Just Diagnosed Type 2 - 46 yr Old Male - let me spill my thoughts!

[Pet70]

I can't believe I'm writing on this forum. I have a million questions. Can I list any of them here? no, my mind is too confused! Just let me release, it might help others, as well as me...

So, I'm 46, not overweight, I exercise, (even if it is not as regular as before), I eat well (mostly), drink far less than I used to, and yet here I am with diabetes! How?, I ask myself! I am actually in a hospital in China right now because I'm travelling. I got here about 10 days ago and went to a docs to get some antibiotics because of a chest infection getting worse. Doc tells me I actually have pneumonia!!! (I can't believe this either because I actually felt - and still feel - fine other than a wheezy chest and cough) and admits me as an inpatient. Insurance is covering it. All fine there. They do all of their tests and ask me if I know I am diabetic, "WHAT????", I say. "Nonsense!"

Here I am trying to deal with the fact that I have these two major things going on in my body and I'm so far from home! The docs have put me on Metaformin and Acarbose(?) 3 times a day and are telling me to check my BG levels 5 times a day. I am actually supposed to be moving on to Laos in a week, which the docs say I can do but I have to go slow due to the pneumonia recovery, which is clearing up really well in just 7 days.

I've had these 7 days in this hospital to sit and fester in my thoughts. I feel guilty about not having yearly check-ups for the last 4 years; lost like I'm totally alone with this (in a foreign country); completely overwhelmed by the massive amount of information I now have to try and take in; scared to death about having my feet and hands chopped off, not to mention the blindness! Eff me!...

I'm trying to think back to see if I can find any symptoms and the only ones I can think of are getting up to wee in the night and most definitely ED problems (men don't like to talk about this, but I think it's important here), but that's it; no weight loss, thirsts, or anything else on the list.

It's very reassuring to see others on here, especially those who have just been diagnosed also. I can see in the future that it is all a matter of 'taking control' of my own health and using knowledge as a medicine in its own right to make to right choices. But for now, I am as lost and uncertain as all of you other 'newbies'.

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi Pet70...not sure where to start...a lot to deal with in addition to being so far from home...firstly important not to panic...as for the diabetes many of us here myself included had no obvious symptoms and were shocked at the diagnosis...so wouldn't feel guilty about that...and don't subscribe to the 'myth' that all diabetics will have complications that lead to losing limbs...blindness and are headed off to the knackers yard...I am a relative newbie...diagnosed 6 months ago...like you stunned initially...now managing my diabetes with Metformin...diet and exercise...it is manageable...once you take control...I had little information when first trying understand how/why diabetic...not much help from GP ( in fact sod all)...came on the forum...all started from there...read a fabulous book...Type 2 Diabetes The First Year by Gretchen Becker...explains so much...and takes you through her first year as a diabetic month by month...however not sure how since you are travelling how you would access that...if you can I would advise you to test...test...test...will show you what effect different foods have on your blood glucose...will give you an average of your BG weekly...fortnightly...monthly...what was the result of your HbA1c test ( if you had one)...and how much Metformin are you on...good to hear the pneumonia is retreating...and you can continue your journey...and as you say it is all a matter of taking control of your own health...keep us updated...and take care of yourself.

 

[Pet70]

Thanks Bubbsie. The book sounds definitely worth a read. I'll get hold of it somehow! No idea what a HbA1c test is, or how much Metformin I'm on; two questions to ask the doc on her rounds later I guess. I have no problem testing, as I'm the kind of person that looks right at things that bother me, rather than looking away. I won't have a problem with diet either because I love healthy food. Maybe you can answer this for me though: looking through the net people are talking about measurements in the 100s and I'm looking at BG levels in the 10s. Are there different measurement systems for the same thing when it comes to diabetes? I know that my BG was 15+ when they diagnosed me and 6 days later it is between 5.8-9.6 throughout the day.

 

[Bubbsie]

BG levels are clearly listed on many sites......BG levels used to be given in percentages...so 15+ ( providing that is a percentage) would indicate above the normal blood glucose levels=diabetic...now they use the IFFC method across Europe which gives your levels in mmols...anyone above 48 mmols would be in the diabetic range...below 48 normal...so 48 mmols usually converts to a 6.5%...on those numbers reducing your BG already...you will find that your numbers change throughout the day...usually after eating/activity...that is why so important to test ...you can monitor how the food...activity...even stress (yes that too!!) affects your BG...there are different measurements for different continents...in Europe they use the IFFC system...sometimes still percentages...in America they have a different system...can be confusing...but you can usually find a conversion chart...the HbA1c is the haemoglobin test which will give you your average BG levels for the previous two/three months...so a good indication of how you are managing your diabetes...with diet have to be careful...carbohydrates are the main problem...even foods we think are healthy are not good for us...the obvious enemies are Bread...Rice...Potatoes...Pasta...and veggies grown above ground...certain fruits (too much sugar...grapes are a prime example) you need to judge for yourself which you can tolerate...its not always that obvious...some diabetics can eat porridge without problems...some cannot...I eat bananas...others find they raise their BG levels...this is where the testing comes in...I test regularly...in the morning...then two hours after breakfast...before lunch...then two hours after and so on throughout the day....probably confused the hell out of you now...once you arm yourself with the right information...you'll find it is manageable...and oddly enough since my diagnosis I've never felt better...keep us updated...good luck

