Should I be worried?

[robbie369]

Hi all

I was diagnosed as Type 2 in April 2010. I was able to control this by diet and exercise (although I was very thin!). About Aug 2011 my levels crept up and was prescribed Metformin (500mg, 3 times a day).

The last month or so I was not feeling too good so got out my old machine and bought some strips. I was alarmed that my mmol was over 28. I went to the doctors and he did a blood test and said my HbA1c test was the highest he had seen! (this was 23/03) He therefore prescribed Gliclazide (80mg, 2 times a day). I am to see him again on 4th May.

I am still feeling dredful, check my mmol morning and evening, the morning one is still up at 17 and the evening at around 28.

I read everywhere how dangerous it is to have the levels this high. Should I go back now or wait nearly another 5 weeks for a further test?

Thanks

PS I am a 41 year old male, 9st 4, and up until diagnosed have never had any other health problems.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Robbie, welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear about the problems you are having, I am wondering if you have been misdiagnosed and are in fact a slow-onset Type 1, so your insulin production has been declining and recently nose-dived. When you check in the morning, is this before eating? If so, then I would go back to your doctor and ask for more tests or perhaps a second opinion on the medication you have been given. I would not leave it for another month at those kinds of levels. Whilst it may take some time for the gliclizide to start making a difference, it may be that it makes no difference as it is a drug to stimulate extra insulin production - if your pancreas can't do this then it is a worthless pill

You are pretty light at 9st 4 - how tall are you? Are you able to test for ketones, and have you had any recent viruses?

 

[robbie369]

Hi Northerner, thanks for replying.

The machine I use said to test for Ketones, and I gave the doctor a urine sample as well. He did not say anything so assume is clear.

I have had troubles with my waterworks for years, with the pressure being low and pain in my bladder, and he just tells me that this is a simptom of high blood sugar. I also get light headed a lot lately, and have really bad tinnitus.

Is it just me, but doctors seems to think you make most of your simptoms up and ignore them? I changed my doctor a few months back, and my new one is much the same. :-(

PS - I am 6ft 1in, and have lost over 3 stone in the last few years without trying.

 

[Northerner]

I would try changing doctors again. GPs don't often experience the 'rarer' manifestations of diabetes, and you sound quite similar to me. I'm shorter than you (5ft 9), used to weigh 11st, but then dropped to 9st 7 then got a virus and dropped to 8st 4 in three days. I hadn't been diagnosed with diabetes before then but ended up in hospital and diagnosed Type 1. I think if I had been to the doctors a couple of years earlier they would have said I was Type 2. 6ft 1 and 9st is extremely skinny - I would go back to your GP and ask to be referred to an endocrinologist for further tests. You may need insulin rather than pills.

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum Robbie 🙂

Hopefully you get to meet a sensible Dr soon who will give you the benefit of the doubt and run a few extra tests on you.

 

[robbie369]

Thanks.

I will go back to see him. Last time I went he said I must be eating a lot of cakes and chocolate. He would not believe that I had not!!

I have one more question if you don't mind. When you get the right meds, do you ever feel 100% I would be happy with about 70-80% at the mo

Thanks again

Rob

 

[Austin Mini]

Hi robbie, I was like you taking pills feeling rough loosing weight. I called the diabetic nurse, she took one look at me and put me on insulin straight away, doctor was useless. Felt better 15 mins after the first injection, started to regain my weight then delt ONLY with the nurse/clinic.

 

[robbie369]

Thanks Mark 🙂

 

[Austin Mini]

Yes you do feel 100% better. In my case 15mins after my first injection.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks.

I will go back to see him. Last time I went he said I must be eating a lot of cakes and chocolate. He would not believe that I had not!!

I have one more question if you don't mind. When you get the right meds, do you ever feel 100% I would be happy with about 70-80% at the mo

Thanks again

Rob

Rob, when I was put on the right meds I almost instantly felt 100%, so I hope the same will happen for you! I hadn't realised how bad I had been for so long until I got the right diagnosis and meds (in my case, insulin).

 

[robbie369]

Thanks Austin, The tabs seemed to work for over a year then all of a sudden it has gone out of control. I am sure he thinks I eat chocolate and cakes all day, when even before I was diagnosed I did not eat a lot of sweet stuff.

 

[robbie369]

Thank you all so much. I will give you an update after I have been again. Will hope to get to see him this week!

 

[Northerner]

Thank you all so much. I will give you an update after I have been again. Will hope to get to see him this week!

Good luck Rob, I hope that you can get the appropriate treatment - stick to your guns! 🙂

 

[Robster65]

Hi Robbie. Belated welcome.🙂

Does sound very suspect. I hope you can get to see a properly qualified nurse or consultant so you can get sorted. Remind them of the potential damage that may be done if they have misdiagnosed you and how much compensation you might need to claim from them. They might start to take you seriously.🙂

Rob

 

[Steff]

Robbie hi and a warm welcome to the forum

 

[robbie369]

Thanks Robster, I know it's not that long I have felt bad but can't imagin ever feeling better again. I will be sure to cut you in on any compo 😉

 

[robbie369]

Hi Steff,

Can't believe it took me so long to find this forum

 

[Steff]

Hi Steff,

Can't believe it took me so long to find this forum

Well you have now so dont be a stranger.Seriously theres so many people who have joined here and never looked back its a godsend

 

[schmeezle]

Thanks.

I will go back to see him. Last time I went he said I must be eating a lot of cakes and chocolate. He would not believe that I had not!!

I have one more question if you don't mind. When you get the right meds, do you ever feel 100% I would be happy with about 70-80% at the mo

Thanks again

Rob

Hi Rob,
Sorry to hear about your current situation. I was in a similar boat in '08 w/T2 diagnosis, where meds D&E worked for some time, then it all broke loose again - finally going on insulin in nov 2010.

If you are in-fact T1, the answer to this question is yes, the clear-headedness and energy that you once knew will return. Insulin is a game changer - no doubt about that.

I wish you the best of luck in future doc visits.

~Brian

 

[robbie369]

Hi all, thanks for all your replies last time. My levels are pretty much the same, I am feeling worse each day. I cannot stop drinking and going to the toilet, esp about 8 times in the night, and feel sick all the time.

I got to see a locum doctor on 13/04, who said he would make me an appointment with my hospital and get them to start me on insulin. He upped my Metformin to 2500mg and told me not to bother with the Gliclazide as he thought I was producing no insulin myself.

I was so happy, but after waiting over a week for the appointment, I went to my doctor today, and they told me my regular doctor had cancelled the hospital appointment, and I should have blood tests with him during the original appointment on 04/05. It will prob be a week from then for the results, and then what he will try before I get sorted.

I am really starting to worry now what with my weeing, my hands and feet feel funny all the time, and my legs have started to feel very strange (like someone has been sitting on them). Should I just go to A&E and forget about my doctor?

Thanks

Robbie