They admitted me to hospital as "new diabetic"

[kate]

Hi everyone,

Here I am, "new diabetic". I went to the hospital for an entirely different problem, and they admitted me. Ripped me out of my life and into a new world, not completely as of this date even, totally understood. I am "type 2" so was not sent home with insulin. I was given insulin in the hospital to help bring down my sugar. It was 22 when they admitted me. I'm on a number of pills now and in hopes of getting rid of those down the road. I was given this site as a possible help and information site. I may not have many questions right now. I'm still feeling rather depressed. I have to read more i guess. What i have learned though is, I cant burn the candle at both ends anymore. Being basically a single mom with three children and a husband living in the uk, i'd say that will be the hardest quest. thanks, Kate

[DesertDiabetic]

Welcome to the forum.

At this point this just might sound stupid, but you are about to see your health improve greatly. Getting to the point of the blood sugars you have there has to be other problems there. High blood pressure - high cholesterol, etc. The changes in your lifestyle will bring those things down into acceptable range. If you are over weight you will lose weight - you will live longer than you would have you not been diagnosed. I know it is difficult to see a positive side to being type 2. There really is when you consider what was about to happen next had you not been diagnosed.

Research, research and research - you decised the approach to your diabetes that fits your lifestyle and then go for it....

[Penny]

Hi Kate and welcome. What medicines are you taking? Was your hospital stay caused by a diabetic caused illness? I know you are feeling scared and alone, but it will get easier as you learn more.

[valc3]

Hi and welcome to the forum. This is a great place for information and support. Being diagnosed with diabetes is very overwhelming. Once you get a handle on it, you will feel so much better. Hope you visit often and ask as many questions as you need.

[kate]

Hi Penny and Val,

Because they determined my cholestorol to be higher than it should be for a diabetic, I take lipitor 10 at bed. Twice a day with meals I take Metformin 500 mg and along with that diabeta 5 mg (1/2 pill twice a day). I also take a baby sized aspirin now 81 mg once a day and vitamin B for some nerve damage. I'm also taking a heart medicine, Metroprolol 25 mg, twice a day. I didn't go to the hospital for what I thought had anything to do with diabetes. I thought i had a bladder infection. Hense my surprise and grief to be told i'm staying. Four days later I'm out with a ton of meds, a bit of info, and a lifestyle/diet change that yes, DesertDiabetic will be better for me in the long run. Thanks for your support. Kate

[DesertDiabetic]

Let me add something here.

You are going into a medical profession that does not have a very good track record of treating diabetics. Don't start off with doubts - you just might have the best doctor you can possibly have - but, get your lab results and don't just accept statement like, "Your tests came back okay." Know the test results and learn what they mean. You will see just about everybody here, if not everybody, takes control of their own treatment decisions, if at all possible. It is so important to know that diabetics have to do almost everything themselves - you medical team will not purchase or cood your food or exercise for you, or in most cases even be aware that you are doing it at all. For us that is good news. My medical team(for the lack of another word acceptable here) does not like to discuss actual test results with me - more of a ok, or not ok approach. Many doctors will work with you very closely - most will not.

Ge those results and discuss them here.

[am1977]

Hello and welcome :)

I think you will find a lot of support and information here- so stick around :biggrin:

[psilocybin]

welcome to the forums kate

[labob]

Hi Kate:

Welcome to the forum. If it's any consolation, when I was diagnosed in December 2005, my glucose level was over 1,000 mg/dl (the conversion chart I have doesn't go that high -- the highest reading it gives is 33.3 mmol/L = 600 mg/dl, so you can take it from there). I, too, ended up in the hospital on an insulin drip the day I was diagnosed. It's pretty depressing. But I want to assure you that it does get better from there.

It took several weeks for my glucose levels to stay down in the target range on a consistent basis, but once they did, I honestly began to feel better than I had in years. Of course I'd rather not have diabetes, but now that I know how to eat even with a damaged pancreas, I really do feel that I've added years to my life. Even if I knew I were going to be hit by a bus tomorrow (or ten or twenty or thirty years down the line), I'd still want to keep on managing my disease because of the difference in how I feel on a day to day basis.

It might take a while to get to the point where that seems possible, or even believable, but that's been my experience. Just hang in there for now.

Bob

[Simon]

Having my diabetes diagnosed was a huge benefit for me. It meant I didn't have to spend all my time planning where the next toilet stop would be. I was less tierd all the time and when I'm ill it's now little more than a sore throght. The same illness would have seen me bedridden in the past.

