High Blood Sugar Levels

[Tahdah]

Hello Everyone,

I am brand new to the forum and I hope it's ok to ask for some advice.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 14 months ago, I am diet controlled and I have been doing ok until the last 5 weeks or so.
My Ha counts have been 7 7.1 and the last one two months ago was 7.9, the diabetic nurse put the increase down to me getting married in May and putting 2lb in weight on ?!

I was told to not test my blood sugar levels and to carry on with the diet I was following, which is basically eating healthier and cutting out biscuits/crisps/cakes and chocolate all the best things !!

However over the last 5 weeks I have been feeling quite poorly, very thirsty, weeing an awful lot over 45 times a day and gallons of it ..... I feel very tired, nauseous, breathless, muscle cramping and confused and really out of sorts. I thought due to the fact I was thirsty etc it would be a good idea to check my bs levels and they seemed to be a little high, morning waking was 15.5 and they were going up to 23.4, I went to the doctors and I tested positive for glucose/protein something else, possible infection but no ketones ? I had a course of antibiotics and while I am not weeing quite so much I still feel awful, my morning levels have been 17/19.5 and I have just checked my levels an hour after my breakfast and they are 27.4 The gp didn't seem that interested in my sugar levels and hasn't suggested following it up, should I be worried ?
Thanks for any advice
Tahdah

 

[anniep]

I think you should be going back to your doctor ora different doctor in the practice if there is one.

Those fasting levels are high and getting to 27 is not good, if your GP is taking no notice is there a walk in centre or anything like that you can go to next time you are so high? because it seems like you are not getting the best care to me.

And a HBa1c of 7.9 seems high to me to be diet controlled and saying carry on as you are, by the time I was in the high 7's I was on metformin, and told I was badly controlled and that I wasn't taking care of myself (I was following their diet so that's another story)

The whole diet issue is a minefield for us diabetics - read the advice to the newly diagnosed about diet here on the forum, as sadly the advice given to many of us by our health care profesionals is not the best for us.

But no I really don't think you should be leaving it at that.

Annie

 

[hanadr]

Those numbers are too high
Weeing so often is a sign that everything has got out of control. A weight gain of 2lb shouldn't make any noticeable difference to BG control.
To control BG by diet, you need to forget the current fad for cutting fats[they don't affect blood glucose] you need to control carbs, that means sugars and starches. they are found in anything sweet, such as fruit and baked goods, anything which originates with grain[ wholegrains are NOT healthy to most diabetics]and root vegetables. If you reduce those things to the minimum you can manage, and eat meat, fish, eggs, cheese and green vegetables, your Bg will drop in a few days and you'll feel better.
And as Anniep says, your doctor is doing you no good. either make a formal complaint or change docors.
Hana

 

[Tahdah]

Hi All

Thanks for your replies, I have tried to get an appointment at the doctors but I can't be seen until Wednesday night and to see the diabetic nurse there is a 4 week wait.

I don't think the care has been very good, when they diagnosed me all they did was give me a diet sheet and said don't eat anything listed in the right hand column and off you go, when I do see the nurse which has been twice she sits and looks at me as though I am an alien and I never know what to say.

My diet is ok, I don't eat alot of fatty foods and my cholesterol is very low, I also have Sjorgren's Syndrome which also causes a dry mouth so I am struggling at the moment.

Should I demand that the doctor does something about the levels ? How long do they have to be 27+ before I am taken seriously ?

Thanks Again

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi Tahdah,
The care you are receiving is abysmal and you need to be seen as a priority.
If my levels were 27+ I would go to an A&E Dept. If you think this is too drastic then ring NHS Direct and get some advice there please. These levels are dangerously high.

