• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Waiting for diagnosis

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Well done on being so proactive.

From what you have said I would also expect you to be Type 1, and I hope that you were able to get your GP to check for this at your appointment this morning.

Do let us know how you got on and what the outcome was. There is a loads of experience to tap into on here so fire away with envy questions that arise. Diagnosis is a shock at any age, and there is a lot to learn at the start.

I look forward to hearing from you.
 
JoRicco said:
I'm 5' 7 and was 10st 8, i'm now 10st 2 .. I'm looking a bit skinny, which i hate but can't exactly scoff all my Christmas chocolate :-( Happy 2023 lol
Click to expand...
Hang on to those chocolates. If you are type 1 you will be able to enjoy them once you have your insulin sorted out. If you are Type 1 you will be able to eat whatever you want, it just takes a bit of time to confidently work out the insulin doses to go with what you eat.
 
Hi everyone.. Ketones in urine at GP. sent straight to A&E ( who were brilliant, fast tracked through ) . End result is I'm on 4 injections a day , 1 with each meal( if carb or sugar) then like a slow release on for over night. Review me in clinic in 3 months and have to re do bloods before that appointment to clarify if type 1 or 2 ... What a day xx
 
JoRicco said:
Hi everyone.. Ketones in urine at GP. sent straight to A&E ( who were brilliant, fast tracked through ) . End result is I'm on 4 injections a day , 1 with each meal( if carb or sugar) then like a slow release on for over night. Review me in clinic in 3 months and have to re do bloods before that appointment to clarify if type 1 or 2 ... What a day xx
Click to expand...

So glad you’ve got swift attention @JoRicco Brilliant! The insulin regime you’re on is a normal one for Type 1s (and some Type 2s too). You should start feeling better soon, and you’ll realise how ‘not right’ you were feeling before. The first thing I noticed was my energy came back.

Make sure you have lots of hypo treatments (Dextro, jelly babies, sugar Coke, etc) and keep some upstairs, downstairs and by your bed and always take them with you when you go out. Test lots and know that everything will gradually get easier even though it will all seem overwhelming now xx
 
Inka said:
So glad you’ve got swift attention @JoRicco Brilliant! The insulin regime you’re on is a normal one for Type 1s (and some Type 2s too). You should start feeling better soon, and you’ll realise how ‘not right’ you were feeling before. The first thing I noticed was my energy came back.

Make sure you have lots of hypo treatments (Dextro, jelly babies, sugar Coke, etc) and keep some upstairs, downstairs and by your bed and always take them with you when you go out. Test lots and know that everything will gradually get easier even though it will all seem overwhelming now xx
Click to expand...
It has been alot to take in but atleast all my questions are answered and if i'm honest a lot of people are really ,really poorly so am grateful to be able to monitor mine and hopefully put my weight back on my skinny legs and ass ( sorry ) ... It's not all bad news xx
 
Yes, the weight should go back on soon 🙂 Your description above of looking like someone had vacuumed all the fat off you, really rang a bell because that’s what I looked like. Now you’re on insulin, your body will be able to use the food you eat to rebuild itself🙂 Don’t worry if you feel very hungry - I did for the first few weeks. That settles and you’ll find your hunger and weight re-adjust back to normal.

It’s likely they’ve started you on conservative doses of insulin to begin with and then they’ll adjust them as/if needed. It takes a little time to work out what’s best for you. Although you don’t have an appointment for 3 months, I hope you have the number of the Diabetes Clinic and Nurses so you can get support if needed. Take your time, be kind to yourself and ask anything you want here. No question is too trivial. We’ve all been where you are and are very happy to help xx
 
Inka said:
Yes, the weight should go back on soon 🙂 Your description above of looking like someone had vacuumed all the fat off you, really rang a bell because that’s what I looked like. Now you’re on insulin, your body will be able to use the food you eat to rebuild itself🙂 Don’t worry if you feel very hungry - I did for the first few weeks. That settles and you’ll find your hunger and weight re-adjust back to normal.

