Blood sugar spikes

Rob56789

Member
Messages
8
Hey guys I'm new to the forum. I've been experiencing bad anxiety and panic attacks over the past few years I've tried different psych meds as well as therapy and nothing seemed to help. A couple weeks ago my doctor mentioned that blood sugar spikes may be causing the issue. He said it goes high then when it comes down it crashes and causes the panic and anxiety. I am not currently on any blood sugar or insulin medications. I tested it this morning before I ate anything and it was running at 105. Then I tested again a little more than an hour after eating and it was at 340. So it's definitely going pretty high. Is this something I can fix through diet or will I need to be put on medication? Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance-Rob
 
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CherryAA

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,171
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hey guys I'm new to the forum. I've been experiencing bad anxiety and panic attacks over the past few years I've tried different psych meds as well as therapy and nothing seemed to help. A couple weeks ago my doctor mentioned that blood sugar spikes may be causing the issue. He said it goes high then when it comes down it crashes and causes the panic and anxiety. I am not currently on any blood sugar or insulin medications. I tested it this morning before I ate anything and it was running at 105. Then I tested again a little more than an hour after eating and it was at 340. So it's definitely going pretty high. Is this something I can fix through diet or will I need to be put on medication? Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance-Rob

Hi there, Yes it quite likely that you can fix this simply with diet, many of us have , including me. @daisy1 will be along shortly to explain the overall principles, meanwhile if you look up the low carb program here and check out dietdoctor.com, if you follow the principles outlined, ditch the processed foods and sugars , you may well find that you no longer get these highs of the anxiety and panic attacks that go with it .

Sugar is evil stuff ! but don't despair, life without it is pretty cool!
 
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ziggy_w

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,019
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
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Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,793
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Hey guys I'm new to the forum. I've been experiencing bad anxiety and panic attacks over the past few years I've tried different psych meds as well as therapy and nothing seemed to help. A couple weeks ago my doctor mentioned that blood sugar spikes may be causing the issue. He said it goes high then when it comes down it crashes and causes the panic and anxiety. I am not currently on any blood sugar or insulin medications. I tested it this morning before I ate anything and it was running at 105. Then I tested again a little more than an hour after eating and it was at 340. So it's definitely going pretty high. Is this something I can fix through diet or will I need to be put on medication? Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance-Rob

Obviously I cannot say what it is or not, because I don't know lots of information.
Your readings are normal, before and after the big number. Which for us is just under 20mmols. So yes a huge spike! But it could have been a rogue reading.
If your readings are high or low, out of the ordinary, then retest.
What did you eat to get that high?
Are you on meds what are they?
Have you a diagnosis of anything metabolic or endocrinology.

I can relate to the panic attacks and anxiety as I had them really bad when before my diagnosis. Yes, diet and what you eat will ease the symptoms, going very low carb and intermittent fasting helped so much.

Keep an eye on your blood glucose levels.
If you test randomly then you cannot really see what happens with food, it has to be regimented and also keep a food diary, recording everything. I would recommend pre meal, one hour after first bite then two hours.
If you find your blood glucose levels are more than 2mmols or 36 higher than your pre meal, at two hours after, then a food or combination of foods will be causing your higher levels. That food needs to be reduced in portion size or entirely.

I am intolerant to potatoes, grains, rice, lactose or anything ending in ose!

You might just need to reduce your carb to get where you want to be.

Best wishes
 

Rob56789

Member
Messages
8
Thank you very much for the information. I had eaten eggs, instant oatmeal and blueberries for breakfast. About an hour after that I had the high reading which I tested a couple times because I thought it was a mistake. I was shocked to see it that high
Obviously I cannot say what it is or not, because I don't know lots of information.
Your readings are normal, before and after the big number. Which for us is just under 20mmols. So yes a huge spike! But it could have been a rogue reading.
If your readings are high or low, out of the ordinary, then retest.
What did you eat to get that high?
Are you on meds what are they?
Have you a diagnosis of anything metabolic or endocrinology.

I can relate to the panic attacks and anxiety as I had them really bad when before my diagnosis. Yes, diet and what you eat will ease the symptoms, going very low carb and intermittent fasting helped so much.

Keep an eye on your blood glucose levels.
If you test randomly then you cannot really see what happens with food, it has to be regimented and also keep a food diary, recording everything. I would recommend pre meal, one hour after first bite then two hours.
If you find your blood glucose levels are more than 2mmols or 36 higher than your pre meal, at two hours after, then a food or combination of foods will be causing your higher levels. That food needs to be reduced in portion size or entirely.

I am intolerant to potatoes, grains, rice, lactose or anything ending in ose!

You might just need to reduce your carb to get where you want to be.

Best wishes
much
 

Rob56789

Member
Messages
8
Thank you for the response I will definitely look into it. I appreciate all the knowledge on this forum!
Hello @Rob56789,

Welcome to the forum.

What you describe sounds a bit like reactive hypoglycemia to me -- mind you, though, I am Type 2 and not really an expert. However, there many knowledgeable members around. I am tagging @Brunneria and @Lamont D, who might be able to help.

