Do I have diabetes or not?

[Rillum]

Hi Rosserk, in the beginning of diabetes type 2, when you're still producing insulin, you can have reactive hypoglycemia. When you ingest more carbs than your body can handle, the beta cells are frantically churning out more and more insulin in order to get the cells of the body to take up glucose. But since they're insulin resistant, it takes a lot of insulin. By the time it works, there's a lot of circulating insulin, too much of it in fact, so too much glucose gets taken up by the cells, and the blood glucose becomes low. It could very well be, what you're experiencing. It would also explain your low hba1c, since that is an app. average of your blood glucose over time.

 

[Rillum]

Hi, thank you for advising me I really appreciate it. I'm not sure I've reduced them drastically but I have definately cut down. I had a really bad night, I woke at 4:20 and I was saturated I tried to take my blood sugar but I couldn't co-ordinate anything but managed to have a glass of water and went back asleep. I'm not saying that waking up in the early hours of the morning are indicative of someone who is diabetic, I'm saying that's what's happening to me and I don't know why. Essentially I'm looking for answers so I can work towards improving my quality of life which is in a downward spiral!

I woke at 7.05 and my BS was 5.3 (which I assume is good) before I ate at 10:55 my reading was 4.9 (again I assume this is ok) at 12:19 my BS was 9 at 13:00 it was 7.8, which is coming down. Please remember I have had absolutely no professional advice and I have been reading everything I can find (which is turning me into paranoid hypocondriac!) I'm absolutely picking up on every little thing and probably imagining a lot. But the overiding factor is my blood sugars are accurate I'm not imagining them. If I were to go and mow the lawn and do some light gardening, I will start to feel nauseous and unsteady on my feet (a bit like being drunk without the vodka!) I will almost certainly get a headache and I have trouble focussing, which means I'm constantly rubbing my eyes, I feel absolutely exhausted like I've just run a long distance. I've checked my BS's when this happens and they have been as low as 2.9. If I eat a slice of toast (difficult when feeling sick) I will start to feel better within 10 - 15 minutes. I still feel exhausted but the nausea passes. I'm not trying to match my symptoms to that of a diabetic I'm just describing what happens to me. I'm frightened to exert myself because I'm afraid of the feeling it seems to come on quickly. I have never had a high fasting blood sugar my highest reading first thing in the morning has been a 6.2 which I again assume is normal. My highest readings have been 1 x 24.5, 1 x 26.5, 1 x 30 but I didn't feel any symptoms of nausea and was suprised at the readings because I actually felt great. My readings now seldom exceed 15.3 the highest is usually between 11 and 12.5 so there is improvement, which I attribute to watching what I eat. The only new symptom is my post meal BS are slightly higher than at the beginning and are between 5.6 and 6.2 previously always around 5- 5.5.

I'm seeing a consultant about the Neuropathy in my hands on Thursday I'm hoping he will look at my blood sugar readings. On a previous visit he mentioned my random BS reading was 7.8 and said I needed to mention it to my Doctor but he said it was nothing to worry about. Hopefully he will help me.

Looking at the readings above (and I trust your meter and your readings!), there's no doubt that you're diabetic. Even taking into account that the meter gives higher readings than venous blood samples, yours are often too high.

The good news is that you seem to be able to control it through eating less carbs. Nobody here can tell you exactly how many carbs are too many for you. You should aim to have one hour rise below 7.8 and back to normal in 2-3 hours. I personally aim to have a one hour rise below 7 and be back to my base level of about 5.3 in two hours. The less carbs you eat, the less insulin your beta cells have to make. This is good, since it gives them a chance to recover, so they won't die off from having to make insane amounts of insulin all the time. This could mean that you don't progress to having full blown diabetes, where you need insulin injections.

 

[rosserk]

Hi Rosserk, in the beginning of diabetes type 2, when you're still producing insulin, you can have reactive hypoglycemia. When you ingest more carbs than your body can handle, the beta cells are frantically churning out more and more insulin in order to get the cells of the body to take up glucose. But since they're insulin resistant, it takes a lot of insulin. By the time it works, there's a lot of circulating insulin, too much of it in fact, so too much glucose gets taken up by the cells, and the blood glucose becomes low. It could very well be, what you're experiencing. It would also explain your low hba1c, since that is an app. average of your blood glucose over time.

The low blood sugars are a lot less in frequency than the high blood sugars, I have noticed that sometimes my blood sugars can be really high and then seem to drop low really fast and it seems to correspond with the sweating and the other feelins I get.

 

[rosserk]

Yes and also without meditation. It all comes down to what you are eating in the most part

You've done brilliantly well done and your application is superb well done!

