Newly diagnosed T2

[Rachrmb]

Hi i have just been diagnosed with T2 diabetes and am currently taking Metformin and Gliclazide - will be checking the forums for advice

 

[Drummer]

Hello and welcome.
Were you given any advice on diet? That seems to be the key to controlling type two, for the boringly ordinary ones like me, at least.

 

[Rachrmb]

Thank you.
Have got to say the nurse was really helpful. I just need to get my head around everything. Used to do a low carb diet some time ago so will revisit some of the recipes.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Whilst I am an advocate of low carb eating to manage diabetes, you will need to be careful because you are taking Gliclazide which can cause your blood glucose levels to drop too low. Have they supplied you with a testing meter and test strips?
Do you mind telling us your HbA1c reading? This is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and will usually be a number of 48 or more. Sometimes it is expressed as a % and in that case it will be a lower number. I am guessing yours must be pretty high if they have started you on Gliclazide as well as Metformin straight away. Gliclazide works by encouraging the pancreas to produce more insulin but it can be a bit unpredictable so do make sure to test your levels if you feel odd and make sure to carry jelly babies or dextrose tablets around with you at all times.

 

[Rachrmb]

Hi and welcome.

Whilst I am an advocate of low carb eating to manage diabetes, you will need to be careful because you are taking Gliclazide which can cause your blood glucose levels to drop too low. Have they supplied you with a testing meter and test strips?
Do you mind telling us your HbA1c reading? This is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and will usually be a number of 48 or more. Sometimes it is expressed as a % and in that case it will be a lower number. I am guessing yours must be pretty high if they have started you on Gliclazide as well as Metformin straight away. Gliclazide works by encouraging the pancreas to produce more insulin but it can be a bit unpredictable so do make sure to test your levels if you feel odd and make sure to carry jelly babies or dextrose tablets around with you at all times.

My HbA1c reading was 101 - so yes it was high. They gave me a testing meter and strips and i test twice daily. I go back and see her again next week for more bloods to be done.

 

[rebrascora]

Would you mind telling us how your diagnosis came about and whether you have much/any weight to lose and if you have had any unexpected or easy weight loss?
The reason I ask is that many people get misdiagnosed as Type 2 because many clinicians believe that Type 1 only exhibits in children and young people, so if you are overweight or a mature adult or admit to a bad diet, they assume you are Type2 for which there is actually no definitive test. The HbA1c of 48 of more simply gets you a diagnosis of diabetes and the Type is open to interpretation, unless specific tests are done for Type 1 or MODY or you have had surgery on your pancreas which gets you a Type 3c label and quite a number of us were misdiagnosed later in life because of this..... just something to bear in mind with your very high HbA1c, particularly if you are already slim or if you had sudden weight loss.

 

[Rachrmb]

I approached the GP and asked for bloods to be done following a BM reading of 12.4. I was experiencing real thirst and nothing would quench it, i was passing urine frequently during the night which i put down to drinking so much, i was tired, i had lost weight when i really wasn't dieting - i am overweight.

 

[rebrascora]

Those symptoms tick all the boxes for Type 1 diabetes. (The 4 Ts of type 1.... Thirst, Tired Toilet and Thinner) Your weight and age may be clouding the issue. Not saying you are Type 1 but just that they should not have ruled out that possibility.... and maybe they haven't, but are seeing if the oral Type 2 meds will have an impact first.
It is just something to bear in mind.
There is a slower onset of Type 1 called LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) sometimes referred to as Type 1.5 which is only just starting to be more recognized. Getting the right diagnosis can be important for the type of treatment you need, so keep an eye on those BG levels and make sure your Health Care Professionals are aware that you lost weight without trying as one of your symptoms as that can be quite telling. and easy for them to overlook or misunderstand if you are overweight to start with.
Good luck getting your BG under control and keep us up to date with how things are going. If you are concerned about anything or don't understand, just ask.

 

[Rachrmb]

Will do - thanks for your support 🙂

 

[aparsonsmoore]

Hi Rachrmb - I sound very much like you. High HbA1c test results, a loss of weight and the thirst/weeing. I also went on Metformin and Glicazide. I went to the GP after my friends pointed out that I had lost weight and it may be cancer (although they don't put it so gently).

It's now been 9 months later and the Glicazide is gone. I've continued trying to lose weight through cycling. It's been an interesting, but strangely enjoyable journey. It has had its hard times... I cried at Christmas looking at things I couldn't (shouldn't eat). I have the occasional relapse and eat a few sweets. However, I'm fitting in clothes that I couldn't before and people comment on wanting to be on the diet that I've been on. I tell them that I'm sure they wouldn't...

It's been mentioned that I may be type 1.5, but haven't looked into this. I've got a glucose monitor and this is useful. Although the nurse told me that I no longer need this and won't prescribe the test strips. Boots seem not to have got the memo and I'm staying quiet about this.

Good luck!

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Rachrmb, welcome to the forum.

Glad to hear that you're getting support. Take your time reading through the forum and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.