www.theblisspages.com - diabetes
www.theblisspages.com - diabetesLinks on this page: what is diabetes : useful websites : my progress : dietary supplements : exercise : hair today, blonde tomorrow... : herbal remedies : indigestion? : asda : massage : monitoring glucose levels : pet rescue : rally : smart tattoo : sugar and sweeteners : The Discovery of Insulin : world naked bike ride 2006 : world naked bike ride 2007 : driving and diabetic drugs : biguanides : sulphonylureas
I've pretty well come to terms with having type 2 diabetes. Although it was a bit of a shock, I couldn't
say it was totally a surprise. I'd been losing weight for a year whilst having a much larger appetite
than normal, so I knew something was amiss. Coupling that with my excessive thirst (up to 6 litres a
day), it seems that I'm a classic case. I found out in March 2002.
A normal level of glucose in the blood is 4-7 mmol/l. A level above 11.1 mmol/l is indicative of diabetes - mine was 25 mmol/l!
Please note: Information on this page is based on my own experiences and research, but I have no medical training. If you suspect you have diabetes, go to the doctor!
When you eat, your body turns your food into glucose (sugar) to use as fuel and normally a hormone (insulin) helps the glucose get into the cells.
With type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes, you don't make enough insulin, or perhaps none at all. It often appears in childhood. It is treated by insulin injections and diet.
With type 2 diabetes, sometimes called late onset diabetes, something goes wrong. Either you don't make enough insulin or cells ignore it. In either case, glucose builds up in the blood. Type 2 diabetes often appears in adults over forty but is increasingly appearing in childhood. With diet or sometimes with drugs (including insulin), blood sugar levels may be controlled, but there is no cure.
The best
site for sufferers in the UK appears to be Diabetes UK at www.diabetes.org.uk.
This charity used to be known as the British Diabetic Association. They campaign, produce a magazine
called Balance and sponsor research. I gave them a life membership, which saves
money as long as I survive for at least twelve years.
Diabetes UK also organises many local groups. My local groups are Burgess Hill & South Villages and Haywards Heath & District. They can be reached at Mid Sussex Diabetes Groups.
The www.diabetes.co.uk site is one source of information, though it appears to be a mirror of a Canadian site.
You may also find Diabetes Insight worth a look.
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I hope this information will help existing sufferers, especially those newly-diagnosed. My HbA1c is now 8.6%, but my cholesterol is down to 4.2%
march
My latest HbA1c is now 8.6%- which is far too high. I've made an appointment with my diabetic nurse, Sally, for early March, and have switched from Glipizide to Gliclazide, initially 30 mg. I think my levels will start to fall again after I retire in March. My nutrition will improve, as will my exercise levels.
march
It was time for my annual Diabetes check-up, and when I saw my diabetic nurse, Sally, I was not surprised to see that my glucose levels have gone back up - my HbA1c is now 7.5%. I have now increased my dosage of Rosiglitazone back to 8 mg. My blood pressure is still normal at 130/78 and my cholesterol level is down to 4.2%. I gained weight on my recent trip to San Francisco, but have lost most of that.
november
I recently had a blood test and my HbA1c is now 6.9%. I am also trying to lose weight, and have lost about twelve pounds so far. I'm having the flu jab on 29 November.
august
I just realised I had a blood test on 08 July, but hadn't received my results. I phoned and was pleased to find out my HbA1c is down to 6.8%. I still get levels as low as 3.7% (mainly just before lunch), but am happy with this. I am also trying to lose weight, and have lost about seven pounds.
march
It was time for my annual Diabetes check-up, and when I saw my diabetic nurse, Sally, I was pleased to see that my glucose levels have gone back down, due to the 5mg Glipizide I was recently prescribed. My HbA1c is down to 6.9%. As I have been experiencing levels as low as 3.3% (mainly just before lunch), I have now halved my dosage of Rosiglitazone to 4 mg.
