Self diagnosing noob - Am I doing this right?

[DodgyD]

Hi, I have Hypoglycaemia.
And I understand the issues you are encountering and I have had to battle ignorance and unqualified doctors and other health professionals that didn't have a clue about the symptoms of hypoglycaemia especially anxiety.

If you want to self test, you need to fast the night before, take a pre test fasting reading, then drink 175gms of glucose.
Then take readings every thirty minutes for over the next three to four hours, maybe extend that if you do not go hypo below 3.5 mmols.
However, if you do go hypo, I would say below 3mmols, I would take something to alleviate the hypo. If you do go hypo, the symptoms will become exacerbated.

Have someone look after you, don't do this on your own!

Ok, next.
Use your glucometer as a tool to help you find out which foods are giving you the symptoms and fluctuating blood glucose levels.

If you do go hypo, it's about what you eat and the usual suspects are carbs and sugars. Limiting them will improve your health and energy. This will not be instant, it will take a few weeks to get the benefit of a new dietary lifestyle.

Before you do anything, please read the forum, there is some great knowledge on how to get good control.

Since my last glucose test, I haven't had a hypo. It is all about diet and finding the right balance for your body.

Best wishes and welcome to our forum.

This is really helpful! Thank you!

Before this last week, I did not consume a lot of sugars. I only started recently as an experiment to see if it makes me feel better. It does, but loading up on sugar all the time seems a bit dumb. I'll dig into the forum more as per your suggestion and look into cutting out the carbs.

When you say 175gms of glucose, do you mean grams? and how do I go about measuring that out? Presumably I don't drink pure glucose?

 

[Lamont D]

This is really helpful! Thank you!

Before this last week, I did not consume a lot of sugars. I only started recently as an experiment to see if it makes me feel better. It does, but loading up on sugar all the time seems a bit dumb. I'll dig into the forum more as per your suggestion and look into cutting out the carbs.

When you say 175gms of glucose, do you mean grams? and how do I go about measuring that out? Presumably I don't drink pure glucose?

It should have been 75g, my bad, sorry!

 

[DodgyD]

It should have been 75g, my bad, sorry!

=)

 

[Bluetit1802]

This is really helpful! Thank you!

Before this last week, I did not consume a lot of sugars. I only started recently as an experiment to see if it makes me feel better. It does, but loading up on sugar all the time seems a bit dumb. I'll dig into the forum more as per your suggestion and look into cutting out the carbs.

When you say 175gms of glucose, do you mean grams? and how do I go about measuring that out? Presumably I don't drink pure glucose?

I know you are not in the UK but here there is a ready made drink available called Rapilose. Previously doctors used Lucozade but these days they have reduced the amount of glucose in this so you have to drink twice as much, and this isn't very nice.

https://www.gpsupplies.com/rapilose-ogtt-glucose-solution-300ml-pack-of-1
http://penlanhealthcare.com/products-rapilose-ogtt-solution

 

[DodgyD]

I know you are not in the UK but here there is a ready made drink available called Rapilose. Previously doctors used Lucozade but these days they have reduced the amount of glucose in this so you have to drink twice as much, and this isn't very nice.

https://www.gpsupplies.com/rapilose-ogtt-glucose-solution-300ml-pack-of-1
http://penlanhealthcare.com/products-rapilose-ogtt-solution

Hah! I remember Locozade. Haven't seen that in aaaages. It was never very nice...

Just did a search online and it doesn't bode well for Rapilose availability. Though it may well be available under a local language name. I'll have to see what I can dig up.

 

[Resurgam]

I'd be careful about advising swallowing glucose after fasting - if I did that even now, I'd probably collapse after about 3 to 4 hours, or just feel very very ill.
I am pretty sure that I had RH up until I found low carb eating in my early twenties. Before that I had several bouts of tonsillitis, with one in my teens and when I was 20 or 21, which was very serious - a doctor was calling at the house twice a day to check that I was not getting worse as the antibiotics were having no effect on the complications.
Once I went low carb I was back to normal, but on my way back from diabetes I had the same symptoms again - about three in the afternoon I was dropping onto the bed and passing out for three or four hours. Fortunately that was just a matter eating earlier and fewer carbs early on in the day, and it faded away.
I think it is because later in the day I am more responsive to insulin, but early on I am resistant, so early day carbs mean lots of insulin, which is ignored for a while and then - wham - it starts to work and my blood glucose drops like a stone.