I'm not sure I phrased my question right. What I was trying to say was

In the NICE guidelines for Blood Sugars does the chart show Blood Sugars expected of someone with type 1 and 2 whilst on medication or what you would expect to see in a type 1 or 2 before diagnosis. I know it says recommended blood sugars but it's a bit confusing

 

[Rillum]

I think it's probably what to aim for when you're in treatment.

 

[Rillum]

You've been testing your urine. Glucose appears in your urine when the blood glucose is above app. 10. The kidneys usually reabsorb al glucose from the urine, but if there's too much, they can't do it. This also increases the volume of urine, as the glucose holds on to some of the water, that would normally be reabsorbed. This causes dehydration.

 

[Rillum]

Ketones appear in your urine, when you're eating fewer than 30-60 good carbs. They're a breakdown product of fats that the brain can use instead of glucose. They're not a problem in this context. This state is called ketosis.

Insulin-dependent diabetics can get into a state of ketoacidosis, where they have a high blood glucose, but no insulin. So cells cannot get the glucose and instead produce ketones. In this situation there's both high glucose and high ketones and it's dangerous. You're not experiencing that.

 

[Rillum]

Only you can choose between giving up on the doctor and trying to fix it yourself with diet or eating normally for a couple of months with poor health and then get the diagnosis (and then fix yourself with diet). Good luck, it's a nuisance that it's so hard to get taken seriously.

 

[rosserk]

You've been testing your urine. Glucose appears in your urine when the blood glucose is above app. 10. The kidneys usually reabsorb al glucose from the urine, but if there's too much, they can't do it. This also increases the volume of urine, as the glucose holds on to some of the water, that would normally be reabsorbed. This causes dehydration.

I have been admitted to hospital twice in the last 6 months with dehydration the last time they put me on a drip for eight hours. I had been vomiting before I went in and was according to my husband a bit vacant he took me to the hospital. The Noro Vorus was a problem at our hospital and some of the wards were closed they tested me for the virus which I didn't have and after 8 hours on the drip they sent me home no explaination just said I probably had a virus!

 

[rosserk]

Ketones appear in your urine, when you're eating fewer than 30-60 good carbs. They're a breakdown product of fats that the brain can use instead of glucose. They're not a problem in this context. This state is called ketosis.

Insulin-dependent diabetics can get into a state of ketoacidosis, where they have a high blood glucose, but no insulin. So cells cannot get the glucose and instead produce ketones. In this situation there's both high glucose and high ketones and it's dangerous. You're not experiencing that.

I took my urine sticks to show them the positive results (I know gross but I felt I had no choice) to the drop in centre to show them but I was only allowed to see a nurse she said make an appointment with my doctor they don't test for diabetes at the drop in centre! Felt like a complete moron!

 

[rosserk]

Rillum thanks for taking the time to write all the comprehensive answers that was kind of you. I am seeing the consultant tomorrow so hopefully he will help me, I will let you know how it goes.

 

[rosserk]

Ketones appear in your urine, when you're eating fewer than 30-60 good carbs. They're a breakdown product of fats that the brain can use instead of glucose. They're not a problem in this context. This state is called ketosis.

Insulin-dependent diabetics can get into a state of ketoacidosis, where they have a high blood glucose, but no insulin. So cells cannot get the glucose and instead produce ketones. In this situation there's both high glucose and high ketones and it's dangerous. You're not experiencing that.

I had one urine result with ketones showing its interesting that you say cutting too many carbs causes it because I'd cut the carbs practically to zero thinking that would bring down the blood sugars. At the time I thought there was something really seriously wrong because I knew ketones in urine was a worry. Now that you've explained it I feel so relieved because I actually caused the problem rather than there being something seriously wrong! This is why I want to speak with someone to get the expert advice I need before I inadvertently do my self further harm. Thank you out of everything I've read that's the most significant.

 

[Jo123]

I was diagnosed with pre diabetes from a high blood sugar reading from a fasting test, which I asked for due to symptons. I found this website, bought a meter and low carbed and brought my readings down. When the doctor retested me a few months later my results were normal.
To be honest I didn't want to eat 'normallty' for three months to get a confirmed diagnosis of pre diabetes or diabetes, I knew my pancreas wasn't working from my results. I completely get what you say about not wanting to cause harm to your body. In retrospect I was suffering from blood sugar problems for years before.

 

[rosserk]

Yes and also without meditation. It all comes down to what you are eating in the most part

I have a similar app I have downloaded from somewhere which is really good (see below) There are a lot of things they could add to it though to make it better, it's brilliant that you've managed to tailor one specifically to your needs. I have a the Next USB which also does graphs and is really easy to use because you just plug it into your computer port.

 

[rosserk]

I was diagnosed with pre diabetes from a high blood sugar reading from a fasting test, which I asked for due to symptons. I found this website, bought a meter and low carbed and brought my readings down. When the doctor retested me a few months later my results were normal.
To be honest I didn't want to eat 'normallty' for three months to get a confirmed diagnosis of pre diabetes or diabetes, I knew my pancreas wasn't working from my results. I completely get what you say about not wanting to cause harm to your body. In retrospect I was suffering from blood sugar problems for years before.

