[BessyBell]

Hello!

I'm BessyBell and I was kinda diagnosed with T2 diabetes on Monday. I had blood work done about two weeks ago and the doctors office called with the results on Monday. Since it was the nurse giving me the results, I think she was hesitant to say "you are diabetic".

Anyway she said my NON-fasting BG was 248 and my A1c was 9.0 (it was 8.9 in April).

She told me I was to start taking 500mg metformin with my evening meal and testing my BG in the morning and about an hour after dinner.

I was a little late with my first reading (almost 2 hours after dinner) but here's what I've gotten:

193 2 hrs after dinner
196 morning fasting
187 1 hr after dinner
175 morning fasting (this morning)


Anyway, I've posted on another forum and didn't feel comfortable. So, I thought I'd try out this place.

I see an endocrinologist on Monday, any input on what I should expect?

 

[foxl]

Hi, Bessie, and welcome. This is definitely the homiest of forums!

I am a bit thrown at your not having been diagnosed with Diabetes before -- an A1c of 8.9 is awfully high. I am glad you are getting to see an endocrinologist, and, especially, so soon. It should be very informative and helpful.

Now ... with numbers so high, what are you eating? Many of us here have found great success in lowering our carbohydrate intake.

Also, do you have any other medical conditions? For instance, other autoimmune conditions (such as thyroid disease) tend to point toward an autoimmune process underlying your diabetes.

 

[BessyBell]

Thanks for the quick reply foxl!

Not sure about why the delay in a dx. I usually only see my doc when I feel sick or need to have bloodwork done. It's possible she wrote off the high number in April as a fluke as we'd had a recent fluke with the thyroid test.

And yes, I'm hypothyroid. That was dx'd about 8 years ago. We're having a bit of a struggle getting those values stable right now, but in general they're close.

Eating...lol...isn't that always the struggle?!?! Anyway, I was clueless on Monday when I got that fateful call. I've been doing a lot of reading (skimming) here and there and am going to try to make some changes. Today my breakfast was two Eggo whole-grain waffles with peanut butter. I have cheese and crackers (wheat thins) and a fruit cup for lunch. And not sure about dinner.

One of my biggest fears is the eyesight stuff. I have high occular pressure (borderline glaucoma) and adding diabetic factors to THAT scares the hell out of me (excuse my language). I've also had a history of problems with my hands (carpal tunnel, DeQuervains, triggers, misc aches, pains, etc, etc, etc). So neuropathy scares me too...

As a side note, my dog also has diabetes (He was diagnosed last year, but we had another diabetic dog before him - so we've been dealing with canine diabetes for quite some time. It is always insulin dependent. My dog gets insulin injections 2x a day). I was on a forum for that and those people were MILITANT about testing their dogs!!! They would test every hour or so for days on end. I just think that's too much, especially for a dog.

Another forum I visited over the past few days was very "testing" oriented as well. I'm not against that if it is necessary (and I will trust my doctors' judgement on that). I guess I'm just curious about how militant you all are about testing?

 

[rudeboysti]

Welcome Bessie.

I am new here as well. I was just diagnosed last month with an A1C of 6.5 and FBS of 127 I think. My doctor told me I was diabetic without question. I didn't believe it until I had a single piece of pizza that had me up to 289 2 hours later.

Maybe a new doc is in order.

As far as a new home, I think this place will suit you fine. I have only been a member for a few days and I am in awe at how friendly and knowledgable the folks are here. If it wasn't for this place, I would be really lost with this disease as everything I found all over the web had by bs going nuts. These people know what they are taking about.

Hope you stick around and get things under control.

 

[BessyBell]

Maybe a new doc is in order.

Thanks for the welcome!!

And no, not gonna go the new doc route. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my doc. If she ever leaves or quits I swear I'm never going back to the doctor again! They only give us bad news anyway!

 

[foxl]

If you also have Hashi's ... be sure you get tested for antibodies -- TPO for thyroid, GAD-65 for the pancreatic beta cells ... you may have slow-onset Type 1 Diabetes, AKA LADA.

