Type 2 diabetes

[MarmMummy]

Hi. Does anyone have this and if so can you remember what your first symptoms were?

I had gestational diabetes 3 years ago and my father is diabetic so I am trying to be aware of it.

At the moment I am a good stone overweight, but seem to be carrying most of the excess on my tummy...... could this be a sign?!
I know it says thirst and peeing lots are signs but with a weak bladder post children its quite hard to tell!

Any thoughts would be really appreciated.

Hi, I am a type 2 diabetic. No symptoms, it just got picked up on some blood tests I had when having a bit of a MOT before ttc for the first time. If you are concerned you should speak to your gp and they will probably send you for the blood test and subsequent glucose tolerance test as better to be identified and then managed if you have it.

Thank you!

Bumping for evening lot x

As you had gestational diabetes you should really have an annual check (GP or nurse)

The weight round your middle is not a symptom, but is a risk factor, it really would be worth trying to lose the weight as for you being overweight is more risky (diabetes-wise) than for someone pear shaped, especially with family history. You should go and talk to your GP, if you get on top of some of the earlier signs quickly enough you can prevent yourself developing it - it is not a condition completely outside your control that is inevitable, you can probably just adapt your diet (and that is a just relative to living with the condition, even though I know it is difficult to lose weight). Good luck!

I've upped this thread because I need some support. I've read the OP's post and I think I am also having hypos although the diabetic nurse won't have it as I've been diagnosed last week with Type2 diabetes.
On my first visit, I was prescribed Metformin to take at breakfast time. Since taking it, my legs are shaky, I feel generally unwell and I get feelings of panic. I am prone to panic attacks and when I told the diabetic nurse about my symptoms, she put it down to the panic attacks I already have and the shock of the diagnosis.
My main problem is that I feel really bad in myself. I've never felt so low before. I have a lot of responsibility and can't put too much here about myself as it would give me away, [I have namechanged].

My local pharmacist is doing some work on people newly diagnosed and being prescribed. He rang me a couple of days ago to check on my progress with the Metformin and I told him how I was feeling. He said he was going to send a note to the surgery and I have heard nothing.
My next appointment isn't until the 9th January.

Lavender they dont sound like hypos more like panic attacks.

Plus metformin works by making you more sensitive to what is left of your insulin, not by making you produce more.

It is the preferred choice for lorry drivers who have diabetes as the risk of hypos are so low.

You can get hypos on type II diabetes but controlling your diet is crucial.

If people complain about anything with metformin its tummy upsets.

Have you ever heard it said that if you dont slow down when your body wants you to, it will slow you down anyway with illness?

Thanks Mootle and Fluffy. I don't know what I'm supposed to be eating or not eating. I'm overweight and I don't really have a problem with losing the weight. Since the diagnosis, I've got really stressed and half the time I'm not eating at all. I'm tired all the time and not sleeping.
Is there a specific low-carb diet I can go on?

Have you looked at the low gi diet? my dh had no support when he was diagnosed but I knew what to do cos im a pod and spend my life asking patients about their blood sugars to establish how likely they are to be high risk patients.

It honestly does not surprise me you have had no support. The drs wont help, it really is up to patients to take control and educate themselves. Ive had patients who think glicazide and metformin are for their prostate!.

Diabetes uk is a good start, on their site their is a link for newly diagnosed diabetics.

But basically you know that low fat, healthy diet we are meant to follow to be generally healthy? not a bad place to start.

I was diagnosed week before Xmas. Getting up in night to wee 3 or 4 times, thirsty, dead tired. Am now on Metaformin!

This is an interesting thread. My hbac has been between 6.6 and 6.9 for several years (even before being diagnosed).

I had several nasty symptoms from taking metformin (my gp looked blank when I told her this and rather than saying it could be due to taking metformin said it could be meno although since I stopped taking them my periods have been like clockwork) taking SR metformin - eg heartburn and also an extra period and decided not to take them and try to work on my diet and exercise.

Ive also joined a gym and will be going twice a week now back to normal after Xmas.

Have lost a stone before Xmas and now we're back in the 'normal zone' hope to lose two more.

If there is a hp reading this then perhaps they could tell me whether my hbac is a real cause for concern or whether I could just try to lose weight and exercise and it might be OK.

