Scared of getting a dx and being able to make the potential lifestyle changes

[Graphista]

I'm 50, fat, sedentary and love my carbs though try to eat relatively healthily.

I had a load of bloods taken recently as I've had a rubbish winter health wise and wanted to get to bottom of it.

Drs just called me (how rare is that?!) to have me make another appointment to test blood again as showed raised blood glucose.

On day of test I hadn't eaten before testing which is what's really worrying me!

Also family history of type 2 and yes I am kicking myself for not being more sensible but I have a lot of other health issues to contend with too inc ocd.

I'm scared I won't cope with the dx, the changes I'll need to make (creature of habit), or even that with the ocd I'll go too far the other way and be too controlling with it all.

Can anyone relate? Been through similar and can reassure?

Appointment is in 2 weeks so not urgent response from them but still...

free eye tests, prescriptions and eye tests forever

I mean 'and dental treatment' there.

Honestly, at risk of repeating myself, how about seeing if doing something for your feet/skin/hands would help distract?

You're allowed to give your brain a break from it for a bit x

In Scotland and on benefits so get free eye tests etc anyway.

Yes I know podiatry not a beauty treatment just meant I don't like being touched by strangers.

Not prone to pressure injuries, I can move but bad days it hurts a lot.

Not patronising I get it. Gradually getting hard around diet stuff but v much just starting to learn there re diabetes.

Wish I could give brain a break! With ocd it doesn't happen.

It is a hard thing to take in, but you will soon adapt to a new lifestyle and way of eating, and will feel better for it. You are in the dark now, waiting, and everything is out of control, hence your discomfort. I am sure you will feel so much better in a few weeks, once you have an idea of what keeps your blood sugar under control, and you are settling into your new way of eating.

Ah OP I feel for you. I've been T2 for 20+ years and I also had no symptoms at all and it's only in the last couple of years I've had any issues (neuropathy in my eyes although it hasn't affected my sight and is treatable, also my gums are shot to shit). I was diet controlled for years and I'm no saint with food believe me. Now I'm still just on tablets (although the dose has crept up as it's a progressive disease).

They may offer you Ozempic, or similar, which is a diabetes drug and is supposed to help with weight loss if the non-diabetic slimmers haven't snaffled it all.

Go with their recommendations, take the medication if offered and hopefully you'll start feeling a lot better soon 🙂

Go with their recommendations, take the medication if offered and hopefully you'll start feeling a lot better soon

Not as simple as that with other health issues & meds & Mh stuff.

Would much prefer to do diet controlled, I am still not convinced on the numbers being so high with no symptoms and no fasting tests having been done.

Long experience with gps/primary care is they are often clueless and can't cope with managing multiple ailments and meds in one patient. Don't listen to you and don't prioritise what should be.

I spent months after initial diagnosis believing they'd got it wrong somehow - it's a totally common reaction.

As pp mentioned, fasting won't affect a hba1c result - by all means ask for a retest and fasting tests though.

want to know the tests and results are accurate and being dealt with correctly.

You can order A1Hbc privately

You can also buy yourself a continuous glucose monitor from www.abbott.co.uk

They last a fortnight and are not cheap. Wearing one for a fortnight was enough to change my way of eating for ever. You can absolutely manage and even reverse T11 diabetics by eating low carb high fat.

There is a great thread here on Mumsnet and lots help generally.

Well I’m type 1, diagnosed in my early 20s after vomiting blood because my blood had become so acidic it was eroding my oesophagus.

The crux of the matter is you (we) have a choice - control the condition or end up dead or with some pretty nasty side effects like amputated limbs. Diabetes doesn’t care about mental health or how much you don’t want it, sadly. I have been a psychiatric inpatient with OCD so I also realise how hard that is.

Buy the carbs and cals book and develop willpower of steel when it comes to carbs and sugary food. It literally is the only way. Good luck.

I was referred by my GP to our community diabetes service when I couldn't get my t2 under control; they put me on a free fortnight trial with a Libre sensor (if I'd wanted to continue using it I'd have had to self fund though, and I couldn't afford to).

The team were really helpful.

Have you seen the blood sugar diet Graphista? There’s a lot of talk about potential for reversing type 2 using that method. Low carb and Mediterranean diet basically.

I’m T2 (for many years). I take metformin and other medication and it didn’t interact with antidepressants.

@Graphista i was diagnosed at age 40 with type 2. Only symptom I had was tiredness. I am only a stone over weight and active. My number was 107. it was a shock as I love food, especially carbs. Went under investigation for late type 1, but defo type 2.

Started on metformin and low carbs and it reduced slightly. Added in glitz and reduced slightly to 89 in a year. . But my weight went up. Now added jandance and my weight is reducing back to what I was and numbers decreasing.

you will get there. I would recommend testing so you know what spikes you to avoid or just use as a treat. For me it’s cake and pasta.

its a shock but manageable.

I was diagnosed t2 with a similar reading to you -101. I wasn't feeling unwell and the bloods were a general screen due to other issues.
As there was a family history of t2, I just rolled up my sleeves as it were and got on with it. I cut out all sugar, reduced carbs to one meal a day and then only complex carbs so brown rice etc and increased protein and vegetables. In 6 months I lost 4 stone and got my levels back to normal. Now in remission.
Not everyone feels unwell - but I do feel much better now. I didn't realise how run down I was - everyone put in down to being busy and family life....

