New diabetes lady

[annie25]

Hi l have just been diagnosed with s2 diabetes blood sugar 13.6. What do l do now?

 

[paultrose]

First thing is dont panic
Second thing is use this site as a valuable resource......its a big help understanding things

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi l have just been diagnosed with s2 diabetes blood sugar 13.6. What do l do now?

Welcome to the forum
Can I just ask what test was it that was done that gave the result of 13.6 and what are the units as that will make a difference.
Diagnosis is usually done from an HbA1C test with a blood sample taken from your arm and sent to the lab and the result would be in mmol/mol and the threshold for diabetes would be anything over 47mmol/mol. Sometimes if people present with symptoms then a finger prick test might be done to screen for the condition and be followed up by an HbA1C as finger prick tests are not used for diagnosis as there would be too much variation depending on when the sample was taken in relation to food but the result form a finger prick test would be in mmol/l, Hence my question.
The main thing is not to panic and take time to make a plan of action, what that will be will be dependant on exactly what that test was and if your GP prescribes any medication but in any event making some lifestyle changes will be needed.
Have a look at this link as there is good explanation, some menu plans and recipes and is based on the suggested no more than a 130g carbohydrate not just sugar per day as all carbohydrates convert to glucose.

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com

 

[annie25]

Thank you! It was a finger prick at the hospital at around 5pm friday.
I was there for a eye test as they diagnosed malacular odema .
Then they told me l was going for a test to see if it's caused by diabetes! They think it is. That's the 13.4 result. So my next call will be the drs tomorrow.
Thank for the info. I think this group will be invaluable.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you! It was a finger prick at the hospital at around 5pm friday.
I was there for a eye test as they diagnosed malacular odema .
Then they told me l was going for a test to see if it's caused by diabetes! They think it is. That's the 13.4 result. So my next call will be the drs tomorrow.
Thank for the info. I think this group will be invaluable.

I don't know if that specific eye problem would be caused by diabetes but if your finger prick as 13.6 that would have been mmol/l and indeed is quite high.
Just to give you an idea a finger prick test when fasting or before eating should be in the 4-7mmol/l and although it may go up to double figures just after eating it should come down to around 8 or less after 2 hours so how significant the result is depends.
You should be getting an HbA1C test from your GP asap so you do need to call your GP.
Have you been given any treatment for the macular oedema./

 

[annie25]

I don't know if that specific eye problem would be caused by diabetes but if your finger prick as 13.6 that would have been mmol/l and indeed is quite high.
Just to give you an idea a finger prick test when fasting or before eating should be in the 4-7mmol/l and although it may go up to double figures just after eating it should come down to around 8 or less after 2 hours so how significant the result is depends.
You should be getting an HbA1C test from your GP asap so you do need to call your GP.
Have you been given any treatment for the macular oedema./

Yes! I have to have an injection in my R eye once a week for 4 weeks starting tomorrow.
So you can imagine my shock on hearing about the diabetes as well.

 

[silentsquirrel]

I don't know if that specific eye problem would be caused by diabetes but if your finger prick as 13.6 that would have been mmol/l and indeed is quite high.
Just to give you an idea a finger prick test when fasting or before eating should be in the 4-7mmol/l and although it may go up to double figures just after eating it should come down to around 8 or less after 2 hours so how significant the result is depends.
You should be getting an HbA1C test from your GP asap so you do need to call your GP.
Have you been given any treatment for the macular oedema./

Yes, when SpaMedica discharged me eventually from their cataract clinic after numerous post-op appointments they then saw me in their DMO clinic - Diabetic Macular Oedema.

Treatment can be drops or injections.

 

[Leadinglights]

Yes! I have to have an injection in my R eye once a week for 4 weeks starting tomorrow.
So you can imagine my shock on hearing about the diabetes as well.

I hope it does the trick, a few people here have had to have eye injections and I don't think they are quite as bad as it sounds.
Good luck for tomorrow, do keep us posted about what your GP says.
The Link I posted may give you some ideas for questions you should ask.

 

[saffron15]

@annie25 welcome to the forum. In 2007 I was diagnosed with anterior uveitis and after a year had a diabetes test as they can be linked but I was not diabetic. In 2011 I ignored obvious signs of a flare and was shocked when I went to be told I had amacular oedema and I had 6 weeks of steroids. In 2014 my doctor checked for diabetes and I was 40 [ wasn't told and was never tested again] I asked for a test in June and was 69. I had had a flare of uveitis previous year and suspect i may have had diabetes then but didn't have photos taken.

In October I had a cataract op which stirred up the uveitis and I have a macular oedema again.Just a small one. I'm on eye drops and see consultant later this month with another cataract op in March.
Diabetes is usually diagnosed with a blood test called hba1c. This measures average blood glucose over 3 months. 48 or over is diabetic but they may do a second test to confirm. My second test was 64. I had changed my eating habits reducing carbs. I went on medication a month later and my reading at the moment is 44

Cut out or reduce anymore added sugar in drinks or on cereal. You could use sweetners but not my choice. Cut back or out cakes and pastry. Carbohydrates convert to sugar. Unfortunately our diet tends to add items to fill eg potato, pasta, rice, bread. If you have fat round your middle it is a good idea to lose it. When I first started reducing carbs and sweet things I was losing 2 lbs a week. Cut back or out tropical fruit.

Have a good look at the Diabetes UK site.
When I had to take steroids for a fortnight during cataract op I did have a finger prick that was 13 but pre meals you would expect it to be between 4 and 7.

I think the eye department have done you a favour. I feel let down that my surgery weren't testing me and that noone ever suggested I lose weight ( yes I knew I should) lower carb has been a revelation. I'm now 2 stone lighter and having not tried over last month I'm going to try more.
This GP site is very good. Under weight it has links to Freshwell Moseley and Caldesi

Diabetes & Metabolic Health | New Forest PCN

newforestpcn.co.uk

Finally I have learned from the site that changing your diet too drastically is a shock for the body and particularly the eyesight so do it steadily.

I am newish here but will try and answer any questions. If I cannot help there are other more experienced helpful members.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi l have just been diagnosed with s2 diabetes blood sugar 13.6. What do l do now?

Welcome to the forum @annie25

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis with diabetes, alongside your oedema

Hopefully they will follow-up your fingerprick result with an HbA1c, so that you can get an idea of your overall BG levels for the past 3-4 months, rather than just that one ‘moment in time’ fingerstick check.

You might like to register an account with the Learning Zone (the orange tab in the main menu) which is packed full of bite-sized modules to give you a good overview. Additionally, for a more personal take, you might like to try Maggie Davey’s Letter to the Newly Diagnosed which is one woman’s account of her own diagnosis, and things she wishes she had known from the start.

And keep asking questions on the forum too 🙂

 

[HayleyR]

Hello and welcome @annie25 🙂 . So much to take on board but please don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you like on this site. We're here to help each other ...