I've been diabetic for over a decade and it has been under control until last few years. My HbA1c levels over past 2 years have been going up, last test showed 111. I'm taking metformin two 500g x 2 a day. Dr now wants to put me on a combo of Glucoside [not sure of spelling]? and something else they've yet to discuss. I've agreed, but i'm panicked because I did a finger prick today few hours after eating, which I don't often do lately and it was 31.1. It's never been this high before so it's really shocked me. I've been pretty ill and health going down hill over past two years. I am scared i've let it run riot. I do take my tablets, i'm on several for various things but my Dr really scared me as she said the HbA1c was dangerously high levels that can have devastating impact so I must up my medication to a combination of drug. I was trying to lose more weight. I stupidly googled and read that at blood at 31 can cause hyperglycaemia now i'm panicked [maybe for nothing but i'm not sure if I need to do something today about the blood prick result]. I don't check daily so don't know how long its been that high. Can anyone relate to this. I'm worried as i'm on my own, no one will know if anything happens to me.
-
Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
jaywak
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 946
- Location
- Norwich
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Cold weather, angry people, queues,
I wish I could say something to alleviate your fears but with a blood sugar that high you ought to phone 111 and get some advice and possibly a trip to the hospital .
JoKalsbeek
Expert
- Messages
- 6,720
- Location
- The Netherlands
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Okay, so... That's high. And technically speaking, you're already hyperglycemic when you hit double digits, because, well, yeah... That's... High. Two more points up and your meter won't be able to give a reading, it'll just say "hi". Metformin doesn't do anything at all about what you eat, so... What have you been eating? Because it sounds like you've been eating a very high carb diet to get such high results. (Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested, so something as seemingly harmless as bread of potatoes can make you spike.). Key being, cutting the carbs. Though I have to admit, before I start telling you about cutting them, I think you might actually first want to call 111 and explain the situation to them. You're feeling unwell, your blood sugars are very, very high, and you really should see someone, today if possible. With being ill these past years, was that because of the blood sugars, or have you been unwell otherwise and taking medication for that, like steroids or statins? Because those medications can up glucose quite a bit as well. Just stuff to consider when you call 111, which I, again, strongly suggest you do. It's the kind of information that'll get you the right kind of help faster. High blood sugars, in the thirties, what medication you're on and that you're unwell. In a nutshell, that should get you help right quick. Please. Make the call.
That's for the short term.
For the long term, cut the carbs. No bread (not white, brown, wholemeal, none of the grain stuff!), pasta, potatoes, rice, cereal, corn... All of those things are high in starches, and starches turn to glucose once ingested. So those are a no go, besides the obvious sugary stuff... Stick with meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, fish, those (unbattered) with leafy greens or above ground veg. But that's all for a later date....
Fow now, call for help. I think you might need insulin to bring your blood sugars down faster than a diet would be able to. And I know it's hard to ask for help from the pro's, especially this close to the holidays, but... Please. Do make the phonecall. Once you're on insulin it's not like you're stuck with it for life, you can get rid of it again, most likely. But right now, those blood sugars need to drop.
Just. You know. Make the call. Make the call. Make the call. And keep us posted eh.
Hugs,
Jo
Hi Jo
Thank you. I'm waiting for my dr to call again. Yes I eat a lot of carbs, I have an eating disorder too. But I know i've been out of control, all sorts going on that have not helped. My Dr has already said they have discussed other meds and will start me on new medication next week. Stupidly I hadn't done the blood prick before she called. Dr said to wait till next week but i've since left her the message and receptionist said she'll call again. I've got different illnesses, I do take a steroid inhaler. I've not been well since I had covid and then had blood clots. Doesn't help that i'm morbidly obese too i'm very aware, I have lost 6 stones but have lots to still lose. It's all a bit much recently. I will get it sorted.
JoKalsbeek
Expert
- Messages
- 6,720
- Location
- The Netherlands
- Type of diabetes
- I reversed my Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
It's a rare T2 diabetic that is "blessed" with just diabetes.... We all deal with a myriad of conditions, as it seldom comes alone. I think you'll find a lot of sympathetic ears here. My husband just came home so i don't have long to write, but... Carbs are addictive. They trigger the same pleasure points in the brain hard drugs do. So it's not easy to kick them. And with an eating disorder as well, it makes things a bit heavier... Try doing swaps. Instead of crisps, pork scratching for instance. Still decadent, but they won't make so much as a blip on your meter. Fatty pieces of meat, none of the lean stuff, tuck into that bacon, go for the eggy breakfast with high meat content sausages... If it doesn't feel like you're depriving yourself of anything, it may be a bit easier. want something sweet, have some cheese instead, or extra dark chocolate. (85% and up). There are ways to make this work for you. I haven't felt my inhaler impacted my blood sugars much, it's more the steroid injections and tablets that trip me up, so I'm hoping your inhaler isn't too bad either. Anyway, all that said... There are several methods of tackling this. It can be diet, it can be medication, (with or without insulin), it can be a combination of those things.... You will find that fits your lifestyle, your body and your mindset. And keep in mind that Covid messes with people's blood sugars too... I don't know whether there are numbers, but we had quite the influx of new diabetics who were fine before they had it, not so fine afterwards, blood sugar-wise.
You don't have to deal with any of this alone. I hope your doc's gotten back to you. https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html And this might help some get your diet sorted, somewhat.... It can't do anything about an eating disorder, but it might help you make better choices when eating.
Hang in there.
Hugs,
Jo
