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New and feeling awful

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S

Samseal6

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi
Glad I have found this forum
Was diagnosed on Wednesday, with a fasting reading of 20
I have been feeling so ill for months , so in a way was a relief to finally find out what is going on
Long story but Docs had said It was epilepsy

Have been put on metforin , blood pressure tablets and statins
Doctor did not say if type 1 or 2 ( am 53 ), seeing nurse on Wednesday, so hopefully will find out more

Have already changed my diet , the one good thing was I have lost 2 and a half stone since November, need to lose more so fingers crossed
I feel ashamed, is that normal.?
I have read loads that tell me its not my fault, as I have family members who had it , but still feel that its labled fat lazy person disease
Anyhoo , I know I can live with this and control it , having lived with brain tumours for the last 25 years ,I know I am pretty determined.still working full time and enjoying life

Feeling a bit overwhelmed and sad , so thank you for this group

Sam
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Hi @Samseal6, welcome to the forum.

It can be a shock yes, and all sorts of feelings are quite normal at first, so please don't beat yourself up about it. You've made a good start by losing weight and changing your diet, and also by coming here 🙂 Have a read around the threads and get to know us more, and we'd be pleased to answer any questions you may have - no question is daft!

With determination (which you have) you can control this and end up healthier and fitter. All the best to you, and let us know how you get on at your appointment xx
 
Hello @Samseal6 welcome to the forum. It’s perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed , though their is no need for you to feel ashamed it’s natural to feel this way too. As you probably know their is a lot of misunderstanding out there about T2 ( all the other types too) , although lifestyle may play a part in developing T2 their are other factors that can cause it too. I was the first known one in the family to develop it , their are quite a few others on both sides if the family now and most are slim and led a healthy lifestyle

I am confused about your doctor thinking your symptoms were due to Epilepsy, what symptoms did you have .

Feel free to ask any questions about diabetes we’ll do our best to help.

When you lost weight was it planned or unexpected
 
And I would add, if you can cope with brain tumors then coping with diabetes should be a doddle. 😎
 
thanks everyone

Weightloss was unintentional ( although needed) , I have gone from 15.10 to 13.3 since November
I thought I was losing weight , but only checked the other day , when put batteries in scales
The whole epilepsy saga , which may still be , waiting to see neuro
Had a few episodes of confusion and not able to speak , couple of times passed out , but mostly just banging headache and then sleep , last between 30-60 mins . With history they just said focal epilepsy
I actually cannot believe that this has not been picked up before , the amount of blood tests i have had
Problem seems to be that GP just automatically assumes anything I complain about is to do with my head
I went to GP on Monday and basically told her that I had diabetes , after drinking gallons , weight loss , sleepyhead, itchy bits etc .so had blood trst Tuesday and was phoned 1st thing Wednesday to go straight in

I feel really ill and now am scared to eat anything, as reading 2 hours after a meal are 21.8
Sorry for long post

Sam.
X
 
What was the meal?
If you are type two, and lucky, simply reducing the amount of carbs you eat will cause your blood glucose levels to drop.
If you are one of the other types then you will most likely require medication to restore order, but that is a bit more complicated.
 
Hi Drummer
A 2 egg omelette with slice of ham , mushrooms and a sprinkle of low fat cheese
Sam
X
 
Samseal6 said:
thanks everyone

Weightloss was unintentional ( although needed) , I have gone from 15.10 to 13.3 since November
I thought I was losing weight , but only checked the other day , when put batteries in scales
The whole epilepsy saga , which may still be , waiting to see neuro
Had a few episodes of confusion and not able to speak , couple of times passed out , but mostly just banging headache and then sleep , last between 30-60 mins . With history they just said focal epilepsy
I actually cannot believe that this has not been picked up before , the amount of blood tests i have had
Problem seems to be that GP just automatically assumes anything I complain about is to do with my head
I went to GP on Monday and basically told her that I had diabetes , after drinking gallons , weight loss , sleepyhead, itchy bits etc .so had blood trst Tuesday and was phoned 1st thing Wednesday to go straight in

I feel really ill and now am scared to eat anything, as reading 2 hours after a meal are 21.8
Sorry for long post

Sam.
X
Click to expand...
Hi, I was newly diagnosed 4 months ago and felt the same as you do at the moment,feeling ashamed and not normal, all I can say is it will get better once you accept it and you control it and not let it control you.
good luck and hope you feel a lot better soon.
 
Apart from the low fat cheese, that seems to be low carb anyway - if it is typical of how you are eating it is something to emphasis when you see the nurse.
 
