Chemist tested me for diabetes - sent me to the Dr TODAY urgently...please come and talk to me...

[MyHeadWasInTheSandNowNot]

These are my questions

1: The reading the chemist got was 20 - can anyone tell me what this means (ie how 'serious' it is) and if they think it could be controlled and/or preferably gotten rid of through diet and exercise.

2: What will the Dr do today.

The rest is whittering background.

Also, I just wanted to say that I'll have to go in about an hour and wont be able to get back on line until tomorrow afternoon, but I haven't done a runner and will be grateful for any help/advice.

[I'm a regular - I've namechanged because I'm not sure yet if I want to tell anyone or not and I have a few RL friends on MN. It's not that I mind people knowing as such it's just that I don't want it to turn into A Big Deal]

I have been wondering for quite some time if I might have diabetes. A few things have made me wonder about it such as

• Excessive thirst (always having to have a bottle of water on me)

• Eyes a bit blurry at night (been blaming the overhead light and the small tv screen with tivo bright red background and only a problem at night and spending too much time looking at screens)

• Occasional 'shakes'

• I am overweight and struggle with feeling like my 'blood sugars' aren't right

...but what made me 'man up' to getting tested was that last week & yesterday I had a couple of episodes of light headedness/feeling faint when doing things such as changing a lightbulb, I had also been having them in the shower, but put that down to it being hot/steamy etc

I called the chemist about a year ago to see if they did the tests, but ended up not going

I also went to my Dr about 3-4 years ago with constant tiredness and no real reason for it.... he put it down to my weight (which although I'm overweight was not stopping me doing anything, being reasonably fit etc), he really wasn't interested in looking further. I haven't been back, but am and have been pretty much constantly tired since before then. I know I should have seen another Dr but it's hard when you are overweight and they don't seem interested in seeing past that and accept their might be something other excess weight causing the problem.

I wonder now how long I might have had it for and thus how much damage I might have done already to my body, especially my eyes, that's pretty scary.

I was already overweight, but I was pretty fit - then something quite lifechanging happened and I've put on more weight, stopped exercising and I am not unfit. I'm certainly not can't move off the couch unfit - I could still easily walk 4 miles, run for the bus (i'd be panting but I could do it and would recover pretty quickly) - but something else I've noticed (just yesterday I really 'thought' about it) is that I have been putting off doing stuff like walking places (now I take the car), running up the stairs (now only ever walk), kicking the ball about with the kids etc and I realised yesterday it's because when I do I feel awful - not just tired/worn out but light headed and a bit pukey - it's been a gradual thing.

I am totally committed to exercising - a minimum of 30 minutes every day without fail (have just been for an hours walk - about 3 miles) and to improving my diet (which I fully accept hasn't been great for a while, since this 'thing' happened and for a wee bit before then).

I'm not looking for any magic cure - I just want to know if I can get rid of the diabetes through diet and exercise.

Thank you if you made it this far - or even if you didn't wade through it all but can help.

I have just been reading these success stories here some with diet & exercise alone (some with higher levels than my own!) and some with medication as well, some still on it, some coming off of it. They are old posts, but no less relevant I don't think.

MrsHP - Yes, I guess so. My monitor should arrive tomorrow and I definitely want to have a look at my levels for a few days, but I will seriously consider the use of metformin after that.

SCOTCH - Yes, you are right as well. I could take it and reduce it myself if/when my fasting bloods are consistently low. Perhaphs I just need to view the metformin as a way of kickstarting things and not the beginning of the slipperly slope to insulin injections.

Being veggie is a choice - but, to be honest, it doesn't feel like a choice to me now (after 22 years and really not wanting to eat meat for many, many years before that but my parents were not supportive of that). I'm not trying to be dramatic, just trying to explain that for me, it's no different...I could no sooner eat 'normal' meat or fish/shellfish than I could your cat or dog. I know that's probably hard to understand as a meat eater, especially when doing so would probably help me and make life a lot easier and I really do appreciate your kindly worded suggestion, but I just couldn't do it. Sorry :(

I do understand what you mean , my sil is veggie and feels as you do - she eats eggs tho so easier for her.

