Will I die if I don't change?

[hadntbeen]

I'm a 30 year old female. Full disclosure - my eating is out of control. Full of carbs, sugar and I drink a lot, and I mean a lot of semi skimmed milk which is just full of sugar. I am 5 foot 4 and weigh around 15 stone.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around 2 years ago when I started to become very sleepy throughout the day.

My hba1c results in October were 8.0 so not too bad, however, I hadn't been taking the 2000 mg metformin that was prescribed to me. I was honest with my doctor about this and so she told me to just take 500 mg and we would do another test in January.

I didn't do that - I honestly don't have any other reason for it other than the tablets make me feel sick and I don't like swallowing them. I've noticed over the last month that I have been urinating a lot more. I just got my hba1c results back and they are now 9.6.

I'm quite worried by these results as my diet hasn't changed since my last results in October but still my sugar levels aren't even staying the same they are just rising.

I'm scared to talk to my doctor. My plan from today is to start taking my one tablet 500 mg of metformin and to cut out the milk. I literally drink about 2 litres a day.

Is it reversible still at this point? If I continue the way I am, what can I expect going forward?

Every part of my life is going so well, I just can't quite get a grip of this.

I guess I need some horror stories/cold, hard facts to shock me into action.

Dear OP
You know the answer already.
Why do you avoid self-care?
Death from Diabetes is a slow one.
Theres a higher chance of amputation first. The majority of people in Hospital having limbs removed are Diabetics.
Its your body, your life, your choice.
I would suggest you start by taking your Metformin and asking your GP to refer you for Counselling.
p.s. a friend of mine paid Privately to be hypnotised to rid her of her sweet tooth.
Drastic. But not as drastic as living (and dying) with Diabetes. Good Luck.

This. And once in stage 4 renal failure you will need to go on to a low potassium diet which is hard work. Nothing like healthy eating and carb control for diabetes.

@MrsDoyle351 It's not the spike itself that is the issue. It's how quickly your body gets rid of that spike. The quicker the better. The issue with diabetes or pre-diabetes is that the rate is slow and that's how inflammation and damage occurs.

Many foods spike glucose levels, but exercise and combining those foods with other foods at the same time, can lower the spike.

Everyone gets spikes even very healthy people. But it's the response that matters.

How are you turning round your pre-diabetes?

One of my family was like this (they are elderly) and after reducing the refined carbs every day (which was including carb snacks morning and afternoon) and doing a little more walking they are now no longer in the pre-diab range.

@AIBUYESYES As PP have rightly pointed out, it's never going to go away completely but I've certainly had success in my morning blood glucose being below 5.0 now whereas before (for months initially) it was above 5.5 mmol/l

Managed to keep HBA1c out of diabetic range - and get it checked yearly. My Dad had type 2 diabetes and wasn't obese. I'm a healthy BMI but still have it - sometimes life sucks and you can't eat all the cake.

I've checked my spike response to different foods - and as you say - with my spikes, they take a longer time to come down than a non diabetes person. Highest spike was after a 'protein' bar with a pic of a cyclist on - went up to 12.9 mmol/l!! checked packaging after, and there was a shit ton of sugar in it. User BEWARE

I did make the distinction that it would be different for someone with type 2 who is being treated with insulin.

Not sure if this will be helpful for everyone but there is a book called ‘can I eat that’ about the experiences of a couple navigating type 2 diabetes for the husband. Some of the things mentioned have been really helpful to us. For example did you know that cooking some carbs like potatoes and pasta, letting them go cold and then reheating them actually lowers the carbohydrate content ? The book is available on Amazon and also as an audible recording.

It’s a question of cost. When we enquired about Libre we were told that it wasn’t necessary for type 2 and if we wanted to do that we would have to pay. £50 and lasts for 2 weeks. Unaffordable.

Could you try a weight loss jab such as Saxenda, I really believe in it.

Whilst I wouldn’t wish the agony on anyone I’m in now, I am in much better place with ‘well controlled diabetes’.

It’s not just the sugar in carbs that’s the problem, it’s the fact that unused carbs are stored as sugar, so have a direct effect on blood sugar spikes. And fresh fruit is better than fruit juices. For type 2 my DH’s diabetic nurse advised that no fruit is prohibited - it’s a matter of variety and moderation. I’m wondering whether the OP’s fixation on milk as the problem is indicating an unwillingness to face the whole problem.

People are on about a weight loss jab or tablet not all surgeries will offer this either

now for the meters for type 2 that’s a hit or a miss with surgeries.

people that do check daily along with their HBA1c find they have better control I’m one of them. I find it keeps me accountable to my diabetes and I’m a slim diabetic too which sort of debunks some myths that all type 2s cause it all themselves and are fat and lazy.

yes diabetes is a slow killer but if we take it by the horns we can put it in remission but it’s a bloody hard slog to do because we’ve to change our whole mindset but it is achievable.

Ive got other medical conditions wrong with me which don’t help my diabetes but saying it’s progressive has now been debunked it isn’t we can help ourselves get better not ill.

my nurse (not diabetic nurse) doesn’t help but my GP is bloody wonderful and has put on my notes well done for achieving lower results.

@hadntbeen please come back and update us, we hope you’ve taken some small steps on battling this like did the drink.

@hadntbeen can you come back and tell us how you are doing? You had some harsh home truths, some good advice and some nonsense on this thread but hopefully it gave you things to consider. The important question is, what are you going to do?

I think you want to die. You are not doing anything to help yourself and you know very well what needs to be done. I am 78 and have type 2 as well. I went to a dietician and started to diet. I lost weight and my test results were marvellous. You need to 1. See a therapist. 2. See a dietician. 3. Start walking. If you lose weight you'll feel better and life may become worth living again.