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Hi everybody!

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Bob1967

Bob1967

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New here, totally bewildered!

I was told by docs 4 weeks ago I have diabetes, high glucose in blood but no other symptoms, they can't tell if it is type 1 or 2 need to see a specialist at hospital, still waiting for appointment.

I have been given metformin. I'm 53 not overweight but had a very poor diet which has now totally changed, my son is a personal trainer and has given me lots of nutritional advice.

Totally confused (and angry) nurse said if it is type 1 I could get very ill very quickly but cant do anything until I see the specialist at the hospital, if I feel unwell seek medical assistance.

Any advice or guidance very welcome,

Thanks and apologies for the rant 🙂

Bob.
 
Welcome Bob, glad you found us. Did the nurse give you any indication as to why they were unsure of diagnosis? Good that they are checking, most adults over 40 are given a type 2 diagnosis with no referral and no tests, even if they gave no other Type 2 risk factors. Do you know what your high blood sugar reading was?
It might be worth you asking for, or investing in a blood sugar testing monitor yourself so you can keep an eye on your levels. These are not usually given out to people who are not on medication likely to cause hypos (low blood sugar) but lots of people on here fund their own in order to understand more what is going on with their own blood sugar. The one recommended on here for self-funding is the Codefree meter, as the testing strips you need to use are the cheapest available. You can get it on Amazon or Home health care. You can get the VAT off if you check the I gave diabetes box.
 
Hi Stephknits, thank you!

No indication why unsure of diagnosis, back in again to see nurse on Thursday so will ask lots more questions.

Thanks for the info on the monitor, I will check that out. It's all a huge learning curve at the moment but it would be a lot easier if I knew what type it was.
 
Hi Stephknits, thanks again for the monitor info, there seems to be 2 types; "we are offering two meter types – One reading inmmol/L and the other reading in mg/dL." can you advise which one? Thank you.
 
Hi Bob and welcome to the forum. Go for the one that reads in mmol/l. Hope you get some answers soon
 
Bob1967 said:
New here, totally bewildered!

I was told by docs 4 weeks ago I have diabetes, high glucose in blood but no other symptoms, they can't tell if it is type 1 or 2 need to see a specialist at hospital, still waiting for appointment.

I have been given metformin. I'm 53 not overweight but had a very poor diet which has now totally changed, my son is a personal trainer and has given me lots of nutritional advice.

Totally confused (and angry) nurse said if it is type 1 I could get very ill very quickly but cant do anything until I see the specialist at the hospital, if I feel unwell seek medical assistance.

Any advice or guidance very welcome,

Thanks and apologies for the rant 🙂

Bob.
Click to expand...
Hello and welcome to forum
 
Welcome to the gang Bob🙂
 
Hello and welcome, gorgeous dog on your avatar by the way 🙂
 
Hi Bob
Hope you get an appointment soon. I don't understand how it can take so long when there is a possibility of it being type 1. When I was diagnosed I saw a consultant the next day! I guess that's what they call the postcode lottery but it really isn't good enough. Is there anyone you can phone to get things moving, and keep phoning until you get to see someone?
 
Hi Radders, I certainly hope so! I am seeing the nurse again tomorrow so will push to get this moving, if it is going to take much longer I might need to look at going private, against my principles but I need to do something. Thanks for your kind advice.
 
Bob1967 said:
New here, totally bewildered!

I was told by docs 4 weeks ago I have diabetes, high glucose in blood but no other symptoms, they can't tell if it is type 1 or 2 need to see a specialist at hospital, still waiting for appointment.

I have been given metformin. I'm 53 not overweight but had a very poor diet which has now totally changed, my son is a personal trainer and has given me lots of nutritional advice.

Totally confused (and angry) nurse said if it is type 1 I could get very ill very quickly but cant do anything until I see the specialist at the hospital, if I feel unwell seek medical assistance.

