I just have a question: when you went to your eye doctor was it an optometrist or an opthamologist? I'd strongly recommend going to see the latter once a year if you only saw an optometrist. Also, did your eye doctor put drops in your eyes and look at the nerves in the back of your eyes or was it a straight up eye test? I'm assuming it was the drop test if he/she knows your diabetic
As for your first appointment with your endocrinologist, it's been a few years since I've seen one (and another year at least before I get to see another *eyeroll*), but most likely they'll weigh you, get your history, talk to you about your lab work and probably discuss blood pressure/kidney/cholesterol issues you might have (conditions relating/caused by your diabetes). This would be an excellent time to bring up testing to see what type you are. They'll most likely send you for more blood work afterwards and set up a follow up appointment as well. My last appointment I was put on lipitor and altace, but was off of them within a year because my kidney function returned to normal (and my BP went down) and I didn't like the idea of being on lipitor knowing what it can do to a fetus (if any accidents happened I didn't want to have to deal with that possibility).
Hey Catheryn, it was the opthamologist. They did all kinds of test, including the drops, they even have this new machine that takes pictures of the inside of your eye,its pretty cool. So all is good there,like I said before I can actually see better now then I did almost 4 yrs ago. My numbers keep going down nice and slow, my morning reading was 130. Hope everyone has a great day, and ttya later
I'm currently on an 8 month rotation with my opthamologist. I've been on the 8 month plan since I hit my 10 year "anniversary." The only thing I don't like is the fact that he doesn't test my actual vision in regards to a need for glasses. I obviously need glasses at this point because I have a hard time seeing things at a distance, so I'm going to have to go see an optometrist within the next month (just one more doctor to add to the list :P)!
Catheryn...
I don't know about Canada, but here in the US, our ophthamologists can also test for vision, as mine have been doing for the past 24 years, no matter where I've gone. It might be that if you don't wear glasses and haven't complained of vision changes he just didn't think about it? But then, I don't know how it works in Canada.
My eye doctor does both, I guess she is the combo doc,lol. Well after stepping up my workout yesterday, my BG # got to 102! Did not last very long because 2 hrs after lunch it was back up to 150, and before bed was 187, then this morning was 130. I am up to 32 units of lantus. I gotta say tho, feeling better and better and my energy level keeps getting a little better day by day
Oh he can test my eyes for glasses, he's just not....very eager to. He's more of an in-and-out kinda guy. He gave my dad a hard time last time he asked to have his prescription re checked (grr). I'm going to bring it up when I see him in September though. Gov't health care plan pays for diabetic eye care with one exam per year so I might as well get the most out of it if I can rather than paying $85 out of pocket for another. I think I can wait that long :P
Good luck with the eye doctors Cath! Well this morning I woke up to my BG at 92!. The only thing tho is that when ever I eat, and eat low carb meals, my sugar shoots up to about 170-180 after 2 hrs, then drops to about after another hr. When I workout my sugars are usually around 150, today after I got done they dropped to 95, then I ate lunch and bam up to 178 after 3 hrs. All my meals are under 50 carbs. Tomorrow I will see the endo for the first time, so we will see what he has to say, should be very interesting to say the least. I will keep you guys posted.
I can't remember if you said you're taking a rapid acting insulin or not, sirrob, but if not it sounds like you need it. I think that's your problem with your post-meal blood sugars. While I sometimes have lows when my long lasting peaks, I really do need the rapid when I eat. I find even a low carb meal does have an effect on my sugars (we're only talking going from the 4 range to the 5 range, so it's still normal, but it's still a rise) and while I don't take any rapid unless I'm eating carbs, there is still a little jump.
