A few years ago it would probably be the last thing I’d want to admit to or post about.
In essence I twigged I was one morning after being up and down weeing all night, losing weight and drinking 8 pints of fluid one morning.
I realised the fact I’d lost weight and had to have extra holes in my leather belts to actually hold my trousers up was not due to eating less during busy/stressful years but due to metabolic reasons.
This was over 10 years ago, was initially on long acting insulin/metformin but through hard work got off all medication.
The pandemic and lockdowns destroyed the hard work.
I could not go to the gym/play tennis etc and my glycaemic control spiralled out of control.
Nearly 3 years on I think I’m only now getting to near pre-pandemic control.
This post may be a bit cathartic, but it’s actually quite personal and something I’m not doing lightly as a Type II due to general stigma that we’re all couch potatoes who eat too much.
Would love to share some experiences with Type 1/2 other variants because there is a lot of crossover.
I was diagnosed with T2D 8 years ago. Metformin/Gliclazide, and have also been on insulin for the last 3 years. The constant medication is a bit straining, but I am more active than ever - Golf, walking and regular cycling
The symptoms are very predictable (I had all):-
Drinking a lot of fluids
Weeing all the time
Loss of energy
Weight loss
All I would say is, if you have these, get checked out straight away. Then you can start benefiting from the effects of the medication as early as possible.
I was diagnosed type 2 five years ago. I changed what was a effectively a high carb/sugar diet and went from 90kg to below 80kg. Biggest change was cutting fruit juice and breakfast cereals as well as other “empty carbs”. Loosing the weight resulted in me reversing (according to my doctor) my diabetes. I weigh myself weekly and am still too heavy but still below my red line of 80kg. My green line is 73kg but realistically I’m doubtful I’ll achieve that. I walk a couple of miles a day at least and do HIT training a couple of times a week. Michael Moseley’s advice works for me. Essentially it’s more to do with reducing processed food and empty carbs that completely stopping fats that keep you full.
T1 here. Diagnosed when 31. Really odd as to get T1 this late is very unusual. Took another 20 years to get off a mixtard insulin approach and onto long term/short term insulins. Combined with a flash sugar monitoring set up, my control is now excellent.
My younger daughter is type 1, diagnosed about five years ago (age 15). She has a pump and glucose monitor system in a loop, though still needs calibration and occasionally doesn’t work
I had a diabetes scare … I now do intermittant fasting 5 days on 2 off works great…no more peeing in the night… Have normal lunch and tea…then after tea from 6pm no food until 12 noon next day… feel tons better and lost 20lbs in weight in the process. Intermittant grazing is not good…anyway thats what I find… My bloods have now returned to the more normal spectrum. Try it if it does not work I am sure Keto would…but that was a step too far for me…
Apologies for replying as the question was not specifically directed to me, but this is actually one of the reasons which prompted me to initially post.
These systems use a small wire like sensor inserted under the skin to monitor glucose in the fluid surrounding the tissues rather than in the blood itself. The sensor is part of a small patch like device which will either have an integral transmitter or a separate transmitter which attaches to the ‘patch’.
The transmitter can send data to a small receiver or mobile phone (and some smart watches) which will show you/plot frequent glucose readings.
Some of the systems require you to scan the device with your reader/phone to get the data a few times a day (or when you need to check), others transmit the data automatically.
The readers or smartphone apps can indicate trends, and probably most importantly can alert those using insulin to possible impending hypos/low levels.
The monitors mostly either get applied to the abdomen or back of the upper arm. The devices have an applicator which is quick and easy to use - the user (or parent/guardian) can apply the monitor themselves, there’s no need to visit the GP or a clinic.
The ones I’m aware of work continuously for either 10 or 14 days after which a new one is needed.
They are mostly used currently for those with Type I diabetes and can be combined with insulin pumps to administer higher or lower insulin doses automatically in response to changes in levels (this may be a bit of a simplistic explanation).
Some who have Type 2 diabetes who inject insulin several times daily (twice or more I think) rather than a single shot of ‘slow release’ insulin are being considered for monitors in certain regions of the UK . The guidelines may well evolve and change over time.
