Diabetes

[MagickLynx]

It’s a f***ing c*** of a thing! That’s pretty much why I go into denial about it, or it takes me a while to work out how to use the continuous glucose monitor or whatever. It isn’t painful and most of the time you wouldn’t even know there’s anything wrong (and I really would prefer it to some of the awful illnesses people have) but it still sucks. It’s also why I feel like punching doctors and nurses in the face when they act like “OMG why aren’t you controlling your blood sugar??”

I didn’t even know I had it for a couple of years (?) and the pancreatitis that caused it (?) was caused by alcohol abuse, which was caused by *blah blah traumatic shit*. It’s all these assumptions that lead to me sitting in the Emergency ward in tears because some idiotic doctor hasn’t got the first clue about my life and why my pancreas doesn’t work properly. The question marks are because nobody can actually tell me, and guess what? I’m not a doctor you assholes! So it’s kind of your job to tell me, or to at least make the effort to understand it from my point of view.

*sigh* Thanks guys..

I know, it's extremely frustrating. My symptoms came on pretty sudden, I was so hungry every two or three hours to the point I honestly felt I would pass out if I didn't get sugar. I couldn't sleep more than 3 hours in the night, kept needing to have food in between in the middle of the night. I kept taking a teaspoon or two of honey and then eating a meal. Last year I lived on porridge, mash, haggis, butter, plain yoghurt and milk and water for about 7 weeks, I just went total cold turkey and cut out all refined sugars (the only sugar I got was in the honey if I felt faint). Gradually I started to not be so hungry so often. Now I try to just keep added sugars down to about 6 grams or less in a day, if I go way too high and take about 20 grams extra in a day, it messes me up again and I have to go back and cut it all down again. It really is a nightmare. It was scary because I didn't know what was wrong and I live alone. I honestly thought at times I could go into a hypoglycemic coma and no one would know for weeks. My arms and legs shook if I had too much sugar, I couldn't drink 200ml of orange juice without shaking and feeling ill. My blood sugars were at 8.9 with those pre diabetes symptoms (11 is apparently diabetic?) and now I'm down to 5.7 an hour after food so I think that's a decent improvement. I was a sugar addict. I calculated how much I had been consuming, on average it was around 90 grams of sugar a day, sometimes ALOT more than that :oops: And the symptoms came on after a very stressful time. It SUCKS.

 

[MagickLynx]

Also, apparently it can sometimes not show up as diabetes in tests until you actually have it, can't remember why, need to go back and try and find the video I saw that on..

 

[Vanquished]

I have times, though not terribly often, that I become terribly shaky usually from not having eaten. I can physically tell it's from the diabetic stuff because it's such a different feeling from normal hunger. I also, on a more frequent basis, get the diabetic nerve pain in my feet. Well, no dr has told me it's diabetic nerve pain, but I can see the association cuz it usually happens when I've eaten something extra sugary. It bothers me most at bedtime, but it also happens during the day. I actually have to remove my shoes to try to rub the area in an attempt to calm it down. It almost feels like it's sending a shock up from my foot. That can take a while to resolve. Does anyone else have these issues? I've tried to explain the feeling to my dr, and she had no comment about it which I found odd.

 

[MagickLynx]

I have times, though not terribly often, that I become terribly shaky usually from not having eaten. I can physically tell it's from the diabetic stuff because it's such a different feeling from normal hunger. I also, on a more frequent basis, get the diabetic nerve pain in my feet. Well, no dr has told me it's diabetic nerve pain, but I can see the association cuz it usually happens when I've eaten something extra sugary. It bothers me most at bedtime, but it also happens during the day. I actually have to remove my shoes to try to rub the area in an attempt to calm it down. It almost feels like it's sending a shock up from my foot. That can take a while to resolve. Does anyone else have these issues? I've tried to explain the feeling to my dr, and she had no comment about it which I found odd.

I had had nerve pain/tingling/burning in my hands and feet but had thought it was to do with the anemia I'd had prior to the pre diabetic symptoms but maybe it wasn't the anemia. It resolved completely once I had cut right down on the sugars after several months. I had actually forgotten about that. Yeah I would say it probably is connected. Strange how your dr didn't say anything. But then, my doctor just told me to start having smaller meals more regular and that was NEVER going to help. Hmm.