I really don't want to take metformin if its avoidable. I also asked whether heart etc is tested as gp/nurse keep telling me of the risk etc of being diabetic but I would have thought a baseline test of your heart health might be useful as well in assessing risk. When I asked why I had to take metformin when my hbac has been stable for several years I was told it was NICE guidelines!

I was also px statins but my cholestrol is 5.6 which is quite good I thought but am told for diabetics it should be 4 ish.

I also have an underactive thyroid for which I am quite happy to take medication but believe the two conditions could be linked.

Ironically when I knew there was something wrong physically I found it really hard to get treatment for thyroid and medication but since I have tipped into diabetes ( I think there was only one marker (rather than two) which indicated I was diabetic after taking the gt test I have had medication thrust at me.

The cynical me thinks that this is due to pharmeuctical companies being more proactive in the diabetes market rather than the thyroid market but perhaps I am being too cynical.

Sorry rather long but good to get that all down in a post.

PS should also add I don't think I have any particular symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

But with thyroid definate extra tired symptoms.

Sorry keep forgetting things - I lost the weight by cutting down on carbs - the conventional advice is not to do this but as far as I can work out carbs (esp white carbs) cause spikes in blood sugar and it is better to keep them to a minimum.

I was diagnosed on Christmas Eve. Doctor put me on Metformin but it made me feel really ill. I have another appointment on the 9th January at the Diabetic Clinic.
I also have an underactive thyroid and have been on Thyroxin for several years now.

I'm trying to read up all I can about carbs, etc but I find it all a bit daunting. I need to lose some weight and went on to Diabetes UK but there is so much conflicting stuff about carbs or no carbs, and different diets. I was even more confused.
Thanks you lot for posting - I've felt really isolated these last couple of weeks.

lavender - do you know what your hbac is or fasting blood sugar?

Absolutely no idea what's happening, incitylover. When I got to the surgery the nurse already had the prescription for Metformin and a prescription for syvastatin to bring down my cholesterol. Turned out the symvastatin didn't agree with me, and when I looked on the enclosed leaflet, it stated that it shouldn't be taken if the patient had an underactive thyroid! I queried it over the phone with the nurse and she told me to stop taking it until the next appointment.
My local pharmacy were doing a survey on newly diagnosed diabetes patients who were on Metformin. When I collected the prescription, he said could he ring me in a few days to see how I was getting on with it. He followed it up and I told him I was feeling really unwell and tired since I'd been on it. He said he would send a note across to the surgery to the doctor and the doctor would get in touch. No reply from the doctor.
What is hbac?

Hba1c is a retrospetive look at your blood sugars over the past three months.

Interesting about the symvastin - I didn't know you shouldn't take it if you had underactive thyroid.

About three months ago, I wasn't feeling well. Went to the doc with the symptoms. Had a blood test. It came up at 7. He said it was ''borderline'' diabetes. About a month later I called the out of hours service with pain and breathing problems. They sent out a paramedic and he did an ecg, thumb prick test and it came up at 9.6. I told him it had gone up since my last test. He said it was fine. Went to have a routine blood pressure taken at the surgery and was telling the nurse that it was 9.6 and told her about further symptoms. She went and spoke to the diabetic nurse and they took bloods immediately. Waited 4 days and they told me over the phone that it was 12 and that I had type 2 diabetes and made an appointment for me to come in.
As for the symvastatic, well, I always read the leaflets in the medication. Bit annoyed though, as it should have been visible to the nurse when she was looking at my other medication. I also told her verbally that I was on thyroxine.

sincitylover - I have a similar diabetes history to you. I was diagnosed 7 years ago and my hbac has always been between 6-7. and my cholesterol is 5.2 I tried metformin but it made me feel so unwell I stopped taking it. I have no symptoms and feel perfectly healthy. All I do is keep an eye on my blood glucose levels and if they were to rise, of course I would go for some medication. I don't stick to a particuar diet and eat what I like. My GP holds up his hands up in horror and predicts all sorts of dire outcomes for me but it isn't compulsory to take metformin, statins or any other medication. My body, my choice.

High chol is bad for diabetics, it's what makes you have heart attacks.

Diabetics have a higher rate of heart attacks than non-diabetics.

No, Footle. I haven't had a Glucose Tolerance Test yet;. Should I have had one?

I'll ask about it when I go for my next appointment. Thanks, Footie