Also get a c-peptide test (your endo should know about these) -- to show how much insulin you are making.

If you have LADA, it might slow progression if you use insulin -- and do not sulfonylureas such as glyburide and glimepiride, or other insulin-stimulating medications.

Oh, and as for BG testing: I test in the morning, and before and after most meals, unless I can be confident (less and less so as I progress) that I am eating little enough carb that I will not spike. It is a good idea to build up a repertoire of foods you know you can eat without spiking, by testing them before, 1 hr after, and 2 hr after eating.

 

[BessyBell]

Whew...lots o' stuff to talk to the endo about!

I was never told the reason for being hypo. No one has ever mentioned Hashimoto's. Although I do remember asking once, I don't remember what the response was. But I have always been on the "look-out" regarding other auto-immune diseases since I learned years ago that they tend to "co-habitate".

Is it really possible to have slow onset type 1 at 45 years old? I guess I just assumed that I got it because I'm fat and lazy and don't watch what I eat. (Which, btw, I have learned isn't necessarily THE reason, contrary to popular belief - and yes, I'm struggling with some of that. I don't want to tell anyone about this diagnosis because of the stigma)).

I really am trying to go low carb...but I'm still in unfamiliar territory and it may take me a little time to figure it all out!

 

[foxl]

I developed it at 52!

Please take a look on this website ... she has a wealth of information on Diabetes, including LADA. Her site along with forums convinced me to persevere -- and it took a bit -- to get autoantibody testing.

Blood Sugar 101

One more thing -- it is not rare, by any means. between 1 in 10 and 1 in 5 initial Type 2 diagnoses turn out to be LADA.

 

[Shalynne]

Welcome, BessyBell! :welcome:

The fact that she told you your A1c and put you on Metformin right away tells me that they did make a diagnosis ... they just haven't given you the D-word. Yet.

Sometimes docs like to slip the bad news in gradually, over time. A matter of personal style. Nurses may not be allowed to mention a diagnosis until the doc has declared it. Also, while I personally prefer all beans spilled at once, a lot of folks don't ... and the doc may be working under that assumption.

They are definitely doing the right thing by telling you the numbers and prescribing the meds.

Glad you found us!

 

[foxl]

Oh, in reading about LADA, you may read that "only" slender patients are candidates for testing. I was in the obese range, just before diagnosis.

A friend who is a very obese, large, man, with a lot of insulin resistance -- he takes TWELVE TIMES the insulin I take, per day -- was just also given a LADA diagnosis, based on the presence of antibodies.

 

[foxl]

Welcome, BessyBell! :welcome:

The fact that she told you your A1c and put you on Metformin right away tells me that they did make a diagnosis ... they just haven't given you the D-word. Yet.

Not exactly right away: "Anyway she said my NON-fasting BG was 248 and my A1c was 9.0 (it was 8.9 in April)."

 

[BessyBell]

The fact that she told you your A1c and put you on Metformin right away tells me that they did make a diagnosis ... they just haven't given you the D-word. Yet.

Sometimes docs like to slip the bad news in gradually, over time. A matter of personal style. Nurses may not be allowed to mention a diagnosis until the doc has declared it. Also, while I personally prefer all beans spilled at once, a lot of folks don't ... and the doc may be working under that assumption.

Thanks for the welcome!

You hit the nail on the head. I think the nurses are discouraged from making that kind of definitive statement, and I think my doc is going to let the endo tell me!!! :lol:

 

[Patdart]

Hi, BessyBell. I've tried some other forums too, but this is the best place I've found, so I'm glad you found us! Lots of knowledge here and nice folks to boot!

Good luck,

 

[BessyBell]

Oh, in reading about LADA, you may read that "only" slender patients are candidates for testing. I was in the obese range, just before diagnosis.

A friend who is a very obese, large, man, with a lot of insulin resistance -- he takes TWELVE TIMES the insulin I take, per day -- was just also given a LADA diagnosis, based on the presence of antibodies.

