Newbie saying hello and sharing story/concerns

[Bobbyboyyy]

Hello everyone. My name is Rob, I’m 55 and currently in shock & not to mention a tad worried. My story so far....
I am a Coach Driver Generally fit and healthy and enjoying my job! In the last few weeks I have been experiencing a number of symptoms that I have not had before. I was aware of how much I was drinking. I couldn’t get enough water and any cold drinks. I was also rushing to the toilet many times a day, also several times a night. I put this down to how much I was
Drinking and the weather. I then had problems with my sight, everything was blurred and out of focus, not good for a coach driver. I put that down to being tired but this didn’t improve. I visited my Dr who did a finger prick test. The result was 19 although I didn’t know what that meant she said it should be about 5! I was sent for a
Blood test the next day and after that I was contacted to see the Diabetes Nurse the next day. On arrival she told me I had t2 and handed me a
BS Monitor, told me I’d be using it for the rest of my life. Put me on tablets and checked my BS which was at 27. I’m so confused as I’m checking my BS several times a day and it is well
over 20 and has got to 32. It is very early stages and I’m waiting to find out about all the appointments I’m to have. I still can’t see properly and the readings seem so high. Not sure what to do. DN is phoning me tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll get some answers then. Guess I’m looking for some reassurance. So glad I found this forum tho

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis @Bobbyboyyy but glad you found the forum so soon.

Did you experience any weight loss over the period prior to your diagnosis? And was your onset rapid? Just wondering whether you might have been checked for ketones too?

Hopefully you will get a confirmed diagnosis soon, but it is helpful to be clear about which of the many types you may have. T2 is more common later in life but 50% of T1s are diagnosed older than 18, and LADA is a more slowly developing T1 which occurs later in life.

For now you can try to restrict the carbohydrates you are eating (all carbohydrates, not only sugary things) as these will be pushing your BGs upwards.

There are also lots of useful links in the sticky post at the top of the newbies section.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Hello @Bobbyboyyy and welcome 🙂

I agree with everything Mike said - with readings that high it's possible you may be type 1 or type 1.5, especially as your blood sugar seems to be going up rather than down despite starting the tablets. Your GP may not realise it's possible to develop type 1 as an adult - a lot don't know much about it as they will mostly see type 2s.

Hopefully the diabetes nurse will be able to help (have you been referred to a hospital diabetes specialist nurse or just to the diabetes nurse at the surgery? A hospital DSN will be more knowledgeable if you can get to see one, and the surgery nurse may be able to arrange a referral for you). It's also worth asking which tests you've had done - if it was just an HbA1c (standard test for diabetes, shows blood sugar levels over the last 3 months) it's worth asking about having tests to ensure you have type 2 and not type 1 (blood tests to check for antibodies and to see whether your body's still producing insulin, as well as basic test for ketones), as these aren't always done.

In the meanwhile do try to cut down on carbs, as Mike says (things like pasta, pizza, white bread, and fruit are as bad as sugary foods, if not worse!) and drink pints of water as that should help. Eat stacks of leafy veg and fill up on protein and dairy. But if you start to feel really ill, please go to A&E and tell them how high your blood sugar is.

Don't panic though - as you say it's still early stages, and it can take a while to get your blood sugar to sensible levels, but once you have, whether it's type 1 or type 2, diabetes is manageable!

 

[KARNAK]

Hi @Bobbyboyyy and Welcome. I think everything has been well advised for the moment. Follow the Forum
and try not to be too overwhelmed. It`s a great place to be lots of friends and sound advice.🙂

 

[Bobbyboyyy]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis @Bobbyboyyy but glad you found the forum so soon.

Did you experience any weight loss over the period prior to your diagnosis? And was your onset rapid? Just wondering whether you might have been checked for ketones too?

Hopefully you will get a confirmed diagnosis soon, but it is helpful to be clear about which of the many types you may have. T2 is more common later in life but 50% of T1s are diagnosed older than 18, and LADA is a more slowly developing T1 which occurs later in life.

For now you can try to restrict the carbohydrates you are eating (all carbohydrates, not only sugary things) as these will be pushing your BGs upwards.

There are also lots of useful links in the sticky post at the top of the newbies section.

Hi Mike,
Thank you for the welcome and advice. My symptoms all seemed to come over a few weeks although could of been longer. Losing weight, drinking loads, weeing loads especially overnight and then the blurred out of focus eyes that I still have. I have been on steroids to combat a skin condition and this could be an agrivating factor. The GP Dia Nurse has confirmed T2 but I might ask her about that. I haven’t had HbA1c result yet. So I’m guessing they will know a bit more when I get that...Thanks again

 

[Bobbyboyyy]

Hello @Bobbyboyyy and welcome 🙂

I agree with everything Mike said - with readings that high it's possible you may be type 1 or type 1.5, especially as your blood sugar seems to be going up rather than down despite starting the tablets. Your GP may not realise it's possible to develop type 1 as an adult - a lot don't know much about it as they will mostly see type 2s.

