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.

My late husband died of Kidney failure after having dialysis 3 x a day for years. He also lost his sight due to diabetes.
Take the meds and try to keep your health as much as you can!

You think death is the worst that can happen? You probably won't die, but you'll wish you could teleport back to this moment. I know my husband wishes he could go back. YOU have to do it OP.

One thing that might help you make a change is to understand that your body craves sugar and carbs, when you massively reduce the amounts it gets, the cravings actually reduce too.
I was a lot heavier than you when I started ( my BMI was 47 compared to your 35 ) and my diet was mainly bread, more bread and wine, it took less than two weeks for the cravings to completely go and my appetite reduced significantly too.

A good reason not to put this off any longer is that I don't think we can assume that the NHS is going to exist in its current form to pick up the pieces in twenty years time and if healthcare is still free the waiting lists for treatment and care for obesity-related conditions are likely to be very very long as a large proportion of the population are going to be needing them.

It's very easy nowadays to think it can wait until tomorrow as us overweight people no longer stand out as most of the population are slightly overweight at least but actually the fact that more of us are overweight than are healthy is even more reason to take control of what we can because how on earth are the health services going to cater for us all?

Right now you have access to a GP who wants to help you. Take this opportunity.

Step 1: tell your GP you can't tolerate the form of Metformin you've been given

Step 2: a little fresh air and exercise every day

Step 3: avoid sugar/carbs early in the day (as they just make us want to have more)

As a diabetic female you are six times more likely to suffer cardiovascular disease than a non diabetic. That includes the dreaded dementia. I'm a practice nurse that sees some horrific side effects of badly managed diabetes. It will catch up with you.

Be careful as there are 2 diabetes websites Diabetes.org.uk which is a charity and Diabetes.co.uk which is private company that sells low carb diets.masquarading as advice

There are support groups for recently diagnosed t2, which might help you get motivated . Ask your practice diabetic nurse to refer you.

www.england.nhs.uk/diabetes/diabetes-prevention/

I say this gently, but have you tried to lose weight? I've lost two stone and I feel so much better. My HBA1C is still too high but much better. Your weight is a real problem. I'm not trying to be nasty, I've been there. I'm 5 foot 11 and weigh over a stone less than you and I'm still overweight. Small changes really do make a big difference. Is there one small thing you can change to start with?

At this stage you can put your diabetes into remission but only if you are prepared to make some life changes. You will most certainly be causing damage to your organs at the moment and could lose limbs or sight in the future if you do not change.
Take a look at dietdoctor.com for meal plans and great advise. You need to eat less than 30g of carbs per day, drink plenty of water and get some exercise even if its walking for 20 mins. Cut of bread, pasta, rice , wheat and any veggies that grow below ground. Meat, fish, eggs, full fat cheese, cream an other healthy fats will be your friend and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Greek yogurt ( I like the one from Lidl) but stay away from flavoured yogurts. I would also suggest keeping a food and drink diary so that you can see where you can make changes.
I would speak to your GP about getting some support for your eating issues . Good luck 🤗

The Glucose Goddess on Instagram and her book The Glucose Revolution are great for tips on how to manage insulin spikes. Her hacks are amazing.

I am 5'4" and was 16st 7lb at .y heaviest, which was when I was diagnosed with T2. I am currently about 13st (haven't weighed for a couple of weeks.) Most of the loss was through low-carbing. I always have exercised regularly, albeit could still be fitter, and I don't drink, so some of those quicker aids couldn't do so much for me.

The nausea with Metformin be will less over time if you take it regularly and have it with food.

You will need support with the drinking and everything. But you can make changes, even though it's not easy.

My mother died of diabetes related complications. The irony is that at the time, she' been managing her diabetes really well for a number of years, had her weight largely under control and was, broadly speaking, quite healthy.

You should be honest with your GP about how hard you find it and ask what support is available from alternative forms of medication to counselling to dieticians.

Those aren't your HBA1C results, if they were 8 you would be unconscious, they are your CBG results (finger prick blood test) and they aren't great.
If you ignore all of this you won't die for a long time but you will go blind and end up on dialysis with kidney failure or get neuropathy and foot ulcers leading to leg amputation.
I'd say with a CBG like that your HBA1C would most likely be around 70 mmols (guessing). It should be in the 40's.
Not taking your metformin because you feel sick is not an excuse, there are numerous diabetic medications you can take instead which won't make you feel sick, you just need to go and speak to the nurse of GP to change them.
I work in the diabetic foot centre and deal with people with uncontrolled blood sugar day in and day out with black necrotic feet, end stage kidney failure and amputations and still they drink, over eat and smoke.
You need to start taking this very seriously and there is every possibility you can reverse your diabetes.
But you HAVE to work with your health care professionals.
I reversed my own diabetes at 50 by losing 5 stone and doing the 800 calories a day shakes and bars regime recommended by the NHS. Ask your GP. My eyesight came back and my nerve damage was reversed.
But time is your enemy, the longer you mess about the more any damage will not be able to be reversed.
The fact that you are urinating excessively means your blood sugar is getting worse.

