Diabetes

[Aidi]

Howide Folks,

I have just been diagonsed with Diabetes

Only got the results on Friday, so its all new to me. I will find out after seeing a specialist on Thursday which type they are going to treat me for.. I am hoping its the type which does not involve daily insulin injections.

Its a bit of a shock at the moment, and will no doubt take some getting used to.

I expect i will get loads of info from the specialist, but would like to hear from everyday people how they cope with it.

I appreciate this is a medical condition, and some will not want to talk about it or want to let it be known they have it. But, if you do have it and could offer any advice about living with it, it would be appreciated.

Rgds
Aidi

[Derek Mc]

Tough break mate but don't blame yourself as it is a very widespread disease, and is better to have been found now that when it becomes more acute.

With mediacation type 2 can still be fully controllable and allow you 95% of the life you enjoyed prior but please relax, take it very easy in the next few weeks as you have to settle into the new regime and be a sponge for the information you are getting from doctors and consultants. Are you able to tell me if you are on tablet or intravenous med's and what dosage they are setting as this can affect people differently initially and take time for your body metabolism to settle.

How did you know BTW was it the thirst and the fatigue thing were you feeling unwell did you have any other symptoms and how long?

Best wishes

Derek

[Big Sig]

**** happens. I'm insulin dependant and it has NEVER effected me. Never had a day off work because of it. I inject 4 times a day for over 10 years now. It will only effect you if you let it.

[mparks8590]

type 1 - insulin dependent - regular insulin injections - for life. can be twice a day to four times a day ( basal - bolus ) regime to pumps that mimic normal insulin secretion

i'd guess though if they're making you wait for treatment that its type 2 or Non insulin dependent ..this can be managed by diet , medication, lifestyle changes....

it won't harm i either case to check your cholesterol. if its raised, change your diet initially. dietician might be a good next stop

Remember diabetes is a chronic condtition balancing diet, exercise and insulin ( natural / artificial ) . You need to maintain this balance

manage it and you will do fine.

ignore it and suffer long term complications

good luck and get back if you need more advice on medications

[Aidi]

Cheers for the replies, somehow i knew that there would be some of you with it and be able to offer advice.

It was found out be accident when having a blood test for something else, however now that i know the symptoms, i would say i have been showing them since around April time.

I guess in a way i am lucky that its been caught on the off chance, i doubt i would not have gone to the Dr as i put the symptoms down to just getting that little bit older.

As said, the treatment is not being given immediately, so it would suggest that its not type 1.

I am lucky in the respect that in my job medical care and dieticain are readily available for advice and guidance.

The few people who i have spoken to have said that it just needs a sensible head and follow the "rules" and life will carry on as normal once you get your head around it.

Thanks again for your comments.. hearing first hand from others is a real confidence booster.

Best Rgds
Aidi

[felixx]

Howide Folks,

I have just been diagonsed with Diabetes

Only got the results on Friday, so its all new to me. I will find out after seeing a specialist on Thursday which type they are going to treat me for.. I am hoping its the type which does not involve daily insulin injections.

Its a bit of a shock at the moment, and will no doubt take some getting used to.

I expect i will get loads of info from the specialist, but would like to hear from everyday people how they cope with it.

I appreciate this is a medical condition, and some will not want to talk about it or want to let it be known they have it. But, if you do have it and could offer any advice about living with it, it would be appreciated.

Rgds
Aidi

Aidi,having diabetes these days doesn't create the problems it used to as it did in the far distant past.It depends on the type you are diagnosed with on whether they treat you with insulin injections or medication and diet control.
If your pancreas is not producing any insulin at all, they usually treat you with insulin injections to replace the insulin that your pancreas isn't producing.If the area of your pancreas that produces the insulin is still making some insulin,then they will treat you with medication to stimulate it to produce more,and diet control,to regulate the sugar you are taking in on a daily basis to balance and regulate everything.
For some people it is life changing,in as much that they can't go down to the pub every night and get smashed,but for others,it's as if nothing has changed at all!!.Even in the worst scenario of having daily injections,it's still a relative normal life style and providing you do as they advise you,you should be fine,and be able to carry on as normal.I hope you get the good diagnosis results,best of luck.FELIXX.