You will find the monitor very instructive - for about a month I tested very frequently, fasting bs every morning, and before eating and 1, 2 and 3 hrs after eating - along with a food diary this really showed up what was the best and worst foods for me. Then I went down to just doing fasting bs daily and 2hr after eating - now I just do the occasional fasting bs and a series of tests for 3 days maybe every 3 months or so - and dial back on the carbs if the bs readings are creeping up toward high normal again (always because I've started eating just a little bit more starchy veg... For me, going above 80-100g of carb a day, and it starts to go to hell! I think 50g or less a day is perfect for me (not bootcamp levels, this is long term). Everybody is different and some people can come with more carbs than others - you need to find what your tolerance is and hopefully you can work round the veggie "problem"!

*cope with

Interesting links btw, not read those ones before.

SCOTCH :) Yes, hopefully the monitor will arrive soon and I'll be able to get testing (ouch).

I've been reading lots of things like that these past few days from links people have given me and googling. It does give me hope that it can be managed and thus slow down the progression.

I was going to order some ketostix to monitor whether I'm in ketosis or not (a la Bootcamp stylee) so went on eBay and it said this

Bayer Ketostix Reagent Strips (Ketone) Ketostix Reagent Strips for Urinalysis provide detection of ketones in urine. The strips provide a fast, convenient way of testing urine for the presence and concentration of acetoacetic acid (ketone). This substance when found in the urine provides information on carbohydrate and fat metabolism. Acetoacetic acid can be found in the urine from diabetics and is more commonly referred to as a "ketone body." Use of KETOSTIX Reagent Strips can alert you and your doctor to changes in your condition

So, I think I misunderstood what you said before when you said

ketoacidosis - not the same as having ketones due to being on a diet but a very dangerous condition which can be triggered quite quickly when blood sugar spiral out of control

If I'm using the ketostix how do I know if it's 'good' (ie bootcamp burning fat) or bad (diabetic signs) - or are you saying that you think being in ketosis isn't good for a diabetic??

Re ketones, actually I'm not sure.

If your blood sugar is high, you do not want to be producing ketones because in the presence on high blood sugar, ketones mean things are at risk of spiralling out of control and you can become dangerously ill ie fall into a hyper glycemic coma - blood sugar can rise very rapidly over a few hours and the blood becomes more acidic - keatoacidosis.

In a non diabetic, ketones will be produced when you have low/normal blood sugar and not eating anything (fasting) or not eating much carb foods. This is not dangerous and can't lead to keatoacidosis.

I guess impaired glucose tolerance people are fine doing bootcamp style low carb because their blood sugar levels are not massively high and also they are not as insulin resistant as a full diabetic - so levels will come down fast in if carbs are cut right down to a minimum.

I don't know how safe it would be for you to push yourself into ketosis at this stage- I would be thinking about getting your levels down a bit for a couple of weeks first, I think that would be a sensible thing to do- and maybe another reason to consider metformin as a kick starter even if your goal is to control by diet (a sensible goal IMHO !).

SCOTCH I'll have a read of that and reply later. I've just got home from my eye test and things are still a bit blurry!! My touch typing is fine (or at least I hope so, I might find it otherwise when I can see properly again )

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who had their fingers crossed for me - my eyes are perfectly OK.

The young guy (who really did not look anything like old enough to be at Uni let alone qualified and let loose on the public) was lovely, really really lovely.

He took the photos, then explained really clearly what we were looking at, what all the 'bits' were and showed me that there isn't any damage and that if I take care with my bsl's I should be fine. That probably in 5-10 years I will show a small amount of background retinopathy, but that if I control my diabetes it would just be like a wee scar on my hand from a scratch and not affect my eyesight at all - so that's GREAT!

We also talked about diabetes in general quite a bit and what he sees on a daily basis and he gave me great hope for being able to control it with diet, exercise and weight loss - but also agreed with those of you saying I should take the metformin for now and reduce it later - he was astonished at the NHS handouts recommending high starchy carbs but also said that he thinks I shouldn't go too low with the carbs and should eat more of the complex carbs. But as he said, although he's covered biology and diabetes etc within that, eyes are his thing

I will get a written report within 6 weeks after everything has been checked by someone else - but you could see clearly on the screen that there weren't any red spots or bulges of the veins etc - so I'm happy with today's verdict - very very relieved.

I echo the steady as she goes approach too.... its the swinging up and down with levels that does more damage to say the eyes than a slightly elevated but steady blood sugar.

If you suddenly drop very low but then swing back high with trying things you dont know shoots you personally high... well I dont know for sure the effects but I have heard on another forum that 3- 4 weeks of poor levels did affect one perons eyes.. thankfully not too bad and not permanent but it was noticable .... casued macula oedema ?