There is also the DESMOND programme

www.desmond.nhs.uk

If scare stories worked then no one would smoke, drink too much, overeat etc.

Do you take metformin before a meal? My friend takes it before dinner and she has less digestive problems from it this way. It has decreased her appetite so her portion sizes are smaller and she’s lost weight over the years. Try the dose you’ve been prescribed for a few weeks. See if you get used to it. If not go back to your GP. Have you seen a dietitian? There are lots of nice things you can eat. Your diet needs changing but that doesn’t mean you can’t have nice things at all.

Youre 30. You have your whole life ahead and it can be a good one but it sounds like you’re going to need some help and support to treat and manage your diabetes which is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. You can do this OP.

Try a low carb, high fat/protein diet, my mum lost 10 stone and reversed her diabetes

A work colleague had diabetes, not sure what type. He ignored his diet advice and ended up with a leg amputation. He continued on and was dead in less than a year. I dont know all the ins and outs of the medical side but he was a lovely guy

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

Seriously @hadntbeen (and I mean this kindly) you can't be this stupid.

In the time you have written your long post, you could have googled 'Results of long term diabetes' and seen images of amputated legs, gangrenous toes, blindness.

You would have to be living under a rock not to know this when you already have a diagnosis.

You don't need horror stories.
You know the risks.

What you do need is help for an addiction. An NHS nutritionist/ dietician, and support from your GP.

You also need to know that nothing anyone here says will be of any use at all, until you own your health and take responsibility for it.

Wow, you kicked alcohol addiction, that's amazing, OP! That is such an accomplishment. And have you replaced alcohol with something else ... yeah, quite possibly. But you've taken some really important steps for your health previously by giving up alcohol, you can do this too!

Other posters have some good advice about diabetes and diet management. I'd like to recommend a general book about addiction in case it helps. It's called "Many Roads, One Journey" by Charlotte Kasl and is basically a feminist critique of traditional 12-step programmes. I think it's a little more relevant in the US where the religious origins of 12-step programmes are more evident than they are in the UK, but you may still find the book really useful food for thought if you've had any trouble with AA and such. And it's not just criticising existing 12-step programmes, it gives you tools and insights that you can use as an alternative. It's out of print but you can find secondhand copies online https://www.amazon.co.uk/Many-Roads-One-Journey-Moving/dp/0060965185

That said, I have friends who have been very successful with AA and have found it life-changing. Humans are social animals, we need our communities. A group of nonjudgmental people who have experienced similar things to you could really help you keep on track with the changes you need to make in your life. Good luck and best wishes!

Sorry but this is so very wrong. If you are diabetic then a carb is a carb is a carb and there is no avoiding that. Something like wholemeal bread may not be a simple carbohydrate but it will be broken down into simple carbohydrates just like every other complex carb is, and it will have exactly the same effect on your body just marginally slower.

I’d ask about Ozempic if I were you, one of my friends has been on it for a year and has lost over 20kg. He struggled with the side effects at first but compared to losing a foot there’s not really much comparison. Your HbA1C isn’t just high, it’s horrifically high. Expressed as the new percentage it’s 91%. I’m also diabetic but not type 2. My HbA1C is 36% (or 5.4) because I am very well controlled. Yours is showing that your average BG if you were testing would be 16mmol, when it should be around 5-6mmol.

You must be feeling so poorly at that level, and not even realising because you’re used to it. Please talk to your GP or consultant today and get things moving. I’d also suggest you get a monitor and start checking your levels yourself.

@CoorieInByTheFire yes your figures are accurate and I agree that hovering around 16 makes you feel poorly. Unfortunately it can make the sufferer crave carbs which is absolutely the worst thing to turn to. Horrible horrible cycle.

That is a really good point to make and I don’t think non diabetic people realise that.

@hadntbeen when your BG is as high as yours your body can’t access the glucose it needs for energy because you’re not able to convert the glucose in your blood, so your body craves more and more. If you can get your levels down the cravings will stop to a large degree as your body will be functioning correctly and you’ll feel a lot better as you’ll have more energy.

Well if you don't make chages nothing will change

Also if you’re motivated to lose weight you may be eligible for specific support for this - it’s dependent upon area but often the combination of BMI over 35 plus type two diabetes will fulfil the criteria. It’s worth discussing with the GP / diabetes nurse to see what is available in your area if you think extra support to lose weight would help.

I agree with PPs who have mentioned Sexenda/Ozempic. You should be eligible for it on the NHS as a diabetic. I'm not diabetic but I was morbidly obese. I paid privately and have lost 7 stone so far. I combined it with intermittent fasting (16:8) and a high protein/fat low carb diet and it's been life-changing.