Newbie - Not sure what type - very confusing at the moment!

[aldie2020]

Hi All,
My name is Alex. I am 24 years old and like a few on here have recently accidentally been diagnosed with Diabetes.
This is my first forum.
I do not really have any symptoms that I would have been concerned about before the diagnosis, maybe drinking and weeing a bit more? Hard as I think I may be imagining a tingly foot since I heard about that one...

My timing is fantastic, get a new diagnosis normally managed by group sessions and nurse and doctors appointments in the early stages just as we're all not allowed to so much as look at eachother! Haha!

I'm keeping positive and using the phone line to my Diabetes Nurses. I had two random blood tests; 18.1; 14.2; about a week apart same time in the morning and a HbA1c of 65. I'll be honest I have no idea whether this is particularly high (I know 48 is the maximum for non diabetic). My GP has admitted he is leaning on the diabetes team at the hospital to steer him before he will tell me whether he thinks I am Type 1 or 2. I have been started on the Type 2 journey for now.

With regard to COVID-19, currently I am following self-isolation rules, I'm have no symptoms but I don't know what my blood sugar is until Monday when I am going to meet a nurse and be given a blood glucose meter and taught to use it. I am lucky that so-far my employer has been very good and supported me fully (Only started with them in January!).

My questions at the moment to the DUK community:
1. Is my HbA1c high?
2. What is people's interpretation of the social-distancing/self-isolation rules?

Nice to know this is here, and thank you to all who take a moment to chat with me.

Thanks

Alex

 

[Drummer]

Your Hba1c is not all that high but needs addressing. The usual first thing to try is reduction of carbohydrate in the diet starches as well as sugars as it is very effective.

 

[Docb]

Hi Alex, sounds like your GP surgery is on the ball. I take it you are not overweight - that usually gets you dumped into the T2 box straight away without too much ceremony.

In answer to your questions, Drummer is quite right, your HBA1c is not particularly high but getting to work on it now will stop it going higher. The suggestions on isolation are all guidelines not rules. As such they are a bit fuzzy round the edges and how they are to be interpreted depends on who you listen to. Reality is be sensible. Objective for nearly everybody is to slow down the spread so that the NHS can cope. Some need to avoid infection because their health is really compromised. If they get it they will simply add to the NHS's problems big time and in the worst cases trouble the undertaker.

Personally I am going about my daily life as normal except I cannot go out for a brew. Being over 70 and with diabetes, I simply avoid crowded places and any unnecessary close contact with strangers. I also keep an eye on the local statistics and might change behaviour if a hot spot develops in this area.

 

[Tee G]

Hi @aldie2020 - Welcom to the forum. I know its difficult for you right now, made worse by the current national situation. Its also a little difficult for us to advise you specifically, as you dont yet know your full diagnosis. But until then, you could make use of this 'home-time' and read through the forums and threads to gain a broad appreciation of the condition. A lot of it wont apply to you, but its interesting nonetheless.

Useful links for people new to diabetes
if you have ANY questions, just post them up and someone will be along to try to help point you in the right direction. Just remember, diabetes is a very individual process, we all react slightly differently to foods/meds. But in time, you will find your own path. We are here to help you do just that.

Good luck

 

[KARNAK]

Hello Alex welcome to the forum, glad you are getting a meter on Monday and you have access to your DSN. keep us informed about your progress lots of help on here. take care.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello @aldie2020

Welcome to the forum!

Hope you get some clarity around your diabetes type soon - it must be unnerving to not quite know something so fundamental.

As others have said, your HbA1c is higher than ‘normal’, but we have had new members with much higher ones who were able to go on to manage their diabetes very successfully, some even getting theirs down into the ‘nondiabetic’ range.

Advice for people with diabetes is to be extra careful about hand washing, and social distancing. We are not recommended to opt for full isolation yet - though a few members have chosen to do that because of additional health concerns.

 

[trophywench]

Well frankly I'll be completely gobsmacked Aldie, if you do land up being properly diagnosed Type 2.

 

[Inka]

Hi @aldie2020

Your HbA1c is high but not super-high. However, don’t assume this means you’re Type 2 - and more importantly don’t let your HCPs assume you’re Type 2.

Re social distancing, I avoid anywhere likely to be crowded, and stay away from people - a minimum of 2 metres away but preferably 3 or more metres. Frankly, I’d do that even if I didn’t have diabetes.

I hope your meeting with the nurse goes well.

 

[aldie2020]

Hi All,
Thank you so much for your replies - I did read them and they were appreciated!

Gold stars to:
KARNAK, Docb, TEEG for encouragement to come back and update
everydayupsanddowns for fast replies
trophywench for 6th sense. - Type 1 it is.