I will need to review my levels again in July. My blood pressure is now normal at 130/80, my cholesterol level is down to 4.4% and my triglycerides have lowered to 2.0, so I am quite pleased at my progress. I'm still trying to lose weight, but at least I haven't gained any in the last year.
november
My glucose levels have gone up again so I saw my diabetic nurse, Sally Brind. My HbA1c is up to 8.0% even after doubling my dosage of Rosiglitazone to 8 mg. :-(
I have been put on 5mg Glipizide daily, and within two hours, my levels dropped to 4.2 mmol/l - the lowest I have ever seen. I have to be careful about hypos now. Note to friends, relatives and colleagues: I keep glucose tablets in the side pocket of my backpack, in case I need them! I have been told that I will almost certainly be on insulin in the next decade, but I will put this off for as long as possible.
july
I've been feeling exhausted recently, and my glucose levels have been high, so I knew I needed to do something. My doctor said I looked tired and should take a holiday, but I fear there's little chance of that at the moment. My HbA1c is up to 7.7%, so I have doubled my dosage of Rosiglitazone to 8 mg. I will need to review my levels again by the end of September. My blood pressure has improved though, to 138/85, and my cholesterol level is down from 5.3% to 4.6%.
april
I had my fasting lipids taken, and my cholesterol level is 5.3%, which is considered too high for those with diabetes. My HbA1c is also too high again at 7.5%. I will see my doctor about the results next week. I've now increased my dosage of Simvastatin to 40 mg daily in the evening.
I also had my annual diabetic retinopathy test with a digital camera, and again, it was a brilliant and sunny day.
january
I had my annual checkup on 9 January.
december
I stopped taking the Atorvastatin as I was still getting headaches whenever I took it. My cholesterol has gone back up from 4.2% to 6.4%. I've now started taking 20 mg Simvastatin daily in the evening.
At least my HbA1c is much better now at 6.5%.
april
I stopped taking Ramipril and Atorvastatin as I've been getting a lot of headaches. They soon stopped and I have gone back on Atorvastatin as I don't think that was the villain of the piece. It's lowered my cholesterol from 5.4% to 4.2%.
I've now started an ACE2 inhibitor, Valsartan, and I hope this will start lowering my blood pressure without the side effects. See health square for more information.
My HbA1c is still too high at 8.6%, so I've increased my Metformin dose from three to five 500 mg tablets daily.
march
As I feared, I'm now on ACE inhibitors - see BUPA: ACE inhibitors. I've started on 2.5mg of Ramipril, and I'll have blood tests in seven weeks to see if it affects my kidneys.
Time again for my annual diabetic retinopathy test with a digital camera.
It was a brilliant and sunny day - for once, I would have preferred it to be overcast. The nurse put some drops in my eyes to dilate them and I looked like a bush-baby for most of the day! I had a headache from first thing in the morning, and I typed this with one eye closed. The staff at the Vale Surgery, Haywards Heath, were very friendly, and their preliminary opinion is that my eyes haven't deteriorated significantly, but for full results, I will have to wait until they've compared the pictures with last year's at high resolution.
I was pleased to receive feedback from Ann, who conducted the test. She noted my positive attitude to diabetes, and hoped my articles would reassure people who have been recently diagnosed.
For more information about diabetic retinopathy, see www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk.
february
My blood pressure is still too high, averaging 156/96. In March, I am expecting to go on ACE inhibitors - see BUPA: ACE inhibitors. I am also awaiting liver-function results, to check for side-effects from the Atorvastatin.
december
My HbA1c level is now 7.8% - too high. I had my annual check-up on 13 December, and test results weren't very positive. My cholesterol was 5.4. My glucose levels were 19.6% and my triglycerides were up too, at 2.06. A recent ultrasound revealed that I have gallstones, and my blood pressure was 140/95. Oh yes, and my weight has crept back up to 80Kg. Having to give up Salsa and yoga classes (for financial reasons) is one of the causes. Being a greedy sod probably doesn’t help either!
So action is needed. I have been put on 75mg aspirin daily (which thins the blood, lowering risks of a heart attack), 10mg Atorvastatin (a synthetic lipid-lowering agent that lowers the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood), and 4mg Rosiglitazone (which makes the body more sensitive to insulin), in addition to my existing medication of three 500mg Metformin tablets daily. I was also given a flu jab.
