Newbie

[Chartom3]

Hi all, I havent been feeling to well lately so went to see my doctor and had some blood tests done which came back with a HbAlc reading of 96 which i beleive is pretty high. Doctor is pretty sure i have diabetes but need to get another blood test to confirm.New to all this so looking some advice on what might happen next and how things are going to change for me moving forward. Thanks.

 

[Windy]

Hi Chartom3, sorry to hear that you've been feeling poorly. My HbA1c was 82 at diagnosis, and I've looked at my diet and tried to lose weight, and have got it down to 36. So, whilst I appreciate it's not good news, you can get advice from your GP/nurse or go on a diabetes course if they're offered in your area, and make a change.
I read a couple of books on diabetes, and can recommend "Life without Diabetes" by Professor Roy Taylor, as I found it helpful.
There's lots of ways to address your type 2, and some of them conflict other advice... so my advice is to find something that works for you, for me it was weight loss (inspired by Roy Taylor and people on this forum), some people do low carb, or follow particular diets/medication.
Take stock of where you are now and make a plan. You don't have to do everything at once, you can make small changes like go for a walk after dinner each day, or have a smaller breakfast if you want to lose weight, or do follow the NHS exercise videos etc.
I'm sure others will pitch in, but best of luck and keep asking questions,
Sarah

 

[Windy]

.New to all this so looking some advice on what might happen next and how things are going to change for me moving forward. Thanks .

Sorry, missed answering this bit, you'll get a second blood test, and that'll confirm the diagnosis. It has to be 48 or over for a diagnosis.
After that you can expect to be referred for yearly eye screening if it's done in your area, this is where they take a photo of the back of the eye to see if the D has done any damage.
Also, you'll get referrals to perhaps, a diabetes course, or weight loss advice if they're offered, or foot screening where they check to see that the sensation in your feet is ok. You also get six monthly blood tests to see what your HbA1c is doing, and referrals for other things, for instance, I had markers in my blood for fatty liver, and was referred for a liver scan (came back fine, but the wait for the scan was a year, and I'd dropped 5 stone by then!).
I can recommend signing up for the Learning zone (at the top of the page), and learning a bit more about diabetes, I found that knowing more about it took some of the fear of the unknown away from me.
If you have particular questions, don't be afraid to phone the Diabetes UK helpline and pick their brains, or ask here.
Sarah

 

[Sharron1]

Hi all, I havent been feeling to well lately so went to see my doctor and had some blood tests done which came back with a HbAlc reading of 96 which i beleive is pretty high. Doctor is pretty sure i have diabetes but need to get another blood test to confirm.New to all this so looking some advice on what might happen next and how things are going to change for me moving forward. Thanks.

You are very fortunate to have a GP who is ready to give a second blood test.

 

[Leadinglights]

With an HbA1C that high there is probably no doubt that you have diabetes but they may be doing further extra test to see if you have Type 2 or Type 1 diabetes as the HbA1C doesn't distinguish.
You may then be prescribed the first line medication which would be metformin but dietary changes are going to be important.
Have a look at the Learning Zone for some explanation of the difference between the two types but also you might find this link useful for ideas for dietary changes. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

 

[Chartom3]

Thanks for the replies, only got told my MbA1c result this morning so all new to me, i have my second blood test next thursday and then appointment with my doctor the following monday to dicuss what next steps i will need to take, bit of a shock tbh

 

[Windy]

With an HbA1C that high there is probably no doubt that you have diabetes but they may be doing further extra test to see if you have Type 2 or Type 1 diabetes as the HbA1C doesn't distinguish.

I don't think that they routinely test for T1 unless you have weight loss or other symptoms to suggest it isn't T2.
I had two HbA1c tests done, the second one confirmed the first.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thanks for the replies, only got told my MbA1c result this morning so all new to me, i have my second blood test next thursday and then appointment with my doctor the following monday to dicuss what next steps i will need to take, bit of a shock tbh

That sounds as if they are just repeating the HbA1C then. That is a test that is the average blood glucose over the previous 3 months so unless they suspect there has been an error it is most likely just to confirm. Often 1 test with clinical symptoms is sufficient for a diagnosis.
I will be worthwhile getting clued up by looking at the links so you can be prepared with any questions.
In the meantime, many people find it useful to keep a food diary of everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the Total carbohydrate not just sugar so you can discuss where you can make some savings in your carb intake.
If people are looking at a low carb approach as in the link, then the suggested maximum per day is 130g so from your food diary you can see how far you are from that.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for the replies, only got told my MbA1c result this morning so all new to me, i have my second blood test next thursday and then appointment with my doctor the following monday to dicuss what next steps i will need to take, bit of a shock tbh

I think the NICE guidance suggests repeating the HbA1c, presumably just to ensure there were no problems / errors / anomalies with the first one.

The level for a diagnosis is 48 and above, so it does seem very likely that your diagnosis will be confirmed.

At 96mmol/mol you may be offered medication to help, but I would think your Dr will also be careful to reduce your average glucose levels gradually in stages, as too quick a reduction in average glucose levels risks causing short term damage to the fine blood vessels in eyes and nerve endings.

