HI! New here - blood sugar issues, odd readings from Libre 2?

[Replenished]

Hi all,
I hope somebody might be able to help. I've had some ongoing health issues for several years which have never really gotten a concrete diagnosis but at the same time seem to be taking a toll on me and various systems in my body. I am always thirsty, urinating and dehydrated, yet my Hba1c and fasting glucose have always been normal/comfortably in range. I was also tested for diabetes insipidus which was negative.

Anyway, i'm working with a functional medicine doctor and he recommended the libre 2 as I seem to have episodes of feeling as though I have low blood sugar, where I become very weak, faint, foggy headed and generally feel terrible until I eat something and then these symptoms subside somewhat. Upon setting the libre 2 up a few days ago, my fasting glucose has typically been above 6, but below 7, so by that I suppose it's looking like I am pre-diabetic. Although this is where i'm confused. I have noticed a consistent trend, that for example before I eat my reading is around 6.6 on average. But when I eat, something small, my blood sugar actually drops, rather than rises. It's happened every day i've had the device. I've gone on a low carb diet and last night I woke about 3am feeling like I was hypo, very weak and heavy, so I tested my level with the libre and to my surprise it was 6.8. But my body was telling me I desperatly needed some carbs, I had a bite of watermelon in desperation and then some celery with hummus to try not to spike my blood sugar too much. I then took the readings from the Libre for the next 45mins and they went down from the 6.8, gradually to 5.1!. The same happened today, I managed to go to the gym to do some weights, a short workout. I came home, took a reading, it was 6.7. I had a whey protein shake with almond milk. The again watched by readings drop from the 6.7 down to 4.9 over the next 30mins.

Does this make any sense whatsoever? Is there something very strange going on with my blood sugar that could possibly cause this, or do I have a dodgy device?

 

[jonathan183]

Suggest you share your readings with the functional medicine doctor. I also suggest you keep a record of what you eat and when, that way any patterns with the food/symptoms/and CGM readings can be compared.
Hypoglycaemia is blood glucose levels below 4 mmol/l, a rapid fall in blood glucose can also give hypo symptoms.

 

[Replenished]

Suggest you share your readings with the functional medicine doctor. I also suggest you keep a record of what you eat and when, that way any patterns with the food/symptoms/and CGM readings can be compared.
Hypoglycaemia is blood glucose levels below 4 mmol/l, a rapid fall in blood glucose can also give hypo symptoms.

Yes, I have sent the results to the functional medicine doctor. I was just wondering if there's any logic in blood sugar actually going down after eating, which the readings seem to suggest, rather than it going up which one would expect. Or perhaps a just have a faulty freestyle libre 2.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi all,
I hope somebody might be able to help. I've had some ongoing health issues for several years which have never really gotten a concrete diagnosis but at the same time seem to be taking a toll on me and various systems in my body. I am always thirsty, urinating and dehydrated, yet my Hba1c and fasting glucose have always been normal/comfortably in range. I was also tested for diabetes insipidus which was negative.

Anyway, i'm working with a functional medicine doctor and he recommended the libre 2 as I seem to have episodes of feeling as though I have low blood sugar, where I become very weak, faint, foggy headed and generally feel terrible until I eat something and then these symptoms subside somewhat. Upon setting the libre 2 up a few days ago, my fasting glucose has typically been above 6, but below 7, so by that I suppose it's looking like I am pre-diabetic. Although this is where i'm confused. I have noticed a consistent trend, that for example before I eat my reading is around 6.6 on average. But when I eat, something small, my blood sugar actually drops, rather than rises. It's happened every day i've had the device. I've gone on a low carb diet and last night I woke about 3am feeling like I was hypo, very weak and heavy, so I tested my level with the libre and to my surprise it was 6.8. But my body was telling me I desperatly needed some carbs, I had a bite of watermelon in desperation and then some celery with hummus to try not to spike my blood sugar too much. I then took the readings from the Libre for the next 45mins and they went down from the 6.8, gradually to 5.1!. The same happened today, I managed to go to the gym to do some weights, a short workout. I came home, took a reading, it was 6.7. I had a whey protein shake with almond milk. The again watched by readings drop from the 6.7 down to 4.9 over the next 30mins.

Does this make any sense whatsoever? Is there something very strange going on with my blood sugar that could possibly cause this, or do I have a dodgy device?

Hi @Replenished ,

Welcome to the forum. We cannot diagnose on the forum.

Any strange feelings should be backed up using a BG meter as well as the Libre.
Having said that. It appears after blood works you have no formal diabetic diagnosis.

Though, some of your symptoms could with a quick google seem like a hypo. With no real conclusive proof. It is hard to conclude what it was? (You are also not on any blood glucose lowering meds.?)

However. You may find this interesting & it maybe worth pursuing the hyper links in the article & speaking further with your HCP for further “rule out” tests..

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)

Hypoglycaemia is an abnormally low level of glucose in your blood (less than four millimoles per litre). Learn about its symptoms and treatment.

www.nhsinform.scot

Best wishes.

 

[jonathan183]

Yes, I have sent the results to the functional medicine doctor. I was just wondering if there's any logic in blood sugar actually going down after eating, which the readings seem to suggest, rather than it going up which one would expect. Or perhaps a just have a faulty freestyle libre 2.

Since you are getting consistent results each time you eat it is unlikely to be a faulty sensor. There are several mechanisms for adjusting blood glucose levels, some increase blood glucose and others reduce blood glucose levels.

 

[Replenished]

Since you are getting consistent results each time you eat it is unlikely to be a faulty sensor. There are several mechanisms for adjusting blood glucose levels, some increase blood glucose and others reduce blood glucose levels.

Yes, and one mechanism for increasing blood sugar would be eating....where as my sugar is doing completely the opposite when eating according to the device readings.

 

[catinahat]

Yes, and one mechanism for increasing blood sugar would be eating....where as my sugar is doing completely the opposite when eating according to the device readings.

I read a possible explanation for this some time ago, sorry I can't give any links to where it came from, I just can't remember.
The idea was that after a while of raised blood sugar our bodies get used to the higher levels. So overnight if our liver releases a little stored glucose, our bodies see that extra sugar as no big deal, there's no big demand for energy because you're asleep, so no need to ramp up insulin production to deal with it.
When you eat something however that extra bit of sugar pushes your levels high enough to make your pancreas sit up and take notice, your levels have now risen above what it's comfortable with so now it releases extra insulin and your level falls.
I have no idea if it's possible, I am no Dr or scientist, but to my uneducated brain it seems feasible

 

[jonathan183]

Yes, and one mechanism for increasing blood sugar would be eating....where as my sugar is doing completely the opposite when eating according to the device readings.

Eating fast acting carbohydrates will raise blood glucose concentrations, which is why it is used as a treatment for hypoglycaemia. Eating other things does not necessarily have an overall impact of increasing blood glucose concentration.
Having repeated similar responses is unlikely to be a problem with the sensor - please update us with what your functional medicine doctors conclusions