It’s likely they’ve started you on conservative doses of insulin to begin with and then they’ll adjust them as/if needed. It takes a little time to work out what’s best for you. Although you don’t have an appointment for 3 months, I hope you have the number of the Diabetes Clinic and Nurses so you can get support if needed. Take your time, be kind to yourself and ask anything you want here. No question is too trivial. We’ve all been where you are and are very happy to help xx
Click to expand...
Thankyou xx
 
Brilliant that you got quick attention as all you were saying did put up some red flags for you being Type 1.
The tests they may be proposing would likely be c-peptide and GAD antibodies but they can often take quite a few weeks for results to come back. The samples have to be taken and processed very quickly so not everywhere can do them.
 
Leadinglights said:
Brilliant that you got quick attention as all you were saying did put up some red flags for you being Type 1.
The tests they may be proposing would likely be c-peptide and GAD antibodies but they can often take quite a few weeks for results to come back. The samples have to be taken and processed very quickly so not everywhere can do them.
Click to expand...
I can't fault George Eliot hospital today, amazing. I've got to ring the nurse Friday with my readings. then they are booking me into the clinic and have to have another blood test before that appointment. The diabetic nurse said i'm type one but the Dr seems to think i'm type 2 ? either way i'm on insulin xx
 
JoRicco said:
I can't fault George Eliot hospital today, amazing. I've got to ring the nurse Friday with my readings. then they are booking me into the clinic and have to have another blood test before that appointment. The diabetic nurse said i'm type one but the Dr seems to think i'm type 2 ? either way i'm on insulin xx
Click to expand...
So pleased that you had such a quick response. It will take you some time to get used to the ‘new normal’. It is likely the hospital will know more than your GP, since the GPS see so few of us with T1.

It will be useful to start to get familiar with calculating the amount of carbohydrates that is in the meals you are eating. This is the basis in which each of works out how much insulin we need. They have started you on fixed doses at present but eventually they will teach you how to make your own adjustments. Be patient whilst they help you along the way, and ask anything that arises.
 
JoRicco said:
I can't fault George Eliot hospital today, amazing. I've got to ring the nurse Friday with my readings. then they are booking me into the clinic and have to have another blood test before that appointment. The diabetic nurse said i'm type one but the Dr seems to think i'm type 2 ? either way i'm on insulin xx
Click to expand...
Are the diabetic nurses gping to contact you regularly about your doses?
 
Tdm said:
Are the diabetic nurses gping to contact you regularly about your doses?
Click to expand...
And a continous glucose monitor? You need to know where your sugars are whrn on insulin. If they won't prescribe one it may be worth buying one until they get around to it
 
Tdm said:
And a continous glucose monitor? You need to know where your sugars are whrn on insulin. If they won't prescribe one it may be worth buying one until they get around to it
Click to expand...
Oh they have given me a sugar and ketone monitor 🙂 have got to do pre breakfast, lunch,dinner and bedtime xx
 
JoRicco said:
Oh they have given me a sugar and ketone monitor 🙂 have got to do pre breakfast, lunch,dinner and bedtime xx
Click to expand...

And also test any time you feel ‘off’ or think you might be hypo. If you drive, be aware that you need to inform the DVLA that you’re on insulin and will need to fill out additional forms. It’s also best to inform your insurance company. I’d advise you don’t drive initially anyway until you’re confident as to what your body is doing and in using the insulin @JoRicco
 
Inka said:
And also test any time you feel ‘off’ or think you might be hypo. If you drive, be aware that you need to inform the DVLA that you’re on insulin and will need to fill out additional forms. It’s also best to inform your insurance company. I’d advise you don’t drive initially anyway until you’re confident as to what your body is doing and in using the insulin @JoRicco
Click to expand...
Yes she did mention that and give me a leaflet .. I don't tend to drive far to be honest but will let them know. Thankyou x
 
JoRicco said:
Yes she did mention that and give me a leaflet .. I don't tend to drive far to be honest but will let them know. Thankyou x
Click to expand...