Any advice or guidance very welcome,

Thanks and apologies for the rant 🙂

Bob.
Click to expand...
Hi Bob...
Bob1967 said:
Hi Stephknits, thanks again for the monitor info, there seems to be 2 types; "we are offering two meter types – One reading inmmol/L and the other reading in mg/dL." can you advise which one? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Hi Bob the meter you need is the mmol units one...standard measurement for the UK...wondering if they gave you your blood glucose levels when you were diagnosed...be interesting to see if they have come down since being on the metformin...since they didn't give you a meter...it would be difficult to say without another blood test...would have seemed sensible to provide you with one...as they couldn't say which type you were...I hope you get some resolution with the appointment tomorrow...seems far too long to wait for a confirmed diagnosis...as the nurse says if it is type 1 you could become ill very quickly... that must have been comforting for you...I wouldn't go private Bob...be persistent with her tomorrow...ask why it is taking so long...why you weren't referred as an emergency...in view of the serious implications for your health...good luck...keep us updated.
 
Hi Ya, yes kinda worried how long it is all taking, I will ask those questions tomorrow, thank you. It was all a bit overwhelming when she told me, I think she mentioned a figure of around 83 with a benchmark of 43 or something, sorry to be so vague. She did a finger prick test with a wee machine at that appointment with 2 figures, one was 0 keytones (she said that was good) and another figure of 21 or 24 I think. I asked a doctor to do that again last week when I went back to ask about the delay with the appointment,he only had one figure this time 7. something but he said anything above 6 was considered high. Sorry if this is all nonsense and thanks again for your generous help.
 
Bob1967 said:
Hi Ya, yes kinda worried how long it is all taking, I will ask those questions tomorrow, thank you. It was all a bit overwhelming when she told me, I think she mentioned a figure of around 83 with a benchmark of 43 or something, sorry to be so vague. She did a finger prick test with a wee machine at that appointment with 2 figures, one was 0 keytones (she said that was good) and another figure of 21 or 24 I think. I asked a doctor to do that again last week when I went back to ask about the delay with the appointment,he only had one figure this time 7. something but he said anything above 6 was considered high. Sorry if this is all nonsense and thanks again for your generous help.
Click to expand...
Hi Bob
The figure the doc gave you could have been the old way of measuring the HbA1c which used to be as a percentage. 7 would be equivalent to 53 on the new scale, the one your 83 was on and the benchmark of 43. Alternatively it might just have been your blood sugar at that time, which while high is not frighteningly so. This site gives an explanation of the different ways of measuring levels. http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/Diabetes_and_blood_glucose.html
 
Bob1967 said:
Hi Ya, yes kinda worried how long it is all taking, I will ask those questions tomorrow, thank you. It was all a bit overwhelming when she told me, I think she mentioned a figure of around 83 with a benchmark of 43 or something, sorry to be so vague. She did a finger prick test with a wee machine at that appointment with 2 figures, one was 0 keytones (she said that was good) and another figure of 21 or 24 I think. I asked a doctor to do that again last week when I went back to ask about the delay with the appointment,he only had one figure this time 7. something but he said anything above 6 was considered high. Sorry if this is all nonsense and thanks again for your generous help.
Click to expand...
The figures do make sense Bob...believe the nurse was probably referring to an HbA1c test when she gave you 83 with a benchmark of 43...the HbA1c test gives you your average blood glucose levels for the preceding three months...83mmols is roughly equivalent to 9.7 in percentages (how your meter will measure your BG when you begin home testing) ...high...but not unmanageable with a little work...the figure of 43 would be around 6.1 which is just would put you in the pre-diabetic range (under 42 is non-diabetic)...usually when diagnosed your GP or DSN will give you a target to aim for...so in that way it does make sense...your average BG was 83...the target to aim for initially is 43...your second number from the GP was likely a spot check...what your blood glucose was at that moment...you can't really compare the two with any degree of certainty...but a 7 is not bad at all...give it time...you'll get the hang of it...did your GP give any reason for the delay...or why they're not rushing the appointment through?...you could ask for a print out of your results when you see the nurse tomorrow...then we may be able to workout with a bit more certainty exactly what your levels are...see if the Metformin had helped you reduce your BG...do let us know what happens...be interested to hear what their reasoning is for the delay...good luck
 
Hi Bubbsie, thank you so much, this is all starting to make a bit of sense now due to all of the advice given, thanks all. I just need to know type 1 or type 2 now and then I can at least start to work on it properly. I will ask for accurate figures tomorrow and why the delay. Thanks again, really helps 🙂
 
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