What tests to ask for? T2

[BigBoysDontCry]

Hi, just looking for a bit of information. About 2 months ago I did a random at home blood glucose test and it was 19.1. It was the weekend so instead of a panicked visit to the GP, I did some research and immediately stopped all sugar and carbs, i was mostly intermittent fasting anyway but been far stricter with that too. I am almost 57 and i had a BMI of 23.5 at the time - i've now dropped nearly as stone and a half (BMI 21.5). My blood glucose rates dropped really quickly and i've mainly been doing a test 2 hours after dinner - generally getting between mid sixes up to higher 7s. Not really seeing any change and I've done some morning tests and the scores are pretty much the same. For example - last evening 7.7, this morning 7.7, this evening 7.8.

So, I think i've reached the limit of what I can do with diet and exercise. My diet isn't spiking blood sugar but the baseline is too high to start with. I don't want to lose anymore weight but have no appetite and I am also not eating enough as I can't face anything.

I think I now need to get some proper tests done but my problem is with insulin not working rather than eating too much sugar or storing too much fat yes?

So is it a HOMA-IR I need rather than HCA1? or both? Or something else?

Thank you for any information or advice.

Go and see you GP and let them decide the tests.
They will know what tests are best.
PCOS can cause high blood sugar levels, about a third of sufferers are skinny, often find it hard to gain weight.
What is your energy like? Do you fall asleep during the day?...
Make a list of all your symptoms, do they link up with your cycle and make the appointment.

Thanks, I don't have a cycle anymore, not since mid 40s.

I guess I don't trust the GP to do anything other than standard and just prescribe metformin, I'd just like to educate myself a bit before seeing them, but it's confusing.

In terms of symptoms, in retrospect I've probably had them for many years but it's been a slow creep. I was definitely tired, drinking more, weeing more, my vision had probably changed as I've noticed a difference since I've got my blood sugar down. Swollen ankles, slightly numb toes, craving carbs/sweet stuff. I have been overweight in the past but was losing about a pound a month over the last couple of years which I was fine with.

I've been doing keto. Initially I was sleeping well but I'm waking up a lot at the moment, sometimes for hours during the night. I think I'm probably hungry to be honest as I'm not enjoying eating at all. Not craving anything, just not really wanting to eat.

Most other symptoms have reduced or gone.

My energy is generally better but not great lately as I'm simply not eating enough and not sleeping well. I've increased exercise but I have a desk job. I'm managing a walk every day after dinner and doing about 6k steps.

I've no desire to go back to a full carb/sugary diet but I do need to do something more than currently.

Get the frying pan out, do something like fried peppers and toms with a couple of eggs thrown in and some cheese on top.
When you know that your food is making you ill, it is easy to become too restrictive. Embrace the olive oil 😉

Metformin is usually a way down the line. Some deficiencies cause weird symptoms - ask for as many tests as your GP can cope with, call it a MOT

Remember you can have insulin resistance and something else going on, humans are complex critters.

Thank you. The problem is that I'm scunnered with eggs and cheese...

I'm not a big fat eater, I don't like most fish. I'm a pretty decent cook and I've made lots of nice keto meals, chilli, curry, nice creamy mushroom sauces with chicken etc but whenever I think about food at the moment it just gives me the total ick.

I started quite enthusiastic.

Today I had a slice of HiLow bread with butter and grilled cheese and I ate a couple of spoons of clotted cream. For dinner I had a bit of salad with a chicken drumstick and a couple of rashers of bacon and a few nuts. A few berries and a spoon of greek yoghurt.

It's not enough but I had to force most of it down.

Glad to hear that the GP might actually take time to do more than just blood sugar.

My mum developed t2 in older age and my dad died of a heart attack at 67.

I think I'm also worried that a high fat diet might not be the best heart wise.

And you are right about potentially there being more going on than just insulin resistance. I don't have a lot of the other symptoms of IR.

If that's an average day - its become quite restrictive. Where are the vegetables and the flavour?

Did you get the theoretical health tests at 40, 45, 50? Me neither.

Get your HbA1c done, it measures mean blood sugars over the last three months. GP may also want some fasting and non fasting tests for the bigger picture. Ask for as many vitamin deficiency tests as possible, sounds like you've gone from high carb to keto rather quickly and may have managed to circumnavigate dark green leafy veg completely.

Go out for dinner, choose reasonably sensibly and awaken your taste buds.

Oh I've done the veg stuff too, I think I've done it pretty well for 6/7 weeks. Plenty cabbage, Brocolli, cauliflower etc, steak, mushrooms, roasts etc. Tasty salads with prawns, avocado etc, seeds and nuts. Omelettes, quiche etc. I've been taking vitamins and minerals but food wise it's just dropped off the last couple of weeks. I'm 5'10 and now 10 and a half stone. This is the lightest I've been in years but was a good stone lighter pre kids.

My husband has been doing it with me but he's low carb rather than keto. He's saying I should try adding a bit more carbs back in but I have the fear now... 😁

Thank you so much for replying. I appreciate everything you've said.

I totally need an Mot and no, I've never been offered any health checks other than the usual breast/poo tests.

Slightly freaky, you are the same height and weight as me, expecting age to come next 'tis a fine size to be. Get your GP appointment booked (good luck with that).

Avoid obsessing, it does not help.

Wow, that's a coincidence! I'm on hold for Jury service this week but as soon as I'm released I'll give the GP a call.

I'm going to head to bed, sleep for 3 hours and then spend the rest of the night tossing and turning. Or maybe I'll break the cycle tonight.

And yes, I'm obsessing too much.