High Blood Sugar Levels / Type 2

High Blood Sugar Levels / Type 2

Author
Discussion

A500leroy

5,125 posts

118 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Id love a test, but im scared of loosing my driving licence and not being able to afford insurance ( I drive for a living)

mike9009

6,999 posts

243 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
Id love a test, but im scared of loosing my driving licence and not being able to afford insurance ( I drive for a living)
Being diagnosed diabetic will not mean you lose your licence.

Not diagnosing diabetes, will lead to complications, which 'could' mean losing your licence.

I have been diabetic for 41 years. I have had many complications with my eyes. I am still driving.

What symptoms do you have? You can do a simple home glucose check using a test bought from any pharmacist. Best to do it first thing in the morning. Or just get to your doctor..... The sooner diabetes is diagnosed, the less likely there are going to be complications. PM me if I can offer some support......

My insurance premiums are all below £200, my classic van is £108. I think there is legislation which means insurance companies cannot load premiums for medical conditions declared to the DVLA. (I might be wrong though). It might be different if you are a HGV driver though.....

Edited by mike9009 on Tuesday 25th October 14:27

Phil.

4,762 posts

250 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
Id love a test, but im scared of loosing my driving licence and not being able to afford insurance ( I drive for a living)
Get a test kit and test your bloods when you wake up and before/fatter every meal for a few days. It will tell you a lot. Post the figures up here if you want for feedback.

If the test results are are higher than normal and/or you are overweight then get yourself on a low carb diet with no alcohol for a few months. No need to starve yourself, reducing the carbs to sub 50g per day consistently is the important bit.. Even consider a Keto diet (carbs sub 10g per day) for a while. This is the best chance you have of reversing T2D if you are heading that way, saving your career (assuming it’s HGV), and and serious long term health problems.

All figures approximate.

A500leroy

5,125 posts

118 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Phil. said:
A500leroy said:
Id love a test, but im scared of loosing my driving licence and not being able to afford insurance ( I drive for a living)
Get a test kit and test your bloods when you wake up and before/fatter every meal for a few days. It will tell you a lot. Post the figures up here if you want for feedback.

If the test results are are higher than normal and/or you are overweight then get yourself on a low carb diet with no alcohol for a few months. No need to starve yourself, reducing the carbs to sub 50g per day consistently is the important bit.. Even consider a Keto diet (carbs sub 10g per day) for a while. This is the best chance you have of reversing T2D if you are heading that way, saving your career (assuming it’s HGV), and and serious long term health problems.

All figures approximate.
not hgv just a van, im 72kg,dont drink, walk 50 miles a week, but I do like cake and biscuits.

Phil.

4,762 posts

250 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
not hgv just a van, im 72kg,dont drink, walk 50 miles a week, but I do like cake and biscuits.
What makes you think you might be T2D then?

P. ONeill

Original Poster:

1,455 posts

52 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
Id love a test, but im scared of loosing my driving licence and not being able to afford insurance ( I drive for a living)
You are worrying over nothing. Get a routine blood test to include HBA1c. You won’t be anywhere near T2.

P. ONeill

Original Poster:

1,455 posts

52 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
mike9009 said:
P. ONeill said:
HBA1c now at 45, slightly higher than normal but going in the right direction, I was at 71 not that long ago. I’ve another set of bloods booked in eight weeks so I’ll hopefully be well under 42 by then. I’m following a pretty strict diet over the last while and it’s starting to pay off. Look better, feel better, moving better, moving a lot more. About half way with my weight loss, but I know from experience the second half will take longer.
Onwards and upwards, or hopefully downwards on the scales.
Cracking result. That must have taken some real life style changes to achieve, do not underestimate what you have done! I don't know the chances of reversal, but you must be on the way......
Massive changes. No alcohol, I wasn’t enjoying it anyway. Don’t miss it. I might have a drink in the new year on holiday. I might not.
The biggest change has been my food intake. I’m on a pretty strict, very low calorie diet. No sugar of any kind. It’s tough but I’m getting used to it. I cheated once last week with half a banana and my bloods spiked. Not to the levels of before but a fair bit higher. My blood levels are mostly 5s and low 6s. 5.2 this morning. My fourteen day average is now under 6, it was double that two months ago.
The liver is the real worry now, my numbers are still pretty high but they have come down over the last two months and hopefully will continue to over the next two months and beyond.