 

[Ash600]

@gypsylee , @betteroffunknown just been reading your posts and it seems it's one hell of a f##king understatement that you have been let down by dick-weed doctors who were meant to be helping you, not neglecting your situati0n.

This link here is a guide to the complications which diabetes can cause, and what signs to look out for. @betteroffunknown , there's info here regarding your feet, if you can get seen by a diabetic nurse or chiropodist, then I recommend doing so as you could stand a better chance of recieving better treatment than what you have had from your doc.

The site will also provides useful info on living with diabetes amongst other things, hopefully it will be of some use to some of you here.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications

 

[MagickLynx]

^ I forgot the blurred vision too.. I used to wake with blurred vision every single morning, it would be like that for at least half an hour and I couldn't read words on a screen or book. It doesn't happen anymore now. I've never needed glasses and still don't.

 

[Ash600]

^ I forgot the blurred vision too.. I used to wake with blurred vision every single morning, it would be like that for at least half an hour and I couldn't read words on a screen or book. It doesn't happen anymore now. I've never needed glasses and still don't.

Out of interest, do you go for regular (ie annual) eye screening?
Also, is your blood pressure in control?

 

[MagickLynx]

Out of interest, do you go for regular (ie annual) eye screening?
Also, is your blood pressure in control?

No, it's a long time since I had my eyes checked actually
My blood pressure was perfect, had it checked last month

 

[Ash600]

No, it's a long time since I had my eyes checked actually
My blood pressure was perfect, had it checked last month

Might be worthwhile getting them checked annually.

Diabetics are offered annual screening via the NHS.

 

[MagickLynx]

Might be worthwhile getting them checked annually.

Diabetics are offered annual screening via the NHS.

Yeah I will do that, I'm so glad I don't wake with that blurred vision anymore

 

[Vanquished]

@gypsylee , @betteroffunknown just been reading your posts and it seems it's one hell of a f##king understatement that you have been let down by dick-weed doctors who were meant to be helping you, not neglecting your situati0n.

This link here is a guide to the complications which diabetes can cause, and what signs to look out for. @betteroffunknown , there's info here regarding your feet, if you can get seen by a diabetic nurse or chiropodist, then I recommend doing so as you could stand a better chance of recieving better treatment than what you have had from your doc.

The site will also provides useful info on living with diabetes amongst other things, hopefully it will be of some use to some of you here.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications

Thanks for the info, @Ash600

Thanks for sharing who I should be taking this up with. I never knew. I'll talk to my doc about it cuz I will need her referral.

I do have heart issues. I have an artificial mitral valve and a Type B Aortic dissection. The valve was considered rheumatic caused, not congenital. I am on 2 blood pressure meds for the dissection, and on another one for Raynauds so my blood pressure is a non issue. My bad cholestrol is pretty good actually, but my good cholestrol has been bad for years. Only within the last year or so it has (finally) improved quite a bit. I haven't changed what I'm doing in the last year, so I expect this number to continue to improve.

Unfortunately, the rest of my medical issues are just as complicated and very numerous. I've been fighting to figure out what the hell is going on and what is causing what. By and large I never had any known major issues, but issues began nearly constantly pounding me since the bad valve diagnosis in Sept '13. I've had over 20 new diagnosis' since then. It's been crazy overwhelming, and I've recently told my doc that I need a doc to come along side me and help me figure out what the hell is going on, not criticizing me because I'm having them. I told her I get the things that are age related. I can accept those no prob, but I also know it's impossible for all of this to be age related and it's high time we start figuring out what is behind all this cuz it's just nuts. I'm not adjusting to all this well at all.

 

[Vanquished]

I had had nerve pain/tingling/burning in my hands and feet

You've reminded me that I have had this issue in my hands as well although it's only happened a few times (so far) with them. My feet are definitely the bigger issue.

 

[gypsylee]

You've reminded me that I have had this issue in my hands as well although it's only happened a few times (so far) with them. My feet are definitely the bigger issue.