One of the biggest questions when trying to get to grips with your diabetes is often ‘what can I eat’ and while there are obvious things like cakes, biscuits, sweets and sugary drinks that you will want to cut out straight away, you might be surprised how much *all* carbohydrate affects your BG levels, including rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, pastry, grains, cereals and many fruits.

Many new members find it can be really helpful to keep a brutally honest food diary for a week or two. Note down everything you eat and drink, along with a reasonable estimate of the total carbohydrate content in your meals and snacks.

It might sound like a bit of a faff, and will involve weighing portions, squinting at the fine print on packaging, and possibly looking up things on the internet, but it will give you a really good idea of which foods are the main sources of carbs in your menu.

Then it will be a question of balancing your menu, your body’s individual ability to cope with carbs, and whatever meds your Dr might recommend.

If you would like a good overview of T2 diabetes, to add to the knowledge you’ve already picked up, you might like to sign upmto the Learning Zone (orange tab in the main menu). Additionally, members here frequently recommend Maggie Davey’s Letter to the Newly Diagnosed and Gretchen Becker’s book T2 Diabetes, the first year, which you can work through gradually and will give you a solid starting point.

Let us know how things go on Thursday.

 

[Chartom3]

Thank you for all the good advice i have been given, going to need big changes in my eating habits then as i love my carbs and desserts,still very much new to all this so still trying to take it all in but at least i now know the reason that i have been feeling unwell.

 

[Brambleberry]

That sounds as if they are just repeating the HbA1C then. That is a test that is the average blood glucose over the previous 3 months so unless they suspect there has been an error it is most likely just to confirm. Often 1 test with clinical symptoms is sufficient for a diagnosis.
I will be worthwhile getting clued up by looking at the links so you can be prepared with any questions.
In the meantime, many people find it useful to keep a food diary of everything you eat and drink with an estimate of the Total carbohydrate not just sugar so you can discuss where you can make some savings in your carb intake.
If people are looking at a low carb approach as in the link, then the suggested maximum per day is 130g so from your food diary you can see how far you are from that.

Thats interesting,I lost weight...and previously no indicators of pre-diabetes....makes you wonder .

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you for all the good advice i have been given, going to need big changes in my eating habits then as i love my carbs and desserts,still very much new to all this so still trying to take it all in but at least i now know the reason that i have been feeling unwell.

You can still have deserts, sugar free jelly and cream, Kvarg deserts, full fat Greek yoghurt with berries. I make fruit crumbles with the topping of ground almonds, low sugar granola, seeds, and butter.

 

[Chartom3]

Anyone ever experinece back pain that has been linked to there diabetes? I have been having pains down the left hand side of my back that come and go and was just wondering if anyone had anything similer.

 

[Windy]

I don't know that there's any diabetes related back pain, to be honest. Can you mention it to your GP next time you see them?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope you appointment goes well tomorrow @Chartom3

Have you been stressed / anxious / tense since you were diagnosed? Perhaps you’ve been carrying yourself differently?

 

[Chartom3]

I havent been offcially diagnosed yet , have another blood test this coming thursday and then due to see my doctor on monday 14th to discuss results, although he did say with my first set of results that he is pretty sure i have diabetes. Do you think the second test is to establish if i have type 1 or type 2 ?

 

[Leadinglights]

I havent been offcially diagnosed yet , have another blood test this coming thursday and then due to see my doctor on monday 14th to discuss results, although he did say with my first set of results that he is pretty sure i have diabetes. Do you think the second test is to establish if i have type 1 or type 2 ?

I suspect not as your appointment with the doctor would not allow time for the results for the Type 1 tests to be available as they can take many weeks. Also you would normally have to go the hospital to have the blood taken as the sample has to be frozen very soon after being taken. Not all labs do those tests.

 

[Chartom3]

So got my second blood tests back today which are showing a reading of 87 HbAlc after my first one was 96 10 days earlier and have confirmed my diagnois of having T2, which i was expecting, doctor is putting me on metformin starting on 1 a day for first week and then working my way up to 4 a day. Will then get my bloods done again in 3 months to see how i getting on.Going to be tough with Christmas etc but determind to get my HbAlc down as much as possible before my next blood test. Hoping i am lucky and dont experience to many side effects with the metforin.

 

[Leadinglights]

So got my second blood tests back today which are showing a reading of 87 HbAlc after my first one was 96 10 days earlier and have confirmed my diagnois of having T2, which i was expecting, doctor is putting me on metformin starting on 1 a day for first week and then working my way up to 4 a day. Will then get my bloods done again in 3 months to see how i getting on.Going to be tough with Christmas etc but determind to get my HbAlc down as much as possible before my next blood test. Hoping i am lucky and dont experience to many side effects with the metforin.

Not unexpected but at least you now know that some serious attention to your diet is going to be needed to give the metformin a chance of being effective.
The info in the previous posts should give you a good start.

 

[Chartom3]

So picked up my metformin from the chemist today, wow 8 boxes of tablets, As i have never really had to take much medication before it was a bit of a shock.So will start tommorow with my first dose then increase each week untill i am on 4 tablets per day. Still very much early days for me but glad i found this fourm as i have gained so much information already.