I don't ever get high fasting blood sugars mine are usually between 4 and 5.5 I have noticed lately that my pre meal readings are not as low as when I started this journey (dinner time) So perhaps the high morning readings are to follow. I woke late this morning and didn't test until 11:43 and had a bowl of cereal and a cup of tea my readings are below. I've posted pictures of the readings just in case I'm having trouble reading the monitor or people think I'm getting paranoid. They are actually good compared to normal I halfed the amount of cereal I usually have. The problem is I don't want to lose any weight, I'm 5ft 11 inches tall and though I weigh around 11 stone I'm only a size ten I can't really afford to be any smaller. They are below the NICE recommended level for a non diabetic so at just over two hours for breakfast today so I guess that's good!

 

[Jo123]

I read on here that the fasting blood sugar is the last thing to rise, not sure how accurate that is. I never will know what my HBA1c would have been if I had carried on eating the so called NHS healthy diet. I think mine must have been quite high because certain symptons, itchy legs, blurred vision, getting up to wee in the night went virtually straight away and I never get them now.
I get what you say about losing weight but I did lose weight despite my BMI being normal at the beginning, mine is now 19, but my last HBa1c was 32 which would be good for a normal person!

Good luck at the specialist tomorrow.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi @rosserk.

I have RH!
I haven't had chance to read all the posts on your thread.
You say your fasting bloods are normal, you eat carbs, and you have a high spike, then fall back to normal before sometimes going low. Do you go low without eating? What is your Hba1c? Do you have a lot of symptoms that are a lot to do with mood swings? Are you anxious? Do you have disruptive sleep? Always warm? Always hungry? When you feel poor, you have something to eat, then feel awful a couple of hours later. When you have a low carb meal do you feel fine? Blurred vision? Constant low level headache?

Anything you want to ask me?

I believe you have read the Reactive Hypoglycaemia thread. Read my first blog, 'A Reactionary'
It tells my story. And it explains a lot.

What meds are you on?

Sorry but it would take all night to read the whole thread.

 

[rosserk]

Hi @rosserk.

I have RH!
I haven't had chance to read all the posts on your thread.
You say your fasting bloods are normal, you eat carbs, and you have a high spike, then fall back to normal before sometimes going low. Do you go low without eating? What is your Hba1c? Do you have a lot of symptoms that are a lot to do with mood swings? Are you anxious? Do you have disruptive sleep? Always warm? Always hungry? When you feel poor, you have something to eat, then feel awful a couple of hours later. When you have a low carb meal do you feel fine? Blurred vision? Constant low level headache?

Anything you want to ask me?

I believe you have read the Reactive Hypoglycaemia thread. Read my first blog, 'A Reactionary'
It tells my story. And it explains a lot.

What meds are you on?

Sorry but it would take all night to read the whole thread.

Hi

Thanks!

I go low after exercise of any kind, brisk walk, gardening, mowing the lawn, climbing lots of stairs, I don't have much energy just little bursts. I'm not always warm but when I am I'm cold to the touch not hot as you would think. I don't have mood swings I'm pretty steady all the time. Not always hungry either I have phases of eating a lot. I do get a lot of headaches but I wake up with them and they can be hard to shift if at all. I don't know my HbA1c sorry I was given three figures but not sure which is which or what they mean 38, 5.5 and 7.9. My doctor said it was normal, it covered a three month period when I was caring for my sister I barely ate anything during that period, just enough to keep me going or if I felt poorly. I do get blurred vision which comes and goes (I know that's strange but true!) my blood sugars take a long time normally to return to pre meal readings but they eventually come back down to the 'normal' range (under 7.8) three to four hours after eating.

 

[Lamont D]

I apologise because I put in a couple of questions that would have discounted RH.
You do have very confusing symptoms. Did your doctor say you had T2?
I wouldn't rule anything out to be honest.
I would have another word with your doctor and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.
I believe you need certain tests, they won't hurt! To get to the bottom of your problems.
I would still low carb, no matter, because, that would improve your health anyway!

Sorry, you can't join our exclusive club yet!

Best wishes

Nosher

 

[rosserk]

I apologise because I put in a couple of questions that would have discounted RH.
You do have very confusing symptoms. Did your doctor say you had T2?
I wouldn't rule anything out to be honest.
I would have another word with your doctor and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.
I believe you need certain tests, they won't hurt! To get to the bottom of your problems.
I would still low carb, no matter, because, that would improve your health anyway!

Sorry, you can't join our exclusive club yet!

Best wishes

Nosher

Thanks although I'm not sorry I can't join your club! Lol