Newly diagnosed Type 2

[Rae1709]

Hello Everyone
I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 on 14 January 2020. I honestly did not realise how debilitating diabetes is. I am still have not got my meds sorted and have lost 3 stone in weight. My family are all concerned as my bloods read from 27 on a bad day to 13 on a good day. My doctor did not seemed that concerned and does not want to increase my Metformin, so I am now having a blood test at the end of March, so I will not see him until the middle of April. I just wondered how long it takes to get meds sorted? I am also having all the symptoms, itching and burning down below (I've used 6 lots of Canesten). My doctor has now given me Betnovate (steroid). Cramps, incontinence, dry mouth, relentless thirst and the worst of all tiredness. My family says I should change my doctor as he doesn't seem to be helping. I am also caring for my sister who has terminal cancer so I need to get myself sorted and be fit enough to help her. Sorry I have waffled on, but I am so confused about everything - especially what to eat. If anyone can advise me on how they got their bloods down I would be most grateful.

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Rae1709
It is good that you have joined the forum. You sound to be having a very difficult time, with many things to deal with.
Are you taking your readings yourself? if so what sort of meter are you using?

You have certainly lost a lot of weight very quickly, and maybe this accounts for some of the tiredness.
What sort of eating plan are you following? A good thing to read is Maggie Davey's letter, which shows how this lady went about finding a good plan.

Low carb eating is a solution that has worked for many of us including me. As well as cutting out all the sugary things, I cut down on the carbs particularly the ‘white’ ones (white bread and flour,rice,pasta,etc ) and mainly eat fresh fish and poultry, yoghurts and some cheeses, and have learned to love vegetables. I also try to avoid too much processed food, and to include plenty of fibre some from the veg, plus seeds and pulses.

If your medical problems continue it might be worth calling the doctor again to tell him about your symptoms and maybe get the blood test brought forward.

 

[Docb]

When you were diagnosed a number of things should have been put in place. You should have been referred to a diabetes specialist nurse who would have done a series of basic health checks and given you advice on what you need to do to get your blood glucose under control. You should also have been referred for some eye checks. That's what happens in our surgery and I think should be happening in all. For some reason your GP does not seem to be taking things seriously and operating within the NICE guidelines, at least as I understand them. You need to get to the bottom of it and that means more contact with the surgery.

Did you lose the weight intentionally and how long did it take to drop off?

 

[grovesy]

Hello Everyone
I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 on 14 January 2020. I honestly did not realise how debilitating diabetes is. I am still have not got my meds sorted and have lost 3 stone in weight. My family are all concerned as my bloods read from 27 on a bad day to 13 on a good day. My doctor did not seemed that concerned and does not want to increase my Metformin, so I am now having a blood test at the end of March, so I will not see him until the middle of April. I just wondered how long it takes to get meds sorted? I am also having all the symptoms, itching and burning down below (I've used 6 lots of Canesten). My doctor has now given me Betnovate (steroid). Cramps, incontinence, dry mouth, relentless thirst and the worst of all tiredness. My family says I should change my doctor as he doesn't seem to be helping. I am also caring for my sister who has terminal cancer so I need to get myself sorted and be fit enough to help her. Sorry I have waffled on, but I am so confused about everything - especially what to eat. If anyone can advise me on how they got their bloods down I would be most grateful.

With those levels and if you have lost that weight since January, you may have been misdiagnosed as Type 2 and actually Type 1. I would see if you can get an urgent appointment.

 

[ianf0ster]

I personally used a Low Carb way of eating (not a diet since I didn't need to lose weight, so no conscious Calorie Restriction) to put my Type2 Diabetes into remission.

I would like to highlight that Steroid, and Stains and some other medications can actually raise Blood Glucose, in other words make Type 2 Diabetes worse!
Other factors in raised BG are Infection, Stress, Lack of Sleep.

 

[Rae1709]

Hello @Rae1709
It is good that you have joined the forum. You sound to be having a very difficult time, with many things to deal with.
Are you taking your readings yourself? if so what sort of meter are you using?

