New diagnosis after suspected covid

[tankleton]

Hi everyone,
I was diagnosed with t2 last week, after having blurry vision and shakes, the same week i was unwell with suspected covid.
I was tested the day i felt unwell with mmol of 17 and hb1ac of 58mmol.
Ive been put on metformin, however im a bit concerned about my blood glucose levels.
I am wearing a continueous blood glucose monitor.
my levels fluctuate between 12 at lowest, but generally between 18-25 and upto 27.
This seems awfully high to me considering i have changed my diet to plenty of water, very low carb (maybe 2 slices of wholemeal bread a day) and no sugar.
im stuggling to get hold of my doctor to discuss this.
Is it somwthing i should be worries about?
Thanks

 

[Inka]

Welcome @tankleton 🙂 The Libre and other CGMs often read higher than you are once your blood sugar goes high, eg it might say you’re 15 when you’re 12.8. However, 18-25 is too high even if that might actually be 16-22 or whatever.

My concern would be that you might be Type 1 rather than Type 2. Did they test for ketones when they tested your blood glucose? Have you lost weight unexpectedly recently? It could be you are Type 2 but the residual Covid is pushing your levels up, but if it were me, I’d speak to your GP surgery and let them know. Also let them know how few carbs you’re eating.

 

[Drummer]

@tankleton It is more usual for an infection to trigger type 1 - just from the reports I've read on the forums - though two slices of bread would be over my limit for a day's intake of carbs as a type 2 - I stick to under 40 gm of carbs a day to maintain almost normal numbers without medication.
My few weeks taking Metformin and Atorvastatin were pretty dreadful, so it is no hardship to avoid all grain, eating foods with 10% carbs or less.
I have had Covid three to five times - I am fairly certain about the five, due to the odd alterations in my sense of taste but did not test.
An ordinary type 2 seems to respond to low carb very well - but there are interesting variations all classed as type 2, plus other variants which can look like type 2 at first, right up until it becomes obvious they are misdiagnosed.
Do make yourself familiar with the symptoms of keto acidosis, but checking just how much carbohydrate you are eating might help - the 'healthy' label given to some brown versions of starch do not cut it for many type 2's.

 

[Leadinglights]

Those blood glucose readings are not very consistent with an HbA1C of only 57mmol/mol. However that is an average over the previous 3 months so those high readings you are getting now implies something more recent is going on. Covid or any sort of illness can increase levels which is normally only temporary.
I would keep a food diary so you can show your GP what you are eating along with blood glucose readings.
Metformin may help but not immediately as it works away in the background rather than directly on food helping the body use the insulin it is producing more effectively and reducing the release of glucose by the liver.
I would see /talk to your GP as a matter of urgency or ring 111 if you feel particularly unwell.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis @tankleton

It does sound like you need a review, or possibly to contact NHS111. Those levels must be making you feel pretty grim

Be careful if you experience shortness of breath, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, a ‘nailvarnish remover’ or ‘pear drop’ smell on your breath. Those could indicate a different type of diabetes requiring immediate emergency attention at A&E.

Let us know how things go