Yes seeing nurse on Wednesday
Only been on meds since last Wednesday and only 1 500g , so will defo go through it all

Thank you all again
Sam
X
 
Sam,

You are completely normal I was diagnosed just over 30 years ago type 1 (I still remember that first injection the time, date & the smell of insulin as if it was yesterday) a few days before I turned 18.
It really did turn my life upside down, getting through university the student life a few bad hypos along the way some rebelling also.
Though I got used to it one thing it gave me was discipline - I keep fit watch what I eat & try not to take life too seriously (easy said than done sometimes) & as you said some of us have had very challenging medical history's ( I've had my fair share) though you to roll with the punches.

You'll be fine.

Jason
 
Hello @Samseal6 and welcome to the forum - glad you found us, though sorry you've been feeling so ill.

The fact that you've lost lots of weight without trying, and that your reading is very high 2 hours after a meal which was very low in carbs suggests you may be type 1. You may be OK until Wednesday, but if you feel any more ill or your readings get any higher please do go to A&E straight away and tell them about the weight loss and the fact that your blood sugar levels are very high even when you're not eating carbs, because if it is untreated type 1 you could become very seriously ill if you don't get insulin soon. Metformin will do nothing at all for type 1, it only helps with type 2.

I don't want to worry you - if you do have type 1 it's treatable, you can live a perfectly normal life with it, and you will feel a whole lot better when you're given some insulin! - but untreated type 1 can potentially become very serious very rapidly, so please don't hesitate to get to A&E if you need to.

The episodes you describe sound rather like the effect of very low (or plummeting) blood sugar. It could be that yours is spiking up and down, if your pancreas is on its last legs. If it is low blood sugar causing you to black out, you really do need help from a hospital diabetes team though, not just a surgery nurse.

In the meanwhile if you can get to a pharmacy, get yourself a pack of Ketostix and test your urine for ketones (it's easy, you just wee on the stick, wait 15 seconds and then see what colour the stick's gone). If you have anything more than trace ketones you should probably go straight to A&E and tell them you're a newly diagnosed diabetic with Ketoacidosis.

If you manage until Wednesday without needing to go to A&E, please make sure your nurse knows about the weight loss and about the high readings after low carb foods. Most medical professionals (including surgery diabetes nurses, who are unlikely to see many type 1s) will assume anyone with diabetes who's over 21 and not skinny is type 2 - but actually type 1 can start at any age (I was 44 when I was diagnosed), and about 40% of type 1s are diagnosed as adults. We also come in all shapes and sizes!

Oh - and whatever type you have, it's not your fault x
 
Juliet

Thank you so much , I think I am actually type 1 too
Have taken your advice on board , have had another meal about an hour ago
Turkey slices , cottage cheese and some endembe beans ( spelling )
I think i have some keto stix somewhere

Thank you again
Sam
X
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Samseal6 said:
Juliet

Thank you so much , I think I am actually type 1 too
Have taken your advice on board , have had another meal about an hour ago
Turkey slices , cottage cheese and some endembe beans ( spelling )
I think i have some keto stix somewhere

Thank you again
Sam
X
(
Click to expand...
This is the reason I asked about your weight loss, I see @TheClockworkDodo has covered it so I won’t repeat it other than to say if you’re feeling really rough now then go to A & E please don’t delay.

Please let us know how you get on
 
Good morning @Samseal6
How are the levels this morning?
How are the ketones?

As @TheClockworkDodo has said you are sounding very like a T1, and with the level you had last night, after low carb meal, I would encourage your u to go to A&E this morning. Without insulin your levels will not improve.
Did you find some ketostix? With levels up at 20 it is likely that you willl now have ketones if you have so little insulin and it is important that you get checked out. Don’t leave it any longer, and emphasise the weight loss.

Let us know how you are doing.
 
Hi peeps

Level this morning is 13.8 , so loads better
Have got some keto stix coming today
Will monitor blood and if goes higher will defo go A and E , but if dont go , will call GP first thing

Sam
X
 
Hi @Samseal6, I'm glad the levels are down. I don't know much about type 1 but good advice given by the others 🙂

Many good wishes for today/tomorrow and that you'll get a proper diagnosis and get this sorted xxx
 
Hi
Just to let all you lovely people know am feeling much better today
Level still 20 after 2 hours , but I actually enjoyed my dinner tonight,chicken and salad
My keto stix show am in ketosis , so going to see GP tomorrow

Thank you again for all the support and advice
Sam
X
 
Samseal6 said:
Hi
Just to let all you lovely people know am feeling much better today
Level still 20 after 2 hours , but I actually enjoyed my dinner tonight,chicken and salad
My keto stix show am in ketosis , so going to see GP tomorrow

Thank you again for all the support and advice
Sam
X
Click to expand...
Hi Sam, sorry to worry you but if your BG is still 20 and you have ketones, I think that you need to go to A&E NOW. This is not something that can wait until tomorrow. You need to get the levels down and more importantly get rid of those ketones which you cannot do without help. People with T2 do not generally develop ketones. If you are T1 you need insulin NOW.

What reading did you get with the ketostix?
 
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