Well done on the 92! I think if you put the rapid into your insulin regime you could keep those numbers under 110 for sure. (and you'd also have a bit more freedom with what you could eat -- I had a cookie tonight from Tim Hortons as a treat, and if it wasn't for the few units of rapid I injected, my sugars would've gone through the roof. I don't do that often, but it's nice to know I can sometimes if I want to )
sirrob,
It's not unusual for blood sugar to spike two hours after a meal, especially with diabetics. That's one of the main differences between non-diabetics and diabetics. A non-diabetic's blood sugar will usually spike within an hour of eating (and not as high) and will be back down within two hours. Us diabetics tend to spike higher and later, and it takes longer (usually about 3 hours) for it to come down.
According to the experts at the Joslin Diabetes Center, a good goal for the 2-hour post-prandial test for a diabetic is anything less than 160. And I can tell you from long experience that you're not always going to reach that goal. If I eat cereal, I usually hit 180 at the two-hour mark, but since I don't want to eliminate cereal from my diet, I've accepted that...especially since it generally gets back down by the 3-hour mark, or I give myself a correction bolus. Lower-carb meals do keep my numbers lower, and that's what I try for, within reason.
Overall, your numbers are tremendously improved! Congratulations on that. Oh, by the way, you never did answer my question about the C-peptide and GAD antibody tests? Did they do them on you, and have you got the results yet? Or perhaps you'll get the answers at the endo visit?
hi all, thanks for the great feed back Well I saw the endo for the first time, and it was a good experience I would say. A few things he said was my kidneys have taken a beating, and he believes they are somewhat damaged due to my high microalbuminuria numbers, also because there was protein in my urine this morning. Also he put me on blood pressure meds. he said my BP is high normal, but given the fact about my kidneys, he said I need to be on them. He increased my metformin to 3 times a day, and also had me increase the insulin to 35 units. He did the c-pep test plus a few other test. I should know all the results in the early part of next week. Overall not to bad, After yesterdays morning numbers of 92, this morning they returned back to the 130's. It was 178 this morning 2 hrs after breakfast, and just checked 4 hrs after lunch, and was 160. we will see what happens with the increase, the new BP meds, hopefully things will settle down sooner or later.
Hey all whats going on? Well here's the latest. Met with the diet expert on Tuesday. She told me that I am not taking in enough carbs. She said that I need 240 carbs a day for a guy my size and with the exercise that I do. My fasting number are in the low 120's, night time 170ish. My Doc put me on high blood pressure meds, to help the kidneys more so then high blood pressure because of the damage that has been done, also increased the metformin to 3 times a day. Heres the thing, once I started taking these meds, I have not felt well, I cant handle the cold, the other day I got so cold I got the chills, no fever, but it felt like the flu, I don't know if this is a reaction to the meds, or my body trying to adjust to the new sugar levels or maybe I caught something. I feel a tad bit better, but not great. I know Cath said she felt pretty lousy when her sugars came down,just wondering if this is what I am feeling?? Any advice would be great. Thanks
It could very well be, sirrob. I felt awful for about 2 month-ish to be honest. My digestive tract was a mess too and has taken some time to get that back on track. One thing I've always noticed is I'm always cold, like yourself. when my sugars are normal my body temp is pretty low. My apartment is at 23-ish degrees celsius, and my fingers and toes are like ice sicles! Everyone else is warm and is always turning the temp down and opening the patio door because they're so warm and I'm freeeezing. I do have a spike in body temp at night and curiously have to sleep with my ceiling fan on or I'll wake up sweaty.
In any case, if that doesn't go away you're just going to have to do what I do: bundle up in layers. It sucks, but is just one of the many effects of diabetes you can experience (it's good in the summer though when everyone's sweating their butts off and I'm nice and comfortable! :P)
Sirrob,
I hear that people get some strange side effects from metformin, although no first hand experience to share with you there. Hopefully, your body is just adjusting to this drastic change and will sort itself out. If not, speak to the doctor about it, it never hurts.
Catheryn,
Have you been tested for hypothyroidism? It's super common in T1s since its autoimmune. It makes you really really cold all the time, as well as tired and you can have some thinning of hair. The tests are pretty easy if you are concerned at all. And the treatment is just a pill. Might be something to consider.