 

[Lamont D]

The distinction between RH the condition and having RH symptoms differ!

But the treatment of both is very low carb to stop producing the unnecessary insulin.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I'd be careful about advising swallowing glucose after fasting - if I did that even now, I'd probably collapse after about 3 to 4 hours, or just feel very very ill.

Overnight fasting followed by the OGTT is the way it is done by doctors at the surgery and endocrinologists in hospitals. It has to be fasting or it won't work. I was fine after I did mine, although I did drop down to the low 4s at 3 hours, but stabilised in the 4s with no side effects.

 

[Resurgam]

Overnight fasting followed by the OGTT is the way it is done by doctors at the surgery and endocrinologists in hospitals. It has to be fasting or it won't work. I was fine after I did mine, although I did drop down to the low 4s at 3 hours, but stabilised in the 4s with no side effects.

Yes - you had the doctor or the hospital to assist - hence my warning - the idea of do it yourself testing might not be a good one when there is no backup.
I did once collapse at work after a sandwich and cake birthday lunch, so it could be dangerous.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi @Bluetit1802 ,
I believe it's been about 6 or 7 weeks since you did your OGTT. I think you had a 150 carb meal the night before and did not carb up for the prior 3 days.
I was wondering about your new, lower FBG and what it was before and after. An average would be nice too, if you have it. Does it seem to be stable at the new level or drifting up or down? Also, do other BG readings throughout the day seem to be affected, like before and after meals?
I know these results are n=1 / anecdotal but you have my curiosity piqued with what this may imply. It may deserve further scrutiny.
Thanks

You have a good memory! I have NO idea why or how it happened, but that shot of 75g glucose woke up my pancreas. I just hope it stays awake. I haven't change a thing in my normal routine. I call it one of the diabetes mysteries, or a miracle! Of course, it could be entirely coincidental. You remember correctly that I didn't carb up for the 3 days. I did have a lot more carbs that normal for tea the night before but it wasn't anywhere near 150g.

I did the OGTT on 11th September

My average FBG for the whole of August was 5.6
My av FBG since 11th Sept is 5.3
Before lunch av in August was 5.4
Bef lunch av since 11th Sept is 5.1
Bef tea av in August was 5.0
It is still 5.0
Bedtime av in Aug was 5.6
Since 11th Sept it is 5.3
2 hour post evening meal rises have reduced by an average of 0.4.
My overall averages for all tests has dropped from 5.76 to 5.48

The trend is stable at these new levels but I'm not holding my breath!.

 

[DodgyD]

Yes - you had the doctor or the hospital to assist - hence my warning - the idea of do it yourself testing might not be a good one when there is no backup.
I did once collapse at work after a sandwich and cake birthday lunch, so it could be dangerous.

I can't really afford the downtime to take care and do this safely-ish right now so I think I'll hold off on any serious testing until a get a bit of a holiday to work with. (or better - return to the UK). I do appreciate the knowledge being shared though, it's good to get a better understanding of what goes into all this. =)

 

[DodgyD]

I did a fair amount of testing today and have found it extremely interesting. After learning that I am probably hypoglycemic, much of my tastes, cravings, mood and energy patterns can be interpreted in a way that was not possible before. Perhaps most importantly I can already sense that it is becoming easier to forgive myself for not 'being stronger somehow'. Previously my internal voice might say things like "don't be an energy sap Dave, come on offer some input!" or "What's wrong with you Dave! Focus! you useless muppet!!" etc.

Beginning to chart the data above helps to more deeply understand, anticipate and (presumably) take better control of myself. Most interesting so far is the effects after lunch. During the last bite or two of my sandwich I started to feel really exhausted. I ran a blood test and sure enough - 3.6. My lowest up till that point. I drank some sugary iced tea and bounced back for a bit before settling to my normal level of around 3.7ish before heading in to work. For the next hour I felt great. The Dave I love to be, before suddenly feeling very tired again, yawning and taking it real easy, as I've learned to do when I start to feel like that. Mostly gone are the days where I'd scold myself too severely and force myself to fake energy when I don't have it.
I took a reading and to my surprise read 4.8. This seemed really high, but I remembered there was something about this on a thread I looked at last night, rather than being concerned I resolved to take a look when I got home. I was mostly dead for the rest of the work day and took another reading shortly before heading home. Yikes! 3.3! That's a lot lower than any readings I've taken so far. Sure enough I just read on another thread that if a steep drop is starting you can feel the effects of it before it is shown in your blood glucose levels.