A500leroy

5,125 posts

118 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
Phil. said:
A500leroy said:
not hgv just a van, im 72kg,dont drink, walk 50 miles a week, but I do like cake and biscuits.
What makes you think you might be T2D then?
Feeling faint, thirsty,tired.

mike9009

6,999 posts

243 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
A500leroy said:
Phil. said:
A500leroy said:
not hgv just a van, im 72kg,dont drink, walk 50 miles a week, but I do like cake and biscuits.
What makes you think you might be T2D then?
Feeling faint, thirsty,tired.
Don't worry. Your background does not suggest T2D. Those symptoms can mean many things, so just make an appointment to get them checked out. Early diagnosis of most things is better than sat there worrying about it..... You might simply be not drinking enough water with your 50 mile weekly walks......

sawman

4,919 posts

230 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
P. ONeill said:
mike9009 said:
P. ONeill said:
HBA1c now at 45, slightly higher than normal but going in the right direction, I was at 71 not that long ago. I’ve another set of bloods booked in eight weeks so I’ll hopefully be well under 42 by then. I’m following a pretty strict diet over the last while and it’s starting to pay off. Look better, feel better, moving better, moving a lot more. About half way with my weight loss, but I know from experience the second half will take longer.
Onwards and upwards, or hopefully downwards on the scales.
Cracking result. That must have taken some real life style changes to achieve, do not underestimate what you have done! I don't know the chances of reversal, but you must be on the way......
Massive changes. No alcohol, I wasn’t enjoying it anyway. Don’t miss it. I might have a drink in the new year on holiday. I might not.
The biggest change has been my food intake. I’m on a pretty strict, very low calorie diet. No sugar of any kind. It’s tough but I’m getting used to it. I cheated once last week with half a banana and my bloods spiked. Not to the levels of before but a fair bit higher. My blood levels are mostly 5s and low 6s. 5.2 this morning. My fourteen day average is now under 6, it was double that two months ago.
The liver is the real worry now, my numbers are still pretty high but they have come down over the last two months and hopefully will continue to over the next two months and beyond.
Well done that is a cracking result, keeping it up is the next challenge, but take each day as it comes

Yahonza

1,609 posts

30 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
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A500leroy said:
Feeling faint, thirsty,tired.
Get it checked out (HbA1c and the rest), it's probably nothing but untreated diabetes is worse because of the risk of end stage damage.

P. ONeill

Original Poster:

1,455 posts

52 months

Friday 24th March 2023
quotequote all
Been a while since I updated this but despite a wobble due to 3 weeks in the Caribbean, I have generally stuck to my healthy regime.

HbA1c is now well and truly back within the normal range, all my bloods are either back within the normal range or very close to it, except for my ferritin/iron levels which are still worryingly high, though they have come down slightly.

When I do the finger prick test, I’m usually at 5.1 in fact its rarely anything other than that unless I have been drinking Lucozade Sport then it has been as high as 5.7, but that’s the highest reading I have had. The lowest being 4.7. Considering that my numbers were constantly in the mid to high teens and sometimes in the low 20s I thought I was in the clear.
I had a chat with my doctor recently and he was shocked when I told him that I was no longer taking any medication, especially Metformin. He says that even though my numbers are now normal that I am still pre/diabetic and he has insisted that I go back on the meds. Surely with these numbers I am ok.

I’m due to have my bloods taken on Tuesday and am hoping that things have continued to improve, but I really don’t want to start back on the medication. I don’t feel that I need it.
All advice welcome

Phil.

4,762 posts

250 months

Friday 24th March 2023
quotequote all
I agree you should be concerned and questioning about your GP wanting to get you back on meds with those readings. Of course you will be susceptible to higher blood sugars going forward if you consume carbs and/or put on weight but if you continue as you are then why do you need meds along with the potential side effects?