Keep warm all,
Wallis
Thanks Wallis and Catheryn. Catheryn you and I have the cold thing working. I have always been able to handle the cold, would ski with no hat, go ice fishing and put my hands in the water, never really had to wear gloves when snow blowing the driveway,lol etc. Hopefully like you guys said its just my body going thru all these changes. I have never had to take any drugs before, so between the metformin,lisinopril, and the insulin my body is prolly in shock,lol, especially with the sugars nearing a normal level. The doc did say that diabetes and thyroid problems do go hand in hand, so i know when he did my blood work that was part of it. Being cold could def be a thyroid issue. We will see what happens, but I have been feeling a little better each day, so heres to hope! They other good thing is my weight is staying steady, i gained a few pounds, but doing the daily exercise its came back off, I haven't lost any, just maintaining what I have. Take care friends, ttya soon!!
Well according to my [useless] family doctor my thyroid levels are fine, despite having all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. I've had the levels checked with another doctor and they seem to be in range.
I used to be able to handle the cold just fine, too. Now I'm always freezing!
Hey my friends well thought I would give you a quick update of whats been going on. I am finally waking up with my numbers in the mid 80's to low 90's. One morning it was actually 72, but other then that pretty much normal. My afternoon and evening numbers are still high(160's). Its taking about 4 hrs for my numbers to come down after eating. My bedtime numbers where in the 120's but for some reason have returned to the 170's but are good when I get up. I got some test results back today, I am type 2, thyroid numbers are good, but severely lacking in vitamin D. Blood pressure is down where it should be, but for some reason my heart rate is way to fast. Its 120 at rest. I have always had a fast beat but for some reason its getting faster and faster so they are talking about putting my on some sort of a beta blocker. I workout 5 days a week, with the first 45 minutes all cardo, you would think that would help but i guess not,lol. So overall not to bad, i will just be happy once my numbers arent all over the place. I know its gonna take awhile. Hope all is well with you guys!
Hey my friends well thought I would give you a quick update of whats been going on. I am finally waking up with my numbers in the mid 80's to low 90's. One morning it was actually 72, but other then that pretty much normal. My afternoon and evening numbers are still high(160's). Its taking about 4 hrs for my numbers to come down after eating. My bedtime numbers where in the 120's but for some reason have returned to the 170's but are good when I get up. I got some test results back today, I am type 2, thyroid numbers are good, but severely lacking in vitamin D. Blood pressure is down where it should be, but for some reason my heart rate is way to fast. Its 120 at rest. I have always had a fast beat but for some reason its getting faster and faster so they are talking about putting my on some sort of a beta blocker. I workout 5 days a week, with the first 45 minutes all cardo, you would think that would help but i guess not,lol. So overall not to bad, i will just be happy once my numbers arent all over the place. I know its gonna take awhile. Hope all is well with you guys!
That is great, you have come a long way. Congratulations
Sirrob,
Glad you got some test results back. The 72 you had one morning may even be considered a normal fasting result if you felt okay. I'm so happy to hear of all the progress you've made since starting insulin. Just want to let you know that I'm proud of you.
Wallis
well guys I think I have figured out where these little fevers and chills are coming from. I first thought it may be a reaction to all the different meds, but I found out last wed a have 2 abscessed tooth infections, one hurt, and one didn't. I have never had dental problems before but my dentist said welcome to the world of diabetes. So hopefully with the antibiotics I will finally start to feel better, and maybe,just maybe my numbers will level out a bit. Still getiing high readings before bed, but waking up anywhere from 90-120, and still in the mid 160's during the day.
I haven't posted to you before, but I have been reading this thread and am glad you are getting things under control. Good for you!
I just wanted to tell you that the infection you have can also contribute to your increased BGs so once the infection goes away, you might start seeing even better numbers! Feel better. I'm glad you found a reason for your symptoms (fever, chills, etc.).
(it's good in the summer though when everyone's sweating their butts off and I'm nice and comfortable! :P)
Re: the numbers game advice 
