Diabetes

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Im 55 and ended up in hospital 3 weeks ago for sugar over 600. No family history of diabetes. Just had yearly ck up 6 months ago and everything looked fine.
Over weight yes, but not obese. They gave me 3 injections in hospital and prescription for daily shots. Daily prescription did not come into pharmacy till almost a week and half out of hospital. My CGM came in the next day after released so I had it on since and watching my numbers.
My sugar dropped down into the low 200's for the following week out of hospital. Now 3 weeks out and its down and varies from 70-140 if i watch what I eat. I have not taken any of the injections. I dont plan on taking any until I go back to doc in 30 days and see what they say by looking at the monitors records. id rather not take them if I dont just have too.

Excessive thirst and urination was what started the whole thing. Had a friend who was diabetic and he asked what my sugar was and told him didnt know never checked it. We had checked it on his tester and it showed "over 600" go to emergency room asap. If not for that would have never known. Whole time in hospital all the doc and nurses asked " you havent felt bad?" Nope, feel bout same as always have.
My vision a week out of the hospital did start getting blurry and was pretty bad. I couldnt tell what model most cars were when driving.
Now its not quite back to normal but i can id car makes now. Ive never needed glasses and only had to use 1.0 readers and now using 2.25's. Hopefully it keeps getting better.

So glad you found out. My wife is type 2 diabetic over 30 years.
I have a question: did you drink diet or sugar (high fructose) soda & if so for how long?

 

[Rmart30]

Gee whiz. I assume the three injections were humalin to get your BG (blood glycogen) down?? Let us know how you doing. Did they mention getting you in a diabetic education? Nice to have you here with us.

Honestly not sure what it was. I think they mentioned one was a long term shot.

So glad you found out. My wife is type 2 diabetic over 30 years.
I have a question: did you drink diet or sugar (high fructose) soda & if so for how long?

didnt drink a whole lot of sodas. Maybe 3-5 cans a week. I would drink regular and very little diet. Sweet tea was my weakness.

 

[daugen]

Sweet tea was my weakness.

A glass of sweet tea can contain as much as 22 grams of sugar per 100 grams of liquid, which is double the amount of sugar in Coca-Cola.

that could certainly do it...
when I lived in NC I had to remember to ask every time for unsweetened tea.

 

[ArlyA]

Honestly not sure what it was. I think they mentioned one was a long term shot.

didnt drink a whole lot of sodas. Maybe 3-5 cans a week. I would drink regular and very little diet. Sweet tea was my weakness.

You should ask about that education program. It would be most helpful.

3-5 cans a week is a lot, even if its diet soda. Its not understood yet, but people who drink diet soda tend to be over weight. Pop is not your freind.

 

[WM75Guy]

Gee whiz. I assume the three injections were humalin to get your BG (blood glycogen) down?? Let us know how you doing. Did they mention getting you in a diabetic education? Nice to have you here with us.

They probably used regular insulin IV to lower the blood sugar in the ED. I gave lots of it when I worked in the ED. You have faster and more accurate control of the blood sugar. Only regular insulin can be given IV, all others are given SQ or IM. That is too slow acting for the ED and too variable of control.

The first drug prescribed is usually metformin PO, along with diet control and exercise. If it doesn't work or can't be tolerated, then you progress to the newer PO drugs such as the semiglutides or Jardiance. Insulin is usually last, although some recommendations are to use it earlier to avoid long term effects of diabetes such as eyesight damage or neuropathy. Diabetic education and meeting with a dietician are really good ideas, especially if your insurance pays for it.

 

[ArlyA]

They probably used regular insulin IV to lower the blood sugar in the ED. I gave lots of it when I worked in the ED. You have faster and more accurate control of the blood sugar. Only regular insulin can be given IV, all others are given SQ or IM. That is too slow acting for the ED and too variable of control.

The first drug prescribed is usually metformin PO, along with diet control and exercise. If it doesn't work or can't be tolerated, then you progress to the newer PO drugs such as the semiglutides or Jardiance. Insulin is usually last, although some recommendations are to use it earlier to avoid long term effects of diabetes such as eyesight damage or neuropathy. Diabetic education and meeting with a dietician are really good ideas, especially if your insurance pays for it.

I just wrote humalin. Nothing else.

 

[Rmart30]

Gee whiz. I assume the three injections were humalin to get your BG (blood glycogen) down?? Let us know how you doing. Did they mention getting you in a diabetic education? Nice to have you here with us.

Doing fine, havent felt bad at all. After my regular doc visit he will decide if need to get a endocrinologist or not. Ive basically cut out any sweets and carbs and its staying down in decent range. No sweets doesnt really bother me but giving up a lot of fruits is going to be tough but if thats what it takes to keep me off daily shots I will do it.

The ER Doc prescribed Mounjaro which was $1100 and i did not get. Regular doc said would try to find something else if needed.

The ER Doc prescribed daily Glargine (20 units?). It took over a week to show up at my pharmacy and I havent taken because by then numbers have been down in better range. Regular doc said would see what CGM data shows at next visit on NOV 6th to decide if should take it or not. Reg doc was thinking if lost 30# and kept on good diet would probably be ok... I dont know.

Right now CGM data the last 7 days shows 95% of the time im in the 70-125 range. Only 5% of the time higher than 125.
First week out of hospital it was more like 60% and 40%.

One of the guys at work around my age says his stay between 250 and 350 usually, so i guess im doing sorta ok. Im wanting the doc appt on the 6th to get here so can find out.

Here is last night and this morning. How does this compare to some of ya'lls?

 

[garry1p]

Long time diabetic maybe 20 yrs.
I started at 6.4, ten yrs later 6.8, then another 5 years 7.1, 2 years later 7.8 next year 8.1, 6 months later 10.2.

I had been on Metformin ER since day 1, six months ago at 10.2 DR added 1 shot a day, last checked 7.0.

Last 6 months lost 20 lbs following the golden rule "If it taste good, spit it out".

 

[ArlyA]

Gee, I like to eat tasty foods and my a1c is less than 6. I believe they have studied that people who "I'm going to give up on all X foods!" and they tend to stop after a while, then return to binge consumption. I'll say again, do things in moderation but still eat tasty.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Avoid white food unless it's cauliflower.
I'm betting there are more diabetics today than years ago because of processed food.
I remember Jack LaLanne saying "if man made it you don't want it".