I suppose I'm not really asking anything - instead just sharing my experience.

OK, here's a question:

There appears to be a lot of support for going carbless and I am wondering how does this work. From what I have read eating lots of carbs can stimulate the production of insulin which can cause a crash in glucose levels. By cutting out sugar and carbs I can effectively bypass this imbalance in my body... Is that it?

If that is the case, then would there be much glucose reading in my blood at all? Or would I need to switch to a ketone testing kit?

 

[Resurgam]

Cutting down on carbs rather than cutting them out worked for me, as did eating meals more widely spaced, breakfast and dinner rather than lunchtime and dinner, with some carbs with the first meal and then more later on - I went by what made me feel right rather than testing, but I did low carb and Atkins for a very long time before I was diagnosed, so I already had a good idea of what to eat - and the things not on the menu were those which I found caused spikes and continued high readings in the mornings than a crash in late afternoon.

 

[Bluetit1802]

@DodgyD

Looking at all those readings it seems to me you have non-diabetic hypoglycemia rather than reactive hypoglycemia. This is a specialist area and few of us on here will have the knowledge to help you. I certainly can't, and no matter what you think about the medical facilities in your country, I do believe you need to find the best hospital/care centre you can. that has an endocrinologist specialist. Your levels are low and something must be causing this. Failing that, would it be possible to arrange a telephone/Skype appointment with an endocrinologist in the UK or similar?

 

[ickihun]

I'm sorry for your predicament.

 

[ickihun]

I'm sorry for your predicament.

 

[Lamont D]

I have really studied those readings and I do agree with most of what @Bluetit1802 says. You do seem to have some type of hypoglycaemia even though the meals were not very high carb, the reading after half hour peeked my interest as it does seem the rise was negligible and or your tolerance is good for you. It could be a hypoglycaemic condition called dumping syndrome. Because you get rid of the glucose from the meal rapidly.
But as been said we are only guessing and a consultants opinion would be beneficial.
But the tests needed can only be done in hospital. If you do want a consultant, find one that has experience with types of hypoglycaemia.

I did a fair amount of testing today and have found it extremely interesting. After learning that I am probably hypoglycemic, much of my tastes, cravings, mood and energy patterns can be interpreted in a way that was not possible before. Perhaps most importantly I can already sense that it is becoming easier to forgive myself for not 'being stronger somehow'. Previously my internal voice might say things like "don't be an energy sap Dave, come on offer some input!" or "What's wrong with you Dave! Focus! you useless muppet!!" etc.

Beginning to chart the data above helps to more deeply understand, anticipate and (presumably) take better control of myself. Most interesting so far is the effects after lunch. During the last bite or two of my sandwich I started to feel really exhausted. I ran a blood test and sure enough - 3.6. My lowest up till that point. I drank some sugary iced tea and bounced back for a bit before settling to my normal level of around 3.7ish before heading in to work. For the next hour I felt great. The Dave I love to be, before suddenly feeling very tired again, yawning and taking it real easy, as I've learned to do when I start to feel like that. Mostly gone are the days where I'd scold myself too severely and force myself to fake energy when I don't have it.
I took a reading and to my surprise read 4.8. This seemed really high, but I remembered there was something about this on a thread I looked at last night, rather than being concerned I resolved to take a look when I got home. I was mostly dead for the rest of the work day and took another reading shortly before heading home. Yikes! 3.3! That's a lot lower than any readings I've taken so far. Sure enough I just read on another thread that if a steep drop is starting you can feel the effects of it before it is shown in your blood glucose levels.

I suppose I'm not really asking anything - instead just sharing my experience.

OK, here's a question:

There appears to be a lot of support for going carbless and I am wondering how does this work. From what I have read eating lots of carbs can stimulate the production of insulin which can cause a crash in glucose levels. By cutting out sugar and carbs I can effectively bypass this imbalance in my body... Is that it?

If that is the case, then would there be much glucose reading in my blood at all? Or would I need to switch to a ketone testing kit?

The reason for going carbless or as it is called being in ketosis, (look it up, there is a forum dedicated to it), is because of the insulin in your blood is driving the glucose levels down. Too far down as your glucose/ insulin is in imbalance. You either have your excessive insulin in either your first insulin response or secondary response as I do.
The trick is to not produce the insulin in the first place. You will always have background insulin levels, only glucose derived from carbs and sugars will trigger the insulin, very low carb will not trigger the insulin. So no excess insulin.
No hyper then no hypo!

Low carb or being in ketosis will also not raise your blood glucose levels. So even using a glucometer will give you the results you want.
Being in ketosis will switch your body to getting energy from ketones rather than carbs, and that is so much healthier for us RH ers.

Best wishes

 

[DodgyD]

@DodgyD

Looking at all those readings it seems to me you have non-diabetic hypoglycemia rather than reactive hypoglycemia. This is a specialist area and few of us on here will have the knowledge to help you. I certainly can't, and no matter what you think about the medical facilities in your country, I do believe you need to find the best hospital/care centre you can. that has an endocrinologist specialist. Your levels are low and something must be causing this. Failing that, would it be possible to arrange a telephone/Skype appointment with an endocrinologist in the UK or similar?

Yea that's what I thought (hypoglycemia and not reactive hypoglycemia) too. After briefly checking out this forum though the community seems great and I figured I'd come along and join you all anyway

I hear what you're all saying about the need to see a specialist. I will definitely seek one out when it becomes more possible. In the meantime I will do what I can do safely at home and on my own - monitoring my blood glucose levels.

My energy and mood has swung about most of my life. I never thought much about it and figured hey everyone has good and bad days right? It always seemed sort of random to me. It is only very recently that I have become suddenly aware of what might have been causing it. I had salmonella food poisoning in the Czech Republic some 15~ years ago. It had a rather big effect on my digestive system and my energy and mood problems have probably been a part of my life for that length of time too. It's an interesting observation for me, although obviously I don't know anything without seeking professional help.

It's only been 2 days of testing so far but my mind is rather blown when I can see hard data that seems to almost perfectly graph my energy and mood states. This indicates to me that while there are many factors that can impact these things, my blood glucose levels must play a large role. What's more, I am learning to differentiate between different types of fatigue. Fatigue from a long day of wakefulness vs fatigue from low blood sugar.

I didn't eat carbs for dinner last night and had more stable (4.0+) levels of glucose in my blood all the way until lunch, when I ate beef and potato's. All my tests revealed my glucose levels remained above 4 for the rest of the afternoon. For dinner tonight I had fries, salad, and a steak and I'm feeling a little tired (it's the end of the day) but my last test reported 4.7.

It seems to me that by monitoring my blood glucose levels and recording what I eat, I can quite effectively begin to determine the impact of various types of food on my quality of life.

Based on my readings thus far and awareness of my personal history I can extrapolate that I have probably been averaging around 3.6-3.8 for many many years now with occasional spikes and crashes. Today was a good day for me - high spirited, optimistic, cheerful, and productive - and my readings have been above 4 all day. On this forum it seems many people are trying to keep their readings above 5, and I'm genuinely excited at the impact that could be made if I can steadily build up and maintain my blood glucose levels. Time will tell.

I hadn't considered the possibility of a Skype call with an endocrinologist, and now that you've writ it, I have something to google for. Thank you.

I mentioned to a local friend that my blood sugar is low and he said that this is a common problem for many people here because "we live next to a river". He suggested some magical tea (I added the word "magical" here to convey my scepticism). Armed with my trusty blood testing kit I suppose I'll give it a try and take some readings to see what, if any impact there is. Who knows eh?

 

[Bluetit1802]

I wish you well, and am pleased you want to continue joining us on the forum.
Personally, my aim is to be between 4 and 7. I don't always manage to keep under 7 after meals, and am happy if my base line fasting and between meals is in the low 5s.

Let us know if you manage to contact an endocrinologist and what he has to say. I for one would find it very interesting.

 

[Lamont D]

Testing, experimenting, recording.

The mood swings can actually help you, if you see your results and are aware of how your glucose levels can bounce up and down. This will give you an overall picture of how your body is adapting to low carb.

Glad you are joining, knowledge is positive and the more you learn, the more you understand how to control your insulin and glucose levels.

Best wishes.