I’ve found another source of HCA (Hydroxycitric Acid), which I’ve found useful in lowering glucose levels. Its reputed effect as an appetite suppressant will also be useful, as Rosiglitazone may make me hungrier. I have to go back in two and four months for liver function and other tests to ensure the new drugs are working, and not causing side-effects.
september
My HbA1c level is stable at 7.3%, a little higher than I would like, but I'm not planning to increase my Metformin dose yet. I've stopped taking Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) which was available as Citrimax, as Holland and Barrett have stopped selling it. Exercise and diet control are key to keeping levels under control, and I'm getting plenty of exercise on my bike.
april
My HbA1c level is still 7.3%, and we've decided to monitor it again in 4 months. If it is still high, I may have to increase my Metformin dose.
march
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I've just had my annual diabetic retinopathy test, and for the second time, they used a digital camera. The results showed no problems. I took a picture of the screen image.
The nurse put some drops in my eyes to dilate them and I looked like a bush-baby for most of the day! For more information about diabetic retinopathy, see www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk.
november
My blood pressure is still OK and my cholesterol level is 4.1.
my HbA1c is now 7.3%, which is a slight improvement on September, so they're giving three more months to see if it goes below 7. If not, they will up my dose of Metformin from 500mg thrice daily to 850mg. My feet were tickled with filaments to check for neuropathy, and the blood circulation was checked (the cold feet test). Sally was assisted by a student, and I found the explanations she was given very useful.
I also had flu and pneumonia jabs.
september
My blood pressure was deemed OK and my cough eventually cleared up.
my HbA1c is now 7.5%, which is higher than in July, but there is a lot going on - separation, moving house etc.
I'm having my annual checkup in November.
july
I'm currently undergoing a 24-hour monitoring session, where the machine takes my blood pressure every half-hour. It's very itchy where the monitor is attached to my upper arm, and I have tubes under my shirt down to the machine on my belt. It gives me quite a shock when it unexpectedly starts up.
I've also had a cough for the last couple of months, so they're giving me a chest X-ray and an asthma inhaler.
my HbA1c is now 6.8%
june
My blood pressure is up. Of course, this could have something to do with my upcoming separation and the house I am currently trying to buy, but it's a little worrying all the same. It's going as high as 150/115, and practitioners are increasingly worried about blood pressure - some say it is more important than blood glucose levels for diabetics. I bought a wrist blood pressure meter from Omron, an RX-3, for about £50.
april
I've just had my HbA1c test, and my level is now 6.8%. I'm relieved, as I thought it would be a little higher.
september
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I've just had my annual diabetic retinopathy test, and for the first time, they used a digital camera. The results showed no problems. I took a picture of the screen image, reproduced on the right. For more information about diabetic retinopathy, see www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk.
august
I've just had another test, and my HbA1c has gone down to 6.5%.
My blood pressure was a little elevated, and I've got fluid on the knee, which my doctor drained. He was worried about infections, which are more serious if you are diabetic, so gave me some antibiotics. I'm using a pressure bandage, and taking anti-inflammatories (Ibuprofen). I'm also using ice-packs.
My levels are still improving (my 14-day average is now 7.2), which I put down to the Salsa Dancing.
april
My levels are a continual pre-occupation, but I've now started Salsa dancing, which should help. See my Salsa section for more information.
march
My HbA1c has gone up a bit to 6.9, so I increased my Metformin dose to 1500mg daily, and my 14-day average is currently 8.1.
december
my first Christmas with diabetes, and I tried to be careful. My levels went way up however and my 14-day average stayed over 10, although I don't take my bike on the train any more as they are less bike-friendly.
I am also experiencing mood swings - I get very ratty if my levels get down below 7! My weight also went up by a stone, which really upset me.
october
My HbA1c has gone down to 6.3, which I was very relieved about.
june
I reluctantly went on to Metformin (500mg twice-daily) in mid-June. I am drinking wine again, but try to limit sweet wines. It gets to become a habit eventually.
My average glucose level dropped from over 17 mmol/l to under 8, so I was feeling reasonably motivated. Since starting to cycle more, my lowest reading is 4.7, which I was absolutely delighted with!
Cycling seems to have more effect than the Metformin, but hopefully both together will keep the levels low. I found Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) significantly lowers my glucose levels. When I stopped taking it, my levels went up a lot, so I'm back on it!
My HbA1c has gone down from over 10 in March to 7.6 in June.
march
I started by trying to reduce my glucose levels with diet, but they didn't go down far enough, and I was having peaks of 17 mmol/l. I'm having no sugar, limited jam but no honey, no fruit yoghurt, no butter, no fruit juices and lots of carbohydrates and fibre.
updated Tue 02 Mar '10 give feedback...
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: © Mike Bliss 2009