You’re legally obliged to let them know @JoRicco It doesn’t matter how much or little you drive 🙂 It will probably explain a bit in the leaflet you got, but basically you have to fill in a medical/diabetes form and they’ll then issue a new driving licence, usually for 3 years. This will then have to be renewed before it expires, by filling in the medical/diabetes form again. Bit of a pain but I comfort myself by remembering that some people with other medical conditions/medication have to do similar and so it keeps us all safe.
 
Don’t forget also to ring your car insurance company and update your licence type to medical restricted 3 year licence once you get that back from the DVLA
 
So glad to hear that you got appropriate help from the hospital @JoRicco - the insulin injection regime they've put you on (multiple daily injections, or MDI) is the most suitable for type 1s as it's very flexible so once you are used to it you will be able to eat normally, or skip a meal if you want, or have a little extra insulin mid-afternoon if you are out for tea & cake, or whatever suits you.

Diabetes specialist nurses (DSNs) at hospitals know a lot more about type 1 than GPs do, as they work with type 1s most of the time, whereas GPs will hardly ever see a type 1, so if you ever need medical advice about your diabetes contact a DSN. Even if it turns out that you have type 2, try to keep in touch with the DSNs if you continue to need insulin as they'll know more about that too. If you can get an email address for the DSNs at your hospital that will be very helpful for anything that's not urgent, it saves being on hold to the hospital for ages.

The insulin doses they've put you on will be a best guess as different people need different amounts, so if you find your blood sugar is not changing, or is changing too rapidly, do contact a DSN for advice about which dose/s to change and by how much.

And don't worry if it takes a while for your blood sugar to come down to normal - it's better for your eyes if it comes down slowly (and also safer for you not to be having lots of hypos right away!). Your eyesight should stop being so blurry now you have insulin, but it may take a couple of months for that to recover (I was told not to get new glasses for 6 months after my diagnosis to be on the safe side).

Has anyone told you that you should now get all your prescriptions free? You'll have to fill in a form for that too, to get an exemption certificate - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/free-prescriptions
 
TheClockworkDodo said:
So glad to hear that you got appropriate help from the hospital @JoRicco - the insulin injection regime they've put you on (multiple daily injections, or MDI) is the most suitable for type 1s as it's very flexible so once you are used to it you will be able to eat normally, or skip a meal if you want, or have a little extra insulin mid-afternoon if you are out for tea & cake, or whatever suits you.

Diabetes specialist nurses (DSNs) at hospitals know a lot more about type 1 than GPs do, as they work with type 1s most of the time, whereas GPs will hardly ever see a type 1, so if you ever need medical advice about your diabetes contact a DSN. Even if it turns out that you have type 2, try to keep in touch with the DSNs if you continue to need insulin as they'll know more about that too. If you can get an email address for the DSNs at your hospital that will be very helpful for anything that's not urgent, it saves being on hold to the hospital for ages.

The insulin doses they've put you on will be a best guess as different people need different amounts, so if you find your blood sugar is not changing, or is changing too rapidly, do contact a DSN for advice about which dose/s to change and by how much.

And don't worry if it takes a while for your blood sugar to come down to normal - it's better for your eyes if it comes down slowly (and also safer for you not to be having lots of hypos right away!). Your eyesight should stop being so blurry now you have insulin, but it may take a couple of months for that to recover (I was told not to get new glasses for 6 months after my diagnosis to be on the safe side).

Has anyone told you that you should now get all your prescriptions free? You'll have to fill in a form for that too, to get an exemption certificate - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/free-prescriptions
Click to expand...
Thankyou soo much for your advice . Considering my levels were 24.8 Tuesday night, before i went to bed last night they were 8.8 🙂 .xx
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top