Hi

[TillyMint91]

Hi,

My partner received the news he is diabetic today. How ironic it is World Diabetes Day. He is 35, and has been rapidly losing weight over the last 5 months. His bloods showed his blood sugar is 4 times what it should be, and other abnormalities that the GP wants to discuss on Friday at his appointment.

He is collecting some medication from the pharmacy tomorrow morning, but other than that we are in the dark until Friday.

I feel useless. I have no idea what he can or can’t eat. I’m nervous incase he starts to become really unwell (GP told us to go straight to A&E if that happens). It all seems so scary. My partner is only 35, and we have no idea why or how this has happened. He is also a HGV driver and so I have no idea if this means he will lose his job?!

Not really sure what the point to this post is. I just feel so worried and useless

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I just feel so worried and useless

Which seems like a healthy reaction to me. For now I think you mostly need to wait until Friday. In the meantime for food try to reduce carbohydrates if that's possible. So if he drinks Coke, make sure it's diet, and that kind of thing. There's some advice here, https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes

He is also a HGV driver and so I have no idea if this means he will lose his job?

I don't think there's a bar on people with diabetes being HGV drivers, but it's possible he'll need to stop for some period to produce evidence that he can safely drive. (Again, that depends on the diagnosis which'll presumably be given on Friday.)

My partner is only 35, and we have no idea why or how this has happened.

It's quite likely there's no reason and nothing either of you could have done.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi,

My partner received the news he is diabetic today. How ironic it is World Diabetes Day. He is 35, and has been rapidly losing weight over the last 5 months. His bloods showed his blood sugar is 4 times what it should be, and other abnormalities that the GP wants to discuss on Friday at his appointment.

He is collecting some medication from the pharmacy tomorrow morning, but other than that we are in the dark until Friday.

I feel useless. I have no idea what he can or can’t eat. I’m nervous incase he starts to become really unwell (GP told us to go straight to A&E if that happens). It all seems so scary. My partner is only 35, and we have no idea why or how this has happened. He is also a HGV driver and so I have no idea if this means he will lose his job?!

Not really sure what the point to this post is. I just feel so worried and useless

Welcome to the forum, it is a shock to many people but sometimes a relief as it explains symptoms they may have been having. Given his high glucose level and rapid loss of weight I hope that his GP will have considered that he may be Type 1 not Type 2 and will perhaps organise the extra test that could confirm that.
What he will be able to eat may well depend on the medication he will be prescribed but it may help you understand the condition by looking at the Learning Zone (the orange tab) at the top.
If he is an HGV driver then there may be regulations about testing before driving if on certain medication and his GP should give him advise about that but there is a link on here, search for DVLA and driving.

It is a good idea to have a list of question for when he has his appointment as it is easy to forget what you wanted to ask.

 

[TillyMint91]

Thank you for your replies everyone. I appreciate it.

 

[Charlotte DUK]

Hi @TillyMint91 and welcome to the forum

A new diagnosis can be overwhelming but hopefully, your partner's appointment on Friday will help to answer some of your questions

If you would like any emotional support our helpline is open Mon-Fri between 9 am-6 pm. If you would like to give them a call their number is 0345 123 2399. The helpline advisors are not medically trained but they can also help with diet advice and can explain a bit about the medication your partner has been prescribed

 

[Spathiphyllum]

... He is 35, and has been rapidly losing weight over the last 5 months. ... He is collecting some medication from the pharmacy tomorrow morning ...

This worries me. Has your partner been trying to lose weight, or has his rapid weight loss been unintentional?

Rapid unintentional weight loss is the classic symptom of Type 1. Many people think that Type 1 diabetes is only diagnosed in childhood, but that's incorrect-- people can develop Type 1 at any age.

Unfortunately I have personal experience of GPs getting this wrong! When my HbA1c test came back showing I had diabetes, my GP just assumed I was Type 2 and was just going to send me to the pharmacy with a prescription for metformin (the most common medication for Type 2)-- even though I had recently, unintentionally, lost a lot of weight. I had to press her really hard-- politely, but firmly!-- to contact the hospital's diabetes unit; as soon as she contacted them, mentioning my unintentional weight loss, they immediately called me in, started me on insulin, and did the further tests that confirmed it was Type 1.

Whether he's Type 1 or Type 2, though, Bruce is right-- while you and your partner are waiting to find out more, he should be limiting how many carbohydrates he eats, to try to keep his blood glucose level from going too high. Best wishes!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope you get some answers on Friday @TillyMint91 and some reassurance. It can certainly be an overwhelming time.

If it does end up being Type 1 (35 is a classic age to be diagnosed, and then reclassified a while later) it won’t mean the end of his driving career, but will mean some changes. The DVLA will need a few more checks, and several months’ worth of readings to review.