I think I might have type 2 diabetes and I’m scared.

[Juliancantcope]

… as the title says I think I may have type 2 diabetes. I’ve been having some blurry vision/ dizzy episodes for the past few months after eating high carb foods. This has got more frequent recently and is now happening daily even after quite small amounts of sugar ( 2 squares of chocolate for example). I know I need to get a test but I’m scared of the implications and of finding out that I’ve already damaged my eyes / my kidneys/ my heart etc. I’m very overweight, female and in my 50’s so I know I’m at high risk.

My last test in 2023 was ok (see photo) but it was at higher end. Please can I have a hand hold to ring the doctor?

Kindly, you need to get a test.

If it’s high, you know and you can start dealing with it, if it’s not you can relax and get on with things, either way the worst thing is to keep ignoring it. Untreated diabetes leads to horrible complications, once you know, and if you do have it you can get the right treatment and support and minimise any damage.

I’ll hold your hand make you a cuppa whilst you phone up.

Thank you Fairy that’s much appreciated… I’ve just done an e_consult with my GP which is how they make appointments. Arrrgh I feel so pissed off with myself that I’ve got into this position and let my health slide so much.

The damage is done over quite long periods, if you were normal two years ago your eyes, kidneys etc should be fine still. Get a test because at least if you know you can start dealing with it, whereas you are clearly dealing with quite a lot of anxiety while you don't know.

36 is by far not the upper end. Not even prediabetic. So it is very unlikely to be the cause.

Thank you Americano … that’s really comforting! I’ve just been down a mental wormhole alone in my own thoughts where I lose my sight completely… it’s good to talk it out!

She could be diabetic now @LIZS that hba1c is from 2 years ago. I went from completely normal to diabetic fairly quickly. I had a pre adoption health check before DS and I was fine, then had another pre adoption health check before DD three years later and I was diabetic.

My personal experience with type 2 is that it's subject to change. So I will find a good balance of the right diet/exercise/medication and my hba1c will be absolutely fine for years at a time and then it will move high even though I haven't changed anything. So there is usually six months or so of trying different types of food and new meds while doing constant finger prick tests and then it settles again for years. Until it changes. The change is a stressful pain in the neck but it's like tricky stages of child development, it'll pass. I have a continuous glucose monitor now and it is really helpful.

36 isnt prediabetic, i was 38 3 years ago got another test a few months back and was still 38.
so get another test to rule out, but this doesnt mean you are type two.

She could be but the assumption is an overreaction without a test.

Only one way to find out. This couod be the start of better health and weight management for you.

Just don’t take the medication and continue to eat a whole pack of biscuits thinking somehow the pill will counteract it (two people I know do this. It doesn’t. They got more unwell)

good luck.

Quick update - thank you so much for all the support. My GP got in touch and I’m going for a blood test next week. I’ve been pretty good staying off the sugar for the past few days and no dizzy spells except today when I slipped up a bit and had a small glass of white wine. It was quite a sweet one (Jam Shed) and I’ve got a bit of blurring / dizziness again. One weird thing is when it happens I get this weird tightening felling at the back of my throat … not like my throat is closing up but a definite odd tightening feeling at the back of my skull … can anyone relate?

Oh also I’ve booked an eye test for next week. Will they use drops to test the condition of the blood vessels? I ask as I’ll not drive if that is likely.

A regular optician, unlikely.

Don’t despair OP. Type 2 diabetes is wholly reversible with low carb diet.

Unfortunately that is not true.

SOME people can SOMETIMES reverse the symptoms of Type 2 with a low carb diet (which they will have to maintain) and weight loss. Others cannot.

And, unlike the popular trope that Type 2 is completely self-inflicted, there are all sorts of factors that influence development of Type 2, including ethnic background, maternal nutrition while in the womb, etc.

I don't have Type 2, by the way, but my mother, who has been underweight her entire life, is prediabetic.

OP, wishing you the best.

Some people are able to put it into remission. You can't reverse it. You also need to follow the same very low/no carb diet to maintain. Not as easy as it sounds.

If it’s a normal eye test then no drops will be used