You have certainly lost a lot of weight very quickly, and maybe this accounts for some of the tiredness.
What sort of eating plan are you following? A good thing to read is Maggie Davey's letter, which shows how this lady went about finding a good plan.

Low carb eating is a solution that has worked for many of us including me. As well as cutting out all the sugary things, I cut down on the carbs particularly the ‘white’ ones (white bread and flour,rice,pasta,etc ) and mainly eat fresh fish and poultry, yoghurts and some cheeses, and have learned to love vegetables. I also try to avoid too much processed food, and to include plenty of fibre some from the veg, plus seeds and pulses.

If your medical problems continue it might be worth calling the doctor again to tell him about your symptoms and maybe get the blood test brought forward.

Thank you Toucan. I take my own readings, in fact I have started just to take them in the morning as I find it makes me more anxious if I take too many. I am using the Contour TS machine. I haven't really sorted an eating plan as I sometimes find it difficult with looking after my sister and I forget to eat. I will certainly look up Maggie Davey's letters. Luckily I love vegetables so I should really cut a lot of these up as I find I like to eat quite frequently. I am seeing my doctor tomorrow and I will be more forceful with him as I do not think he is taking things seriously, especially the weight loss. Once again thank you for your help.

 

[Rae1709]

When you were diagnosed a number of things should have been put in place. You should have been referred to a diabetes specialist nurse who would have done a series of basic health checks and given you advice on what you need to do to get your blood glucose under control. You should also have been referred for some eye checks. That's what happens in our surgery and I think should be happening in all. For some reason your GP does not seem to be taking things seriously and operating within the NICE guidelines, at least as I understand them. You need to get to the bottom of it and that means more contact with the surgery.

Did you lose the weight intentionally and how long did it take to drop off?

Hi DocB. I was referred to a specialist nurse who set up an appointment to see a podiatrist and my feet and circulation were fine. I had recently had an eye check so she didn't bother with that. I am still waiting to hear about courses to help with my diabetes.

My weight loss is unintentional and it keeps going down. I think its been about 3 months.

 

[Rae1709]

With those levels and if you have lost that weight since January, you may have been misdiagnosed as Type 2 and actually Type 1. I would see if you can get an urgent appointment.

Hi a few other people have said that also. I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor so I will see what he has to say. Thank you.

 

[grovesy]

Good luck.

 

[Calf00]

Hi a few other people have said that also. I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor so I will see what he has to say. Thank you.

Hello

I’m newly diagnosed too. So sorry to hear that you’re having such a challenging time at the moment. Just wondering how you got on with your doctor’s appointment?

Jan

 

[Tee G]

Hi and welcome @Rae1709 - You have a lot to cope with at the moment, it must be overwhelming at times. But we are all here to help and support you, anything you need to know, just want to shout, have a shoulder - we are here for you. As regards to your dr not taking things seriously - i think i would ask to see someone else within the practice. I dropped a link here (from our Newbies say hello thread. Its at the top of the list, if you want to check out other useful links. I hope you are ok today after your dr visit - please let us know how you got on. All the best.


What you should expect from the NHS in terms of support

 

[Rae1709]

I went to my doctors and at first he was like “oh lets do a glucose test” and a chest X-ray (I have been a smoker all my life and packed up 3 months ago). He kept asking if I have a cough or wheeze which I don’t have. Then he started examining me, listening to my chest, feeling my stomach. Then he weighed me and it was like he finally realised how much weight I have lost and in such a short period of time. He asked me to give him back the blood form and gave me another one with 11 items on, which covered Hbac1, thyroid, bones and others. I am having my X-ray tomorrow and my blood test on Tuesday. He has
also doubled my Metformin to 2 am and 2 pm. I feel a lot better as I know feel he is finally doing something. I’ll let you know what happens.

 

[trophywench]

Well the tests while in themselves are all good - BUT you haven't mentioned either 'GAD antibodies' or 'C reactive protein' tests. They would tell you (and anyone medically trained properly) whether you have been misdiagnosed as T2!

