Well, it was bound to hapen...
I felt good for my age, no tiredness, thirst or out of routine toilet trips.
I've never been ill, apart from the odd cold, two doses of Covid, but in December all that came to an end the week before Christmas. Wednesday found me with a strange ache above the right eye. Same day appointments saw me at the Optician and Doctors' - Initial diagnostics revealed no real issues but I had to give a blood test. I booked one at a local hospital.Thursday evening saw me in a gig and wearing a new air of boots. When I got home I discovered a blister on my heel right where the boot was pinching..
Fast forward to Wednesday 24th...urgent call from my GP to say my sugars were high. Got a same day appointment again and whilst everything else was in the green sugars were much higher than they should be, immediately prescription for tabs. Immeadiate change of diet over Christmas. During the Friday considered the potential link to y blister so got myself to the local Minor Injury Unit, who dressed my blister (1.8 CM) which is in a really awkward spot. Returned on the Wednesday to have it re-dressed. I was then directed to my GP surgery where I saw a general nurse who redressed my wound again. A later appointment with the specialist Diabetic nurse, loads of advice from him and a stack of Antibiotics (just finished them) and a visit every two days to have the wound checked and re-dressed a pile of prescriptions for hardware to make self dressing able if required.
I had no real symptoms, bit of lack of energy (I put down to aging) never really tired, never really thirsty, never really running to the toilet, I rarely (until now) get up for a pee in the night even after a few pints and I generally felt OK 90% of the time. I feel iller now !
This has been a big learning curve, any twinge in my body now sends up red flags
I've been stuck to wearing summer very lightweight shoes since Christmas and that in itself has been very boring...I have a range of shoes for every occasion and being stuck with one pair has been very sad :-(
Last edited by: VxFan on Tue 27 Jan 26 at 11:25
|
It's been a journey ! A month on and I feel. no different, confined to barracks because of my foot injury, and disqualified myself from driving for now as the injury is right on the pivot point of my right foot. Regular appointments with the diabetic nurse at the GP's have been very good. Still no classic symptoms. Boredom is a feature and I feel I've taken a hit mentally as well. Still taking the pills ! Slight change to the Metformin - the 500mg doses had a bad effect on my bowels ! Now on a slow release regime.
Got a week's holiday next month, more adjustment....also booked a long holiday in November to Argentina of all places...
Nagged by the doctor and the nurse to take a lot of protein and vitamins on board.
My first chronic condition. Take care of your body !
|
Just over 3.5 years my wife was diagnosed with Type 2.
She set about amending her diet. She lost weight on the restricted diet and 15/16 months later she was deemed no longer showing no signs of being a diabetic.
Will Power and <1,000 cals per day did it
She was tested 6 months ago and all OK.
|
SWMBO was diagnosed pre-diabetic a year or so back, no meds (yet) but dietary change has meant she's lost a lb or two. It's done me some favours too :-)
We're just back from the Caribbean and discussed holiday insurance and whether people declare all their conditions - some of our fellow cruisers were almost like walking dead and I can't imagine how they could afford a cruise and especially the associated insurance, knowing how much they whacked onto ours for a two week cruise (actually that's probably a good topic for another thread!!)
Anyway I'm sure RP will declare everything for his November trip...!!!
|
I have two worldwide insurances - one catagorically states in the policy document that I didn't need to inform them, the other did not mention it, but I spoke to them and they confirmed it was ok. Car insiurance were ok about it but made a note of it, my bike insurers asked far more questions. The key phrase being "managed condition" - after 24 hours deliberation they renewed with a £30 uplift (nothing to do with my blood sugar)
My key issue was that I was boderline for insulin but given tabs - this alters the requirement to tell DVLA - there are no restrictions on my driving (apart from hurty foot)
Nice to hear encouraging words on "remission" Hopefully that will be me soon !
I don't need to lose weight (BMI just over 20).
I can't praise my local NHS enough.
Last edited by: R.P. on Mon 26 Jan 26 at 20:37
|
|
If you have regular eye tests the optician is often the first person to detect incipient diabetes, or blood pressure for that matter.
|
A lifelong friend of mine was diagnosed as diabetic a good few years ago. 6 years ago he told me, but liked his fine wines and rich foods and sweet cream cakes etc too much. Was also a damn good cook.
Was having none of it and carried on with the lifestyle.
Passed away before Christmas.
Denial will do that!
|
|
Without knowing how old he was, 6 years really isn't bad if you can live with the effects. You've got to go sometime... may as well enjoy life while you can I suppose.
|
>> You've got to go sometime... may as well enjoy life while you can I suppose. >>
That is always a tricky balance .... :-) It may be more important to choose one's parents wisely.
|
|
It amuses me when people get to their seventies and suddenly get obsessed about their diet and start obsessing about alcohol,processed foods etc and taking vitamin an mineral supplements etc. Fifty years too late!
|
>> Fifty years too late!
Dunno about that, 50 years ago the average life span was 72, now its nearer 82.
Ergo by trumpish style reckoning it buys you 10 years instant boost.
|
My dad was diagnosed with diabetes at 93 3/4!
Was told they would just monitor it. He has just turned 94 and had a review and now on medication - Metformin 500mg.
He has changed his diet as much as he is prepared to do - not taking sugar in his coffee and cutting back on biscuits ( lost half a stone I think) but hopefully he will stabilise with this.
For a man who likes a daily glass of red wine with his dinner, and a nightcap before bed, then there are some sacrifices he is not prepared to do!
|
>> It amuses me when people get to their seventies and suddenly get obsessed about their
>> diet and start obsessing about alcohol,processed foods etc and taking vitamin an mineral supplements etc.
>> Fifty years too late!