 

[moonstone]

Er I'm not surprised you have a dry mouth with those high sugar levels, Sjrogen's or not. So it must be doubly bad. You can even use that as a reason to insist upon better care, immediately - a dry mouth will naturally lead to mouth/gum infections in a diabetic with sugars as high as those. I'm type 1 and I rarely get those high figures - even when I was diagnosed my fasting figures were 19 and 21 a week apart. It's altogether possible you have been misdiagnosed as well although the absence of ketones suggests perhaps not. However, you 100% must get those sugars under control - that's the whole entire point of it all. Insist upon help. For about 3 months before I was diagnosed my mouth was in a hell of a state - it started with a terribly dry mouth, I could barely speak at times, so I bought Oraldene mouth moisturiser (tastes grim but works). Then I got a gum infection - a very bad one called ANUG (acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis, or "trench mouth"). Then just before diagnosis a savage case of thrush took off. You can ask your doctor - is this really what s/he wants for you? Oral health should be at or near the top of the list for all diabetics, as it can cause vicious circle-type problems and end up being a serious problem. Perhaps you can even get your dentist to write a letter confirming the great need for you to get serious, immediate help.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Not suprising you are feeling so ill with such high levels....

If I got nowhere with my GP and time restricted with getting an appointment, I have to agree that I would get down to A&E. I would be sneaky and do it in the evening after the suregery is closed, so that I wouldn't be told off by the staff for not going to the GP. Honestly if it was me, I would say that I can't get an appointment with GP, and I feel so ill I have had to come down here to A&E.

They will do the blood tests that you need and give you more time than a 10 minute GP test, you may also get a referral to the diabetic clinic and consultant. You cannot keep going at those levels, that is plain neglect by your healthcare professionals.

My quick test when I was diagnosed showed me as being only 17 (!!!)) and I was immeidately put on to a drip in the hospital and then introduced to the needle regime (type 1).-Along time ago (25 years), and things have certainly changed, but your account is definitely NOT for the better.

I hope that you can find a way to get yourself some help as a priority.

 

[skreechy]

Hi,

I was the same prior to diagnosis, when I went to my GP because I was getting leg cramps, thirsty, peeing a lot and losing weight, they did a fingerprick test, level was 27.1, they sent me to the hospital the following morning for blood tests, that was some 5 years ago,

I hope the replies don't scare you, but, go to another GP, those levels are too high, better still goto A&E as your GP isn't doing a good job.

You said you've stopped having "the good foods " are you still having sweet drinks? Try to limit the "good stuff " until you've had some blood tests done

I'd be inclined to go with donnellysdogs method with A&E

 

[Tahdah]

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would come back and update you all on my blood levels.

I went to see my doctor, showed him the monitor with levels on and he told me I needed to start medication, so he started me on 80mg of Gliclazide, then I went to see the Dr who specialises in Diabetes and he added in 2 x 500mg of slow release Metformin. My levels have gone down, but are still between 11.5 and 15 first thing in the morning and between 14 and 18 during the day, have had a few 12.9 readings.
I am still unsure what is going on, should my levels have dropped lower now I have been on medication for over two weeks ?
I have to see the diabetic nurse tomorrow and I don't know what to say to her, she is the one who said my readings were high because I got married !!

I still feel ill, constant headache and extremely tired and so horrendously forgetful.

Any suggestions on what questions I should be asking her or demanding she do would be most appreciated.

Thanks
Tahdah

 

[Ali H]

Go and bang their door down. I had readings like yours 3 weeks ago. My fasting after 15 hours was 14 on my Dad's meter so I trotted off to my GP. He gave me metformin but I have IBS which I did tell him but still, the inevitable happened and I was glued to the loo for the weekend.

On the Monday he gave me Gliclazide, 2 X 80 mg and now 2 1/2 weeks later I am consistently getting readings of 7.3/7.4 thankfully.

Like you, I had severe thirst and a pounding headache. You cannot continue with those symptoms. The only dietary change I have made is to cut out sugar in coffee and minimise chocolate consumption, also switched to no sugar squash which I loathe but hey, that's life. Also switched to brown rice/spaghetti/pasta and granary bread. I have been walking the dogs more too but as I have a prolapsed disc in my back which is playing up, I haven't been able to exercise this week at all.

My GP said my progress was great and better than expected so you should be seeing much better reductions than you are for a similar timescale. If he won't listen then wait til after hours and present yourself to A and E and just maybe you will get to see a specialist with levels like that.