 

[Bubbsie]

Forgot to say Pet70...I have no doubt other members will chip in soon with good advice and their own experiences soon (give them a chance it is early Sunday morning here)..and you can ask whatever questions you want/need to without judgement or disapproval here...if I confused you...again no doubt others will correct that...it is a journey (blimey your second since you started your trip...greedy or what ) and we each approach it differently...given your approach I am sure you will feel confident that it is in your control once you have had a chance to comes to terms with your diagnosis...chin up!!!

 

[Ljc]

Hi Pet70 welcome. It sounds as though they are looking after you real good. Yes different countries use different measuring systems. I'm not sure which system the Chinese use, others here may know.
I had absolutely no symptoms when I was first dx (diagnosed)
We don't all get complications, it's usually poor control that causes them. So finding out how food affects your BG ( blood glucose) is the only way and I am so glad to hear the hospital recommends testing,

I'm wondering if we are going to supprise you or. not about what is a healthy diet for T2 diabetics. What do you eat, and have the hospital suggested any changes?
We have some good reading matter here on the pinned section of the , newbies say hello here, forum
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/
Scroll down to the T2 section.

 

[Mark Parrott]

Hi, Pet70, and welcome to the forum. The others have given you good advice. So called 'healthy eating' is different for us diabetics, though most GP's don't believe it is. Carbs turn to sugar in our bodies & raise blood sugar. Most low fat diets that the medical profession recommended are high in carbs. I am a strong believer that this is what is causing the current diabetes epidemic, though genetics have something to do with it too. I follow a low carb high fat diet. This means healthy natural fats & includes butter, cream & nothing labelled 'low fat'. I have managed to lose 4 stone, lower my cholesterol (though still a work in progress) and get my blood sugar down to non diabetic levels. No meds, just diet & exercise.

 

[Robin]

Hi Pet 70. Sorry you've found yourself in this situation. Others have given good advice, just a few more points occur to me.
Your pneumonia probably got worse because of high blood sugars, hopefully now these are more controlled, you'll get better quicker.
I had to look up Acarbose, it's not something I'd come across. Two things strike me. It acts by inhibiting enzymes that turn carbohydrate into glucose, (and you just excrete them, I assume, as one of the side effects is diarrhoea). This could have implications if you're not overweight, of causing too much weight loss, so keep an eye on that.
Also, as you're not overweight, keep an eye in the fact that some people diagnosed with Type 2 actually turn out to be Type 1. It tends to come on more slowly the older you are, ( and you can develop it at any age, despite people, including doctors, thinking it only occurs in children. I was 51) so if the Type 2 drugs appear not to be working, or work at first and then stop, go back to a doctor and ask if you should be treated as a Type 1.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome from a fellow T2.

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Carolg]

Welcome to forum pete

 

[trophywench]

... and as soon as you get back to the UK - get yourself off to the GPs. First thing you'll need is a prescription exemption certificate since if we're diabetic on medication - we don't have to pay.

Which is good - especially if you actually want help in the ED area - and there IS definitely help available, if it hasn't started to resolve itself by lowing your blood glucose and keeping it there. I don't actually know whether it does that - cos my own experience with it (or rather my husband's) didn't arise (LOL - unintended pun!) from diabetes. he appropriate nerves were destroyed during prostate cancer surgery) But you'll need to find out - no problem for any GP- male or female! - making the help available, either - so don't be backward in coming forward about it!

I don't think you (or anyone) wants to be on Acarbose for ever so long - it's not something used usually here AFAIK.

Is your return months, weeks or days away? Cos you should be looking at reducing the amount of carbohydrate* you consume PDQ - and I haven't clue how likely or possible that's going to be where you currently are, or are going.

*ie stodge - eg rice, spuds, bread, pasta and anything (food or drink) with sugar.

 

[Lindarose]

Hi pet70 and welcome.

 

[Grogg1]

... and as soon as you get back to the UK - get yourself off to the GPs. First thing you'll need is a prescription exemption certificate since if we're diabetic on medication - we don't have to pay.

