my sugars more than cake !! Not fair is it.

Bless you Emma. Thank you. It means so much to me to have all these replies.

 

[Docb]

An HbA1c of 10.5% (old money) is around 90 mmol/mol (new money). That, together with the spot readings of 31 and 32 and the fact that you are not overweight should have set off the warning bells in your surgery. Organising the scan suggests it did, but it is so frustrating when you are not told what is going on. When I found myself in a position not too dissimilar to yours, my surgery did that but they were much more communicative in terms of helping me to get things sorted.

Good to see that your levels are coming down, presumably as a result of your changes in diet and the medication. Levels in double figures for much of the time are still higher than is comfortable and a plan is needed to get them down. Nag your surgery until you get appointments with either the GP or a specialist nurse so that you can get medication that does not leave you nauseous and washed out and an eating plan (essentially reduced carbohydrate) which does not overload your system with glucose to the point where your pancreas cannot cope.

In the meantime look around the forum and the main site to get an understanding of what diabetes is all about. Above all ask questions. Nothing is considered too obvious or silly. Many of us have been where you are now and know exactly what it is like and more than happy to tell you about the things that have worked for us.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Goodness @Chrissie24 what a whirlwind you have been through!

Good to hear that your levels are coming down as those very elevated BGs can make you feel pretty grim

I agree with others, you should definitely be pressing your surgery to explore the possibility of T1 - there isn’t an upper age limit as to when that can be diagnosed, and the rapidity of onset, very high BGs, slim build, and unintended weight loss might all indicate T1 rather than T2. If you are in the midst of an autoimmune attack on your beta cells there will be less beta cell mass in your pancreas for the Gliclazide to work with - so getting an early clarification (and starting on insulin if needed) can help conserve what you have left.

Did they say if the scans were intended to screen for pancreatic cancer?

 

[Leadinglights]

I agree you should press for the tests for Type 1 diabetes those being C-peptide and GAD antibodies as from what you say it could be a possibility however the results do take a little while to come back.
In the meantime being careful of your carbohydrate intake will help. This link may help you to find some modifications to your diet, some do's and don'ts suggestions and meal ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

 

[Chrissie24]

Goodness @Chrissie24 what a whirlwind you have been through!

Good to hear that your levels are coming down as those very elevated BGs can make you feel pretty grim

I agree with others, you should definitely be pressing your surgery to explore the possibility of T1 - there isn’t an upper age limit as to when that can be diagnosed, and the rapidity of onset, very high BGs, slim build, and unintended weight loss might all indicate T1 rather than T2. If you are in the midst of an autoimmune attack on your beta cells there will be less beta cell mass in your pancreas for the Gliclazide to work with - so getting an early clarification (and starting on insulin if needed) can help conserve what you have left.

Did they say if the scans were intended to screen for pancreatic cancer?

Thank you. No nurse didn’t know what they were for just presumed they were to look at the pancreas. The scan was of the abdomen and pelvis. I have now arranged for a phone call with a GP at the end of June for the scan results.

 

[Chrissie24]

I agree you should press for the tests for Type 1 diabetes those being C-peptide and GAD antibodies as from what you say it could be a possibility however the results do take a little while to come back.
In the meantime being careful of your carbohydrate intake will help. This link may help you to find some modifications to your diet, some do's and don'ts suggestions and meal ideas. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

Thank you so much. I will look at that website now.

 

[Chrissie24]

Thank you. No nurse didn’t know what they were for just presumed they were to look at the pancreas. The scan was of the abdomen and pelvis. I have now arranged for a phone call with a GP at the end of June for the scan results.

Thank you so much for your help.