Hi new here

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

John929

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
hi was diagnosed with t2 a few months ago, was a shock as I eat relatively well have an extremely active job as well as gym 4-5 nights a week and have below average body fat levels, still trying to wrap my head around the whole thing not going to lie it’s been getting me quite down at times as been a pretty rough few years and this just topped it all off

Still confused how to eat I’ve never been a big eater of carbohydrates just through preference and since diagnosed tried cutting them out entirely going high fat/keto but hasn’t helped I’m reading that high fat diets can cause insulin resistance? Is there truth to this? Very confused how to eat at minute
 
A low carb diet isn't no carbs - many people find that around50gm of carbs a day is what they can cope with - and it isn't really all that high fat - when you exclude the oils in processed foods.
However, usually a type 2 with nothing more exciting going on would see a reduction in blood glucose at the 2 hour test after meals. Were you testing?
What sort of things were you eating?
 
Drummer said:
A low carb diet isn't no carbs - many people find that around50gm of carbs a day is what they can cope with - and it isn't really all that high fat - when you exclude the oils in processed foods.
However, usually a type 2 with nothing more exciting going on would see a reduction in blood glucose at the 2 hour test after meals. Were you testing?
What sort of things were you eating?
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply
At first diagnosed and starting gilcazide I was just eating normally as the diabetic nurse said my diet was fine i was getting readings of 10 in the morning and pre evening meal was between 4.5 and 5.5. Then it decides to go sky high coinciding with having a bug and tea time reading was 15+ since then diet has been boiled eggs with ham and cheese at dinner steak or chicken at tea and a bit grilled bacon at supper have ran out of strips so can’t test but still getting symptoms of it being high was supposed to have phone appointment follow up with diabetic nurse but she never rang. Is it true that fat intake can cause insulin resistance?
thanks
 
Hi John929 and welcome. Being shocked at initial diagnosis is very normal. If you were put straight on Gliclazide, I am guessing your HbA1c was high. Are you willing to tell us what it was, as that would help us advise you. Your diet is indeed low carb, but I think you could add leafy vegetables and salads to the mix, to make it a bit more balanced.
I am wondering if you might actually be Type 1. I would most certainly push for another appointment immediately, and ask for another HbA1c, to see if your glucose levels have dropped, and to ask for the Type 1 tests, if they have not fallen, or have indeed risen.
 
Felinia said:
Hi John929 and welcome. Being shocked at initial diagnosis is very normal. If you were put straight on Gliclazide, I am guessing your HbA1c was high. Are you willing to tell us what it was, as that would help us advise you. Your diet is indeed low carb, but I think you could add leafy vegetables and salads to the mix, to make it a bit more balanced.
I am wondering if you might actually be Type 1. I would most certainly push for another appointment immediately, and ask for another HbA1c, to see if your glucose levels have dropped, and to ask for the Type 1 tests, if they have not fallen, or have indeed risen.
Click to expand...

Hi Felina thank you for the response, my hb1ac was 106 at last test, I have been tested for type 1 as they said my activity level and body condition and having no family history would mean it was unlikely type 2 they guessed that because I had autoimmune disease (colitis) from age 13 to 28 that was cured after my intestine was removed that my immune system may now be attacking my pancreas but tests showed it was type 2 as autoimmune profile and c-peptide normal insulin level raised to 206. They feel I have sufficient insulin reserves but it’s just not working properly due to insulin resistance.
 
John929 said:
Hi Felina thank you for the response, my hb1ac was 106 at last test, I have been tested for type 1 as they said my activity level and body condition and having no family history would mean it was unlikely type 2 they guessed that because I had autoimmune disease (colitis) from age 13 to 28 that was cured after my intestine was removed that my immune system may now be attacking my pancreas but tests showed it was type 2 as autoimmune profile and c-peptide normal insulin level raised to 206. They feel I have sufficient insulin reserves but it’s just not working properly due to insulin resistance.
Click to expand...
That's beyond my experience so I hope someone else on the Forum can offer suggestions. But I would certainly push for a follow up HbA1c to see if your levels are dropping, and give you some reassurance
 
Your situation does sound rather puzzling but keeping a food diary with an estimate of the carbs you are having with blood glucose reading before you eat and after 2 hours would help with being able to see what may be going on.
My understanding is that with gliclazide you do need to eat some carbs otherwise the medication which encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin if it is able has nothing to work on and is suggested that it is taken 30 min before eating to give the pancreas a head start to produce insulin. But caution is advised with too low carb and gliclazide because of the risk of low blood glucose.
Have a look at this link which is for low carb based on approx 130g per day as it may give you some ideas for a more balanced menu.
Some discussion with your nurse might be in order especially if you can get some data from blood glucose readings to show.
You could ask for a free trial of a Libre from Abbott for which you would need a compatible phone.
 