>>
You've described me there, even though I share your sentiments and realise I'm being ridiculous. It's got so bad I often eat brown bread.
|
>> It's got so bad I often eat brown bread.
Never i hope with a bacon sandwich.
|
|
And diet Coke with fish and chips. :)
|
I've been on 4 shots of insulin for 39 years. 80
a month ago and still here ! Cut back on bothering now, no sugar apart from a bit on me bowl of Cheerios, sugar free biccies. Like beer and malt whisky so not cutting back now or it would be a miserable world.
Ted
|
>> so not cutting back now or it would be a miserable world.
Bloke at work put a diabetic nurse in her place when she kept nagging him about eating more healthily, change his lifestyle etc, after being diagnosed.
"look luv, I'd sooner live 5 years shorter and exit this world with a big smile on my face, than live 5 years longer and be damn miserable"
|
M
>> "look luv, I'd sooner live 5 years shorter and exit this world with a big
>> smile on my face, than live 5 years longer and be damn miserable"
>>
But of course what will happen will be he will
die sooner than he need and his death will follow some fairly horrible symptoms. Diabetes is not a good way to go. He certainly won’t have smile on his face.
|
Tell him to read the nutrition information on the packaging he buys at the supermarket (the sugar is in the carbohydrates). You can lose weight just by cutting those right down. Tell him to read about the Glycemic Index and what food is at the lower end (beer isn't good, some spirits are much better). Cereals are covered in sugar before you start adding more, eggs are zero on the GI. Eat a lot of salad and eat that before you eat anything else on your plate. Eat smaller portions with regular intervals, good to leave the table a bit hungry. Leave the car on the drive and walk to the local shop for the paper. If I gain weight, over 85kg, I cut down.
I'm far from a fan of social media but there is a hell of a lot of good stuff in there. For example, Glucose Goddess, etc. They'll give advice on good and tasty food and making small changes.
I'm still here, 15 years with type-2 and healthy so far (touch wood)... Had my blood/urine done before Christmas and the diabetic side is ok so far.
None of this is a drag at all, you can start to enjoy taking care of your diet with what's available at your fingertips. It fascinates me. I wish I'd known 30 years ago and fortunately, my boy now does similar.
I do slip from time to time but rarely and never excessively. I'm meeting a client tomorrow and I'm damn well having a couple of London Prides. Oh yes, gonna enjoy that.
|
|
Sage advice. Not quite seventy yet so I have chopped a lot (of bad stuff) from my diet. Went to dress my wounded heel today. Had to drive myself and a short walk to the suregery. My diabeties nurse is a young chap. He has enough banter....the funniest was when we were talking about guitars and I mentioned that Mrs RP has a collection. He asked me what was her favourite style, I replied that it was blues and miserable songs. He then started singing...."My husband has diabities" to a blusey tune....We laughed out loud, he's actually very good and really helpful in a practical sort of way.
|
|
Need to be fitter by next month....holidays looming, don't intend to not taste some Portugese ales !
|
there are some excellent Portuguese Albariño wines which I buy in the Consum chain of supermarkets in Spain.
Truth be told I need to cut down on my beer consumption...an easy 9 mile walk yesterday from Carnforth into the centre of Lancaster...the aqueduct over the river Lune being the high spot.
Another 3 miles too/from Giggleswick station, but 3 pints in Lancaster at The Borough & Sun Hotel, then another 4 back in Settle. Fortunately my regular local closes for holidays next week so abstinence for several days. Almost.
|
This GP understands the issues. Has a load of good videos and simple way of explaining things.
Basically diet can fix it:
www.dietdoctor.com/authors/dr-david-unwin
|
Dry January?
Damn missed it, again, try again next year.
|
>> Damn missed it, again, try again next year.
>>
I never miss it because I never aim for it. Happy to drink several
pints over several hours in 4 different pubs on a day out after a walk. Equally happy to stop before I get giddy, go home for an early night.
Dry January does not fit into my lifestyle, although a dry May, walking virtually every day, does.
|
AN old childhood friend, who I met when we were in school at the age of 10..
Died just before Christmas '25.
Diabetic with all the associated problems, very well off, liked his fine wines and gourmet foods and his cream cakes. Refused to give them up.
Diabetes got him in the end.
A bit more than a year ago my much younger brother who did take a bit of care till he spent the best part of 18 months in hospital with only about 4-5 weeks out of hospital...
Got him in the end...
about 4 months ago I had a bacterial stomach infection and whatever I ate there was a 50% chance of it coming back up. Cyclizine, Oemeprazole and Antibiotics have sorted that, but lost most of my wishes for alcohol. Max 1 500ml bottle of Shepherd Neame or Fullers. Any more tha a 250 ml glass of wine (not at the same time) and oops....
I'm quite stoic about it all, I've outlived a brother and sister and my father by a good margin and also most of my cousins... Que sera...
|
|
I have Diabetes and was prescribed Mounjaro in 2024. It has been brilliant in treating my Diabetes and it has also stopped my craving for alcohol. I useds to gothrough a few bottles of wine each week but since being on Mounjaro I just don't fancy having a drink.
|
|
A near neighbour recently died of diabetes. She had had both legs amputated as a result of the disease. Not a goood way to go.
|
Reasons to be cheerful ...
:(
|
|
My numbers have halved since I started, ironically I felt OK before the diagnosis, just feel a bit off now....my diet is reasonable although quite bland :-(....gone off my beer. Doc advised protein, protein, and more protein, vitamins and fibre...I'm gaining some weight (which is ok) lack of dog walkies taking its toll. I have low Hynotes (whatever the heck they are !)....can't praise the GP practice enough.
|
Diabities one way to have a dry January. - R.P.