New type 2

[shiffcam13]

Received diagnosis 2 weeks ago. I had lost quite a lot of weight but put it down to stress, then when started feeling very thirsty thought I had better see the doctor. My blood glucose levels were very high, was prescribed Metformin and Gliclazide immediately. I was not overweight and exercise regularly. Felt quite overwhelmed, scared and ashamed with the diagnosis. Immediately started on a self imposed low carb diet. Am testing BG levels 4 times a day at present.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @shiffcam13 🙂 You mention weight loss. That can be a symptom of Type 1 diabetes. Has that been ruled out? Contrary to popular opinion, Type 1 is not just a childhood condition. It can develop at any age.

How high was your blood sugar at diagnosis? Did they test for ketones? What’s your blood sugar like now?

 

[shiffcam13]

Welcome @shiffcam13 🙂 You mention weight loss. That can be a symptom of Type 1 diabetes. Has that been ruled out? Contrary to popular opinion, Type 1 is not just a childhood condition. It can develop at any age.

How high was your blood sugar at diagnosis? Did they test for ketones? What’s your blood sugar like now?

Thanks so much for your reply. Hba1c 112 which I believe is very high. Doc said no ketones but have appointment this week so will confirm that again. Blood sugars vary, today 9.2, 5.5, 5.2 then 7.1 all taken before meals.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks so much for your reply. Hba1c 112 which I believe is very high. Doc said no ketones but have appointment this week so will confirm that again. Blood sugars vary, today 9.2, 5.5, 5.2 then 7.1 all taken before meals.

In order to find out if the meals you are having are being tolerated then you need also to test 2 hours after you eat. Those before meal readings would not really explain the high HbA1C unless you have now substantially changed your dietary regime. But it could be your after meal readings are consistently higher than 2-3mmol/l more than before because you are having loo much carbohydrate.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.

Your situation is very much like mine 3 years ago. Same HbA1c, same sudden onset symptoms. No ketones.... Doctors sometimes use that as an informal means of diagnosing Type 1 but it certainly isn't fool proof. I appreciate that your levels have come down into range with a low carb diet, but do explain to the Dr or nurse just how extreme you are needing to be with your diet to achieve those results. Sometimes, particularly if Type 1 is suspected, following a low carb way of eating can delay a proper diagnosis and cause confusion. Thankfully I was referred to a consultant who authorised the Type 1 tests (C-peptide and GAD antibody) to confirm my diagnosis as Type 1 and not the Type 2 label I was initially ascribed. I hope you are able to push for this testing or a specialist referral. The unexplained weight loss is a tell tale factor between the two Types at diagnosis.

Make yourself at home on the forum. It is a goldmine of knowledge and experience and will prove immensely helpful regardless of which Type you turn out to be. Feel free to ask any questions you have or just reach out for support or have a good rant at the unfairness of it all. These are all very valid functions of the forum. Good luck with your diabetes journey. It is a marathon and not a sprint so pace yourself carefully. It is easy to burn out and do be careful of reducing carb intake too quickly as dramatic changes in HbA1c over a short period of time can risk damage to the fragile fine blood vessels in the eyes. Low carb is a very powerful tool in lowering BG.... much more so than almost any other medication. Slow and steady changes are safer all round.

 

[Inka]

Thanks so much for your reply. Hba1c 112 which I believe is very high. Doc said no ketones but have appointment this week so will confirm that again. Blood sugars vary, today 9.2, 5.5, 5.2 then 7.1 all taken before meals.

I’d still ask for Type 1 to be ruled out. I’m Type 1 and my blood sugar was almost 30 at diagnosis, but it was quite erratic and did come down without insulin as my body was spurting out random amounts of its own insulin early on. That was with a normal diet. As @rebrascora says, eating low carb can mask Type 1 and delay the correct diagnosis.

 

[shiffcam13]

Thanks for your replies. The nurse mentioned possible referral to a diabetic clinic to investigate further so will ask about that again. Am realising now that it could be a long journey

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @shiffcam13

Hope the further investigations clarify things for you, and you can be put on an appropriate treatment regimen.

A referral to a specialist clinic sounds like a good idea if there’s a possibility you may be T1 - or even just to rule that out.

Let us know how things go 🙂

 

[shiffcam13]

Hi. Saw doc yesterday and she was happy how much levels have come down, altho has increased metformin to 2 500mg in morning with the Gliclazide then 1 500g with dinner. Keeping this under review. Apparently there were ketones in most recent sample however doc consulted with hospital team and they are not concerned at this time as meds and diet change underway. Doc suggested only testing levels twice a day but will test before and after some meals for my own info. Cholesterol high too but have refused statins at this time till next blood tests and if not starting to come down with dietary and exercise changes will start then. Doc happy with this for now. Struggling to find things to eat low carb and low fat without losing more weight - am 8 stone 5’ 2 “ and small frame so am within Range at the mo Hoping can be referred to dietician to help. Basically been told to continue as I’m doing and we will see what results are like after another 10 weeks.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi. Saw doc yesterday and she was happy how much levels have come down, altho has increased metformin to 2 500mg in morning with the Gliclazide then 1 500g with dinner. Keeping this under review. Apparently there were ketones in most recent sample however doc consulted with hospital team and they are not concerned at this time as meds and diet change underway. Doc suggested only testing levels twice a day but will test before and after some meals for my own info. Cholesterol high too but have refused statins at this time till next blood tests and if not starting to come down with dietary and exercise changes will start then. Doc happy with this for now. Struggling to find things to eat low carb and low fat without losing more weight - am 8 stone 5’ 2 “ and small frame so am within Range at the mo Hoping can be referred to dietician to help. Basically been told to continue as I’m doing and we will see what results are like after another 10 weeks.

To stop weight loss or maintain weight then people suggest increasing healthy fats and protein so would that be an option for you. Many people do find by going low carb their cholesterol also reduces despite increasing fats.
Things like avocado, nuts, eggs, There are some quark based deserts which are high protein, low carb and low fat, Kvarg in various flavours.

 

[shiffcam13]

Thank you that’s really helpful. Will give them a try