I'm very lucky apart from being a little stingy on prescription amounts my GP has been great, and my DSN is brilliant too. I was always told I could (and DSN and friend who is a peads DSN always thought it was T1) be T1.

I have been diagnosed Type I a month ago following original diabetes diagnosis (GADs test was pretty swift all things considered). I spent a little bit of time on Metformin (which my body rejected severely - no more graphic descriptions from me, but you know what I mean 😉 ). After a couple of weeks on no meds and after I used a CGM for a month (I was given one by a friend and then DSN gave a second sensor to see if I need any insulin.)
I started NovoRapid & Lantus last week and actually am getting on really well. Levels are nearly always in range (they are peaking shortly after meal I've seen when checking for driving) but generally very good. I think my pancreas is still doing most of the heavy lifting which is making it easier and expect some hiccups as it packs up fully! There's just so much paraphernalia to carry about now!

I'm on such tiny doses and suspect there is an element of building habits to the amounts I'm using:
1 unit NovoRapid Breakfast & Lunch
0 - 3 units depending on meal at Dinner

3 units of Lantus at bed.

I have also discovered this website to make your own Medical ID which is very useful - I then laminated it using the iron and a tea towel with just some laminating pouches so very cheap. http://allfreeprintable.com/cont/frm/pdf/frm-emgid-1.pdf

Thank you again for the warm welcome.

Alex

 

[Deleted member 27171]

Hi Alex,

Great to see you have got a diagnosis of type now, unsurprisingly getting the right treatment makes the world of difference as you've already seen.

Are you staying under the GP for your treatment or have you been referred to hospital clinic now?

Great move having a DSN friend! 🙂 Bet you never thought you'd need their professional advice.

Thanks for coming back with the update.

 

[trophywench]

I'm very pleased you now have a proper diagnosis Alex.

Just the right speciality - after all, Paediatric medicos have to have inbuilt ESP to succeed for long since some of their patients haven't learned to even speak, yet!

 

[stephknits]

Glad you have a diagnosis sorted and can move forward. Hopefully if you haven't already ,you can start carb counting and then have more freedom with what you eat.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for the update @aldie2020

Glad you’ve had your diagnosis properly confirmed.

Sounds like you are getting on really well - have you been given 0.5u pens? I would imagine one would be very helpful on your doses.

Another possibility for you to consider for a little more precision might be an insulin pump of course?

 

[Deleted member 25429]

Hi All,
Thank you so much for your replies - I did read them and they were appreciated!

Gold stars to:
KARNAK, Docb, TEEG for encouragement to come back and update
everydayupsanddowns for fast replies
trophywench for 6th sense. - Type 1 it is.

I'm very lucky apart from being a little stingy on prescription amounts my GP has been great, and my DSN is brilliant too. I was always told I could (and DSN and friend who is a peads DSN always thought it was T1) be T1.

I have been diagnosed Type I a month ago following original diabetes diagnosis (GADs test was pretty swift all things considered). I spent a little bit of time on Metformin (which my body rejected severely - no more graphic descriptions from me, but you know what I mean 😉 ). After a couple of weeks on no meds and after I used a CGM for a month (I was given one by a friend and then DSN gave a second sensor to see if I need any insulin.)
I started NovoRapid & Lantus last week and actually am getting on really well. Levels are nearly always in range (they are peaking shortly after meal I've seen when checking for driving) but generally very good. I think my pancreas is still doing most of the heavy lifting which is making it easier and expect some hiccups as it packs up fully! There's just so much paraphernalia to carry about now!

I'm on such tiny doses and suspect there is an element of building habits to the amounts I'm using:
1 unit NovoRapid Breakfast & Lunch
0 - 3 units depending on meal at Dinner

3 units of Lantus at bed.

I have also discovered this website to make your own Medical ID which is very useful - I then laminated it using the iron and a tea towel with just some laminating pouches so very cheap. http://allfreeprintable.com/cont/frm/pdf/frm-emgid-1.pdf

Thank you again for the warm welcome.

Alex

I’m a year in and I only take about 6/7 units a day , I’m very low carb and walk a lot . As they say on here you need what you need .

 

[Deleted member 25429]

I’m a year in and I only take about 6/7 units a day , I’m very low carb and walk a lot . As they say on here you need what you need .

By the way I have a 1/2 u pen makes life a lot easier when you only need small doses

 

[SB2015]

Half unit pens are very useful @aldie2020 , especially on the low doses that you are using at present.
Well worth asking about these.

Very glad that you have a proper diagnosis now and appropriate treatment.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum @aldie2020 but sorry you have to be here. 🙂