Hi and welcome from me too.

My guess is that you are Type 1. When did they do the Type 1 tests? Was that before the bug that saw your levels go through the roof? If so, my guess would be that that bug has resulted in your immune system taking out more of your insulin producing beta cells and your glucose regulatory system is now unable to keep things in balance. If this is the case, Gliclazide will have no impact because your system simply can't produce anymore insulin.
Do you know which (if any) antibody tests they did? Sometimes they just test for one antibody (GAD) and sometimes they check for several. It usually takes about 6 weeks for the antibody test results to come back.
I think it would be helpful to have another C-peptide test done now to see if your insulin production has diminished.

I think it is extremely unlikely that this is insulin resistance caused by going Keto and far more likely to be Type 1. Who interpreted the results? Was the C-Peptide test a blood or urine test and did they give you any instructions about eating before the test? Usually it is done as a "loaded" test where you eat carbs an hour or so before the test, so that it triggers your body to produce as much insulin as it can, but if you were eating low carb or keto at the time of the test that may have thrown things.

Do you have means of testing for ketones? Usually these would be Ketostix that you dip in your urine when your BG (Blood Glucose) levels are mid teens or above. You should not be left without BG test strips when you are on Gliclazide as you need to be able to check in case you go hypo, so please get some more pronto.... either on prescription (they should be prescribed when you are on Gliclazide) or self fund if necessary. The Ketostix can also be self funded if you don't have any prescribed and are about £5 for a pot of 50. If you start to feel unwell and have jigh ketones then you need to seek urgent medical attention at A&E so being able to test for ketones in this situation is important to keep yourself safe and know when to get urgent help.
 
John929 said:
Thank you for your reply
At first diagnosed and starting gilcazide I was just eating normally as the diabetic nurse said my diet was fine i was getting readings of 10 in the morning and pre evening meal was between 4.5 and 5.5. Then it decides to go sky high coinciding with having a bug and tea time reading was 15+ since then diet has been boiled eggs with ham and cheese at dinner steak or chicken at tea and a bit grilled bacon at supper have ran out of strips so can’t test but still getting symptoms of it being high was supposed to have phone appointment follow up with diabetic nurse but she never rang. Is it true that fat intake can cause insulin resistance?
thanks
Click to expand...
It is difficult to be sure about the insulin resistance as we adapt to our diet rather a lot - it seems. If keeping to a low carb way of eating then it takes a little time for things to start up again if carbs are suddenly introduced, so when doing some tests it is necessary to introduce carbs for several days beforehand for an accurate result is to be obtained.
I think you ought to contact the clinic and request that a follow up be done plus more test strips and testing, as you are definitely not following the boring ol' type 2 track to lower numbers.
 
Leadinglights said:
Your situation does sound rather puzzling but keeping a food diary with an estimate of the carbs you are having with blood glucose reading before you eat and after 2 hours would help with being able to see what may be going on.
My understanding is that with gliclazide you do need to eat some carbs otherwise the medication which encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin if it is able has nothing to work on and is suggested that it is taken 30 min before eating to give the pancreas a head start to produce insulin. But caution is advised with too low carb and gliclazide because of the risk of low blood glucose.
Have a look at this link which is for low carb based on approx 130g per day as it may give you some ideas for a more balanced menu.
Some discussion with your nurse might be in order especially if you can get some data from blood glucose readings to show.
You could ask for a free trial of a Libre from Abbott for which you would need a compatible phone.
Click to expand...
Thank you I never knew that about the glicazide I was taking it after eating will try 30 mins before thank you
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome from me too.

My guess is that you are Type 1. When did they do the Type 1 tests? Was that before the bug that saw your levels go through the roof? If so, my guess would be that that bug has resulted in your immune system taking out more of your insulin producing beta cells and your glucose regulatory system is now unable to keep things in balance. If this is the case, Gliclazide will have no impact because your system simply can't produce anymore insulin.
Do you know which (if any) antibody tests they did? Sometimes they just test for one antibody (GAD) and sometimes they check for several. It usually takes about 6 weeks for the antibody test results to come back.
I think it would be helpful to have another C-peptide test done now to see if your insulin production has diminished.