Meanwhile you might have a look around the reactive hypoglycemia subforum http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/category/reactive-hypoglycemia.70/
 

Rob56789

Member
Messages
8
Thank you. I will definitely check out the low carb diet as well as diet doctor. Seeing that 340 sugar number was enough to scare me into wanting to eat healthy. I've been eating bad for too long and it's definitely taken its toll
Hi there, Yes it quite likely that you can fix this simply with diet, many of us have , including me. @daisy1 will be along shortly to explain the overall principles, meanwhile if you look up the low carb program here and check out dietdoctor.com, if you follow the principles outlined, ditch the processed foods and sugars , you may well find that you no longer get these highs of the anxiety and panic attacks that go with it .

Sugar is evil stuff ! but don't despair, life without it is pretty cool!
 

Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,793
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Thank you very much for the information. I had eaten eggs, instant oatmeal and blueberries for breakfast. About an hour after that I had the high reading which I tested a couple times because I thought it was a mistake. I was shocked to see it that high

much
When you see a high blood glucose reading like that, it would be probably caused by the oatmeal. Grains in the oatmeal including other sugars as well as probably lactose from the milk would give me similar results. Either too much or you could be really intolerant to grains like me.

It does tend to think twice when you see a high reading like that.
It was good you retested.

Best wishes
 
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Resurgam

Expert
Messages
9,849
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Maybe swap the oatmeal for Greek yogurt - the normal not the low fat version.
 

kokhongw

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
It would be good to have your HbA1c taken as well. Given how fast your glucose return to the 100mg/dl levels, you are likely in the prediabetes phase. What this means is that we have a delay and huge insulin response...

Something like this...
upload_2017-10-21_15-23-19.png


And Dr Ted Naiman explains in his chart...
21617677_1480400812054365_6397910844440253685_n.jpg


This roller coaster glucose/hormonal responses wreaks havoc to our brain...
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Rob56789

Hello Rob and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will reply on this thread.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 250,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

Rob56789

Member
Messages
8
Hey daisy in your post it said the low carb program is a free 10 week program but when I click on the link and try to sign up it asks for a credit card or voucher number. Am I doing something wrong?
@Rob56789

Hello Rob and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will reply on this thread.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 250,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

Rob56789

Member
Messages
8
I was also wondering if anyone knew if cottage cheese is good to eat. I saw that it has a high glycemic index, but it's also cheese which is approved for low carb so I'm unsure
 

Rob56789

Member
Messages
8
I was also wondering what stops blood sugar from dropping too low. Like say for instance I start the diet and am doing good with it what keeps it in the 70 to 100 range. Instead of it just continuing to drop to low? Does the body have some type of response or regulation. Might be a dumb question but I'm just trying to learn as much as possible
 

kokhongw

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,394
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I was also wondering what stops blood sugar from dropping too low. Like say for instance I start the diet and am doing good with it what keeps it in the 70 to 100 range. Instead of it just continuing to drop to low? Does the body have some type of response or regulation. Might be a dumb question but I'm just trying to learn as much as possible

In general I find a low carb fat friendly diet gives me the most stable glucose response...
Roast pork belly lunch and pork rib soup for dinner.
upload_2017-10-21_21-41-39.png


Keeping a food diary and with some regular post meal glucose monitoring, you will be able to find what suits your lifestyle and eating habits.
 

benjdavis

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hey guys I'm new to the forum. I've been experiencing bad anxiety and panic attacks over the past few years I've tried different psych meds as well as therapy and nothing seemed to help. A couple weeks ago my doctor mentioned that blood sugar spikes may be causing the issue. He said it goes high then when it comes down it crashes and causes the panic and anxiety. I am not currently on any blood sugar or insulin medications. I tested it this morning before I ate anything and it was running at 105. Then I tested again a little more than an hour after eating and it was at 340. So it's definitely going pretty high. Is this something I can fix through diet or will I need to be put on medication? Any advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance-Rob
Hi Rob
I was diagnosed t1 in October last year . I'm 39 years old. For about 6 months I used to get anxiety attacks pretty regularly . I can tell you it was a frightful experience.
I started taking magnesium and calcium (combined ) tablets on a regular basis, after a short while my anxiety subsided and now I'm happy to say they all but gone.
I also practice meditation and yoga and I do believe this also helps to keep my mind peaceful and my body free from built up tension.
I hope you start to feel better soon .
Keep the faith
Ben
 

Art Of Flowers

Well-Known Member
Messages
956
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
See ...

This interesting documentary explains how you can get blood sugar spikes, what their effects are and how to reduce blood sugar spikes.
 
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dbr10

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,237
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
See ...

This interesting documentary explains how you can get blood sugar spikes, what their effects are and how to reduce blood sugar spikes.
Yes it's quite interesting - surprising too, since a lot of the people who experienced spikes were skinny people - the explanation given being that they did not have much muscle mass to use up the glucose.