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.

Dont be thinking like that. YOu are young and can change. Join a slimming group, or a gym or even go for a walk each night with a friend. Cut down on your sugar intake, i know its hard but you can do it. BEst of luck

@hadntbeen your OP is very sad, you sound so defeated. I think you should consider overeaters anonymous. Have a look online about it and try a meeting. It might save your life.

Agree with trying to access therapy, as well as the lifestyle changes. Overeating often has deep-rooted causes.

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

I once worked in the same department as a young woman who had diabetes. She either wouldn't or couldn't accept the seriousness of it and didn't manage her diabetes well. She died from it. She was in her twenties and didn't even live to the age you are now.

I don't know anything about hba1c levels so can't judge how serious your diabetes currently is. But yes, it is possible to die from diabetes, and at a young age.

Arse kicking activated! Here’s your harsh reality alert, OP:

Two of my friends died in their 40s as a direct result of refusing to manage their diabetes. One of them lingered in hospital with brain damage (having hit her skull on the pavement when she went into a hyperglycaemic coma) and a double amputation. I had a front row seat to her slow and tragic demise.

Do wisely with the time you’re given. It’s a gift. So is your body. Treat it well because nobody else will be able to give it the love you can.

@Plumpciousness Was it type 1 or type 2? Both are dangerous, but type 1 more so, and more likely in someone that young.

it is possible to reverse type 2 diabetes in lots of cases and even when it doesn't reverse completely it can still improve outcomes Roy Taylor is one of UK's leading experts on diabetes and diet he is worth looking up generally it means losing 15kg or 10% body weight as a starter

Sorry folks but it’s not true that type 2 diabetes is always reversible or controllable with diet. A relative has barely controlled type 2 diabetes without being overweight and on a balanced diet. There are autoimmune components. The first thing the doctor said was, ‘you know those people on TV who change their diet and don’t have diabetes any longer? That’s not you.’

My hba1c results in October were 8.0 so not too bad,

Er, that's bad.

I just got my hba1c results back and they are now 9.6.

Oh, dear. I find the fact you've been prescribed metformin and haven't bothered to take it because you "don't like swallowing them" just incomprehensible.

Yes, it can be turned around, but carry on like this and you can look forward to blindness, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, amputations of toes, feet, below knee, etc.

Don't worry about the milk. But you really do need help. You're so young. I hope you can find some support to start looking after yourself better in all of this,

Thankyou for this, i have said the same for myself, told my doctor but they haven't offered anything like this!

OP, we are all going to die someday.

In the meantime you don't sound very happy about this aspect your life :-( You deserve to be happy and physically well, at least as much as possible (life also includes unhappiness and an eventual physical decline, TBF).

I hope you can value yourself enough to take care of yourself, whatever that looks like for you physically and mentally.

I am totally missing the point but how on earth are you managing to drink 2 litres of milk every day and why?!?!

It's foul stuff (I'm it vegan before anyone starts assuming things 😂)

Take some accountability and seek help! My mum was like you and she's in her late 50's and can hardly play with her granddaughter.... if you don't make changes now and keep up with the excuses you are slowly making things worse x

Firstly you will die… that cannot be avoided

how healthy and enjoyable a life you have is within your control.

if you do not get your meds and your eating under your control and continue poisoning yourself you will be staring unseeingly at your amputated leg before long.

One small cut one an out of control diabetic is all it took for my friends Gran to require amputation above the knee.

unless you want to find yourself dependent on carers to wash and get out take control of this.

reach out to diabetes U.K. for support with making practical changes and BE HONEST with your dr

good luck op, it truly is within your control

Every part of my life is going so well

Are you sure? You’re slowly injuring and potentially killing your self. There’s a reason for that beyond enjoying milk.

I am on 4x metformin a day and get no side effects now as long as I take them with food. But as others say, get the slow release and be honest with your doctor.