Hopefully the diabetes nurse will be able to help (have you been referred to a hospital diabetes specialist nurse or just to the diabetes nurse at the surgery? A hospital DSN will be more knowledgeable if you can get to see one, and the surgery nurse may be able to arrange a referral for you). It's also worth asking which tests you've had done - if it was just an HbA1c (standard test for diabetes, shows blood sugar levels over the last 3 months) it's worth asking about having tests to ensure you have type 2 and not type 1 (blood tests to check for antibodies and to see whether your body's still producing insulin, as well as basic test for ketones), as these aren't always done.

In the meanwhile do try to cut down on carbs, as Mike says (things like pasta, pizza, white bread, and fruit are as bad as sugary foods, if not worse!) and drink pints of water as that should help. Eat stacks of leafy veg and fill up on protein and dairy. But if you start to feel really ill, please go to A&E and tell them how high your blood sugar is.

Don't panic though - as you say it's still early stages, and it can take a while to get your blood sugar to sensible levels, but once you have, whether it's type 1 or type 2, diabetes is manageable!

Thank you Juliet. It is a little overwhelming at the moment but this is such a great resource and community

 

[Bobbyboyyy]

Hi @Bobbyboyyy and Welcome. I think everything has been well advised for the moment. Follow the Forum
and try not to be too overwhelmed. It`s a great place to be lots of friends and sound advice.🙂

Thank you Ted. I do agree

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi Mike,
Thank you for the welcome and advice. My symptoms all seemed to come over a few weeks although could of been longer. Losing weight, drinking loads, weeing loads especially overnight and then the blurred out of focus eyes that I still have. I have been on steroids to combat a skin condition and this could be an agrivating factor. The GP Dia Nurse has confirmed T2 but I might ask her about that. I haven’t had HbA1c result yet. So I’m guessing they will know a bit more when I get that...Thanks again

Steroids certainly can play havoc with BGs, generally sending them skywards. Still worth asking the questinos about classification thought, especially if your numbers don't start to come into range soon.

 

[Bobbyboyyy]

Thanks Mike. Will do

 

[Bubbsie]

Blood test the next day and after that I was contacted to see the Diabetes Nurse the next day. On arrival she told me I had t2 and handed me a
BS Monitor, told me I’d be using it for the rest of my life. Put me on tablets and checked my BS which was at 27. I’m so confused as I’m checking my BS several times a day and it is well
over 20 and has got to 32. It is very early stages and I’m waiting to find out about all the appointments I’m to have. I still can’t see properly and the readings seem so high. Not sure what to do. DN is phoning me tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll get some answers then. Guess I’m looking for some reassurance. So glad I found this forum tho

Hi Bobby firstly I would say don't panic there really is no need...secondly I'd say one of the best things you could do would be to get hold of a copy of Type 2 Diabetes The First Year written by Gretchen Becker...she is type 2 herself & writes about her diabetes from diagnosis onwards month by month...it explains how/why diabetes develops...details how to best manage it...reduce our blood sugar levels...what diet & activity can do for us plus she dispels many of the myths surrounding type 2...you can even preview the book on Amazon before deciding to buy it or borrowing it from your library...it's well written & easy to follow I can't recommend it highly enough...you can reduce your levels...many of us here have been diagnosed with similar levels if not higher ones (I was)...try to get a copy of the book it is such a worthwhile investment...if you have any specific questions post them here...I have no doubt one of the many experienced T2's here would be happy to give you the benefit of their experience...your DSN has a very negative view of how diabetes can be managed...that's not uncommon...I'm not saying it's easy...it does involve hard work & a change of life style...but it can be done...good luck.

 

[Smitha]

Don't you worry Bobby. We all have been there once and trust me you will feel really better soon and give it sometime for the meds to work. In the meantime it is better to get your HbA1c checked and I am sure your DN will have more answers for you. This forum is great and all are very helpful so please use it well. Good luck.

 

[Grannylorraine]

Welcome to the forum, it is quite a shock when you get that diagnosis.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

My symptoms all seemed to come over a few weeks although could of been longer. Losing weight, drinking loads, weeing loads especially overnight and then the blurred out of focus eyes that I still have.

Sudden onset of symptoms and weight loss are both classic indicators of type 1 (all the other symptoms you had could be either type), so I'd echo Mike about getting the classification checked with further tests. They won't be able to tell from the HbA1c, and the surgery diabetes nurse may not realise how many people develop type 1 as adults - like the GP, she'll see mostly type 2s.