[Robsey]

My other half is type 2 - a whole raft of tablets each day, but no injections.

It took her 3 yrs to find out, and when she'd had her blood test, the reading was off the top of the scale.

A normal reading is approx 4 to 8, her reading was 29....and that was only because the test cannot go above 28 !!

Diet wise, she has changed nothing, she still eats all the bad stuff, but can normally keep her readings in the "normal" range.

As an extreme, my nephew on the wife's side, suddenly found out he was a type one diabetic whilst on holiday... he suddenly lost two stone in weight, and felt "unwell".
The doctor at the hospital said that left untreated, he would have been dead within the week.

The fact that your GP is in no major rush, infers to me that your reading is only a little above normal, and so you will most likely be type 2 (Non-insulin dependent). Probably diet controlled.

[keefy*2010]

type 1 - insulin dependent - regular insulin injections - for life. can be twice a day to four times a day ( basal - bolus ) regime to pumps that mimic normal insulin secretion

i'd guess though if they're making you wait for treatment that its type 2 or Non insulin dependent ..this can be managed by diet , medication, lifestyle changes....

it won't harm i either case to check your cholesterol. if its raised, change your diet initially. dietician might be a good next stop

Remember diabetes is a chronic condtition balancing diet, exercise and insulin ( natural / artificial ) . You need to maintain this balance

manage it and you will do fine.

ignore it and suffer long term complications

good luck and get back if you need more advice on medications

My son was diagnosed when he was 2 yrs old, he kept falling over and drinking a lot. Dr initially said it was possibly a blip in the reading. Two weeks later st hospital and blood sugar level taken previous was urine check. They said he had to stay in and if it had not been found then he could have died at anytime. That was 40 years ago and things ha e really changed he leads a very normal like. Was hard when he was young with growing etc but once he accepted it he settled down ok with injections.

Mind you I have a full blood test on Tuesday, keeping fingers crossed as last full blood test they found early prostrate cancer they cleared it with 37 radiotherapy doses which cleared it 18 months later still clear.
Good luck with the diagnosis.

[WilliamLX]

Aidi, unless you are very young it is most likely that you have Type 2 Diabetes. Unless very severe this is ususally initially treated by diet change, followed by tablets such as metformin, which increase yiour bodies sensitivity to insulin (most type 2's still make insulin, and in fact have rather more insulin in the blood than normal, but body is insensitive to it so it fails to lower blood sugar).

May I ask what weight and height you are (or if you know how to calculate it, what you BMI is)? The best things you could do for Type 2 diabetes is get your weight down to normal (BMI of less than 25) and exercise a lot. Doing both could reduce the degree to which you are diabetic (or even return you to a non diabteic status if you are currently just diabetic) and also reduce risk factors like high blood pressure, high colesterol etc that tend to go hand in hand with type 2 diabetes.

You can live quite normally for some time with Type 2 diabetes but you will be at a 10 fold increased risk of serious heart disease, blindness and kidney failure in comaprison to someone of the same age and weight who is not diabetic. Sadly just regulating blood sugar does not eliminate these increased risks completely.

[Aidi]

My BMI is currently 27. I would not say that i am excessivley overweight, but loosing a few mor llb's wouldn't hurt. I am generally fit, run and walk a fair bit and not one to laze around too much.

Colesterol is fine, that has been checked along with BP which is also fine.

I rarely drink alcohol, but my real let down is being a smoker. That i think is going to be the hardest thing of all to try and kick.

From what you guys are saying, its looking very much like its going to be catagorized as Type 2.

As a type 2, is it neccesary to monitor blood/sugar levels on a daily basis, or is that only for type 1's?

Rgds
Aidi