Type 2 diabetics

[lazymermaid]

how did your type 2 diabetes start? What were your very first symptoms?

in retrospect my first symptoms were:

• frequent thrush
• darkened skin under my arms, around my neck and inner thighs
• skin tags around neck and underarms

i ignored these and didn’t think anything of them, just treated the thrush, tried a few home remedies for the skin tags and didn’t think too much of it.

Tiredness/mind fog/lethargy were the first big symptoms but i blamed that on work being crazy busy and being a mum and life in general and just cracked on feeling like crap.

Then I went away for work to the US and after returning home my legs and feet swelled up really badly, I getting up 2-3 times a night to pee and I was constantly thirsty and hungry. I ignored it for a few weeks then tried to get a Drs appt but couldn’t get one. Started consulting Dr Google and thought diabetes would be a possibility, still couldn’t get an appt so bought a freestyle Libre on Amazon, followed the instructions to attach it to my arm and get the app loaded. Within about 8 hrs it was sending me alerts about very high readings and strongly suggesting I seek medical advice. I called 111 gave them the readings, a Dr called me back and told me to go to A&E. A&E took some blood, did some tests and within a few hours I was sitting with a nurse from the diabetes team getting an insulin injection and being taught how to self inject and test my sugar levels.

Recurrent thrush, thirst, dry mouth and tired feeling after eating

Necrobiosis

Constantly thirsty, needing the toilet all the time to urinate.

No symptoms. I went for a blood test for anaemia and other stuff and got the high blood sugars

frequent thrush, scabs and scars taking a long time to disappear, tiredness

No symptoms
i was attributing any tiredness to doing two night shifts a week at nearly 60 years. Maybe that was a symptom.
but my Hbac was 49 so only just in the range for a diagnosis. I declined intervention as wanted to try to get into remission by diet/exercise.
its on its way down now, back at 45, and the works continues.

What have you done to correct it?

A large abcess. Followed by another about a month later. At which point they tested (T2).

They can tell from a regular blood test?

This is interesting my hba1c was 46 in March so still pre diabetic but I have darkened patches exactly where blusher goes on my face and yellowed patches on neck( Liver function optimal)
I mentioned this to the nurse who looked at me like I had two heads!

A second trimester miscarriage sadly. With hindsight, needing to pee a lot which I assumed was normal in pregnancy and being really tired… again, I was pregnant!

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acanthosis-nigricans/

Yellow small patches could also be cholesterol deposits, have you had your cholesterol checked?

No symptoms. Diabetes picked up during a routine health check. HbA1c was 56.

3.5st weight loss later, HbA1c is down to 36. Phew!

@Firefly1987 no you can only tell if they do your HBA1c or a fasting glucose level.

@InfoSecInTheCityThats so helpful Thank you. I now know it has a name!
yes Cholesterol was all good, as was BP BMI 21.

A routine blood test.

Looking back I did have one symptom, an itchy fanjo.

I needed yearly blood tests because of the medication I was on. I went from HBA1c being completely normal one year to diabetic the next with no pre diabetes phase. My GP was completely shocked as I was 35 and a normal weight..

Someone asked what I’d done to bring my Hbac down.
Exercise, swim and toddle (I’d say hike but really, I just toddle), Aqua fit to funky music
Carbs only once a day but lots of lovely protein and fats. It is what it is. I also follow Sally Gunnell who helps with my attitude.
i found this book really inspirational both on the science side and on the diet.