[kate]

I am feeling a bit better today. So far at least i've not experienced what i call the woosies. I feel i am playing around with some very strong hormones at times that are fighting the other way. Food is an issue for me. I haven't really seen a nutritionist yet. That appointment is on the 23 of this month. I have been uplifted and enlightened by this forum. Thank you all for your responses and for this forum. I have read the threads on food here and are still a bit confused about carbohyrdrates and why i need to stay away from them. I am not eating any sugar products any more. I am increasing my fibre diet and watching my food amounts. I'm puzzled at my weight gain rather than loss in retrospect.. but then again, I've not become much more mobile than before either. My legs are not bothering me as much, perhaps i'll fit in that walk tonight I keep promising myself to take, Thanks again everyone,

[EdnaDeel]

Welcome to the forum
feel free to ask questions or give suggestions anytime

[Floss]

Hi Kate and welcome to this great forum :)

Although a lot of people with diabetes do suffer weight loss before diagnosis, sometimes you can suffer weight gain - particularly for type 2s. This is because your body can't use the insulin you're producing effectively and therefore your body cannot get enough energy from your food. The body's solution to this is to prompt you to eat more food to get more energy.

My partner put on 30 pounds weight in a few months - in his words, he just couldn't stop eating - he was hungry all the time. However, once diagnosed and on Metformin, improved diet and exercise, he lost the weight again.

It must be a very scary time for you - but I'm sure you'll find so much help and support here - stick with it, it will get easier the more time you have to get your head around it all - honest! :)

[Tim_Roy]

Hi everyone,

Here I am, "new diabetic". I went to the hospital for an entirely different problem, and they admitted me. Ripped me out of my life and into a new world, not completely as of this date even, totally understood. I am "type 2" so was not sent home with insulin. I was given insulin in the hospital to help bring down my sugar. It was 22 when they admitted me. I'm on a number of pills now and in hopes of getting rid of those down the road. I was given this site as a possible help and information site. I may not have many questions right now. I'm still feeling rather depressed. I have to read more i guess. What i have learned though is, I cant burn the candle at both ends anymore. Being basically a single mom with three children and a husband living in the uk, i'd say that will be the hardest quest. thanks, Kate

Good luck with it, and feel free to ask all the questions that come to mind. There's different numbers used in the U.S. and U.K. as far as the test results go, so make sure to consult the conversion topic that's pasted atop the Diabetes forum when you're puzzled by someone's post that has a number that's in the hundreds.

Symlin is something that you might want to ask the doctor about. It is a newer med that makes your insulin more effective while reducing your appetite. I'm not a doctor (and I'm not on it myself), so perhaps there's half a dozen reasons it might not be right for you. Just a suggestion that you ask him or her about it.

[gettingby]

Hi Kate:

Welcome to the forum. If it's any consolation, when I was diagnosed in December 2005, my glucose level was over 1,000 mg/dl (the conversion chart I have doesn't go that high -- the highest reading it gives is 33.3 mmol/L = 600 mg/dl, so you can take it from there). I, too, ended up in the hospital on an insulin drip the day I was diagnosed. It's pretty depressing. But I want to assure you that it does get better from there.

It took several weeks for my glucose levels to stay down in the target range on a consistent basis, but once they did, I honestly began to feel better than I had in years. Of course I'd rather not have diabetes, but now that I know how to eat even with a damaged pancreas, I really do feel that I've added years to my life. Even if I knew I were going to be hit by a bus tomorrow (or ten or twenty or thirty years down the line), I'd still want to keep on managing my disease because of the difference in how I feel on a day to day basis.

It might take a while to get to the point where that seems possible, or even believable, but that's been my experience. Just hang in there for now.

Bob
Using the converter on this site, a bg of 1,000mg/dl equals 55.56mmol/L

[sugarfree76]

best of luck to you, Kate!

[hedge]

Hello kate (((hugs to you))).
Welcome to the site. You will find a lot of wonderful people here who will help put your mind at ease ( they certainly did for me when I first joined ).
Keep asking questions and finding out as much as you can.
We're all here for you.

[WordJames]

I have read the threads on food here and are still a bit confused about carbohyrdrates and why i need to stay away from them. ... I'm puzzled at my weight gain rather than loss ... ,

Welcome to the group.

In its simplist form, carbohydrates are the foodstuffs that insulin converts to fat. If you consume carbohydrates, your blood sugar will, either slowly or rapidly, increase until insulin whittles away at it a bit. Your liver converts some stuff called glycogen into more sugar while you sleep, adding to your problem. Stress, worry and anger produce adrenalin, a substance antagonistic to insulin that reduces its effectiveness. Lack of exercise gradually limits the ability of the muscles to grab and use insulin. Exercise also helps by burning off the adrenalin that hinders insulin.

