Newly Diagnosed and Baffled

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

ScottJM

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Pronouns
He/Him
Good evening everyone,

I'd say it's 'nice' to join the community, but of course, that means I have reason to join! Still, good to find a place for others in the same space.

While getting routine bloods taken for another check-up, diabetes has been diagnosed. I have zero symptoms, but my HbA1c rating was 114! Elevated (1.2) ketone levels and elevated blood glucose readings, so there's little doubt, but I'm genuinely baffled that this is happening with not a single hint of the main symptoms - especially to be so far at the end of the spectrum! Nurse was borderline between Type 1 and 2 at the start of my appointment (indeed, she was considering sending me to A&E with my ketone levels), but seemed more certain Type 1 was unlikely after we'd finished (monitoring ongoing, of course).

I'm ready to put the work in (my diet isn't attrocious to be honest, but I know areas I can improve), but I'm definitely a little fearful of what's to come (as it's understandably a massive change).

Anyway, rambled enough, but it's nice to be here with you all.

SJM.
 
Welcome @ScottJM 🙂 There are blood tests that can help to determine your diabetes type if there’s any doubt: the Type 1 antibodies test and the C Peptide test.

If the diabetes came on gradually, you might not have noticed the symptoms. Have you been given any medication? And have you been given ketone test strips?
 
Hi Inka - thanks for the reply. I did read that 6/10 people who are diagnosed with Type 2 don't have any specific symptoms and it's often picked up in other tests - I guess I'm just surprised that I've not noticed anything but find myself in so high a reading for my Hb1Ac score. I've been given Gliclazide to start with, and yes, have also been given ketone and glucose test strips.

All very sudden and severe, and I don't think I've properly processed things yet.
 
Hi @ScottJM and welcome to the forum.
If you are indeed Type 2 (as most people diagnosed after childhood are) then the good news is that there's a good chance you can achieve drug free remission. I did so by going Low Carb soon after diagnosis and have been in remission for over 3yrs.
I suspect that your diet is much more Diabetes unfriendly than you think, because the 'healthy' diet advised by the NHS is very unhealthy for T2 Diabetics because it contains far too many carbohydrates and not enough fats.

Here is a link to the blog entry which set me on my path to remission:
josekalsbeek.blogspot.com

The Nutritional Thingy

There’s a few things you should know. 1. Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested , so not just straight sugars, but starches...
josekalsbeek.blogspot.com josekalsbeek.blogspot.com

Oops, just seen you are on Glic. Do test your Blood glucose and be aware that you may need to reduce the Glic as you reduce carbs, since you don't want your Blood glucose to go too low.
 
This link may also help+ you with some ideas for modifying your diet with the proviso that it is a good idea to reduce your carb intake gradually as the gliclazide has the potential to cause low blood glucose so you do need some carbs.
lowcarbfreshwell.com

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com lowcarbfreshwell.com

​

 
A diabetes diagnosis does take a while to get your head round @ScottJM It’s normal to feel a range of emotions: shock, anger, sadness and more. It’s good you’ve got the ketone sticks.

Be careful about reducing your carbs too much as you’re on Gliclazide, which has the potential to cause hypos (low blood sugar).
 
I had no symptoms I could describe, but once I was eating low carb and my HbA1c was out of the diabetic range I felt so much better.
 
Welcome to the forum @ScottJM

Glad you have joined us, but sorry you have to be here!

It can feel like a whirlwind in the beginning - even if you’ve had a nagging feeling that ‘things weren’t right’ for a while - but a diagnosis completely out of the blue with no warning can come as a real shock, so be kind to yourself, and allow time for you to adjust.

Hope you get some clarity over your diabetes type over the coming weeks and months. Diabetes type can be surprisingly tricky to call in a number of cases, and we have lots and lots of members who have been reclassified from one type to another after a while.

Keep an open mind, and keep an eye on those ketones especially (which can suggest insufficient circulating insulin). If your T2 meds and menu changes don’t seem to have the expected impact, it could be worth getting assessed by a more specialist service (eg the hospital endocrinology clinic)
 
Thanks all for taking the time to read and reply - that alone is a nice comfort.

I'm a scientist/lecturer, for my career. I say that, because I understand that sporadic readings should always be taken in a much wider context - bloods have gone from 15 yesterday after lunch to 19 this morning (before eating anything!) down to 13 this afternoon. But I've just started my medication yesterday and I know it's going to take time to adjust things. More happily, my ketone levels have gone from 1.1 to 1.2 to 0.5 and 0.6 since yesterday.

I was angry, upset and confused yesterday and I expect those feelings will resurface from time to time but I already feel good about myself having made very positive meal changes in response to this. I needed a bit of a kick up the **** to alter my lifestyle (I wasn't massively overweight, but definitely sedantary and went for convenience foods to balance a busy life at times), and I wholly believe this will do it.
 
ScottJM said:
Thanks all for taking the time to read and reply - that alone is a nice comfort.

I'm a scientist/lecturer, for my career. I say that, because I understand that sporadic readings should always be taken in a much wider context - bloods have gone from 15 yesterday after lunch to 19 this morning (before eating anything!) down to 13 this afternoon. But I've just started my medication yesterday and I know it's going to take time to adjust things. More happily, my ketone levels have gone from 1.1 to 1.2 to 0.5 and 0.6 since yesterday.

I was angry, upset and confused yesterday and I expect those feelings will resurface from time to time but I already feel good about myself having made very positive meal changes in response to this. I needed a bit of a kick up the **** to alter my lifestyle (I wasn't massively overweight, but definitely sedantary and went for convenience foods to balance a busy life at times), and I wholly believe this will do it.
Click to expand...
It would be worth you keeping a food diary of what you eat and drink with an estimate of the amount of carbs along with your blood glucose readings as that will help with sorting out both a diagnosis and giving you a better idea of what foods you can tolerate and which will be no problem. Testing before you eat and 2 hours after will indicate if your meal was OK if the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l.
Morning readings can remain high as the liver releases glucose in the absence of food to give you energy but if it is as high as 19 then do keep an eye out for ketones.
 
A basic Experiment, Observations, Conclusion method worked for me.
For an uncomplicated ordinary type 2, which I seem to be the problem was that the amount of carbohydrate I had been encouraged to eat, along with low fat and meagre servings was exactly wrong for me.
I used a blood glucose meter to monitor my reaction to various meals and reduced my readings to normal.
 
ScottJM said:
Hi Inka - thanks for the reply. I did read that 6/10 people who are diagnosed with Type 2 don't have any specific symptoms and it's often picked up in other tests - I guess I'm just surprised that I've not noticed anything but find myself in so high a reading for my Hb1Ac score. I've been given Gliclazide to start with, and yes, have also been given ketone and glucose test strips.

All very sudden and severe, and I don't think I've properly processed things yet.
Click to expand...
Oh - Gliclazide is a serious medication - you need to be aware of its effect and the possibility of hypos. Make changes to your diet cautiously.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top