I get the tingling a bit but not pain or burning. Just reading people’s experiences is helpful because you see, I can go a long time with very high blood sugar and feel quite ok.

The diabetes educator said to me when they first discovered how high my levels were (HBA1C 17) “I’m surprised you could get out of bed.” Well, I was actually looking after my daughter all week and working weekends!

So this makes me think either:

--I’m very good at ignoring how I feel
--I’m a freak of nature who gets no symptoms from very high blood sugar
--There’s more to this than they realise

I’m going with the last one.

So my next step is to work out this continuous glucose meter and keep doing the “experiment” using that. To me it’s an experiment because no tests have been done other than blood tests and I need the information because I don’t trust the doctors. This new endocrinologist seems to know his stuff though, so I’m happy to work with him.

 

[Walker]

geez, your A1C is like my sons. good god damn, I've never seen anyone elses as high as his. Get it together!

 

[dandelions]

a thread here dedicated to diabetes

Hi gypsylee and everyone else here (and petal too). It was suggested that i start a diabetes thread the other day, which i think is a great idea and i have been avoiding this section til now because well, i find it frightening.

but here i am now, just the same. i have known that i was borderline diabetic for a few years. i actually fell into full diabetes a year or more ago and by eating kale salads (i guess) i went back to borderline. but about 3 weeks ago something happened and i don’t know what. it was like some kind of unwanted drama that unfortunately spilled over into SF. i began to feel strange physically. my body pain intensified. i became extremely thirsty and had run to the bathroom every half hour. but something happened in my brain too. no one i’ve spoken to has indicated it is diabetes related but i certainly feel it is. i’m hoping some people here might have had or know of someone having a similar experience.

i started feeling very emotionally bad. like all my usual symptoms became magnified. i hated being at work and i felt a bit dizzy or somehow my mind became more withdrawn in my brain. work was a struggle and travel was and coming home was and sleep at night was mostly being awake running to the bathroom.

i really dont remember what happened here and i know i can go take a look but embarrassment is preventing me. i really don’t know what possessed me to post some of the stuff i posted and i wish i could retract it and i really think it can be attributed to my sugar levels. when i checked myself into the hospital several days ago for what i thought was only my deteriorating mental state, i was horrified to find out that my sugar was very high. i’ve heard since that it can go way higher that mine, but it frightened me nonetheless.

why i am posting this here now is to compare notes; see if anyone has had similar experiences; learn to adjust to something i presently feel is impossible to adjust to; and if i learn, maybe to help support others who are new to the condition. i just did not know what was going on.

at the hospital they restricted my diet and it made me go crazy. i see food as my major coping mechanism for my mental issues. leaves me kind of heartbroken and angry and deciding to not do what is really good for me. but...
and in the hospital, fear with each blood sugar test and the injections. for me, this encroaches upon my safety zone in mental health.

i really want to connect with people who may already know much about diabetes and treating it and living with it and keeping sugar levels down. and of course the big question - do you know, have you ever experienced what i did - the extreme thoughts that i just cant account for or even specifically remember that was just me to the 11th power.

anyway, i’m happy to have found this thread. i have not yet looked at the others i noticed. i am so curious, and frightened. and i know i need to adjust and refigure things out.

 

[MagickLynx]

Sounds like maybe some hypoglycaemia going on for you? It can definitely be triggered by stressful events. Are there ways you can change your diet to lower your sugars a bit? Can you ask your doctor? Don't change things without getting good advice, preferably of a good doctor. I can recommend ketogenic diet but obviously it has to be done with great care. It can help the blood sugar issues. I managed to get my sugars down low.. actually too low, that I only feel ok if I have a small chocolate milkshake now and again. My diet is pretty low carb but not fully ketogenic. I eat a lot of fish and salads.

I don't manage potatoes very well, they tend to set things off balance.

 

[MagickLynx]

Try to lower stress too, it can help massively.