Ali

 

[Dollyrocker]

I'd be incliued to cut all carbs to the bare minimum until you're back to single figures at least and then gradually introduce them back in small amounts to see what you can tolerate without going sky high.

Are you still using a meter? Have they prescribed test-strips for it?

 

[Tahdah]

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I am using a meter, they have got me testing 7 times a day at the moment. They have been fine about prescribing me boxes of test strips.

I will have a go at cutting carbs out totally and see what happens then, but I am not eating tons of carbs, I don't have fizzy drinks or anything like that.

This morning I had two slices of granary toast with an olive oil based spread on it and a cup of tea. I took 80mg of gliclazide and 500mg of metformin and my level two hours after was 16.1
Other than cutting all carbs out and do an Atkins style diet for a while I haven't got a clue what to do, though if I am not having any carbs and taking pills will that make the levels go too low ?

I am sorry I am probably sounding dumb, the diet advice I got from the nurse was a sheet of paper with eat things in this column and nothing in this one !

I just feel really fed up with it all now

 

[donnellysdogs]

You may well still feel awful because our bodies do not function well when our levels are high on a constant basis.

Are you eating any fruit? As this raised levels? Not all carbs come from starchy foods. Peas have carbs, lettuce, onions etc. I would keep a food diary for at least the next two weeks, and also ask to see a dietitian. I would show the nurse and dietitian the foods that you are eating. Make sure you list everything, seriously. I am on a pump, and I weigh and calculate even lettuce, onions, peppers etc.

It is suggested that 30% of diabetics actually underestimate how many carbs they are actually eating. (I was in that 30%) Do you eat anything with pastry etc? What about milk etc? It may be worth buying a carb counting book.

I don't know much about type 2 medication, but I would really analyse the foods as well. 2 pieces of granary bread alone can be up to 38 grams of carbs depending on thickness, make etc....

 

[hanadr]

Tahdah
Go to the Diabetes Uk website and search out a booklet which will tell you what level of care you have a right to expect and how to go about getting it as well as how to complain if you need to. Or phone the carelinenumber given
You aren't getting what you should at the moment. A Blood Glucose of 27 needs immediate treatment NOT "Wait until Tuesday!" In hospital, you would be given a dose of insulin to correct this at once.
If you let this continue, you run the risk of SERIOUS illness
Hana

 

[anniep]

Tahdah I find that my body won't process carbohydrate, at all of a morning. So I can't eat a carby breakfast - though I can eat carbs for lunch :?: I have a cooked breakfast with no carbs whatsoever. I save the carbs for after 12.00

Why don't you try and see if your metabolism is extra sluggish in the morning (or even at other times of the day) maybe have something like an omelette instead of the toast.

 

[AliB]

I can't process carbs very well at all either so have to be low-carb whether I wanted to be or not.

By being low-carb though I have been able to reduce my insulin and metformin right down to a quarter of what I was taking originally, and lots of 'complications' have got better and gone.

I always seem to have had issues with carbs, even long before I was Diabetic - I used to get a lot of hypos, and the fact that I have been overweight for years is a sure indicator that my body couldn't tolerate them. Whenever I ate low-carb in the past I always lost loads of weight and felt heaps better - it's a shame that the carbs kept pulling me back in.....I should have known better and stuck to it, but I spent too many years feeling sorry for myself. It wasn't till I finally realised that this stuff is damaging everyone to a greater or lesser degree that I was able to turn my back on it for good.

Not being able to digest it at all really has the tendency to focus your mind............

I so wish I had cut the carbs back then - nice as they are - long before I ever had to end up on insulin. Since cutting them two years ago I am no longer insulin resistant - I just don't produce much insulin if any myself any more.

My BG levels are always in or around normal range, and I no longer crave or even desire the carbs, especially now I know what they have done to me. I have gone back to eating the way our ancestors ate before processed food and sugar came on the scene and my body and my health is very grateful for it, I can tell you! My diet is far more nutritionally rich than it ever was when I was eating the carbs, and I am never hungry, and have no desire to pick, snack or overeat any more, like I did when I was on the carbs. I'm sure it was my body telling me it needed more nutrition - but all I was doing was stuffing carbs which weren't supplying them!