That was diabetes in a nutshell. :flowers:

[kate]

They've taken me off glyberide and I've lost 15 lbs :)
I may even get off my heart pills .. they've cut them in half for now.. we'll see next month.
I see the nutritionist next week and will find out about carbs etc..but thanks for the info .. everyone.. it sure helps!
I still don't feel particularly well at times.. but I'm told that should improve.
I hope..

Keeping you posted,

[The Lorax]

I'm glad you're feeling better. I'm new here also and am starting to realize what a "life changer" this has become.

[Tokyo Cate]

Howdy Kate and Welcome to the Forums Family. I hope things start to improve quite quickly and you find the information here that you need, the support you want and the encouragement of this great community.

Things do get easier and as your blood sugar improves, you will start feeling better.

Hope to see you here often.

:flowers:

[KickStart101]

Hi Kate and Welcome to The Forums. Yes, being Dxd. with a
chronic illness can certainly be depressing. I'm glad that they
found it though so you can do something to stall the damage
by alot. That's Good for you. :dancing:

Wow, 3 Kids. :flowers: How old are they? I hope that at least
1 of them is old enough to help you out a bit, maybe even help
with the younger ones. We can always hope. ;)

I hope that you enjoy your stay here and if you think of something,
ask away. :)

[kate]

Sorry it's been awhile since I visited here.

I have three girls, 16, 14, and 10. They have very active lives and I'm a very active taxi driver lol

Im actually up tonight because I'm sick to my stomach and once again find myself leaning on these forums for advice.

Hoping everyone is doing ok!

[shanda]

Hi Kate, nice to meet you :)

I'm in Ontario as well, Toronto here, so howdy neighbour :)

I too was admitted to the hospital for unrelated treatment of a burst appendix. The day I was to go home the nurse asked me, "So how do you control your diabetes? With insulin, or other meds?" I said, "I don't have diabetes", she said, "Oh yes you do." THUD!!

After following up with my family doctor with blood tests, he confirmed on Feb. 14 that I do indeed have Type 2 diabetes. At first it didn't really hit me because they had stressed that I almost died with the burst appendix and subsequent abdominal infection so it was like, 'Hey you could have died, and by the way you have diabetes'.

After it sunk in and I started taking Metformin and was given a glucose meter and began to learn a little more, that's when I really got scared!! There is so much to learn and the consequenses of this illness can be devastating if we don't take care of ourselves.

But now, 4 months later, with a little more knowledge, mostly from reading posts on this Forum, I am not so scared because I know it CAN be managed, and I WILL be ok ................ and so will YOU :)

So hang in there and let us know how you're doing eh. I doubt you'll find a group of more knowledgable and caring people as you will on this Forum.

shanda

[kate]

Hi Kate, nice to meet you :)

I'm in Ontario as well, Toronto here, so howdy neighbour :)

I too was admitted to the hospital for unrelated treatment of a burst appendix. The day I was to go home the nurse asked me, "So how do you control your diabetes? With insulin, or other meds?" I said, "I don't have diabetes", she said, "Oh yes you do." THUD!!

After following up with my family doctor with blood tests, he confirmed on Feb. 14 that I do indeed have Type 2 diabetes. At first it didn't really hit me because they had stressed that I almost died with the burst appendix and subsequent abdominal infection so it was like, 'Hey you could have died, and by the way you have diabetes'.

After it sunk in and I started taking Metformin and was given a glucose meter and began to learn a little more, that's when I really got scared!! There is so much to learn and the consequenses of this illness can be devastating if we don't take care of ourselves.

But now, 4 months later, with a little more knowledge, mostly from reading posts on this Forum, I am not so scared because I know it CAN be managed, and I WILL be ok ................ and so will YOU :)

So hang in there and let us know how you're doing eh. I doubt you'll find a group of more knowledgable and caring people as you will on this Forum.

shanda

Hi Shanda,

It seems there are loads of ppl finding out the way we have. I guess better to find out than to have the worse case scenario.

I find myself leaning on the forums less and less but still do peek now and then. I'm not much of a poster i'm afraid. So i'm sorry if this reply is belated.

I am feeling better now that i'm off the glyberide and my sugar seems to have normalized. My first out of hospital fasting blood test should be in this week. We'll see how i'm doing really.

I have lost 22 lbs though since. But not from exercise, i'm still motivating myself there.

Telling myself i'm not on a "diet" is the hardest part but my nutritionist is wonderful. I guilt free had a piece of birthday cake at work yesterday.

Good luck to you as well,

Cheers,

[KickStart101]

It's Nice to see you Kate. I'm Glad to hear that you are
doing Good and have lost weight. Excellent. :D

:) HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE :cheers:
:birthday: :party: