Type 2 confusion...

[David196439]

Hi,

I have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes but I am very confused by what I am being told because it does not fit the normal Type 2 pattern?

Firstly, my main symptom before diagnosis , apart from regular tiredness, was that I keep getting Hypos? I have a prick tester and my glucose level often drops to 2.5 or lower. My Endocrinologist said that it is because my pancreas is producing too much insulin after I eat and the insulin production overshoots resulting in my blood sugar level plummeting and resulting in a hypo? But if my pancreas is producing too much insulin - do I actually have Type 2 Diabetes or not? I had a fasting test and a sugar tolerance test a couple of months ago and this apparently showed I was Type 2. There was some mention that I might have a Neuro Endocrine Tumour that could be producing insulin elsewhere in the body but I had a scan and they have ruled this out (Although I am still waiting for the definitive blood test that takes 6 weeks+ to complete).

The consultant said I might need tablets or insulin injections but no indication as to when? I have an appointment with him next February?

Also, I was promised a dietitian appointment over six weeks ago and nothing has happened yet.

I have done some reading about Type 2 and have put myself on a no sugar / carbs diet. As a result I have lost over 6 kg so far. Silver linings...

Having seen the consultant six weeks ago I have had no support or advice whatsoever from anyone - is this normal? Do I really have to deal/ handle this on my own? I haven't even been given a leaflet!

To further complicate matters I also have Gout. When you have Gout it is advisable / important not to eat too much protein because this can bring on a Gout attack because it raises my blood Uric Acid levels causing crystals to form in my joins. This obviously limits my food choices further! I think that basically leaves me with vegetables!

I feel very lost at the moment and I am finding things very difficult both in terms of food choices and emotionally - of course this could be the result of lack of sugar in my diet.

Has anyone had a similar experience or got any advice for me?


Sorry if this sounds like a whinge / rant.

David

 

[Kaylz]

may I ask what your hba1c tests results were?

It sounds to me like your explaining the symptoms of reactive hypoglycaemia, I don't know much about it but I believe the NHS website has stuff about it if you google reactive hypoglycaemia nhs
xx

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Sorry you have to be here!

 

[CathyB]

Hi and welcome. Sounds like a complex situation for you, sadly not surprising at the lack of information or support, that seems to be fairly standard (until you come here), my advice would be to write down all your questions, make a double appointment to see your doc so you have time to talk things through.

 

[Greymouser]

Hi and welcome to the forum. You are not having a whinge or ranting, but letting off steam which can only be good, at least here! Or at least I hope so, because I am often doing it! 😉

It is quite normal for the NHS to be slow and I am afraid you will just have to be patient, last time it took me five weeks to get a GP appointment! I too had the tumour test in 2017, which for me also proved negative. It is a little odd that they are making you wait until February, for a consultant appointment and agree with CathyB and the idea of getting an urgent GP appointment, if you can, to talk this out.

As for diet, I would say be careful of cutting all carbs out, until you know what exactly is wrong with you. Certainly cut out sugar, it is bad for everyone anyway, but just cut down on carbs to less that 100g a day? I would also say that it would be better not to worry about your protein intake as such, just check again which proteins effect the Gout more, because there is a huge difference. My Father in Law used to get it bad and changed/reduced which protein he had and way upped his water intake, which again is only a good thing as most do not hydrate enough anyway. He also used to swear by Cherry juice, but I am not sure how many carbs are in that, it could be a bad idea. I am in fact a pescatarian and many others here are Vegetarian/Vegan, so there are decent alternatives. Also do not stress about the so called evil fats, that is a lie as some of the fats we are often told to avoid, are in fact good for us. If you go on a very low carb diet in fact, increasing the fats is a good idea. 🙂

Lastly try to relax. I know it is easier said than done, but stress will just make everything worse. 🙂

 

[Drummer]

Not a medic, but what you describe, to me that is not type two diabetes - nothing like, it resembles reactive hypoglycaemia.
Cutting back of carbs would seem to work for both problems, as it is all down to not being able to deal with them, but I'd be questioning the diagnosis if I had hypos after eating.
There is a substance in cherries which helps with excreting the uric acid - but I believe it is available from the Dr in tablet form, you don't have to consume the fruit.

 

[David196439]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the messages and advice - I really appreciate it. I will book an appointment to see my GP and check out the cherry thing for my gout. I received an appointment yesterday for the 16th of January with the Dietitian at my local hospital - 19 weeks after diagnosis - so annoying. I forgot to mention in my original post that I also only have one kidney and a fatty liver (Non alcohol related) which tends to make things a bit trickier all round. Since my last post I have had three hypos the lowest being 2.2. This is worrying given that I have virtually cut out all carbs and all sugar. I guess my next step is the GP to discuss it - although I have to say he didn't seem to know much about it last time I talked to him. Is this typical? Have now lost 7.5 kg Thanks again for all your comments. David 🙂 Sorry, just one more thing. I am really struggling with sleep since I gave up sugar and carbs - at first I can't get to sleep then I can't wake up?? Has anyone else experienced similar? David

 

[Greymouser]

although I have to say he didn't seem to know much about it last time I talked to him. Is this typical?

I would say so, GP's are by their very name a general practitioner, so are in no way a specialist. The Diabetes nurse specialist in my surgery is far better, seems to know more, but still far from perfect. I would also add that I have little respect for the NHS dieticians, or at least the one I saw. She did not have a clue to be honest, so I suggest you think long and hard about any advice you get. Perhaps run it past this forum?

I would suggest also you take up your lack of sleep with the GP, I know I will next time I see mine, as I have been experiencing that too recently. Perhaps if you introduce some carbs back into your diet, but not too many, just a moderate amount, below 120g a day perhaps? 🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello @David196439

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and the slight confusion surrounding your complex diagnosis.

It does sound like you have a bit of reactive hypoglycaemia going on, but my understanding was that this was partly brought on by rapid and significantly raised BG after a meal. Have you checked an hour or so after eating a meal to try to catch the ‘spike’ caused by the food?

Hope you can get an appointment with the GP and perhaps see a specialist (before February!) to get some more clues as to what is happening in your case.

 

[David196439]

Thanks everyone. I do get spikes after carbs but the my BG plummets to 2 ish. I will check it each time I eat for a while to get a better picture myself. I will also talk to my GP about the sleeping. Not sure about eating the carbs yet though - I really don't want to get any more Hypos.

My GP was absolutely hopeless when talking to her on the phone yesterday. She just said "Your symptoms are really weird. I think you should ignore all the advice for Type 2" Brilliant! She also shouted ("Stop repeating yourself") at me over the phone because apparently I had repeated myself when telling her what was wrong? All I said was that "I am really concerned about this." twice. I think she was having a bad day? She did apologise to me after I bollocked her for it. She said she would need to think about it all and take advice form other GP's at the practice. She said she will phone me on Tuesday. (She doesn't work Monday's)

I asked if it would be possible to have a second opinion to clarify what is going on and she said "It's a possibility". To be honest, I think the consultant I have been seeing is not up to much. Everything he does takes at least 4-5 months to happen and he is a really poor communicator both verbally and written.

Thanks again to all.


Watch this space...

David