Overwhelmed/Need a bit of reassurance?

[angie9955]

Hello everyone,

I was diagnosed back in January with type 2 when I thought I was having a heart attack (was an extreme panic attack) to then getting blood checked and there it was…my blood sugar levels in the 20s!

I was very upset to hear it as my mother died from her complications from diabetes, and my father had type 1, who also passed away.
Since being diagnosed I’ve been counting calories (around 1700/1800 a day) and carbs ranging from 130 - 190g a day). I’ve been told to take metformin 500g 4x times a day and glicazide 80g a day. Since this I have had a fasting blood sugar of 4.1-5.0 and have lost around 10 kilos. I’m happy about my progress but it has terrified me… I’m so anxious when it comes to food in general, and honestly I feel ashamed? I know that isn’t correct but I feel mentally exhausted and live in fear that I will end up with many complications like my mother.

I’m 28 and I’m worried that having been diagnosed young, it will result in complications if I want to get pregnant etc and just life events in general.
Anxiety and panic attacks have been something I have dealt with since my mother’s death when I was a teenager, and they have increased since being diagnosed. Think I just want confirmation of if I’m eating the right amount of carbs? If what I am doing seems okay?
Sorry for going in and thank you for taking the time to read this. x

 

[Leadinglights]

For people who are dietary managed or with just metformin then no more than 130g carbs per day is the suggested starting point but when you add gliclazide into the mix which encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin where too low carb has the potential to cause low blood glucose it is more tricky. However it does not seem to say anywhere what the carb intake should be and it may well be something that as an individual you need to find out for yourself by doing some strategic testing of how your meals with that amount of carbs suits you without pushing up blood glucose more than you really want.
When do you take your gliclazide?
I hope you have been prescribed a monitor and test strips as you are on that medication.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Well done on your terrific progress so far @angie9955

Sorry to hear you have been experiencing what sounds like some diabetes distress.

28 is at the younger end of the age spectrum to develop T2 - did your Dr consider any other more ‘niche’ diabetes types given your family history?

 

[pinknitwit]

I'm really new to all this too, though I'm much older than you, but I just wanted to say hello and offer a hug xxxx

 

[angie9955]

For people who are dietary managed or with just metformin then no more than 130g carbs per day is the suggested starting point but when you add gliclazide into the mix which encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin where too low carb has the potential to cause low blood glucose it is more tricky. However it does not seem to say anywhere what the carb intake should be and it may well be something that as an individual you need to find out for yourself by doing some strategic testing of how your meals with that amount of carbs suits you without pushing up blood glucose more than you really want.
When do you take your gliclazide?
I hope you have been prescribed a monitor and test strips as you are on that medication.

Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I take my gliclazide in the morning before breakfast with my two metformin and then two metformin before my evening meal.
They did prescribe me a monitor and I was originally told to monitor once before breakfast which averaged at 5.0-6.0 and once before my evening meal which averaged at 4.1-5.0. After my first appointment with the diabetics nurse she said to do it only once a day before my evening meal to which has been averaging at 4.1-5.0 ever since.
I do out of curiosity after a ‘large’ meal of carbs (if the meal is over 80g of carbs) to see how my sugars are and they tend to range between 5.0 to 7.5 (for the ones I have checked).

 

[angie9955]

Well done on your terrific progress so far @angie9955

Sorry to hear you have been experiencing what sounds like some diabetes distress.

28 is at the younger end of the age spectrum to develop T2 - did your Dr consider any other more ‘niche’ diabetes types given your family history?

Hello!
Thank you so much for you response and encouragement. No, I was kept in A&E for the night I got diagnosed with many blood tests and finger pricks taken and a consultant said it was type 2… at the time he said possibly type 1 for my age but after a gp appointment they confirmed type 2. I wasn’t actually aware that there are different types besides 1 and 2?? I am currently googling this! Thank you for that info!

 

[angie9955]

I'm really new to all this too, though I'm much older than you, but I just wanted to say hello and offer a hug xxxx

Hello,
Thank you so much, honestly it’s been very difficult mentally as you know and it’s nice to know I’m not alone in these feelings and emotions! Thank you for your kind words xxx

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I wasn’t actually aware that there are different types besides 1 and 2?

Ooh yes! There are all sorts of different flavours 😛

There’s LADA, a slow-onset form of T1 in adulthood.

Mody which it a monogenic form (one wonky gene).

There are all sorts of different type 3s

And many others!

 

[Leadinglights]

Hello!
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I take my gliclazide in the morning before breakfast with my two metformin and then two metformin before my evening meal.
They did prescribe me a monitor and I was originally told to monitor once before breakfast which averaged at 5.0-6.0 and once before my evening meal which averaged at 4.1-5.0. After my first appointment with the diabetics nurse she said to do it only once a day before my evening meal to which has been averaging at 4.1-5.0 ever since.
I do out of curiosity after a ‘large’ meal of carbs (if the meal is over 80g of carbs) to see how my sugars are and they tend to range between 5.0 to 7.5 (for the ones I have checked).

Those look fantastic results especially as you are having quite a lot of carbs so reassuring that your medications are working.
I often wonder about the logic of medication which needs carbs rather tan reducing carbs so as not to need to medication.
Just keep an eye on your levels as the lower ones are hovering in hypo territory.
If you drive then be careful.