Either way, I hope you can get the readings down soon and start feeling better. I had really blurred vision when I was diagnosed - it was the first sign I had that anything was wrong - so I know how scary that can be. It cleared up within a few weeks once my blood sugar was back down to normal.

 

[CathyB]

Hi Mike,
Thank you for the welcome and advice. My symptoms all seemed to come over a few weeks although could of been longer. Losing weight, drinking loads, weeing loads especially overnight and then the blurred out of focus eyes that I still have. I have been on steroids to combat a skin condition and this could be an agrivating factor. The GP Dia Nurse has confirmed T2 but I might ask her about that. I haven’t had HbA1c result yet. So I’m guessing they will know a bit more when I get that...Thanks again

Hi Bobby, your story could be my own, that’s exactly the symptoms I had so I completely get how you must have felt, the blurred vision when driving was awful and with hindsight I shouldn’t have been on the road. What I can tell you is that my eyesight is now back to normal, the thirst is back to normal.....as is the peeing! My bloods are down from a starting point of 22 to a nice even 5.5ish so you can do it! The approach I took was low carb, I cut out rice, pasta, potatoes and the only bread I eat is Burgen (most supermarkets), it’s a soya and linseed low carb and works great for a sandwich or toast. Be careful with fruit, the guide is about two small pieces a day but test before then 2 hrs after to see how you tolerate it.

 

[Bobbyboyyy]

Hi Bobby, your story could be my own, that’s exactly the symptoms I had so I completely get how you must have felt, the blurred vision when driving was awful and with hindsight I shouldn’t have been on the road. What I can tell you is that my eyesight is now back to normal, the thirst is back to normal.....as is the peeing! My bloods are down from a starting point of 22 to a nice even 5.5ish so you can do it! The approach I took was low carb, I cut out rice, pasta, potatoes and the only bread I eat is Burgen (most supermarkets), it’s a soya and linseed low carb and works great for a sandwich or toast. Be careful with fruit, the guide is about two small pieces a day but test before then 2 hrs after to see how you tolerate it.

Thank you that’s eeally encouraging

Welcome to the forum, it is quite a shock when you get that diagnosis.

thank you

Welcome to the forum, it is quite a shock when you get that diagnosis.

Don't you worry Bobby. We all have been there once and trust me you will feel really better soon and give it sometime for the meds to work. In the meantime it is better to get your HbA1c checked and I am sure your DN will have more answers for you. This forum is great and all are very helpful so please use it well. Good luck.

I’m still trying to work everything out. HbA1c has been done and I’m back to the dr on Monday could be on Insulin soon I have asked the question could it be type 1 and they haven’t ruled that out. Thank you...

 

[Maz2]

Welcome to the Forum.. I cannot add any more to what they have already said. I wonder too if it may be late onset Type 1.

 

[Radders]

Hi Bobby, glad you found us. How are you today?

 

[Bobbyboyyy]

Tomorrow can’t come soon enough! (Monday) Bgs are still over 15mmol. Went to bed at 15.2 checked first thing in morning 15.7 so went up during fasting...Dr have double my med to max and no real difference yet. Feet tingle feel a bit spaced. Blurred vision still. Expecting more info on whether type 1 and poss insulin...Just checked 2 hours after breakfast and now 27.2. Some say I should be in hospital!!

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

What did you have for breakfast, @Bobbyboyyy ? I'm just wondering whether it was something which could explain that rise in blood sugar or not.

I'm glad they haven't ruled out type 1 though - an open minded doctor is a good thing! At the very least, ask them to check you for ketones (or just go to chemist and get some Ketostix and follow the instructions for a basic urine test). If you have ketoacidosis you should indeed be in hospital, but otherwise it may be a matter of having more tests and/or trying different meds until they get your blood sugar down. It may mean a bit of a wait, as some of the tests for type 1 can take a while to get back from the lab. The doctor may decide it's safer to put you on insulin while you are waiting, or may want to try a different type 2 med first.

 

[Maz2]

Tomorrow can’t come soon enough! (Monday) Bgs are still over 15mmol. Went to bed at 15.2 checked first thing in morning 15.7 so went up during fasting...Dr have double my med to max and no real difference yet. Feet tingle feel a bit spaced. Blurred vision still. Expecting more info on whether type 1 and poss insulin...Just checked 2 hours after breakfast and now 27.2. Some say I should be in hospital!!

I have a friend who has been diabetic for some time and having problems with control at the moment. He has been in hospital with these sort of levels but, hopefully, something will be done tomorrow.