NOt trying to frighten you , just let you know what I have been finding out too recently.

I have heard that to tazzle about the unstableness if blood sugars causing problems.

myhead I am glad the initial quick look the person doing your screening did today didn't show up any issues, however just be aware this didn't mean there isn't any background retinopathy. You need to wait until you get the confirmation letter once it has been fully assessed, I was t

Sry! I have been told at the steering no signs and then the letter came saying I had background retinopathy a shirt while later one time. Of course I hope that isn't the case with you, but just be aware that the screeners can't actually confirm the all clear, it needs to be l at in the lab.

"I echo the steady as she goes approach too.... its the swinging up and down with levels that does more damage to say the eyes than a slightly elevated but steady blood sugar." tazzle22

Don't want to divert from this thread but recent research says simillar about blood pressure too. Constantly highish = not really a problem as the veins can accomodate as they have stretched. Up and down = worrying as veins can't take the sudden surge.

Great news so far about the eyes MyHead

I have a little background retinopothy in the left eye. I didn't get a prescription for glasses (I was dreading the faff!) I just use my good eye more

:( It just hit me, all of a sudden - diabetic. Diabetes for life and nothing I do will change it :( I wont 'get over' this. No matter what I do, I'm always going to be diabetic with all of it's complications and consequences :( Always. Forever. For the rest of my life. FUCK. :(

SCOTCH I couldn't be more confused. I've just read the leaflet with the ketostix. The whole thing is about testing when you have diabetes & saying that if it's a certain level you need to contact your health professional etc etc. I'm ++ moderate. Now - this is what the bootcampers are aiming for (well a bit lower - so need to drink more water) but for me is this a good thing or a bad thing? Everyone was saying to cut carbs right down and I have, not it seems that maybe I shouldn't?? I don't suppose you could ask your DH if he knows?

Eyes - OK, I get it. Today's results mean jack shit :( and I'll have to wait until I get the report. MrsHP, sorry you had good news then bad :( Have yours stayed the same since you were originally diagnosed? MNM sorry about your results too. My initial test didn't go too well, I could only read the line second from the bottom, not the bottom one - but I'm hoping that's just an age thing... but as you have all said, I'll have to wait and see.

Keeping levels stable I understand what you are saying about it being better if your levels are stable rather than spiking and dropping, but that's impossible unless I don't try anything different surely?? Maybe it's another reason to take the metformin, it should lessen the spikes when testing shouldn't it??

The sand is looking inviting...

Hey MyHead Are you OK? Where are you?

Myhead, I thik you are getting really bogged down with all this information and the stress of the diagnosis. Diabetes may be for life but it doesn't have to rule it. Plenty of people have it and they lead a perfectly happy and successful lives. Steve Redgrave is aprime example - he has diabetes1, like a lot of others - just be glad you only have diabetes 2
The problem is that everyone has an opinion on how to control it, what it can lead to etc. This iexactly why i am always very careful not to get into discussions about it in RL. It would just do my head in.

Just give yourself time to take it all in. Once you get your monitor you will be able to see the size of the problem a little clearer. You say you think you must have had diabetes for some time so what you do now and over the next few weeks is highly unlikely to damage your body any further. For now, take it easy, take plenty of exercise, cut down on sweet things and if you can identify any food that definitely causes you to feel unwell, cut it out of your diet.

MyHead Hope you are OK. I know what you mean about suddenly realising that something is going to be with you forever. It happened to me when I was 13 and had an operation and was left with a big scar on my knee, and one night in hospital I suddenly realised that I was scarred for life. Not in the same league as diabetes of course, but still .... With regards to the eye tests, once you have had the tests, is there anything different that can be done? DH claims that his eye sight is deteriorating, but he had a detached retina a few years ago so we never really know what is going on.

Re the NHS, DH heard a tale today about an old lady with diabetes who was blind. The District Nurse delivered some litmus papers to her and told her how to use them .

MNM - I'm at home, I'm 'ok' (a bit of a sobbing mess if I'm being honest, but 'ok'). It just keeps hitting me in waves. I've got so many other things going on in my life that I'm barely coping with - I just don't need this as well (like anyone else does!?).

I'm just so exhausted (even before this dx - though it's certainly not helping). I don't have the energy to deal with everything.