 

[Tee G]

Sounds like hes taking action now, lets hope you get a proper diagnosis - thats half the battle isnt it - knowing what you are up against, at least that way you can start fighting - good luck and please keep us posted. In the meantime read up on low sugar/carb diets on the site - sooner rather than later - make a plan - all the best Rae.

 

[grovesy]

I agree with @trophywench .

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too. I am so sorry to read that you are going through such challenges. Diabetes is difficult enough to cope with without the responsibility of being a carer for a loved one.

I would like to add my voice to the others expressing concern about you being misdiagnosed and that you are most likely Type 1 with that sort of unintentional weight loss together with those high readings. You will probably not want to hear this but I think insulin is necessary to bring your levels under control and increasing your Metformin will just make your digestive tract problems worse. Please ensure you take the Metformin in the middle of a substantial meal as that should help to limit it's antisocial effects.

If GAD antibody and C-Peptide tests are not on the list for that blood test then please push for them to be done. Many GPs are unaware that Type 1 diabetes can occur later in life and assume that you must be Type 2 if you are an adult, particularly a middle aged adult. It is very important to get the correct diagnosis as your treatment options/technological equipment etc vary between Type 1 and Type 2 and you should be referred to a consultant/specialist diabetes clinic as a Type 1 for them to oversee your treatment. If your doctor is not prepared to sanction these tests then ask for a referral anyway.
Also, explain that you are suffering badly from the side effects of Metformin (the incontinence particularly) as there is a slow release version which may reduce those side effects, but to be honest, if you are Type 1 as we suspect, you are probably not gaining anything from taking them and suffering those side effects needlessly. Explain that you are a carer and you cannot afford to be out of action as someone else's wellbeing is dependent on you.

Good luck and I hope you get a proper diagnosis sorted soon. If you get nowhere with your GP and your levels go up into the 30s, get yourself to A&E pronto as you are at risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis which could result in you going into a coma.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Then he weighed me and it was like he finally realised how much weight I have lost and in such a short period of time. He asked me to give him back the blood form and gave me another one with 11 items on, which covered Hbac1, thyroid, bones and others.

Glad your Dr is taking another look.

The 4 Ts of T1 are Tired, Thirsty, Toilet and Thinner - and you seem to be ticking them all!

General Practitioners may only encounter one or two cases of T1 in their career, and some are under the impression that it is mostly a disease of childhood and adolescence (in fact 50% of cases are diagnosed in adulthood).

I hope one of the ‘other’ checks being undertaken is for cPeptide and/or GAD antibodies. These can help shed light on the type of diabetes you have - and a correct classification is very important for access to the right treatment options and education courses.

Hope you get some clarity from the results. If you keep getting very high BG results and develop abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or ‘pear drop’ breath you should hurry off to A&E rather than waiting.

 

[Rae1709]

Sounds like hes taking action now, lets hope you get a proper diagnosis - thats half the battle isnt it - knowing what you are up against, at least that way you can start fighting - good luck and please keep us posted. In the meantime read up on low sugar/carb diets on the site - sooner rather than later - make a plan - all the best Rae.

Thank you.

 

[Rae1709]

Well the tests while in themselves are all good - BUT you haven't mentioned either 'GAD antibodies' or 'C reactive protein' tests. They would tell you (and anyone medically trained properly) whether you have been misdiagnosed as T2!

Sorry I haven't got a clue what this this is.

 

[Rae1709]

Glad your Dr is taking another look.

The 4 Ts of T1 are Tired, Thirsty, Toilet and Thinner - and you seem to be ticking them all!

General Practitioners may only encounter one or two cases of T1 in their career, and some are under the impression that it is mostly a disease of childhood and adolescence (in fact 50% of cases are diagnosed in adulthood).

I hope one of the ‘other’ checks being undertaken is for cPeptide and/or GAD antibodies. These can help shed light on the type of diabetes you have - and a correct classification is very important for access to the right treatment options and education courses.

Hope you get some clarity from the results. If you keep getting very high BG results and develop abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or ‘pear drop’ breath you should hurry off to A&E rather than waiting.

Thank you for your advice.