Dr David Unwin (GP) is a leader in the field and he boasts about how much his practice is saving by getting people off their meds. I think I’d be taking a second opinion and doing my own research before considering taking any meds again.

We’ll done again for your hard work and success, an excellent example of how lifestyle changes can reverse T2!

PositronicRay

27,010 posts

183 months

Saturday 25th March 2023
quotequote all
P. ONeill said:
Been a while since I updated this but despite a wobble due to 3 weeks in the Caribbean, I have generally stuck to my healthy regime.

HbA1c is now well and truly back within the normal range, all my bloods are either back within the normal range or very close to it, except for my ferritin/iron levels which are still worryingly high, though they have come down slightly.

When I do the finger prick test, I’m usually at 5.1 in fact its rarely anything other than that unless I have been drinking Lucozade Sport then it has been as high as 5.7, but that’s the highest reading I have had. The lowest being 4.7. Considering that my numbers were constantly in the mid to high teens and sometimes in the low 20s I thought I was in the clear.
I had a chat with my doctor recently and he was shocked when I told him that I was no longer taking any medication, especially Metformin. He says that even though my numbers are now normal that I am still pre/diabetic and he has insisted that I go back on the meds. Surely with these numbers I am ok.

I’m due to have my bloods taken on Tuesday and am hoping that things have continued to improve, but I really don’t want to start back on the medication. I don’t feel that I need it.
All advice welcome
Clinical advice and decisions, should you shouldn't you etc are better left to the diabetic team. Follow thier advice and they'll update your GP. They should also be able to explain.


Well done on the bloods.


P. ONeill

Original Poster:

1,455 posts

52 months

Saturday 25th March 2023
quotequote all
PositronicRay said:
Clinical advice and decisions, should you shouldn't you etc are better left to the diabetic team. Follow thier advice and they'll update your GP. They should also be able to explain.
We don’t have a diabetic team unfortunately, lucky enough to get to see a doctor, who I don’t really have any faith in tbh.

kevinon

808 posts

60 months

Saturday 25th March 2023
quotequote all
Great work Mr O'Neill!

I've read thru the thread in one go, and I am so impressed with your honesty in discussing your Covid lifestyle and inspired by how you have taken on the challenge to get things sorted for yourself.

As they say in the adverts - you're worth it.

PositronicRay

27,010 posts

183 months

Sunday 26th March 2023
quotequote all
P. ONeill said:
PositronicRay said:
Clinical advice and decisions, should you shouldn't you etc are better left to the diabetic team. Follow thier advice and they'll update your GP. They should also be able to explain.
We don’t have a diabetic team unfortunately, lucky enough to get to see a doctor, who I don’t really have any faith in tbh.
Your local hospital should have a diabetic clinic, ask for a referral. Most of my consultations are now telephone or teams. Bloods and foot inspection carried out at GP.

mike9009

6,999 posts

243 months

Monday 27th March 2023
quotequote all
P. ONeill said:
Been a while since I updated this but despite a wobble due to 3 weeks in the Caribbean, I have generally stuck to my healthy regime.

HbA1c is now well and truly back within the normal range, all my bloods are either back within the normal range or very close to it, except for my ferritin/iron levels which are still worryingly high, though they have come down slightly.

When I do the finger prick test, I’m usually at 5.1 in fact its rarely anything other than that unless I have been drinking Lucozade Sport then it has been as high as 5.7, but that’s the highest reading I have had. The lowest being 4.7. Considering that my numbers were constantly in the mid to high teens and sometimes in the low 20s I thought I was in the clear.
I had a chat with my doctor recently and he was shocked when I told him that I was no longer taking any medication, especially Metformin. He says that even though my numbers are now normal that I am still pre/diabetic and he has insisted that I go back on the meds. Surely with these numbers I am ok.

I’m due to have my bloods taken on Tuesday and am hoping that things have continued to improve, but I really don’t want to start back on the medication. I don’t feel that I need it.
All advice welcome
I can't comment on your predicament with the medication, but wow......congratulations on the turn around!