Okay, does LADA automatically mean I will need to be on insulin???

 

[BessyBell]

Hi, BessyBell. I've tried some other forums too, but this is the best place I've found, so I'm glad you found us! Lots of knowledge here and nice folks to boot!

Good luck,

Thanks!

So far, so good! :cool2:

 

[foxl]

No, but it means you might benefit from starting it earlier. I started on basal about 14 mos post-diagnosis, then 9 mos later started rapid. Thing is, insulin may help to preserve your beta cells longer, which means fewer side effects and hypos.

I know of someone with LADA who has gone 11 years post-diagnosis, without even needing oral medications. But that one is the exception ...

But, insulin is not to be feared! I use pens, with teeny-tiny needles, and frankly having control of my blood sugar has been an immense relief.

 

[BessyBell]

No, but it means you might benefit from starting it earlier. I started on basal about 14 mos post-diagnosis, then 9 mos later started rapid. Thing is, insulin may help to preserve your beta cells longer, which means fewer side effects and hypos.

I know of someone with LADA who has gone 11 years post-diagnosis, without even needing oral medications. But that one is the exception ...

But, insulin is not to be feared! I use pens, with teeny-tiny needles, and frankly having control of my blood sugar has been an immense relief.

Thank you.

Thank God I'm not afraid or have any aversions to needles. (My body seems to like my blood right where it is, thank you very much! I have a hard time getting blood for the test. lol)

I guess it may be more of a stigma thing...having to be on insulin "looks" like you were unable to control the diabetes with exercise and diet. Like you were a failure. Even if I know otherwise.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Welcome to the machine Bessy.

Not sure how much weight you'd like to/need to lose, but it's in your best interest to stop your carb intake as much as possible as soon as possible imo.

again, thats just my opinion.

i personally do not eat bread/flour or anything white other then onions and mayo.

 

[naynay]

Welcome BessyBell to our little family here! This website saved my life! I was always confused and frustrated because the doctors didn't really tell me the "whole truth" about diabetes, and I was following the ADA and nutritionist/dietician and Diabetic Specialists advice as to diet. My numbers stayed horribly high that way, and I gained alot of weight in the past on basal insulin. I have gone the gambit of insulin, oral meds, exercise, diets, supplements, blah, blah, blah. Nothing really helped until I happened to have stumbled into this forum. I am now on basal and bolus insulin, metformin, low carb/high fat diet, and exercise. My numbers have greatly improved, but I still have farther to go with more and more improvement until I can get this D-thing down to a science in knowing what I can eat and what I cannot eat. Do not be ashamed or afraid to use insulin; I was so against going back on it because of past experience; however, after learning a great majority of those on this forum were taking both a basal and bolus, I spoke to my endo about it and we went that route. I gained less than 10 lbs starting on it, but have managed to lose 6-7 lbs of that already. I go back for blood work at the end of this month, and I know it will be better than the 12.1 A1C I had at end of August, I am hoping for a big change! We will do our best to help you out, and in turn share your information with us from the doctor and what you are doing to change your way of eating. Going low carb/high fat is somewhat challenging, but once you get into it completely, you will never want to go back to the old way of eating. You will feel so much better! Good Luck

 

[jwags]

Welcome to DF. It sounds like you may have had Diabetes for quite awhile. Do you remember any of your bg tests from prior years. An normal HbA1c is anywhere from 4.0-mid 5's. Pre diabetes starts in the mid 5's. An HbA1c of 8.9 is an average bg of 209 and 9 is 212. To put things in context I try to keep my bgs between 90-115 to avoid complications. Once in awhile I will spike to 130 or 140 but feel terrible when I do. I'm not sure why your doctor delayed your diagnosis for several months but it is good now you are taking medication. I had to raise my metformin several times before I got my fasting under 100. Usually they will have you do different oral meds before going to insulin. As Foxi said if you have other auto immune conditions the metformin may not work to keep your bgs in a good range. Definitely have the GAD antibody test done.