New here ... but not exactly newly diagnosed
I was diagnosed about 15 years ago. I had lost 20 to 30 pounds in 3 or 4 months without dieting. It was a Sunday, I was in poor mental health, and I went to the ER. They ran tests for everything and found it on a random blood glucose. I was middle middle-aged.
I believe I my eating was fine, with some occasional cheating, and I was going to the gym. I was in the most stressful job of my life. It sounded like it was in my field, but was anything but. It was the first time I felt like I had lost control.
I moved and moved on. I've only been on Metformin, each 2x a day. 500 > 750 > 850 > 1000. My A1c was usually high 5s in the beginning. Now, it is mid 7s, with morning numbers I never like, between 140 and 160. The 850 mg to 1000 mg hasn't done much, it seems.
I'm a little down from this and I'm discouraged. That's why I'm here. I'd like to do something about this.
Bonus question: could 1 to 2 years of off the charts stress on the job have brought this on when you were fine just before?
Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, stress is one of the factors that influence diabetes, and if left unmanaged, stress can negatively impact your blood glucose control. You might be interested in this article about stress and T2D. Mental health, overall, also has an impact. Protecting your emotional well-being is just as vital as daily blood sugar management. Have you sought out ways to boost your mental health in addition to trying to control your blood sugar? All the best, Kathy (Team member) Hi:
Sorry for the late reply. I had surgery for something else about a week after my post and it went fine.
Yes, I have been on an antidepressant, including a few changes, and medication at bedtime for the last 10 to 20 years. It has helped a lot.
I guess I should have asked the question another way. Across a 2 year period, I was at a job that was the most stressful period in my life ... no sleep, tachycardia, and on and on. My bloodwork was fine when I went into this job. Toward the end of the 2 years, I lost 20 to 30 pounds without dieting (I was height weight proportionate) and was urinating 2 or 3 times an hour, and was even hospitalized in the lowest grade of psychiatric (the one and only time I've been hospitalized) at the very end, having to leave that job. I wanted to know if a prolonged event like this can essentially "flip the switch" to one becoming a Type 2 diabetic with an actual diagnosis.Hi
. I'm glad you finally left that job. It sounds like you were under a lot of pressure and probably getting little sleep. I'm glad your surgery went well. Are you fully recovered now?
Stress (physical or mental) can certainly trigger the onset of type 2 diabetes. Here is an article from the National Institutes of Health that discusses the science behind that: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9561544/. Chances are that you were already genetically predisposed, so that might have been a factor as well. It's hard to say for sure, especially since we're not medical experts.
Type 2 diabetes is progressive. You can reverse it for a while (Some people can reverse it for a lifetime if their progression is super slow and they continue to make dietary and lifestyle changes over time.), but it's always there. So, you have to keep making changes in your lifestyle and diet and/or medication over time to address that progression.
The most important thing to remember is that type 2 diabetes is not your fault. Nor is your progression. Progression is an affect of the disease. Diseases impact all of us differently. Even with the common cold, we see that some people get so sick, they can't even leave the house while others imply have the sniffles and can power through their everyday activities. The speed of type 2 diabetes progression can vary dramatically from person to the next.
At this point, it's best to put the past behind you and work toward keeping your blood sugar levels stable, whatever that might take. If you're up for it, you can try changing your diet to include more protein and fewer carbs and increasing your sleep and exercise. A continuous glucose monitor can help tremendously in determining what food or activities impact your blood sugar levels. You can also increase or change you medication or do a combination of both. The important thing is to keep those levels down to prevent any permanent side effects of progression, like neuropathy.
I hope this helps and that you can move forward with confidence that you've got this. Know that we're here for you whenever you need us.
- Lori (Team Member)I'm glad your surgery went well. Thanks for your question! It’s a tough one to answer, because everyone's situation is a bit different.. While you may get feedback from the community on what their individual experience is, we always encourage people to speak with their doctor or specialist, if they haven’t already, about the cause for their T2D. While we can’t provide medical or diagnostic advice via the internet (for your safety), we do encourage people to reach out to a doctor or specialist. Warmly, kathy (Team member)