This is a useful article if you’ve not seen it:
If you are not eligible for one on the NHS you can potentially buy some of the systems from the manufacturers direct.
Have a word with your diabetes team, even if not eligible now no harm expressing an interest.
Hopefully those who’ve used such devices for some time might be able to relate personal experiences, good or bad.
Sorry to hear that Tim, it’s a big thing for anyone to come to terms with let alone youngsters, but these systems must be complete game changers for management.
The points regarding calibration and occasionally not working are important, forgot to mention in my reply to Andyblain that finger prick testing is advised if the monitor systems read fine but don’t match how the individual feels.
There was no link made by Dr or hospital. I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea first, after feeling rubbish and wife worried about my snoring or not breathing for long periods.
When I returned to Dr a year later, still feeling rough, that’s when they checked bloods and diagnosed type 2. I take metformin, have altered eating habits but have always been active in terms of long walks.
Interestingly I still feel tired a lot of the time but it’s different to how it used to be.
When my SA was diagnosed it was through a private provider funded by NHS. The service, support and machine I used were excellent. We have moved to another area and it’s fully NHS and sadly it’s not as good and the equipment is older generation so no ongoing monitoring other than a yearly download of info. However, if there were issues I know where to go. It’s all good, part of life.
Hi if you are feeling lousy (I did for six years my doctor was totally useless) I tried gluten free what a transformation…modern wheat is incredibly high in gluten and the modern wheat is pest resistant…which inturn makes part of the human poputation less tollerant. So its not uncommon… its serious - as you can get leaky gut…which then tricks your body into thinking your ill…and guess what you feel like crap…its worth a try…go on youtube and search leaky gut…
Got mine prescribed. Initially a test programme, if you play the game, i.e sugar levels in control, they will prescribe. Game changer for me.
Still inject 5 times a day. But there are worse things to have.
Sleep apnoea is linked to a higher incidence of type 2, but as you noted you are probably not typical weight wise.
I guess the sleep apnoea link is tricky as being overweight predisposes to both sleep apnoea and diabetes, are they independent factors I wonder? Something of a chicken and egg question if that make any sense!
I was diagnosed as border line diabetic years ago and reversed the numbers through exercise and diet. The same changes also worked in controlling my blood pressure.
If change was easy to achieve a lot people could avoid some life shorting diseases.
Can not go back in time but it is never too late to start a healthy life style to squeeze out a few more years of listening to your latest upgrades of your NAIM system!
It seems to run in my wife’s family. While she has escaped (so far), her family is a living cautionary tale of the importance of taking care of yourself. Her aunt didn’t attend to it carefully or make lifestyle changes and lost her toes. Another uncle a leg. Her father had it for decades, and although he was a healthcare professional, he kept it secret, ate donuts with Coke every day (he was thin as a rake though) and eventually it had caused so much thinning and stiffness to arteries in his neck that he ended up in a state of permanent stroke and dementia.
All three cases were, according to the respective doctors “totally preventable”.
Please please, look after youself. I know it’s hard. I have to have 24 blood tests a year for different a problem for the past 12 years but I’m still here.
I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic , being a brewer didn’t help my diet !!
I was due a major op, an ankle replacement , once done I hit the LCHF (Banting diet ) hard and lost 43 kg from 115 kg , I lost one of my diabetic meds and halved the Glucophage . My Blood sugar is now well in control usual 5-5.5
It is not easy , but kill any carbs , - pasta rice , bread potatoes etc , up the green veg , use olive oil and don’t skimp Don’t believe the naysayers about fat and cholesterol , my cholesterol is well in control. Alas BEER was also on the banned list , I still drink but much less (Gin and Sugar Free Tonic is zero carbs ). Keep carbs < 25g per day , once in control <150g controls it . Don’t believe dieticians they are in it for the money and don’t in general believe in Banting
Finally find a doctor who is prepared to drop chronic meds based on scientific measurement.
The sad part is that a combination on Covid, other health issues I am slipping BUT i know exactly how to fix it
Good Luck Diabetes is curable at least controllable