Unless you live in Wales where prescriptions are free 🙂

 

[Bubbsie]

Unless you live in Wales where prescriptions are free 🙂

Blimey Grogg...never knew they were free in Wales too!

 

[Deleted member 16779]

Hi Pet70. First, your pneumonia will be making your blood sugar higher too - as well as the diabetes making it easier to get and harder to get rid of. So you might find it's lower once you're over it.

Second: here's a chart to show you the conversion: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/attachments/50shades-png.17564/

In the UK, there are actually 2 scales used - for the daily testing you'd be looking at mmol/L and that should be around the range of 4 - 8 and for diabetics it'll go significantly higher, up to 17.4 is very high, but conceivable, if you'd recently eaten and were sick with the pneumonia.

8.4 between meals is about what you'd expect for diabetic.

You can expect these figures to come down with either meds and diet, or even just diet, as Mark Parrot said earlier, you'll have to rethink what constitutes a 'healthy diet' for you. Testing will help you discover which foods don't make your BG go too high and in what amounts and what always do:
For brunch today I ate sausage, scrambled egg, beans, corn fritters and some low-carb bread toast and jam. The corn fritters, beans, toast and jam all had small amounts of carbs, but I calculated it was around 50g of carb in total. I've found my limit is around 25g, but that was OK because I went to the gym straight after and burnt off 500kcal - when I do that I've found I don't get a spike in my BG.

Tonight I'm having steak with blue cheese sauce (blue cheese and cream), with cauliflower cheese and kale, with cherry gelati for afters (frozen cherries blitzed up with some double cream). That won't spike me, the cherries contain some carbs, but in total it'll be about 25g, and I'm lucky I find that fructose doesn't have as much as an effect on my BG as some people, but you'll only know that with testing.

Since I've been on this kind of regime - testing, lowering carbs and regular exercise, I've got my HbA1c (a test you'll do every 3 months or so) down from a quite high level of 66 down to 38, which is not only below the target level the NHS has set for diabetics (48), but below the level that is pre-diabetic (42-48) and is in the 'normal' range - i.e. in effect not having diabetes.

I DO also take meds - I've cut down my Metformin from 2000mg per day to 750mg. My cholesterol levels are good and I've given up statins too.

Don't feel pessimistic - if you're the kind of person that can take responsibility for your life then the chances are good that you'll drastically improve and at the end of the day if you keep your BG levels in the normal range you don't have to worry about the amputations, kidney damage, blindness and the rest.

And as for the ED, I did suffer from that too, but not any more. I'm feeling like a 17 year old again. Generally, I'm fitter, friskier and happier than I've been for a long time and it all starts with taking ownership of your problem - in the grand scheme of things, it could be worse.

 

[Grogg1]

Blimey Grogg...never knew they were free in Wales too!

It happened a few years ago. They decided the system of collecting prescription fees, dealing with exemptions, annual certificates was too costly so make it free for everyone to reduce administration costs which were effectively wasted money. I think it might be revised as some people now go to gp for inexpensive OTC medicines because they are free. Personally I think everyone should pay unless the item is on an exemption list - easier than issuing exemption certificate. Everyone else pays £10 per script, not £10 per item. This will discourage people wasting medicines and wasting gp appointments for headaches!

 

[Bubbsie]

It happened a few years ago. They decided the system of collecting prescription fees, dealing with exemptions, annual certificates was too costly so make it free for everyone to reduce administration costs which were effectively wasted money. I think it might be revised as some people now go to gp for inexpensive OTC medicines because they are free. Personally I think everyone should pay unless the item is on an exemption list - easier than issuing exemption certificate. Everyone else pays £10 per script, not £10 per item. This will discourage people wasting medicines and wasting gp appointments for headaches!

Since diagnosis(other health issues apart from diabetes) paid for all my prescriptions...no one mentioned I should be exempt...prescriptions at hospital cost me a small fortune...buy pre-payment script now...cannot take any anti-inflammatories since use Warfarin...would have to be paracetamol if needed...a friend said should ask GP to prescribe it...would be covered by pre-payment card...horrified...you can buy it for about 50p a packet now...how much would it cost on prescription?.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome, being diagnosed can be scary, but must be so much worse being away from home.

 

[Grogg1]

...would have to be paracetamol if needed...a friend said should ask GP to prescribe it...would be covered by pre-payment card...horrified...you can buy it for about 50p a packet now...how much would it cost on prescription?.

While the charge to the NHS would be pence for the actual medication it's the cost of processing the script. So the pharmacy would get a fee for the prescription after they submit the prescription for reimbursement. Then the prescription would be checked and depending on which box you ticked, exempt, prepaid or paid they will check that the right box has been ticked. Then payment issued to pharmacy! All this "admin" bloats the cost of medicine that may only cost pence.