I think it is extremely unlikely that this is insulin resistance caused by going Keto and far more likely to be Type 1. Who interpreted the results? Was the C-Peptide test a blood or urine test and did they give you any instructions about eating before the test? Usually it is done as a "loaded" test where you eat carbs an hour or so before the test, so that it triggers your body to produce as much insulin as it can, but if you were eating low carb or keto at the time of the test that may have thrown things.

Do you have means of testing for ketones? Usually these would be Ketostix that you dip in your urine when your BG (Blood Glucose) levels are mid teens or above. You should not be left without BG test strips when you are on Gliclazide as you need to be able to check in case you go hypo, so please get some more pronto.... either on prescription (they should be prescribed when you are on Gliclazide) or self fund if necessary. The Ketostix can also be self funded if you don't have any prescribed and are about £5 for a pot of 50. If you start to feel unwell and have jigh ketones then you need to seek urgent medical attention at A&E so being able to test for ketones in this situation is important to keep yourself safe and know when to get urgent help.
Click to expand...
Thank you my test was after the bug/spike
It was the consultant who interpreted the results and was a blood test
Have been doing better since then the spike knocked 5kg of weight off in a week I’ve since gained it back and strength in the gym is climbing again
I don’t have means for testing for ketones I had no idea about it I was supposed to have follow up with the nurse on phone but she never called (I went home from work early to ensure I didn’t miss it) and never heard anything since, same with the strips I was looking online but so many different types so didn’t know if they were compatible I didn’t know I could get them on prescription
thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed informative post
 
Drummer said:
It is difficult to be sure about the insulin resistance as we adapt to our diet rather a lot - it seems. If keeping to a low carb way of eating then it takes a little time for things to start up again if carbs are suddenly introduced, so when doing some tests it is necessary to introduce carbs for several days beforehand for an accurate result is to be obtained.
I think you ought to contact the clinic and request that a follow up be done plus more test strips and testing, as you are definitely not following the boring ol' type 2 track to lower numbers.
Click to expand...
Thank you I just read about a few studies suggesting a diet high in fat causes insulin resistance and a few people saying their insulin use doubled when they tried keto so but confused on how best to eat
I will get more strips didn’t know I could get them prescribed I did try and order more online but was many different types and didn’t know if they all worked in all monitors
 
If you are on gliclazide then you should get strips prescribed, you may not get as many as you would like for extra tesing of meals but you must get the ones for your monitor as they are specific to that monitor.
If you find those ones are expensive (some are 4x the price of others) then it can be worth buying a monitor on line which takes the cheaper strips. GlucoNavii, TEE2 and Contour Blue are those. Lancets can be any type as they are just a means of getting the blood drop.
 
John929 said:
Thank you I just read about a few studies suggesting a diet high in fat causes insulin resistance and a few people saying their insulin use doubled when they tried keto so but confused on how best to eat
I will get more strips didn’t know I could get them prescribed I did try and order more online but was many different types and didn’t know if they all worked in all monitors
Click to expand...
The strips are specific to the device - so you need the exact match.
You should be prescribed matching meter and strips. Some clinics change brand/supplier from time to time, so have to issue all new meters, but they are all fairly similar devices.
 
Hello! I've been taking gliclazide for donkey's years, but my doctor has only told me now, this week, that I should be testing. She gave me a lovely new monitor and even prescribed a new lot of strips. She forgot about a sharps box though and extra lancets, so I've put in for those. Ask your GP.
 
I've never put a lancet in my sharps box Eunice but you might be lucky and get one. There again of course the NHS have more recently allowed people with diabetes to have them.
 
Welcome to the forum @John929

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and the uncertainty around your diagnosis.

We have a number of members with atypical presentations, or whose diabetes has decided not to follow the rule book n a number of ways.

Diabetes does seem a good deal more complex and varied than the common (and rather broad) categories that we get assigned between.

Great to hear you are under a consultant who has already considered T1

It does make me wonder whether after a little time has passed, the situation may gradually become clearer? In the mean time I hope you find ways to make Gliclazide work better for you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top