[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

littlelogan wrote: »

I recently had an appointment with my doc over something else and towards the end I just mentioned about having my blood checked for diabetes. This was about 4 hours after lunch and I had 3 coffees by that stage. Result was 6.4. Doctor said it was a little high, to come back in a few weeks to have it tested again.

For what it's worth I've had a couple of blood tests throughout the past few years. In 2013, fasting glucose (which I assume is a bit different than the above?) was 4.7. In 2015, fasting glucose was 5.6.

So I'm just wondering what my next move is before I go back to the doctor. Should I pick up a kit to carry out some tests myself in the meantime (something like this maybe - amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LYKZ4ZU - GlucoRx Nexus Blood Glucose Monitoring System Kit)? Change my diet dramatically (currently eat rice/pasta/potatoes for my lunches and dinners)?

Appreciate any advice, thanks.

Ask your doctor to take some bloods and do a hba1c check.

littlelogan wrote: »

Thanks. I'll arrange to see them again soon for another test. So was the test I took a bit of a waste of time? Are those kits pointless for me at this stage?

i wouldnt bother for the moment unless the doctor tells you otherwise. the finger prick tests only give a point in time reading. the hba1c gives an average for the last 3 months. it is a much better indicator. Are you actually symptomatic for diabetes?

CramCycle wrote: »

You could do a proper glucose tolerance test, which would be indicative. People are individuals so, as ohnonotgmail said, the fingerprick is a snapshot and says nothing.

Glucose tolerance test would give an indication of response to a challenge. It won't confirm anything but it could rule something out.

I didnt even know what a glucose tolerance test until i read that. I've never done one or had it mentioned to me. Is there any value to it if you have hba1c results?

CramCycle wrote: »

Yep, they will give you an idea of how high your bloods have been running on average for the past 10 weeks and are used as a diagnosis tool for diabetes.

The GTT is good because it gives youwhat your resting glucose with no stimulation is (including excercise, excitation etc.) and then seeing how your body deals with a challenge. Everyone reacts slightly differently but the trend you see should be able to rule out, at the very least, full onset Diabetes (which I don't think you have) and may confirm that you are perfectly fine (which is also quite possile).

have you any other symptoms or issues related to the diagnosis of diabetes?

I'm not the person who asked the question initially. I know i have diabetes.

Hey all.
Just looking for some input on Joint issues?
Have any of you fine people encountered issues with joint mobility, tendonitis or arthritis related to your diabetes?

I'm a physio and t1 for a long time. I am prone to repetitive strain injuries. But know how to manage them before they become an issue. I often see people with tendonitis etc and only a small portion are diabetetic. Management of diabetes and being able to identify when your at risk and reducing the risks are key. Get a good physio to have a look at that tennis elbow rather than letting it get chronic on you.

Hi, general question re signing up for a mountain biking sportive (nire valley drop) - I am keen on doing this and went to sign up but on the registration form you need to specify any illnesses and you also sign a waiver to say you don't have any of the following illnesses ....diabetes ... that prevents you from taking part.

This is all fine but I really want to do the sportive (I am physically well able and do quite a bit of mountain biking with no issues), I would be cycling with other club members who are aware and carry enough sweets to feed an army.

Anyway not sure what to do - not sure if anyone can advise either

Its this type of stuff that gets me - I don't want to hide it but if I declare it I won't be able to do it

Does it give diabetes as an example of an illness that may prevent you from taking part or say that if you have diabetes that you cant take part?

daisyscience wrote: »

Initial treatment in Ireland is seriously bad and so are most of the diabetic clinics in my experience too.

I've had diabetes since I was very young and I must say, I have had nothing but positive experiences at my clinic..

daisyscience wrote: »

I once had to wait 7 hours to meet the endo and that was when I was on the 2 injections a day so had to eat at the same time every day. It was a nightmare as i kept expecting to be called in any minute so didnt want to leave and just had to drink lucozade away. I was pretty young then though and wouldnt wait around now. I'd regularly be waiting 4 - 5 hours a clinic visit in the Limerick clinic and developed white coat syndrome from the stress.

Couldn't believe the fantastic level of care I received in Galway clinic after my experiences in Limerick and then when I moved to Cork, I was advised by many professionals, drs, nurses and other diabetics to stay with Galway. So I did.

So we are probably some of the lucky ones with great clinics now.

I keep asking and keep getting told to stay with Galway as it has the most resources for diabetic clinics in Ireland and I have to say I love it there. Could not praise the staff there enough, knowing how bad it could be. Its like they get that you are the one living with the condition and they're there to help you. In Limerick I always felt that I was a bother, this was just a job for the staff and I was doing everything wrong and was a problem patient. Everyone was a problem patient. The place is so under resourced, sure nurses are leaving Limerick hospital in their droves because they can't cope with the stress of it.

I don't think that all the various clinics teach DAFNE which was a lifesaver for me and every diabetic and diabetes Dr/nurse should know about it, but that could be different now. I was in and out of the clinic in Galway in 20 minutes on Thursday last. Nurse, endo and out. Unreal!

Glad you're enjoying the experience in Galway, hopefully we both continue receiving care we're happy with.

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I haven't bothered with the public system with over 20 years since the nurse at the clinic asked me if I had the high blood sugar diabetes or the low blood sugar diabetes.:D

It didn't exactly fill me with confidence in the abilities of the staff at the clinic.

Don't get me wrong, I've had a negative experience before but never at the clinic itself. One doctor wasn't the most knowledgeable regarding the amount of insulin an eight/nine year old should get. :rolleyes:

Kurtosis wrote: »

I think this was introduced last year based on the recommended frequency of testing for different categories of patients. If there's a reason you need to test more often, your doctor can apply for an exemption online with the HSE, some info here:
[url] http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/clinical/natclinprog/diabetesprogramme/Bloodsugartesting/[/url]

According to that i should only be testing 3 times a week. My consultant has always said twice a day though i admit i havent discussed freuency of testing with in a while. V confused now.