 

[gypsylee]

a thread here dedicated to diabetes

Hi gypsylee and everyone else here (and petal too). It was suggested that i start a diabetes thread the other day, which i think is a great idea and i have been avoiding this section til now because well, i find it frightening.

but here i am now, just the same. i have known that i was borderline diabetic for a few years. i actually fell into full diabetes a year or more ago and by eating kale salads (i guess) i went back to borderline. but about 3 weeks ago something happened and i don’t know what. it was like some kind of unwanted drama that unfortunately spilled over into SF. i began to feel strange physically. my body pain intensified. i became extremely thirsty and had run to the bathroom every half hour. but something happened in my brain too. no one i’ve spoken to has indicated it is diabetes related but i certainly feel it is. i’m hoping some people here might have had or know of someone having a similar experience.

i started feeling very emotionally bad. like all my usual symptoms became magnified. i hated being at work and i felt a bit dizzy or somehow my mind became more withdrawn in my brain. work was a struggle and travel was and coming home was and sleep at night was mostly being awake running to the bathroom.

i really dont remember what happened here and i know i can go take a look but embarrassment is preventing me. i really don’t know what possessed me to post some of the stuff i posted and i wish i could retract it and i really think it can be attributed to my sugar levels. when i checked myself into the hospital several days ago for what i thought was only my deteriorating mental state, i was horrified to find out that my sugar was very high. i’ve heard since that it can go way higher that mine, but it frightened me nonetheless.

why i am posting this here now is to compare notes; see if anyone has had similar experiences; learn to adjust to something i presently feel is impossible to adjust to; and if i learn, maybe to help support others who are new to the condition. i just did not know what was going on.

at the hospital they restricted my diet and it made me go crazy. i see food as my major coping mechanism for my mental issues. leaves me kind of heartbroken and angry and deciding to not do what is really good for me. but...
and in the hospital, fear with each blood sugar test and the injections. for me, this encroaches upon my safety zone in mental health.

i really want to connect with people who may already know much about diabetes and treating it and living with it and keeping sugar levels down. and of course the big question - do you know, have you ever experienced what i did - the extreme thoughts that i just cant account for or even specifically remember that was just me to the 11th power.

anyway, i’m happy to have found this thread. i have not yet looked at the others i noticed. i am so curious, and frightened. and i know i need to adjust and refigure things out.

Ugh. Diabetes.. I got my 3 mth thingy (Hba1C whatever) from 12 to 8 in 3 months. Full bloods show no kidney damage at all.

I tell you the important thing re diabetes though - it’s big $. This means the machines (basically a fake pancreas which is easy to use & even looks kinda cool now) will be affordable to the average person soon (around $10K + supplies in Australia as of June this year).

The disease is not rocket science but the average docs aren’t that good.. I managed to pull strings and see a good Endocrinologist though. He was the only medical professional who told me that about the machines. When something’s an epidemic (Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease) pharmaceutical companies are right onto it and technology is faster than the speed of light now.


My main strategy (how I went from 12-8 in a few months) is low-carb, high protein. Low-carb mainly. Plus a small dose of long-acting insulin (most type 2s don’t need insulin at first).

My best friends food-wise are: fish (salmon), nuts, beans, pears (low-GI fruit), olives, cheese, dark choc (say 80% cocoa), coffee/tea.

Wholemeal bread (multigrain is best but the seeds get stuck in my teeth!) White bread is deadly (sugar++).

Pulse pasta: Made from legumes ie. More protein, less carbs, more fibre.


Don’t bother with “diabetic chocolate” or any of that. It’s $$$ and has about 3 different artificial sweeteners, which give you gas from hell.

I do use aspartame in coffee/tea/coke. Stevia is meant to be the best but again it’s $$$ and it doesn’t even dissolve properly in coffee. Aspartame is meant to cause brain cancer but I’ll risk that for now

The best strategy is to get used to less sweetness.


Good luck..

 

[gypsylee]

These guys are an example of pharma companies onto diabetes. It depends on where you are I think, but not even the majority of medicos are up-to-date with this stuff:

http://www.diabetescare.abbott/

 

[dandelions]

Try to lower stress too, it can help massively.

I'm all stress all the time; 24/7; non-stop. In fact, lm pretty sure I was speeding through the intersection when I overloaded. I felt something happening that I didn't understand but was so clearly present. Now I need to figure out how to put the brakes on the stress machine. That specifically is my disorder. At least I'm learning to listen to other people and try to apply the things they say to my situation.