I can't even contemplate a life full of so much monitoring, measuring, worrying about everything you eat all the time -worrying what damage it will do if you don't worry about everything you eat. For example, I eat at my friends house a lot normally (I help them out a lot so tend to be there at meal times), but now it just feels like such a hassle on top of being vegetarian. Never being able to do this (take the kids to the beach for a chippy tea) or have that (someone on the bootcamp mentioned snickers bars and the fact they couldn't contemplate the idea of never having one again) or join in with stuff (sharing things with people)... never being able to be relaxed about food. It's hard to explain how I feel - but it's not so much the food per se, but the social part of it - does that make sense?

I don't want to tell people, but I hate feeling like I'm lying to them.

I just want it to go away.

Before anyone tells me to get a grip, I know other people are going through much worse, but right now this is the straw that broke the camels back and the camel has had E N O U G H :(

Mirry Thank you :) I'm sure you're right. I don't think there's much left in my diet to cut down on - I'll be eating thin air next

Exit Thank you too :) I was told today that diabetics are entitled to free eye tests at regular opticians too and that I should go for one, but to leave it a few months until my sugars are under control because they'll need to 'settle down' so I'm hoping that the slight blurring I get at night in bad lighting goes away. It'll be interesting to see how trying to get a free check up goes

... as for your DH's story - funnily enough it doesn't surprise me in the slightest :(

OK - Grip Got. Off to bed now, tomorrow's going to be a long day so need to try to get some sleep. Thanks all x

Hey MyHead Have you thought of eating DUST?

Keep thinking of the free alcohol you get...even if it is just rubbed onto your arm before they take bloods.

Dust is probably too high in carbs - which is a shame as there's a plentiful supply here!!

I am going to go to bed now because if I don't that Kit Kat that's screaming my name is going to be the sacrificial object and we can't have that now can we :)

Right ...... ok its hit you ..... but remember what has been said here and in pm to you .... dont panic mr mannering !!!!!!!!

In actuality your BG are not THAT high, not so high that you are in iminent danger......... not so high that you need to drastically cut your carbs back to what you have been

and if trying to get to boot camp levels of carbs on the practicallly vegan diet is streeig you ...... well stress is another thing that will put BG UP up up

CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK

I know you dont want to be told what to do and I dont reeally want to be "shouting" ... and in RL I would proably just invite you to join me sitting by the fire and offer you a and a chat .... but I feel that really its kinda like just taking a firm hold on someone thats running scared and saying.... look its OK

Yes diabetes is for life, yes you wll have to change some things in your life,
yes if you decide to lower carbs it may be harder for you ( or anyone) than if you take metformin and "eat normally". Loads of people do that and have ok BG levels and dont get the complications.

Yes it can indeed be scary, ...... and frustrating cos the path you choose means you cant have the foods you previousy loved....

thats kinda why I have been saying not to rush to change things drastically.

thats why folk have been saying not to cut back too much on the carbs to start with until you have a bit more knowledge and support around you (even on line support if not local/ RL) ..... cutting back before you have substitutes sorted out is not good.......... and a week or so more wont cause any other problems.

For the first couple weeks I had a meter I ate mostly as normal till I got a pattern going.... then changed just a few things, dropped some things or just cut back depending on the results.

Sudden changes should really only take place with medical / knowledgable assistance.... (wink)

I wont be on here till tomorrow evening but feel free to pm me if you want to chat in private and if you want it the offer of *holds out a hand ... is here at thei scary time.

You will be fine........

Right, it has hit you and it is horrid, horrid, horrid when it does. Have a good old cry, then onwards and upwards (or should at be downwards with the bloods .

I would say you have to monitor carefully initially, but once under control and on track you can have the odd chocolate bar or whatever, but you are right it is tough knowing this can't be very often. You need to work out meal plans for you, I think honestly if I was you for now I'd have porridge for breakfast, salad for lunch then tea of vegetables with small portion (eg heaped tablespoon) of carb (basmati rice or couscous, beans etc). You probably can eat a lot of meals you had before, but change the balance of things on our plate so halve the rice and double the veg. Maybe thinking about it this way initially will be less daunting and manageable. That along with the Metformin will make a big difference. Once you are tested again (have they asked you to repeat tests in 3months?) this should sow a big change, you will feel more in control then if you want to make more changes you could. How does that sound?

Big hugs and .

MyHead Sorry to be nosy, again, but how old are you? Not sure if you have said somewhere in the thread.

I am 53 and DH is 66 so his is very much age related (as well as weight).

Hope you are feeling more positive today.