CramCycle wrote: »

Cycling Ireland have covered me for just as bad. I suspect the organisers just carbon copied a form from elsewhere. If you want I can contact them, and if they kick up a fuss you can still do the norm and just enter and tick the box they want ( at your own risk).

appreciate that CramCycle, think I will sign up and specify it and see what they say. I have Cycling Ireland license (leisure) maybe I can contact the if I need to.

Type 2 ?

I've been meaning to post in here for a while... so hello!

I was admitted to hospital at the end of last year, feeling generally unwell. Along with some other stuff, I was diagnosed on NYE with Type 1 with a HBA1C of 131. Early 40s, male, had been losing quite a lot of weight up to that point - I think all told I worked it out at ~30kgs over 6-9mths. I didn't recognise myself as having any of the major symptoms and up to a couple of days before admission had been feeling OK, not 100% tip-top condition, but OK. It was certainly a shock to the system. Have to say the treatment I received from the DSNs in the hospital where I was admitted was great, very informative and were there to field calls from me after my release.

I was diagnosed in Cavan, home visiting my family for Christmas, I live and work in Limerick. So the first hassle I had was trying to get the LTI sorted out. Because I was laid up in my folks place for a few months after release, I couldn’t visit my GP to get the approval form signed and I was told that it had to be applied for through my local HSE health office with a local GP authorisation – not very sure how true that was, but eventually I got it approved, applied in March, received it in June. I’m not sure what I was expecting once I transferred back here, I figured a larger hospital would have even better support. I was surprised after my first visit to the Diabetic Clinic to learn that there are no DAFNE courses run through UHL, I was not put in contact with any DSNs, and no referral to a podiatrist. I was given details of the Retina Screening program.

I guess it’s up to ourselves to own our own treatment and support.

I had my latest appointment this week, HBA1C is 42 so it looks like I’ve gotten reasonable control of the glucose and I made sure to ask for a referral to the dietician and podiatrist. What I was surprised with was when I mentioned having sharp stabby pains in my feet and legs, and slight numbness in the tips of my fingers, the doctor agreed that it could be the start of neuropathy but asked me to follow up with my GP about this – is that normal? I would have assumed that the clinic would follow up on something like that, after all they’re the specialists and I’m not sure how much experience my or many GPs in the country would have with T1D.

This is all still very new to me, and sometimes I feel like I’ve just been thrown out there with little support. It can be daunting at times. Anyway, as I said, I’d been meaning to post here for a while, I’ve read some very supportive and informative posts through the lifetime of this thread and I hope in time I can add to that.

Irish Wolf wrote: »

I've been meaning to post in here for a while... so hello!

I was admitted to hospital at the end of last year, feeling generally unwell. Along with some other stuff, I was diagnosed on NYE with Type 1 with a HBA1C of 131. Early 40s, male, had been losing quite a lot of weight up to that point - I think all told I worked it out at ~30kgs over 6-9mths. I didn't recognise myself as having any of the major symptoms and up to a couple of days before admission had been feeling OK, not 100% tip-top condition, but OK. It was certainly a shock to the system. Have to say the treatment I received from the DSNs in the hospital where I was admitted was great, very informative and were there to field calls from me after my release.

I was diagnosed in Cavan, home visiting my family for Christmas, I live and work in Limerick. So the first hassle I had was trying to get the LTI sorted out. Because I was laid up in my folks place for a few months after release, I couldn’t visit my GP to get the approval form signed and I was told that it had to be applied for through my local HSE health office with a local GP authorisation – not very sure how true that was, but eventually I got it approved, applied in March, received it in June. I’m not sure what I was expecting once I transferred back here, I figured a larger hospital would have even better support. I was surprised after my first visit to the Diabetic Clinic to learn that there are no DAFNE courses run through UHL, I was not put in contact with any DSNs, and no referral to a podiatrist. I was given details of the Retina Screening program.

I guess it’s up to ourselves to own our own treatment and support.

I had my latest appointment this week, HBA1C is 42 so it looks like I’ve gotten reasonable control of the glucose and I made sure to ask for a referral to the dietician and podiatrist. What I was surprised with was when I mentioned having sharp stabby pains in my feet and legs, and slight numbness in the tips of my fingers, the doctor agreed that it could be the start of neuropathy but asked me to follow up with my GP about this – is that normal? I would have assumed that the clinic would follow up on something like that, after all they’re the specialists and I’m not sure how much experience my or many GPs in the country would have with T1D.

This is all still very new to me, and sometimes I feel like I’ve just been thrown out there with little support. It can be daunting at times. Anyway, as I said, I’d been meaning to post here for a while, I’ve read some very supportive and informative posts through the lifetime of this thread and I hope in time I can add to that.

Hi Irishwolf.
I live in Limerick, aged early 50s, I was diagnosed with Type 1 June last year. If you like we can meet up for a chat some time to share our experiences....I dont know anybody else in Limerick with Type one, apparently its unusual for adults to get TYpe one diabetes....my own belief is that firstly, if somebody in my family has to get it ( I have 4 children), I would prefer if I get it rather than my kids, and secondly if I get to get a serious medical condition, I would prefer diabetes to cancer!

Kurtosis wrote:

People with diabetes mellitus are one of the groups the HSE recommend vaccination for:

Read that and didn't see the usual type 1 or 2 names and googling didn't help, so said I'll ask to be sure

Strange I've never been told this, not something people would think of