Hi and introducing myself

[Hilliden]

Hi everyone, just a quick note to introduce myself, I'm new to both diabetes and this site. I was diagnosed with diabetes just before August Bank Holiday, I'd requested a test as I'd had unexplained weight loss (3 stone) and uncontrollable thirst. The doctor called me the next day and sent me to A&E, my HbA1c number was 150, apologies if I use the wrong terminology through this post. I was admitted and put on insulin overnight, in the morning my blood count was 25, I have no idea what it was the previous evening, had to get it down to 15 before they would release me and since then have managed to keep it between 4.4-7.8, with the very odd 9.something. At the time, they told me they couldn't tell me if I was T1 or T2, I have since had this confirmed as T2 (no antibodies present) with insulin support at the moment, my blood counts have been quite good since then, to be honest I got a scare and basically went keto when I got out of hospital. I have since started to build sensible carbs back into my diet on advice for the diabetic nurse and the consultant has advised that if I can keep my numbers as they are now he will take me off of insulin in 6 months.

I have a couple of questions, has anyone else lost hair leading up to or since being diagnosed? I have lost approx. 2/3 of my hair, not so that anyone who doesn't know me would be able to tell, I had a lot, but it is dramatically thinned down, no bald patches but thinning and it's really worrying seeing it fall out each day. I'd really appreciate any feedback or advise with regard to this.

Snacking - historically I am a grazer, I fully appreciate that this can no longer be the case and am trying very hard to stick to 3 meals a day with minimal snacks, however, are there any good grab and go snacks that I could be trying? All and any advice gratefully received.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Welcome! Sounds like you're really getting a grip on things.

I believe that high BG levels can cause hair thinning but I don't know much about it, sorry. Something to talk with yr doc about?

Grazing: I'm a grazer and I don't think there's anything wrong with it fundamentally so long as it's healthy grazing and you keep an eye on the calories, and what's happening with yr BG levels. For me it's nuts and carrots, mainly, with maybe the odd Ryvita - so boring but works for me 🙂

 

[helli]

Welcome to the club and forum. Lovely to read how you are managing.
I too have always been a grazer and struggled to stop. With Type 1, I could inject insulin, but I'd rather not so snack on low carb options like nuts, olives, cheese and (very) dark chocolate. I don't eat meat but, if you do, those pepparami sticks (if they still exist) and cocktail sausages are a possibility. And if you like celery, you could try it with cream cheese or peanut butter "in the groove". I have never had to worry about calories so I tend not to think about the fat.
I can't comment on the hair loss - mine is fine (in both sense of the word) but we are all different.

 

[Inka]

I didn’t lose my hair but I’ve heard others say they did. I think the ‘hair cycle’ is pretty long so it could be a few months before it comes back.

I’m a grazer too. I just go with it. I like peanut butter - a spoonful of a good quality one works well. I also graze on cheese, Babybels, pickles and olives, and I inject if I want to have something carby like a cereal bar.

Your diagnosis story is very interesting. I didn’t realise Type 2s could have such large weight loss. I hope you’re feeling a lot better on the insulin now. Did they do your C Peptide too?

 

[trophywench]

Ah, now! - loss of hair is a very common feature of something else auto-immune - Hypothyroidism!

Ask your doc/nurse to get that tested - another simple blood test.

Re weight loss - I didn't know it could happen with T2 either. Thirst yes cos the body always attempts to get rid of the excess glucose via the urine, the only way it naturally can when nobody's helping it by adding drugs or anything else. However, usually if you have a normal renal threshold, it doesn't start doing that until the BG is 11 or over. (in terms of meter results not HbA1c)

 

[ColinUK]

Others have already given you good solid advice so all I want to do is say Hello! And Welcome! And let you know this is a great forum with some great folks on it so pull up a chair and make yourself feel at home 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Hilliden

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It must have been a very difficult time to receive your diagnosis and very tricky to get the information you need.

Do you know if they measured your cpeptide at the same time as your antibody checks? This is a way of measuring how much insulin your body is still able to make.

For snacking many people find nuts, cold meats, boiled eggs, cheeses etc as handy snackable items that don’t have much of a BG hit 🙂

Hope you can get to the bottom of your hair loss.

 

[zuludog]

Hello HILLIDEN and welcome to the Forum!

Snacking was my weakness too, especially biscuits, but obviously that had to change after D

It's not so much that you're hungry, it's the satisfaction of chucking things down yer neck.......so here are some possibilities

Apples, carrots, celery, nuts
Oatcakes, either dry or with a smear of Marmite
Chewing gum will give you the sensation of eating, without actually eating anything
A big cup of tea
My current method is to make a big bowl of natural yogurt, Greek or otherwise with diced kiwi fruit in it
Have a few spoonfuls of that then put it back in the fridge, spoon an' all

Could be that you're not really hungry, just thirsty
Besides usual cups of tea & coffee I have about 3 pints of water a day, sometimes with a squirt of lemon juice in it

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi everyone, just a quick note to introduce myself, I'm new to both diabetes and this site. I was diagnosed with diabetes just before August Bank Holiday, I'd requested a test as I'd had unexplained weight loss (3 stone) and uncontrollable thirst. ................
At the time, they told me they couldn't tell me if I was T1 or T2, I have since had this confirmed as T2 (no antibodies present) with insulin support at the moment, my blood counts have been quite good since then, to be honest I got a scare and basically went keto when I got out of hospital. I have since started to build sensible carbs back into my diet on advice for the diabetic nurse and the consultant has advised that if I can keep my numbers as they are now he will take me off of insulin in 6 months......

Hi Hilliden Others have answered about snacks, though its generally best for Type 2's to avoid them if they can - eat 2 or 3 meals per day and when you do eat enough so you last until the next meal without needing a snack.
However since it is very unusual for a Type2 to lose so much weight before diagnosis, in your position I would need results of both the tests for Type 1 (both the C-peptide and the GAD) in order to discount that possibility.

What does your DN think are 'sensible carbs' ? Just asking because if you are T2 then Low Carb or Keto is the way many control it without need for any medication.
Even if you do turn out to really be a Type 1, then many T1's also find that keeping the carbs low means that they get smaller BG overshoots in both directions since they are better able to judge the amount of Insulin dose they need.