I found it really hard as I have a very sweet tooth and can't have sweetners as they make me really unwell, but I don't want to lose a foot or go blind either. I do sympathise but the damage this can do is awful

@ManchesterGirl2 I don't know which type it was. If I remember correctly, she was mid-20s at the time (older than me, so she seemed 'grown up'). The state of denial she was in, I doubt she was diagnosed in childhood or she would have been dealing with it for years by then. One day she didn't turn up for work and her friends were concerned so went to check on her. She was either unconscious or near unconscious. It wasn't long after that she died.

Why is the drinking milk so bad? Sorry I'm just picking up on that because of it being re mentioned a few times. Okay i understand it's a lot, i only have it in tea or on cereal, but cereal is not a daily thing.

I take Metformin too, 500mg twice a day with or just after food. Are you taking it when you eat? As that is supposed to help with nausea and stomach upset?

Yes your blood sugar levels will continue to rise without dietary changes and without medication being taken properly to assist with the diabetes too.

I agree with other replies, to speak to your GP again and tell them you need more help with your eating issues. Not sure if you are exercising, but even a 30 minute walk a few times a week but proper walking, it all helps.
I used to do 40-45 mins 3-5 times a week and with some dietary changes and taking Metformin, I lost around 3 stone.

Carbs are not the enemy it is refined carbs (sugar, white bread etc).

i believe type 2 can be reversed through diet. Have a look at this link.

www.forksoverknives.com/health-topics/vegan-diet-and-diabetes/

Cut down on the refined carbs and milk and eat more wholegrains and plants.

Be honest with your doctor and yourself. You have got this.

We’re all going to die. But complications from untreated and uncontrolled diabetes is not a good way to go. And you are young, you could have a long life ahead of you if you chose to make some changes.

Quick things you can do: drink water not milk. A short walk after meals. That will already help.

Speak to your doctor. You can get slow release metformin that is easier to tolerate. But you need meds to help reduce that kind of sugar level.

Get help from a mental health professional to understand why you are in self-destruct mode. Because right now you are, and no change will last unless you are able to deal with that.

And following on, get some help from a nutritionist who understands T2D. When your eating habits have been out of whack for a long time it is hard to know where to start.

You can do it but you need to be brave and take action.

Could you share what a day of eating looks like for you? Maybe we can help you make changes. Start small so it's manageable and before long with many small changes you could have a different lifestyle.

Diabetes CAN and DOES kill. It’s the whole reason I’m 23 and without a mum anymore. It ruined my mums life in her early 50s (type 1), it ruined her eyes to the point she needed a magnifying glass and glasses to read anything, it ruined her kidneys so she needed dialysis. It gave her a foot ulcer that (along with a bit of medical neglect) left her unable to walk properly. It gave her stomach issues so she couldn’t enjoy a proper meal out. Everytime your levels get out of control it does a bit more damage to your body that is harder to come back from. In the end it finished her off with a cardiac arrest due to diabetic complications at the bright old age of 52. Google diabetic heart. She never got to enjoy her retirement, see me graduate get married have kids or any of that because of her diabetes. I just wish they’d of got it under control earlier. She didn’t always take all of her meds - they most of the time made her feel worse, more complications. But I know if she was here now, knowing the outcome she’d of been straight to the doctors sorting it out. There’s no saying this will happen to you - but please don’t be fooled into thinking you can just leave it and not manage it. It will catch up with you, and it’s such a bitch.

Of course you need to get this under control by sorting out your medication and eating more healthily. Another way to help your diabetes is by walking - exercise can really help regulate your blood sugar and also gives you a psychological boost - it sounds like you've got yourself stuck and need a way out of your current habits.

Two litres of milk a day is wild! What compels you to do that??

I'm not going to bother with horror stories. You know what the future holds for you if you continue.

What I will encourage is some serious therapy. It's the only thing that got me in a head space to lose 6 stone. When you have deeply entrenched food issues you need to address your brain first.

No wonder your weeing so much drinking two pints of milk a day!

Why so much milk can't you just drink water?