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What now?

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happydog

happydog

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I have been ill with 'flu and a chest infection. It has taken a while for me to get better but I am on the road now. As well as my diabetes I have hypothyroidism. The doctor recently doubled my thyroxine as my TSH is too high. I am really fed up as I have now been told that my heartbeat is too fast and I must not do exercise etc until the doctor has had an opportunity to consult the "Virtual clinic" (don't even know what that is). This will take two weeks. I have a strong suspicion that it is the increase in thyroxine that is to blame. I had got control of my diabetes with diet and exercise and a lot of effort and although my BGs were all over the place while I was ill, I was hoping to get them back to normal. If I am not supposed to exercise what can I do? They are about 7 fasting then about 6.5 before meals but go up to about 9.00 2 hours after meals, even though I have not eaten sugar or carbs. Sorry to rant but I am so disappointed and also a bit scared. I don't want to go on medication. Any suggestions gratefully received. :(
 
Hi Happydog. Sorry your not having a good time. How about going for a walk etc & not things that will make your heart rate go higher. Keep at it & good luck. 🙂
 
Messed up thyroid messes everything up, Happydog.

How long have you been on the new dose of Thyroxine?
 
Thanks for the suggestion Hobie, I thought that walking only counted if it was "brisk", but I may be wrong there. I'll give it a try. I have been on the new Thyroxine dose for three weeks, it was 50 mg and he raised it to 100 mg. Thank you both
 
Well increased heart rate is one of the main side effects of too much thyroxine, isn't it? Is the doc expecting this to wear off or what?
 
Who knows? He has very fixed ideas such as all diabetics must go onto medication, must take statins regardless of cholesterol level, cannot control diabetes by diet and should not read forums or the internet. Type 2's do not need to test their blood, an annual HbA1c is sufficient. Diabetes is a progressive and degenerative disease almost inevitably ending in a stroke or a heart attack. You may have guessed that I do not have a high regard for him! Meanwhile I am having to curtail my life because of the rapid heart beat.
 
happydog said:
Who knows? He has very fixed ideas such as all diabetics must go onto medication, must take statins regardless of cholesterol level, cannot control diabetes by diet and should not read forums or the internet. Type 2's do not need to test their blood, an annual HbA1c is sufficient. Diabetes is a progressive and degenerative disease almost inevitably ending in a stroke or a heart attack. You may have guessed that I do not have a high regard for him! Meanwhile I am having to curtail my life because of the rapid heart beat.
Click to expand...

I would go back and see a different gp asap. Doubling your dose seems quite radical, I am surprised he didn't put it up to 75 first. You shouldn't carry on as you are for 3 weeks with your heart beating too fast, get a second opinion.
 
I would second a second opinion! It sounds like this GP is from the Ark with those views :( How can you have confidence in anything an HCP says if you know they are wrong on so many aspects?

When I was diagnosed I was put on beta-blockers because they thought I'd had a heart attack (turns out I hadn't). The effect of these si to limit yor heart rate to around 100 bpm maximum. It was only when I started running again that I realised what this meant, as I very quickly became tired almost as soon as I started. This was because my heart was not beating fast enough to get the oxygen around my body to my muscles. However, although I couldn't run I could still walk briskly, so if you are put on them it should not mean an end to being able to exercise. 🙂 I was able to stop the beta blockers after about 4 months.
 
happydog said:
Who knows? He has very fixed ideas such as all diabetics must go onto medication, must take statins regardless of cholesterol level, cannot control diabetes by diet and should not read forums or the internet. Type 2's do not need to test their blood, an annual HbA1c is sufficient. Diabetes is a progressive and degenerative disease almost inevitably ending in a stroke or a heart attack. You may have guessed that I do not have a high regard for him! Meanwhile I am having to curtail my life because of the rapid heart beat.
Click to expand...

4 of the above statements are true and the other 3 are arguable points of view, IMHO of course.
 
that's up for discussion ;-)
 
Thank you all for your replies. I feel less fed up today. It is so good to have the forum to let off steam. mcdonagh47 I know that some of what I said was provocative, apologies if you are offended. However, I find the negative downbeat attitude of some HCPs unhelpful and annoying. Maybe I am just being too optimistic but this forum has shown me that we we can approach our illness positively and make a big difference to how we are able to cope. I intend to try to make the best of what life I have left and I want every opportunity to do so. Sorry another rant.
 
happydog said:
Thank you all for your replies. I feel less fed up today. It is so good to have the forum to let off steam. mcdonagh47 I know that some of what I said was provocative, apologies if you are offended. However, I find the negative downbeat attitude of some HCPs unhelpful and annoying. Maybe I am just being too optimistic but this forum has shown me that we we can approach our illness positively and make a big difference to how we are able to cope. I intend to try to make the best of what life I have left and I want every opportunity to do so. Sorry another rant.
Click to expand...

Not ranting at all, I totally agree with you as I have met HCPs with similar negative outlooks! 🙂
 
He has very fixed ideas such as all diabetics

must go onto medication, No

must take statins regardless of cholesterol level, No

cannot control diabetes by diet No

and should not read forums or the internet. No

Type 2's do not need to test their blood, No

an annual HbA1c is sufficient. No, not if you don't test. If you did and you were well controlled, Yes maybe. But not if your are T1 - sposed to be 6 monthly in any event for T1.

Diabetes is a progressive and degenerative disease No, not if treated right

almost inevitably ending in a stroke or a heart attack. No, not if treated right

Just IMHO LOL
 
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