Hi i have been told i have type 2 diabetes after having a blood test for something else. I told the nurse that i have a phobia of needles and have to have a sugery drink before any tests. they have given me a machine to test blood before meals twice a day which when i tried 1st time did not give a reading and i fainted which is common for me. I have now not done any tests since and looking for a way to test without any needles at all looked at the libra system but still involve a needle so that wont work. They have also given me meds to take and sending me for a ct scan. Is this a bit much when i have said i will be changing my diet and exercise routine.
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
-
Learn more about joining the Diabetes UK Support Forum team here: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/volunteering-opportunities-why-dont-you-join-us.112862/
Just been told i have diabetes are the doctors going to far
- Thread starter mark1985
- Start date
Hi
the doctor said it was 11 and when nurse did a finger prick test it was 13 but i had just had a coke as at this point this is the only way i can deal with not fainting. on a side note i have been off work with a back injury and i hate to say been drinking a lot of soda, i have now stopped drinking soda so hoping this helps a lot.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Being more immobile and drinking sugary drinks won’t help your blood sugar. You did the right thing cutting them out.
The right fingerpricker makes all the difference. Some are better than others. I prefer doing my own tests (and obviously injections, as I’m Type 1) as I feel more in control. It takes practice to ‘think past’ the fingerprick, and there are techniques that help, like having warm hands and using the side of the finger. The fingerprick should be tiny, just enough for a small drop of blood, so it barely goes into the skin, if that helps.
The right fingerpricker makes all the difference. Some are better than others. I prefer doing my own tests (and obviously injections, as I’m Type 1) as I feel more in control. It takes practice to ‘think past’ the fingerprick, and there are techniques that help, like having warm hands and using the side of the finger. The fingerprick should be tiny, just enough for a small drop of blood, so it barely goes into the skin, if that helps.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Were there any units attached to the 11 as that is important. The finger prick test would have been 13mmol/l which is quite high but maybe due to the Coke if it was full sugar rather than diet which incidentally is fine to drink,
The diagnostic test is an HbA1C which is done from a blood sample taken from your arm and the result would be in mmol/mol and anything over 47 would be a diabetic diagnosis.
I think with the reading of 13 even after coke it is likely you will have a diabetic diagnosis and the best thing is to look seriously at your diet. You are actually lucky to have been given a monitor as many who are Type 2 have to self fund.
Have a look at this link for some ideas for modifying your diet.https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
There are people who do not test but it would be needed if you were on particular medication so making those dietary changes may mean you can avoid having to do that. However it is a valuable tool to enable you to know what food you can and shouldn't eat without increasing blood glucose.
The word needle conjures up something in the mind which the lancets are not, they are very small fine short devices which you don't even see when using them/ and actually hurt a lot less than a paper cut or is it the blood that is the problem.
silver minion
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome @mark1985 I too have a phobia of needles. It has taken me decades to be able to have blood tests/vaccinations even fingerpricks without passing out. I still flinch and can't watch needles in me or anyone else. I ask nurses to distract me as I know the alternative is much worse. Hopefully your HbA1c result can be lowered by changes to your diet and exercise levels. Have you considered hypnosis or relaxation techniques to help with your needle phobia?
Alan44
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hi and welcome to the group @mark1985.
A finger prick test alone will not tell you that you have diabetes, just high blood sugar levels, which if you have just downed a sugary drink wouldn't surprise me. So no need to panic just yet.
That said a HbA1C test ie bloods from your arm would be a better indication of diabetes, if you have indeed had this done you should be able to access your medical records at your GP's surgery and see the results and action required.
Alan 😉
PS, I hate needles too, so I find swearing at the same time I push the pricker helps
A finger prick test alone will not tell you that you have diabetes, just high blood sugar levels, which if you have just downed a sugary drink wouldn't surprise me. So no need to panic just yet.
That said a HbA1C test ie bloods from your arm would be a better indication of diabetes, if you have indeed had this done you should be able to access your medical records at your GP's surgery and see the results and action required.