I hope you can come to terms with the diagnosis and find a way that works for you.

@handmademitlove well done! I know it isn’t a competition but I would love the chance to get ‘in remission’ but with t1 there’s no chance. Good for you!

Just a suggestion OP, but have you looked at inositol? Google inositol for diabetes. It shouldn't give you side effects like Metformin might. It works by increasing your cells' sensitivity to insulin. It is produced by your body anyway, and used to be considered a B vitamin.

I use it for pcos (also an insulin sensitivity condition) and it works brilliantly. Eliminates symptoms, and allows me to lose weight like a normal person (with normal effort for results I mean).

I'm not trying to suggest you ignore medical advice if your doctor recommends Metformin. But if they advise you to control it through diet, you might consider trying the inositol in tandem with dietary changes. It isn't too expensive. Note that it took me about three months to notice changes.

Good luck with it!

OK, it's understandable that it's triggered you to keep going over it.

All of the blood results you've mentioned could be attributed one way or another to being as a consequence of eating habits and long term obesity (including the AP). Whilst you've still got perimenopause to look at - and they do need to be reminded about that, as it's entirely separate from the Diabetes - getting the blood sugars under control or at least trending downwards doesn't just start to protect you from the worst aspects of T2, the changes could help with other conditions, including anything emotional/thoughts/cognitive (I know both T1 and T2 patients and can see with both types that their brain is undoubtedly affected by high sugars).

I found being diagnosed with Coeliac actually helped me enormously because it took away some of the responsibility of food decisions - even though I know that, fundamentally, it's me still making the choice - if it had wheat in it, I couldn't have it, no further thought required; rather like perhaps 'has it got meat in it? Yes? Well, I can't have that, then'? Perhaps being able to pass responsibility to the T2 means you won't have to give as much mental energy to making a choice that you could feel deprived about?

But pressing matters first - what's for tea? Have you got plans for Sunday's meals yet?

Could you say and then think about what's good in them and what could be improved to adapt to the idea of T2?

@Kerfuffler it's not just the Hba1c I'm querying odd results on other tests they did too. I've appointment with dr next week & nurse following week.

@FinallyHere thank you, which thread are you referring to?

@Cuppasoupmonster it's the metformin I want to avoid with the ocd as I have issues with toilet related germs that would send me spiralling if I were having to deal with constantly upset stomach plus would mean I'm not absorbing other meds. My stubbornness & obsessiveness I think will help In terms of approaching dietary side

@petalsandstars yea looking at lots of different diets & ideas

@Winemygoodenemy yea I think I'm going to somehow have to find the money for a meter. God knows how as I'm already skint with cost of living!

@handmademitlove Yea I've already cut all sweet snacks out, halved carbs I'm having at meal times & switched to whole grain where poss, grocery stocks low until asda deliver tomorrow then I'll be able to properly get on it. Starving at the moment as I've little low carb alternatives in the house to fill me up but only 1 day to go.

@Rosafiona thank you yes I want to arm myself with info on alternative meds to discuss with gp, would rather avoid meds if poss but if not then certainly one without certain side effects.

Dr. David Unwin is a GP in England who's written lots of articles about reversing T2 diabetes through diet. He has had lots of success at reversing diabetes in his patients.

www.lowcarbprogram.com/articles/dr-david-unwin-low-carb-diet-sheet

And as other posters have said, it's high blood sugar over a long period of time that causes damage to the body. My uncle had high blood sugar (uncontrolled T2) for years before he started to have severe problems with his health. I know it seems daunting right now, but you don't have to change your diet overnight. Start by making small changes that you can stick to. Good luck!

If you are prescribed metformin ask for the slow release version which is less likely to cause digestive issues.

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Yes I know once in the habit of a low sugar/low carb diet it will become 2nd nature but takes time to get there. I'm actually thinking I may pop to local shop for some items to stop me feeling hungry as otherwise I will cave & eat things I really shouldn't!

Yesterday

Lunch - sandwich with mayo & squeaky bean pastrami, low fat crisps & a mini soreen

Dinner - half pack whole grain rice with diced mushrooms and peppers and 1/3 pack stir fry sauce

Supper - 5 whole grain crackers with cheese & mayo, small portion almonds and a skinny bar

Today

2 weetabix (well supermarket own) with skimmed milk & sweetener

Nothing else yet as I'm stumped what to have for lunch hence thinking I'll go shop & get some eggs, veg & low carb fruit

Dinner I've a casserole defrosting - quorn, tinned tomatoes, carrots, peas, stock, marmite, herbs. Would normally have with mash or buttered bread, going to try and not have a carb see how I get on.

Head hurts not sure if it is stress, hunger or what

@Anoooshka thanks looked at him among others yesterday, most of these low carb experts are clueless on vegetarians though - and admit it

@LIZS from experience with other meds still wouldn't be worth risking, my other meds literally keep me alive I can't risk not absorbing them at all.

Definitely pick up something for lunch - not eating can actually raise your sugar levels (sounds contradictory, I know).

Drink plenty of fluids - staying well hydrated is really important.

Find an alternative for the soreen and skinny bars if you can - they're both quite carby/sugary.

Good luck OP - you have lots to think about & lots to take on board. Good luck with all your changes, it’s so hard.

(You might not want to hear it but ditch the weetabix & milk - it’s a blood glucose disaster. do a slice of wholemeal toast and a scrambled egg instead).

I wish you very good luck.