Hi

[SheilaJoan]

i was diagnosed type 2 in January 2010 on the basis of a blood sugar level of 7.3. At this time I was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis scleritis .and high blood pressure. I also have hashimotos and low B12(3 monthly injections) and a history of SVTs( without bisoprilol my heart rate is 150)
In 2013 I was told that my diagnoses of diabetes may be incorrect as my Hba1c was excellent (2.5) (I think measurements have now been changed)
Because of my scleritis I was put on steroids and then Humira. I put on about 3 stone in weight. I was able to come off the steroids in October. Since then I have managed to increase my activity level regularly walking 3 miles a day and lost a small amount of weight.
In April 2016 my hba1c was apparently 46 and I was to have it done again 2 months later. It was 42. I asked the phlebotomist about having it done again in January and she told me no...it wasn't due. Due to being on Humira I have bloods done every 2 months. My liver function ALT is always slightly above the norm. It goes even higher if I drink alcohol.
In March I again had blood taken and I was told my hba1c was 66. When I saw the Dr( I had been waiting 2 months for a routine appointment) he suggested I see the diabetic nurse. I had a meter at home so took readings the day I was to see her. They ranged from 12 to 24. She started me on gliclazide in the morning and metformin twice a day.
I have been on the medication since Monday and using a low carb diet. Looking at the pale of diet that's the way I have been eating for the last couple of years without realising it.
I haven't had any reading below 12. 12.4 this morning on waking. 12.7 just now 30 minutes after food.
In the back of my mind I have a feeling that this is all autoimmune connected....is this likely. (Sorry this post has gone on a bit)

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[SheilaJoan]

Welcome.

Thank you

 

[Northerner]

i was diagnosed type 2 in January 2010 on the basis of a blood sugar level of 7.3. At this time I was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis scleritis .and high blood pressure. I also have hashimotos and low B12(3 monthly injections) and a history of SVTs( without bisoprilol my heart rate is 150)
In 2013 I was told that my diagnoses of diabetes may be incorrect as my Hba1c was excellent (2.5) (I think measurements have now been changed)
Because of my scleritis I was put on steroids and then Humira. I put on about 3 stone in weight. I was able to come off the steroids in October. Since then I have managed to increase my activity level regularly walking 3 miles a day and lost a small amount of weight.
In April 2016 my hba1c was apparently 46 and I was to have it done again 2 months later. It was 42. I asked the phlebotomist about having it done again in January and she told me no...it wasn't due. Due to being on Humira I have bloods done every 2 months. My liver function ALT is always slightly above the norm. It goes even higher if I drink alcohol.
In March I again had blood taken and I was told my hba1c was 66. When I saw the Dr( I had been waiting 2 months for a routine appointment) he suggested I see the diabetic nurse. I had a meter at home so took readings the day I was to see her. They ranged from 12 to 24. She started me on gliclazide in the morning and metformin twice a day.
I have been on the medication since Monday and using a low carb diet. Looking at the pale of diet that's the way I have been eating for the last couple of years without realising it.
I haven't had any reading below 12. 12.4 this morning on waking. 12.7 just now 30 minutes after food.
In the back of my mind I have a feeling that this is all autoimmune connected....is this likely. (Sorry this post has gone on a bit)

Hi Sheilajoan, welcome to the forum 🙂 That does appear to be quite a rise over the past year, particularly given the type of diet you have been following, although steroids can cause blood sugar levels to become elevated, so might be a factor. I'd suggest using your meter to measure your blood sugar levels before and after eating to see what contribution/effect your food is having on your levels. There may be a possibility that you are a slow-onset Type 1 (sometimes referred to as LADA - Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adulthood), and is characterised by a slow reduction in the amount of insulin your pancreas is producing, in which case the gliclizide may help for a while (it stimulates hte pncreas to produce more insulin). It's important to keep a close eye on those levels to see if there is any improvement now you are on the medication, and if there isn't much, or you start to feel very ill, then go back to your nurse/doctor.

Do you have any family history of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes? I wouldn't worry about the liver test - mine is also always slightly elevated and I have been assured it isn't a problem 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Sheila and welcome to the forum. If your diabetes is autoimmune then you would have type1 diabetes so if your high numbers are very sudden onset then you need to be asking for antibody tests to establish which you are.
Your diabetes could be caused by the steroids you were taking, do any of your other meds give a warning about blood sugar increase? Well worth checking out. I hope you manage to sort out your levels fairly soon.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Hello and welcome 🙂

 

[SheilaJoan]

Hi Sheilajoan, welcome to the forum 🙂 That does appear to be quite a rise over the past year, particularly given the type of diet you have been following, although steroids can cause blood sugar levels to become elevated, so might be a factor. I'd suggest using your meter to measure your blood sugar levels before and after eating to see what contribution/effect your food is having on your levels. There may be a possibility that you are a slow-onset Type 1 (sometimes referred to as LADA - Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adulthood), and is characterised by a slow reduction in the amount of insulin your pancreas is producing, in which case the gliclizide may help for a while (it stimulates hte pncreas to produce more insulin). It's important to keep a close eye on those levels to see if there is any improvement now you are on the medication, and if there isn't much, or you start to feel very ill, then go back to your nurse/doctor.

Do you have any family history of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes? I wouldn't worry about the liver test - mine is also always slightly elevated and I have been assured it isn't a problem 🙂

Thanks for your reply.
I have a cousin with type 1 diabetes and another couple with type 2. There are multiple autoimmune disorders in that side of the family.
I have just returned from a 2.5 mile walk and 4 hours after food my reading is 9.8....yay below 10 for the first time this week.
My readings were OK on steroids. It since I came off them that I seem to have problems. Waiting for an endoscopy too as I seem to have started with stomach problems since coming off them.....so wondering about late onset type 1.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for your reply.
I have a cousin with type 1 diabetes and another couple with type 2. There are multiple autoimmune disorders in that side of the family.
I have just returned from a 2.5 mile walk and 4 hours after food my reading is 9.8....yay below 10 for the first time this week.
My readings were OK on steroids. It since I came off them that I seem to have problems. Waiting for an endoscopy too as I seem to have started with stomach problems since coming off them.....so wondering about late onset type 1.

I think the key is to be vigilant. Sometimes the Type 1 can take many months to develop in adults - children tend to decline in insulin production much more quickly, probably because their bodies are growing. Have you been given any ketone test sticks? These can be either blood ketone sticks, which are expensive, but accurate, or urine test sticks, much cheaper but levels are indicated by a change of colour rather than a more meaningful number. Ketones are produced when the body is unable to process carbohydrates properly for energy and turns to burning fat - the ketones are by-products that can build up in the blood if there is insufficient insulin, making it more acidic. Thus, high blood sugars indicate insufficient insulin, and high ketones reinforce this - both can lead to a dangerous condition called DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis). Not wishing to alarm you, just stressing the importance of keeping a close watch on the situation, so if you don't have any ketone testing sticks, I'd suggest asking your doctor for them and discussing the possibility of a slow-onset Type 1, particularly given your family history.

Hope it isn't, and things improve for you on the medication you have been given 🙂 Both Type 1 and Type 2 are manageable conditions, with different challenges, but the better informed you are, the easier they are to tackle 🙂