newly diagnosed

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eggyg

eggyg

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 3c
Hi, I'm Elaine, diagonosed type 2, 3 weeks ago. feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
 
Hi Elaine, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry you have to be here, but glad that you found us so quickly - we will do all we can to calm your fears and get you motivated to start managing your diabetes well! No question is 'silly', so whatever you need to ask, please do and there will usually be someone who has wondered the same or can provide you with their knowledge and experiences.

Have a look at the Type 2 links here:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=10406

The book by Gretchen Becker is a 'must have' according to many of our members! Also worth starting to think about the GI and GL diet as this is suitable for good blood sugar control, whilst allowing fexibility and variety - nothing is 'banned', but some things may need to be regarded as a treat rather than a daily staple! 🙂 I look forward to hearing more from you!
 
Thanks for your prompt reply. I had been expecting to be diagonosed for the last 3 years but it was still a shock. I had most of my pancreas removed Dec 07 so aren't your "usual" type 2. I have been taking 1 x 500mg metformin for the last 18 months to try and stall diabetes but had my HbA1c last month and it was 7.8% as opposed to 6.5% last year without treatment. I am now taking 2 x 500mg metformin but the last couple of days when I have got home from work my BG has been 3.6/7/8. My DN says that is technically a hypo, I felt ok tho. Any advice? She doesn't want me to cut down on my medication. I have been reading about hypos and am worried.

PS What is type 1.5 LADA?
 
eggyg said:
Thanks for your prompt reply. I had been expecting to be diagonosed for the last 3 years but it was still a shock. I had most of my pancreas removed Dec 07 so aren't your "usual" type 2. I have been taking 1 x 500mg metformin for the last 18 months to try and stall diabetes but had my HbA1c last month and it was 7.8% as opposed to 6.5% last year without treatment. I am now taking 2 x 500mg metformin but the last couple of days when I have got home from work my BG has been 3.6/7/8. My DN says that is technically a hypo, I felt ok tho. Any advice? She doesn't want me to cut down on my medication. I have been reading about hypos and am worried.

PS What is type 1.5 LADA?
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Welcome to the forum Elaine.

I think what your DN said was correct, the 3.6 was technically a hypo. But as a general rule, I would not expect you to have hypos because they're far more likely when being treated with insulin or sulphonureas (e.g. gliclazide). Metformin does not normally cause hypos because its effect is to help you make use of the insulin you naturally produce (as well as restricting any glucose released by the liver).

I guess the 3.6 may have either been down to you not eating enough that day, or perhaps your pancreas decided to go off on one and throw out a bit of extra insulin!?

I won't answer your question about 1.5 LADA because I keep forgetting what it is myself!

Andy 🙂
 
Hi, anything below 4.0 is technically a hypo when you do not have a fully functioning pancreas, as the body's mechanisms cannot necessarily prevent it falling lower whereas a healthy pancreas would. We have a few members who have had some or all of their pancreas removed so they should be able to provide you more specific information there. Try not to worry too much about falling to levels in the upper 3s, just make sure you have a small amount of fast acting sugar if it happens like a couple of jelly babies, glucose tablets or some full sugar coke/lucozade to bring your levels up again. Might be worth having a biscuit or small snack before leaving work, and if you drive home you should certainly test and make sure you are above 5 before doing so. What remains of your pancreas may have started producing more insulin, or perhaps the metformin along with any adjustments you have made to your diet or lifestyle may mean you have become more sensitive to the insulin being produced.

LADA, or Type 1.5 is Late onset Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults, and is like a slowly developing Type 1 where insulin production gradually declines and leaves the person needing to inject insulin. It's probably what I was, although I didn't get diagnosed until I had already reached the 'needing to inject' stage (hadn't recognised the symptoms developing over the previous two years).
 
Thanks for those answers, I don't drive home, I either walk, which is 50mins of exercise or on these cold wintery days I get a lift or hop on the bus. I nearly always walk to work, could I be doing too much, I do sit on my bum all day though! talking about driving, I haven't informed the DVLA yet. I don't drive every day just usually on my days off and I only go to Tesco! ( Living life on the edge eh) I never thought about testing. These are the things that concern me. I have told my work colleagues I am diabetic but don't really want to go down the hypo route and what to do, my husband feels I should, but I feel it smacks of attention seeking. I was told the other day that I must just have "mild" diabetes 'cos I wasn't on insulin! I think more education is needed about diabetes, I have been completely overwhelmed with all the info thats needs to be taken in. I was nearly crying before when I was reading a blog about the family with 2 diabetic children and them having to test thru the night. I have a friend with a diabetic child and I honestly didn't know what was involved. I feel quite humble.
 
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that you need inform the DVLA unless you're on insulin.

Has anyone tested you to determine the level of function of your remaining pancreas? It seems to me, from what you've said, that it is still relatively active.
 
There's no such thing as 'mild' diabetes Elaine, although it is a term used occasionally - it's just that treatments differ. I think your situation is unusual regarding the DVLA so it might be wise to ask your doctor or DSN for their advice. I don't drive so don't know much about that side of things. Normally you wouldn't need to on the type of medication you are on, but you are clearly prone to them so you need to know where you stand. I've regularly been in the lower 2s and coped OK so don't fear that your levels are dropping dangerously low, just lower than comfortable.
 
hi elaine and a warm welcome to the forum
 
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