I'm pleased to join you - there's so much great information here. I hope it's OK that I live in New Zealand. I was diagnosed Type 2 in mid May after feeling heavily fatigued and constantly thirsty, and having minor skin issues. My HB1AC was 120. A couple of years ago I was 93kg and I was down to about 83kg when diagnosed. I'm 180cm tall, 44 years old. A month after diagnosis my HB1AC has dropped from 120 to 75, so I hope it's on track for a decent number for three months after diagnosis. I've lost more weight - now I'm just under 80kg. I'm being strict about what I eat but I'm still very much on a learning curve, especially with carbs. My test numbers are almost always in the 6s or 7s after meals. I'm on 2000mg Metformin per day and was also put on Vildagliptin. Unfortunately I have been sleeping badly, and feeling exhausted, suffering from stomach cramps, back ache, and a sometimes stabby pain in my lower left abdomen. Heat offers some relief, so I would get up for hot showers in the night. My doctor put this down to constipation (I have suffered from this before) flared up with meds. He took me off the Vildagliptin and I immediately felt much better, but I'm still feeling delicate and crampy, having been a few days now on strong laxative pills. I'm getting a walk in every day but that's all the exercise I've felt up to. My hands have felt stiffer than normal but haven't lost strength. Blood pressure is good. I feel like if I can get my gut sorted I can then get some proper rest and would be better placed to deal with the diabetes.
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- Thread starter Dave79
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Felinia
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hello, welcome and well done.
You have made excellent progress lowering your HbA1c by so much. Your BMI is perfect in the normal range for your weight and height, so all your hard work has paid off.
Metformin is notorious for causing stomach and bowel issues. If you are on the standard version, you can request the slow release version (which I assume is available in NZ), as it's much kinder on the internal workings. The pills should be taken in the middle of a meal (a sort of pill sandwich). The "gliptin" you were taking worked to remove the glucose by increasing the urine output, so you should have been told to increase your fluid intake. You might find an online app like MyFitnessPal will help you manage your carb intake.
I am wondering from your description of your pains whether or not you might actually have Diverticular Disease (DD) as well. Pain in the low left side with cramps is the absolute classic symptom (I'm a 25 year veteran DD sufferer). Have you ever had a colonoscopy, or scan which are the classic diagnostic tools? I was originally told constipation, then IBS, before the colonoscopy gave the correct diagnosis. If that is the case, laxatives are not a good idea. I've attached copies of what I was given on diagnosis. If you think it relevant, you might ask your doctor but I am aware the cost is around $2000+.
You have made excellent progress lowering your HbA1c by so much. Your BMI is perfect in the normal range for your weight and height, so all your hard work has paid off.
Metformin is notorious for causing stomach and bowel issues. If you are on the standard version, you can request the slow release version (which I assume is available in NZ), as it's much kinder on the internal workings. The pills should be taken in the middle of a meal (a sort of pill sandwich). The "gliptin" you were taking worked to remove the glucose by increasing the urine output, so you should have been told to increase your fluid intake. You might find an online app like MyFitnessPal will help you manage your carb intake.
I am wondering from your description of your pains whether or not you might actually have Diverticular Disease (DD) as well. Pain in the low left side with cramps is the absolute classic symptom (I'm a 25 year veteran DD sufferer). Have you ever had a colonoscopy, or scan which are the classic diagnostic tools? I was originally told constipation, then IBS, before the colonoscopy gave the correct diagnosis. If that is the case, laxatives are not a good idea. I've attached copies of what I was given on diagnosis. If you think it relevant, you might ask your doctor but I am aware the cost is around $2000+.
Thank you! Your kind words and advice are heartening. I did wonder about DD, after looking up my symptoms. I mentioned it to my doctor who said "possibly..." but didn't show much inclination to explore it further. On his advice I've been upping my fibre intake again and have found a small helping of porridge for breakfast hasn't sent my numbers awry. I always used to have bran flakes but my sugars seem to go a little high with them. I wondered if a colonography might be better than a colonoscopy, should I need it. I feel in a bit of a quandry about whether or not to lay off the laxatives, but at least I have had some relief for each of the last three mornings. I know it's not good to be on them for long periods. I also worry that if misdiagnosed I could eat things and take things that will make me feel worse rather than better. Fortunately my eyesight is much better again, closer to what it was. I couldn't drive for a couple of weeks.
@Dave79 welcome to the forum.
