Still in the Dark and Going Down Fast

[GorMCC]

First of all sorry if this spoils the (we are all great with having the condition) thing.

I?ve been taking the tablets for the last 4 years now. First was Glucophage (now on 4x500mg a day now) then came a Simvastatin (40mg 1 per day), then Ramipril (10mg per day), then Glimepiride (started at 2 mg per day now up to 4mg per day) and after that now Amlodipine (5mg per day). So that?s a grand total of 6 tablets in the morning and 3 tablets in the evening and I?m only 45.

I know that people on here don?t know me and indeed from the list above you would think that I have lead the classical type 2 profile of an unhealthy lifestyle. You know the one, it?s the one that the media and even some medical organisations trot out every time Type 2 is mentioned. Yeah obese, bad diet and lack of exercise.

Well before being diagnosed I was an active mid distance runner (10k to half marathon). I took Fitness classes (everything from body pump to even yoga). I Cycled miles on road and in mountain and talking about mountains I walked a lot of them to.

So what happened? I know that a certain amount of Type 2 can be down to Genetics, but as far as I know there has been no history in the family. The high blood pressure and the cloistral could be as my parents passed away from heart disease and bowel cancer.

So here I am now 4 years on still trying to struggle to keep my blood sugars low still trying to watch what I eat, (this is rather hard as I have a young family kids age 9 and 4 can?t punish then for my condition). I have had no professional advice on diet and have only researched the internet on what to try. Think most of my problems extend from the fact I was diagnosed while in the armed forces, they did not really have the resources to handle the condition, other than had out the tablets.

So feeling really low at the moment and angry at everything, don?t know what to do as the doc?s will probably just throw more tablets at me. Really had enough of it.

 

[fencesitter]

I have had no professional advice on diet.

Maybe it's time to request a referral or a change to someone more helpful. Sounds like you've been left to get on with it

 

[GorMCC]

Maybe it's time to request a referral or a change to someone more helpful. Sounds like you've been left to get on with it

Yeah starting to feel that way. Thanks for the response. The problem could be that most of the time I feel fine no tiredness or pains and aches, so when visiting the Doc?s and asked how things are all I can say are is fine. Probably my own worst enemy.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

On that multitude of tablets I assume you must be testing your blood sugars! What are your readings like?
Also can I throw something in the works for you to think about?
As you say, you don't fit the type 2 picture, has it ever been suggested that you might infact be type 1.5?
Ask for a referal so tests can be done to find out exactly what you are.

Diet, carbohydrate reduction is the key to good control. Basicly think about the type of carbs and the amount you eat. Paying particular attention to reducing startchy carbs and this will help you no end.

PS welcome to the forum 🙂

 

[GorMCC]

As you say, you don't fit the type 2 picture, has it ever been suggested that you might infact be type 1.5?
Ask for a referal so tests can be done to find out exactly what you are.

Diet, carbohydrate reduction is the key to good control. Basicly think about the type of carbs and the amount you eat. Paying particular attention to reducing startchy carbs and this will help you no end.

I've know idea what 1.5 is LOL, but i'll look it up. As for asking for a referral, well as communication with my GP has for want of a better work broken down I think I?ll need to look for some other avenue to achieve this.

Yeah I try to stay clear of high in starch foods and if I do take any I keep the potions small.

BS readings are all over the place lowest over the past month or two is 5.8 but can go as high as 18+. This is with no clear reason i.e. change in diet or change in activity.

 

[Emmaathome]

Welcome to the site!

Not sure if i'll make you feel any better or not - I am a bit overweight (not in the obese category), was active until too tired to attend the Zumba classes (about 6 months before diagnosis i stopped) and only 36 when diagnosed. Within 3 months I was taking all the tablets, and insulin too.

I think its just one of those things, that some of us end up with these things... And please dont be fooled that everyone is accepting of this, and happily getting along with it - there are plenty of posts on here where even the most positive of people get down about it, and fed up with the whole thing!

I assume after 4 years you have read all the books / advice which is suggested on here? Advice on the "newbies" bit of this site:

Type 2:

A good place to start is by reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter

Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S

A highly recommended book: Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker

My apologies if the above is teaching you to suck eggs - you've been doing this way longer than I have!!! I have re-read the Gretchen Becker book around 3 times now - I feel like its finally sinking in!!!

As has been suggested, perhaps asking to see a "proper" DSN to discuss might help a bit?

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum, GorMCC, and sorry you had to join us.

A few points leap out from your first post:

Diagnosed in Armed Forces - Are you still serving? If not, did you get any support for resettlement? Have you asked any of the armed forces charities? Are you still being looked after by armed forces medical services? Almost certainly, you need specialist dietary advice, which should be accessible through a civilian GP, but unlikely through a military GP. As others have alluded, as a non typical presentation type 2, you may actually have slow onset type 1 or 1.5 diabetes or LADA. So, you should try to push for referal to a diabetes specialist in a hospital clinic.

