Worried it might be T2 diabetes - would that make me a ‘bad’ lazy person?

[bluetongue]

About a year ago I had a blood test come back possibly pre diabetic fasting glucose level but my A1C test was okay. I’m currently 47, BMI of 25 and family history of type 2 diabetes. After that blood test I lost a stone to get to a healthy BMI but have since put back on a couple of kilos.

In around the last month I have been peeing more and been fatigued. Saying that, I’ve always had a ‘nervous bladder’ and had to pee a couple of times a night since I was a child. On the fatigue front my team has had a member on long term sick and I’ve been taking on many of her tasks. It’s been mentally exhausting and I’ve taken today off as a mental health day which I feel bad about because my other team member will have to pick up my load as well as the load of the sick colleague.

Obviously I need to get tested but I hate the fact it could be T2 because it’s seen as something fat, lazy people bring upon themselves. Sure I could be healthier, but on the other hand 60 kilos is hardly huge (I’m only 5’1). I should exercise more but I rarely drink, have never smoked and never done drugs. In the scheme of things I don’t think I’m doing that badly. It still doesn’t stop me from beating myself up for not having a healthier lifestyle and not being skinnier.

Hopefully it’s ‘just’ work stress and burnout but I need to stop being so hard on myself don’t I?

I don't think it is as simple as that, badbudgeter. T1 is specifically an autoimmunte disorder, which only occurs in people with a specific genetic predisposition. But T2 is also influenced by various genetic elements that have an affect on how people respond to their diets and exercise level. So you can have two people with the same lifestyle but very different health results.

I tested pretty soon after eating which I realise was probably a mistake. Will try at some other times of the day either after fasting or longer after a meal plus request my previous results this week. My GP’s office can be a bit funny about releasing copies of results if you forget to get a copy at your apoinmtment. They also make you come in and get a hard copy (I’m in Australia not the UK before anyone comments this sounds strange).

I’ve never been pregnant and I’m of English / European background (only because I know some ethnicities are at higher risk and need to aim for a lower BMI.)

Oh no, sugar and carbs, my favourites 😭I’m hoping fruit is okay at least.

Don’t worry, I’ll be doing more follow ups with my GP.

Low GI fruit best.

I know someone recently diagnosed as prediabetic, zero weight, walks miles daily and does yoga, no sweet tooth... go figure. He can't understand it.

Fasting test this morning was 5.2 which I think is okay. The 9.5 test I took pretty much straight after eating (yes I know that was stupid now).

I’ll try another test 2 hours after eating and see how it goes.

Oh and the instructions for the test talk about how their lancing pen is pretty much painless but it still feels painful to me. Am I doing something wrong or do I just have sensitive fingers?

Lancing pen should have different 'heights' and if you make the pen shallower it will be less painful (hope that makes sense!)

OP, please, please go to your GP and get a proper blood test, stop messing about with home testing kits (there seems to be an absolute obsession with this ATM). You need medical advice, an HbA1c and perhaps a prescription for metformin.

Aerobic exercise and getting your BMI down to 20/21 will definitely help with your glucose tolerance far more than any dietary manipulation. But as I said please seek medical advice.

I live with someone who thought very overweight people got diabetes, not slim ones. It does seem to be a common assumption, probably because of the advertising about how bad sugar is and that it causes diabetes in order to reduce sugar usage and promote the use of sweeteners which are just as unhealthy.

I reminded them of a neighbour who is type 2, and slim.

Seems as if the OP has picked up the assumption that is often made about 'fat' people.

There is a connection between diabetes and thyroid issues, they should both be checked.

I adjusted the height on the pen but needed to put it back up slightly because I couldn’t get enough blood out of my finger for testing at first.

Don’t worry, I will get further testing at my GP.