Hello

Status
Not open for further replies.
KT85

KT85

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Pronouns
She/Her
Hiya

I'm Kate and after a routine thyroid blood test, I was told today my blood sugar level was very high, and I am type 2 diabetic. I'm seeing the diabetic nurse next month.

I'm a little overweight, but I am on a diet, I regularly run 5k and even a couple of 10ks. My Dad and nephew had/have type 1 so I know a little bit about diabetes.

Just feeling a bit confused and lost

X
 
Welcome @KT85 🙂 Are they sure you’re Type 2 not Type 1, with your dad having Type 1? How high was your blood sugar? Did they test for ketones?
 
Hi @Inka ☺️ I'm fairly certain the GP said type 2, with my age and weight. I haven't actually got any symptoms of diabetes just the test results. My HBA1C was 62 and no they didn't test for ketones, I have repeat bloods in a couple of weeks before the diabetic nurse
 
I too would suspect Type 1 with your circumstances. Do you have an issue with your thyroid? I believe that can be caused by an autoimmune response and Type 1 is also autoimmune and it is well known that people with one autoimmune condition are at increased risk of others.
Unfortunately many GPs and nurses automatically assume that if you develop diabetes later in life you must be Type 2 even when you don't appear to show any risk factors for Type 2. In fact some falsely believe that Type 1 only develops in children and young adults, when many of us here on the forum developed it later in life.
Even if they tested for ketones and you were negative, that doesn't mean you are not Type 1. I was negative for ketones and I am Type 1.
 
KT85 said:
Hi @Inka ☺️ I'm fairly certain the GP said type 2, with my age and weight. I haven't actually got any symptoms of diabetes just the test results. My HBA1C was 62 and no they didn't test for ketones, I have repeat bloods in a couple of weeks before the diabetic nurse
Click to expand...

The GP would be making a guess. There are tests that help determine diabetes type - the C Peptide and the Type 1 antibodies test.

I’d count you as young, by the way! Yes, if you’re overweight then that might suggest Type 2, but some Type 1s are overweight at diagnosis, so that’s not definite.
 
rebrascora said:
I too would suspect Type 1 with your circumstances. Do you have an issue with your thyroid? I believe that can be caused by an autoimmune response and Type 1 is also autoimmune and it is well known that people with one autoimmune condition are at increased risk of others.
Unfortunately many GPs and nurses automatically assume that if you develop diabetes later in life you must be Type 2 even when you don't appear to show any risk factors for Type 2. In fact some falsely believe that Type 1 only develops in children and young adults, when many of us here on the forum developed it later in life.
Even if they tested for ketones and you were negative, that doesn't mean you are not Type 1. I was negative for ketones and I am Type 1.
Click to expand...
Oh okay, even with no weight loss or anything?

I am on medication for my under active thyroid.
 
It would be worth getting some Ketostix maybe (urine dipsticks to test for ketones) They’re only about £5 a pot. You could have either type of diabetes but with your family history, I’d always be aware of the possibility of Type 1. It comes on more slowly in adults and is frequently misdiagnosed as Type 2 to start with.

Do you have a blood glucose meter?
 
I have somewhere because of my Dad, but since he died I've put it away and not sure where it is. I asked GP about if I should get one she said no, wait until I speak to the diabetic nurse. But I was thinking of getting a cheap one on Amazon
 
If you are Type 1 your HbA1c of 62 hasn't reached a critical level yet so you would be unlikely to see notable weight loss at that level or any other symptoms but worth keeping an open mind about that Type 2 diagnosis and perhaps planting the seeds of doubt in your GP or nurse's mind at this early stage that you might be Type 1 because you are generally pretty active plus your Dad is Type 1. I don't know much about the Autoimmune Thyroid condition but an underactive thyroid would likely stop you losing weight anyway from my non medical understanding.
 
Even if you turn out to be Type 2, a glucose meter would be really useful @KT85 There are a couple of cheaper ones recommended on the forum, which are accurate (unlike some other cheaper ones that some have found to be not so good).

The most affordable meters people here have found are the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Tee2- which both have test strips at around £10 for 50 (some strips can cost more like £30 a pot!).
 
Sorry to hear that your Dad is no longer with us!
 
rebrascora said:
If you are Type 1 your HbA1c of 62 hasn't reached a critical level yet so you would be unlikely to see notable weight loss at that level or any other symptoms but worth keeping an open mind about that Type 2 diagnosis and perhaps planting the seeds of doubt in your GP or nurse's mind at this early stage that you might be Type 1 because you are generally pretty active plus your Dad is Type 1. I don't know much about the Autoimmune Thyroid condition but an underactive thyroid would likely stop you losing weight anyway from my non medical understanding.
Click to expand...

Hashimotos is auto-immune, I think @rebrascora A colleague had it.
 
Inka said:
Hashimotos is auto-immune, I think @rebrascora A colleague had it.
Click to expand...
Yes, just been reading up on it a little bit and it looks like an autoimmune attack is the commonest cause of hypothroidism, with Hashimotos mentioned. I believe @Pumper_ Sue may have Hashimotos
 
KT85 said:
Thanks you, he had dementia and then covid took him
Click to expand...
Oh Goodness! That must have been tough! So sorry for your loss.
 
rebrascora said:
Yes, just been reading up on it a little bit and it looks like an autoimmune attack is the commonest cause of hypothroidism, with Hashimotos mentioned. I believe @Pumper_ Sue may have Hashimotos
Click to expand...
I've been tested for Hashimostos and I don't have that.

@Inka thanks for the recommendations. I'll get one of those
 
Yes, I can see how it would be a relief, but still tough to lose close family however old or sick they are and also tough to see them so poorly, especially with dementia. That must be heart breaking.
 
KT85 said:
It wasn't really, it sounds awful I know but it was a relief he was very poorly so we had been expecting it. It was 2 years ago now
Click to expand...
When my other half's Mum passed away last year aged 98 it was a relief and actually less upsetting than seeing her in the state she was as we knew she would not have wanted to be as she was. It was such a shame as she had been very active and alert (could play a mean hand of cards) but she was deaf and had little sight and deteriorated after falling and breaking her hip the previous year, after that she was bed ridden with all that that entailed and no quality of life. She was on end of life care for about 2 weeks before she passed. It was peaceful and se just slipped away. The only thing she regretted was not making it to 100.
None the less it is sad but as you say a relief.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top