It appears your HbA1C (which is a 2 and a half to 3 month average) has dropped by almost 40% in a litlte over 1 month. I'm glad your eyesight is now OK, because dropping this fast and by so much puts quite a strain on it.
You have also dropped 3Kg in the same time, which is about as fast as is advisable (both for re-absorption of loose skin and also for transitioning to a weight maintenance diet). So well done (and lucky you on the eye front).
Because the HbA1C is an average, your current p(predicted HbA1C level) is much lower than 75, it is probably below 48! So you are almost certainly currently pre-diabetic or even down in the normal range (depending upon that that is in NZ (here in UK that is below 42, it's lower than that in the USA).
It appears your HbA1C (which is a 2 and a half to 3 month average) has dropped by almost 40% in a litlte over 1 month. I'm glad your eyesight is now OK, because dropping this fast and by so much puts quite a strain on it.
You have also dropped 3Kg in the same time, which is about as fast as is advisable (both for re-absorption of loose skin and also for transitioning to a weight maintenance diet). So well done (and lucky you on the eye front).
Because the HbA1C is an average, your current p(predicted HbA1C level) is much lower than 75, it is probably below 48! So you are almost certainly currently pre-diabetic or even down in the normal range (depending upon that that is in NZ (here in UK that is below 42, it's lower than that in the USA).
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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Thank you all for the encouragement. If I can just get some sleep (I only managed four hours last night) and better digestion then I think I can get some energy and positivity back. It's an emotional rollercoaster but I'm realising I've been fortunate as well.
Feeling good today with my latest HbA1c reading.
18 May (diagnosis): 120 (weight 83kg)
26 June: 75 (80kg)
7 August: 53 (77 kg)
Two months of horrible digestion issues pretty much cleared up about ten days ago with reduction from 2x Metformin twice a day, to 1x Metformin three times a day. My prick test numbers are much the same. I'll try hard to stick to my new diet and keep up the exercise.
18 May (diagnosis): 120 (weight 83kg)
26 June: 75 (80kg)
7 August: 53 (77 kg)
Two months of horrible digestion issues pretty much cleared up about ten days ago with reduction from 2x Metformin twice a day, to 1x Metformin three times a day. My prick test numbers are much the same. I'll try hard to stick to my new diet and keep up the exercise.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Many congratulations - excellent result
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
My other half found Nytol herbal helped with sleep.
Thank you, fortunately I am sleeping much better now that my digestion issues have settled down, but it's good to hear of that for possible future use.
Some more improvement:
18 May (diagnosis): 120 mmol/mol (weight 83kg)
26 June: 75 (80kg)
7 August: 53 (77kg)
15 November: 43 (76kg)
I still get clogged up on the digestion front at times, keeping up fresh veg and hydration seem to be key but every now and then I need to resort to laxatives. My cholesterol is on the high side so I'm now on statins.
18 May (diagnosis): 120 mmol/mol (weight 83kg)
26 June: 75 (80kg)
7 August: 53 (77kg)
15 November: 43 (76kg)
I still get clogged up on the digestion front at times, keeping up fresh veg and hydration seem to be key but every now and then I need to resort to laxatives. My cholesterol is on the high side so I'm now on statins.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
'laxatives' are different in how they act depending on what the problem is, frequency or consistency and finding the correct one should help your problem together with staying well hydrated.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
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Great stuff Dave! All of your hard work is definitely paying off!
Hope your regularity improves. Some members here find chia seeds or psyllium husk can help with that.
Hope the statins improve your cholesterol results.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
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- Type 1
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- She/Her
I use a combination of chia seeds and psyllium husk in a drink. Some people sprinkle it on food but I find it is important for it to be in plenty of fluid so that it can absorb the water a bit before I drink it. That makes it quite gloopy but it doesn't have any flavour other than whatever I put in the water. For me that is a glug of ACV and balsamic vinegar and about an inch of diet cola. (I know I am a bit weird 🙄) Another member puts his chia seeds in his coffee which then becomes a sort of coffee porridge. (he is probably also weird 😉) The key thing is that it needs plenty of fluids with the fibre supplement otherwise it will make the constipation worse. Basically you are creating a bulk of soluble fibre gel which moves through your gut taking everything with it. The soluble fibre is also beneficial I believe for reducing cholesterol and chia seeds are high in Omega 3 fatty acids so a bit of a superfood.
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