I had already left TA before I was diagnosed type 1 aged 30 years, 17 years ago - it came on slowly, and was picked up at a SCUBA diving medical in New Zealand, so doctors put me on tablets for a few months before deciding I needed insulin. That brought a whole heap of problems, such as bans on driving minibuses & vans, professional SCUBA diving, working on oil rigs, research vessels and in Antarctica, but has kept me in good health, running and marshalling mountain marathons, triathlons, adventure races, orienteering etc. Just finished a week as a support team leader on Dragon's Back Race in Wales, which has only happened once before, when the Parachute Regt organised it in 1992.

So, push for futher checks and better dietary advice. And keep checking here for advice and encouragement.

 

[GorMCC]

Welcome to the site!

Not sure if i'll make you feel any better or not - I am a bit overweight (not in the obese category), was active until too tired to attend the Zumba classes (about 6 months before diagnosis i stopped) and only 36 when diagnosed. Within 3 months I was taking all the tablets, and insulin too.

I think its just one of those things, that some of us end up with these things... And please dont be fooled that everyone is accepting of this, and happily getting along with it - there are plenty of posts on here where even the most positive of people get down about it, and fed up with the whole thing!

I assume after 4 years you have read all the books / advice which is suggested on here? Advice on the "newbies" bit of this site:

Type 2:

A good place to start is by reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter

Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S

A highly recommended book: Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker

My apologies if the above is teaching you to suck eggs - you've been doing this way longer than I have!!! I have re-read the Gretchen Becker book around 3 times now - I feel like its finally sinking in!!!

As has been suggested, perhaps asking to see a "proper" DSN to discuss might help a bit?

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I've read alot of books to and it can be a slog getting to the heart of the matter and finding what works for you.

Been looking at the information on type 1.5 and it looks more like it fits my profile, I'll just need to try and get that investigated now. Hopefully I can find a DSN local as i've never been refered to one only ever the GP.

 

[PattiEvans]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I've read alot of books to and it can be a slog getting to the heart of the matter and finding what works for you.

Been looking at the information on type 1.5 and it looks more like it fits my profile, I'll just need to try and get that investigated now. Hopefully I can find a DSN local as i've never been refered to one only ever the GP.

Lots of info on T1.5 otherwise known as LADA here
You do need to see a specialist and you have a right to ask your GP for referral. The tests are unlikely to be done by a GP. You need a GAD65 test for antibodies (although if you've been diagnosed 4 years it may be too late - though my Endo said 5 years after which antibodies have gone) and a CPeptide test to see how much endogenous insulin you are producing. It took me 8 years to get tested and properly diagnosed, but I was on insulin right from the time of diagnosis.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hi GorMCC

Just wanted to say welcome. And sorry to hear you are feeling low at the moment.

Hope you manage to get your dx properly confirmed (whichever way it ends up for my money it's very helpful to know what you are dealing with).

Hope too that you manage to feel a bit more on top of your D soon - but for as long as you need to just rant here. We all know just how crushingly wearing, illogical and frustrating D can be to live with.

 

[Caroline]

Have you been on any courses like DESMOND? That might help, although when I asked to do a course my doctor told me I didn't need to as I was more than capable of working it out for myself.

Meals are not always easy when you have a family and someone else cooks for you.

Talk to your doctor, tell him/her you're not coping and you'd like more support and see what happens. You may even be refered on to a more specialist clinic.

 

[Andy HB]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm not massively experienced in the mystical diabetic arts, but have to say that reading your first post my immediate thought was that it wasn't straight forward type 2.

I hope you get some answers soon.

Andy

 

[GorMCC]

Again Thanks folks.

I'll look at the Desmond Education thing Caroline. The problem there is location as the centers are in the Central Belt of Scotland and not up in the wilds of the Highlands.

Also I'll try and not rant to much Everdayup. I'm actually a rather up beat kind of Chap.

Copepod thx for the reply. I'm not serving any more due to the condition and retired just over a year ago, (not a lot of folks know that if you develope T1 in the forces your contract is terminated immediately and if it's T2 they usually allow you to complete your present contract, but you are restricted for promotion and any extention of service), but I had done my full 22 years so got the IP payout as I was still on the old pension scheme.

Anyway speaking to the other half about changing our GP and trying to get some local information on if there is a better local GP for diabetic support.

P.S. Interesting fact. Our local hospital has no DSN's in the clinic http://www.nhsgrampian.org/nhsgramp...tID=3333&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show& and looks like in the north here we are supported by Aberdeen.

 

[Caroline]

I'll look at the Desmond Education thing Caroline. The problem there is location as the centers are in the Central Belt of Scotland and not up in the wilds of the Highlands.

talk to your GP or practice nurse for a referal, there may also be other options .