It is very hard to start with when the Supermarket shelves are groaning under the weight of all the carby and sugary 'treats', but you do get used to it. I just avoid those aisles now and just head for the meat, fish and vegetable sections.

I also know quite a few non-diabetic people who have healed from other ailments by dumping the processed carbs, so I know it's not just Diabetics who are being damaged by it. It takes far more in the way of nutrition away from the body than it ever gives, and if the body is deficient in certain nutritional elements something has to give sooner or later.

I hope you manage to get this sorted - it is quite frightening when your numbers are so high. I started off like that but couldn't get mine out of double figures, even on Metformin, insulin and latterly Byetta.

By going low-carb though, my HbA1c has dropped from 13 to in the 5s, and I am more than happy with that.

Ali.

 

[Tahdah]

Thanks for all the wonderful advice everybody, it's much appreciated.

I saw the nurse and she was much more helpful than previously, I have had my meds increased to 3 x 500mg of metformin and 2 x 80mg gliclazide to see what effect that has. She said normally they would increase meds gradually over months but given the high readings she is going to increase over weeks depending on the results. She also mentioned Byetta, though she also said that if my readings stay as high they may skip that and go straight onto insulin

She is also going to call me twice a week over next few weeks to see how I am getting on and to take note of the readings, so a big improvement in care from previous few weeks.

Can I ask if anyone gets a sharp nagging pain under the middle/ left side of their tummy under their ribs ? Is this caused by the meds ?

Thanks Again

 

[Sue Morton]

Hi I don't know if its the same pain but I was on an antibiotic (before being disgnosed as type 2)and had that sharp pain left side under ribs its where your stomach is and I was having a reaction to the coating of the antibiotic tablet which was invented to make the slow release of the antibiotic. So it could be that one of your tablets is reacting in your stomach. I'm not a doctor and can't advise you but it does sound similar to what I felt. I would read the side effects of what you are taking and see if this is one of them.

But don't let all the side effects scare you as pharmaceutical companies have to list these even if 1 person was effected in a billion of people. They also just list all possible side effects because of the possibility of being sued.

Sue

 

[Tahdah]

Hi All

I just wanted to come back and say thanks for all the excellent advice and to update you on all the awful goings on I have had in last few weeks.

I have been rather ill, it seems I am allergic to Metformin, I came out in an awful rash, sores in my mouth and just feeling absolutely awful, it's taken two weeks to start feeling slightly more human. It also seems I have chronic pancreatitis for my sins, I am off for a scan tonight to assess the damage and to see whats going on.

My doctor and the diabetic specialist believe I have something called LADA, which is what they said is like a type 1.5 diabetes, least thats how the explained it to me. I can't tolerate the the diabetic tablets and to be honest even on 2 x 80 Gliclazide and 1500 mg of Met my levels were still in the high teens, so I have been to see the specialists today and I am starting Insulin, not quite sure how I feel about that tbh, it all seems to have happened really quickly and I haven't got my head around it. I am having a mix of fast acting and long lasting insulin twice a day, via a pen.

I am not sure what it means, does having to start insulin relatively early in life mean I will suffer complications in the future or does getting control (hopefully !) earlier mean I would be less likely to suffer complications ?
I am 40 by the way, which is apparently the new 30 or so I'm told !!

Many Thanks
Tahdah

 

[mrawfell]

Your levels are way way to high, and remember, not to scare you, but at these levels you could be doing some serious damage. You must get it sorted by people who know. If it is being requested you test 7 times a day, then they are concerned. This is far higher than typical. However I am puzzled by the apparent lack of action. As you may realise newly weds are thought to have significant physical exercise more than most, so the nurse's comment leaves me stone cold. Is that the problem they are incompetent ? However the A & E suggestions to me are good advice, you need action, not the treatment you are getting.