Alan 😉
PS, I hate needles too, so I find swearing at the same time I push the pricker helps
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
If you’ve already been diagnosed, and you aren’t on any medications that could cause hypos, then you could always rely on the hba1c to indicate how you’re doing instead of fingerprick testing, if that’s too difficult to be realistic for you?
Hi
i have looked into a lot into the change of diet and exercise. also been told about the libra system and even that knowing that a needle will be in my arm is enough for me to say no to it. yes i have tried a lot of things to try to help with my needle phobia and nothing has worked over the years apart from a nurse saying to drink a fizzy drink before hand which for diabetes kinda defects the object.
Hi
the nurse has put me on gliclazide 40mg twice a day to start with.
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Testing only for hypos should be doable then? You’d be having the sugary drink to fix it. You shouldn’t really get hypos anyway, if you get them regularly go back to get the meds reduced.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I think the fizzy drink might be psychological @mark1985 because it wouldn’t stop me feeling faint and I’ve never heard of that as a cure because, after all, it’s a problem in our minds. The only thing that’s worked for me, is me. I had a bigger motivation - no choice whether to take insulin or not because I’d have died if I didn’t - but gradually over a period of weeks I overcame it. I still have the phobia and I can still sometimes feel it, but I can deal with it. The only time it causes me issues is when someone else does the blood test/injection.
I say all this to let you know that it is possible to reduce the phobia down to a copeable level. Starting with fingerpricks is a good place to start.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Sorry to hear about the challenges you are having with your needle phobia @mark1985 
As you've been started on Gliclazide is seems likely that you had an HbA1c check done which was fairly substantially raised.
Don't know if it helps, but the Libre sensor isn't a 'needle' as such. It's a flexible filament (a bit of plastic). Once the inserter has fired, the flexible filament stays in place for 14 days.
And I second @Lucyr 's suggestion of AccuChek fastclix. It has a drum which you slide into the pricker. You never see anything sharp at all. Plus it is very adjustable. You can set it so that it only just provides a sample, with almost no pain or discomfort.
Hope you are able to find a way of monitoring that works for you
As you've been started on Gliclazide is seems likely that you had an HbA1c check done which was fairly substantially raised.
Don't know if it helps, but the Libre sensor isn't a 'needle' as such. It's a flexible filament (a bit of plastic). Once the inserter has fired, the flexible filament stays in place for 14 days.
And I second @Lucyr 's suggestion of AccuChek fastclix. It has a drum which you slide into the pricker. You never see anything sharp at all. Plus it is very adjustable. You can set it so that it only just provides a sample, with almost no pain or discomfort.
Hope you are able to find a way of monitoring that works for you
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I also endorse the AccuChek Fastclix. Been using that system for well over a decade now, from before Libre was rolled out hence the multiple daily tests I had to do (with Type 1 and driving as well as eating etc) were all with a fingerprick, no choice and there are 10 depth settings from 0.5 up to 5, and my Fastclix is still set on 0.5 !
ok update time
good news i have found out i was pricking my finger deeper then i needed to and now on a smaller prick it has become easier to use on myself. second some people asked what my number was and its hba1c is 100 mmol/mol
good news i have found out i was pricking my finger deeper then i needed to and now on a smaller prick it has become easier to use on myself. second some people asked what my number was and its hba1c is 100 mmol/mol
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Brilliant you have got your technique sorted out that will make all the difference to painless pricks. Your HbA1C is indeed pretty high so no wonder you have been prescribed gliclazide. The combination of that and dietary changes should hopefully see you in a better position in a few weeks time.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Yes testing is a good guide as to what your body can tolerate but with the medication you are taking it does need to have some carbohydrates to work on as it is encouraging your pancreas to produce more insulin so getting the balance right will need a bit of trial and not too much error. But a general guide is around 130g carbs not just sugar per day. Basing meals on meat, fish, cheese, eggs, nuts, dairy with vegetables, salads, fruit like berries with small portions of high carb foods. There are a few things which it is a good idea to cut out completely like cakes, pastry, biscuits and sugary drinks and make sure you are careful with foods like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals.
There are plenty of menu ideas in the link which is based on a 130g per day carb intake. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
However you will need to go cautiously until you know how the medication is working for you.