Hi.

[Minky]

Hi. I was a member of DiabetesUK a long time ago. Diagnosed, I wasn’t too particular about my diet etc as my asthma was more of a thing. Severe adult onset hit me like a brick. I’d had hay fever but this running out of breath was something else and so the diabetes got put on the back burner.

The asthma after many years, and many inhaler types was eventually conquered with the addition of a self administer monthly injection. I’ve had three years of it and recently, July 2020, consultant decided I was at a point where I could stop. With the option of resuming if needed. So far so good.

So..Diabetes. Time to look at that. BS in the high teens, TenaLady making a packet from my many too late trips to the loo. Something had to be done. Appointment with Nurse Practitioner. Bloods done. Hb1AC - 100. Something did indeed need to be done. Prescribed Trulicity on Thursday there, and I have felt like a washed out rag ever since. I’m told it gets better. Call it my penance for pushing it to the background.

 

[ColinUK]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

Secondly, that HbA1C certainly made me say “ouch” so it’s good that you’re finally in a position where you’ve the space to deal with the diabetes.

 

[Docb]

Hi @Minky and welcome to the forum. Well you have passed the first hurdle and recognised that something needs to be done and with a HbA1c of 100 a bit of urgency might be in order.

Assuming you are type 2 then you have 3 levers to pull, diet, pills and exercise. I won't try and elaborate on that at this stage but getting the right combination is your best bet of getting things under control. If you need to lose a pound or three, then that will also help.

Read around the forum and you will find lots of members (me included) who have got their HbA1c under control within a few months by getting the right combination of those three factors to suit them. Some focus on diet, some focus on exercise and some focus on medication. Most have lost unneeded weight. Your nurse practitioner will almost certainly start you on medication so that gets one thing out of the way so focus on diet and exercise. And diet in this context is all about what you eat, not how much.

Start reading, look at the stories and work out a plan to suit you. Above all ask questions. Nothing is considered too silly on here and we are a friendly bunch only too happy to share our experiences.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome to the forum Minky, from a fellow T2.

 

[Drummer]

I did Hba1c of 91 down to 41 in 6 months, which might have been rather drastic, but that is just me all over. I don't believe in horoscopes but I am so typically Aries the Ram - head down and charge in.
I eat a low carb diet, and feel so much better for it as well as knocking out the type two.
I would recommend getting a meter to measure blood glucose if you don't have one. I got a Spirit Healthcare Tee 2, seems accurate and reliable so far. Then you can see how you are progressing and check on your sensitivity to foods. I am just sensitive to all carbs without exception, I even over react to beans and peas - but I seem to be getting along well enough. I don't need any medication, which is a good thing as Metformin and Atorvastatin almost did for me back in 2016. If it was a choice between frogspawn and the tablets again - sorry frogs. Luckily I can have lots of things I enjoy and still keep to a low carb way of eating.

 

[grovesy]

Were the injections steroids as that would not help the Diabetes. As you said the Asthma need more attention so that was your focus.
What does it say on the patient leaflet for the Trulicity?

 

[Minky]

Were the injections steroids as that would not help the Diabetes. As you said the Asthma need more attention so that was your focus.
What does it say on the patient leaflet for the Trulicity?

Says the first few weeks could have nausea feeling as side effect. That’s certainly true.
Asthma injection - Omalizumab - not a steroid. Asthma consultant horrified I needed course of Prednisilone steroid tablets, at least four to six times a year to calm the lungs. Hence the Omalizumab injection started. At a cost to NHS Scotland of £20K a year. Since then, 2017, I’ve never needed Prednisilone. Nor since stopping the injections. So here’s hoping stays that way. Still have daily inhaler but that’s a given. Small amount of steroid.

 

[grovesy]

Says the first few weeks could have nausea feeling as side effect. That’s certainly true.
Asthma injection - Omalizumab - not a steroid. Asthma consultant horrified I needed course of Prednisilone steroid tablets, at least four to six times a year to calm the lungs. Hence the Omalizumab injection started. At a cost to NHS Scotland of £20K a year. Since then, 2017, I’ve never needed Prednisilone. Nor since stopping the injections. So here’s hoping stays that way. Still have daily inhaler but that’s a given. Small amount of steroid.

I was curious as I have not heard of an injection for asthma before. Hopefully you can get a handle on the Diabetes, good luck.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Minky

Sorry to hear about your troubles with asthma - really glad to hear you seem to have that buttoned down now.

Well done on your decision to begin to tackle your high HbA1c. You wouldn’t be the first forum member to start in 3 figures and end up with A1c and BGs in the normal range with the help of the forum, so ask around for advice and support and we will give you all the encouragement and suggestions we can 🙂

As is often said hereabouts, diabetes is a ‘marathon not a sprint’ and when it comes to managing your diabetes, it’s best to make changes to your menu and activity levels gradually - partly because they need to be sustainable long term, but also because very rapid and sudden changes to blood glucose levels are harder on the fine blood vessels, and changing things more gently will give your body time to adapt.

So don’t think you have to do everything all at once - diabetes is often a slow-moving foe and you have time to adapt gently and gradually - reducing your carb intake and your BG levels in stages until your new ‘way of eating’ becomes second nature.

This isn’t a quick fix ‘diet’ for a short time and then back to how things were before, it’s much better to make a gradual shift towards more permanent changes that suit your body and your metabolism better. Many people on the forum later reflect that their diagnosis became a catalyst which prompted them to make positive changes towards a healthier and more active life. They end up feeling healthier and more energised than they have for years, and the regular checks mean that anything untoward is likely to be spotted sooner and treated earlier.

Good luck and let us know how you get on 🙂