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Type 2 High Blood Sugars

E

etabgeo

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I had a major aneurysm operation in June 2015 and I have had consistently high blood sugar readings. Sought advice from many health professionals but nobody has sorted out my problem. I have suffered with watery bowel movements since my operation and have to go half a dozen times during the day. Can anyone diagnose my bowel problem as this is obviously the cause of my blood sugars spiking. I suspect C Difficile. Does anyone agree?
 
We can't diagnose your problem since we aren't doctors. There is a test for C Diff that a doctor can run for you. Two months isn't a very long time after major surgery for things to still be settling down somewhat.
 
CatLadyNZ said:
We can't diagnose your problem since we aren't doctors. There is a test for C Diff that a doctor can run for you. Two months isn't a very long time after major surgery for things to still be settling down somewhat.
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I have provided my GP with a stool sample and the results are expected by the middle of next week. My problem is that my blood sugars are so high I am worried that I may go into a coma before then. My last reading 2 hours after my breakfast says "Hi", the first fasting reading was 28.4. These types of reading have been taken for the last week and yet the diabetic clinic do not seem concerned. I cannot ignore the situation and yet I do not know who to go to next.
 
etabgeo said:
I have provided my GP with a stool sample and the results are expected by the middle of next week. My problem is that my blood sugars are so high I am worried that I may go into a coma before then. My last reading 2 hours after my breakfast says "Hi", the first fasting reading was 28.4. These types of reading have been taken for the last week and yet the diabetic clinic do not seem concerned. I cannot ignore the situation and yet I do not know who to go to next.
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That does seem odd. I wonder what the emergency department would do.
 
As you are awaiting for the results from your stool sample then it is very difficult to advise you. A typical days menu might help as you may be eating foods that will raise your blood sugars.

Have you been diagnosed recently or if not, what have your blood sugars been like prior to the operation?
Are you taking any medications? Some of these may raise your blood sugars.

If you feel you need some medical intervention now then I suggest that you attend a walk-in-centre or A@E.
 
CatLadyNZ said:
That does seem odd. I wonder what the emergency department would do.
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I have tried that twice now and after sitting there for over 4 hours on each occasion, they have tested my bloods and declared that I should talk to my diabetes specialist nurse. I think I have spoken to him at least once (sometimes twice) every day this past week and he is loath to push up my insulin above 32 units twice a day. This past week I have been to A&E twice, out of hours GP service twice, GP twice and constantly phoned the Diabetes Centre. I do not know who to go to now.
 
etabgeo said:
I have tried that twice now and after sitting there for over 4 hours on each occasion, they have tested my bloods and declared that I should talk to my diabetes specialist nurse. I think I have spoken to him at least once (sometimes twice) every day this past week and he is loath to push up my insulin above 32 units twice a day. This past week I have been to A&E twice, out of hours GP service twice, GP twice and constantly phoned the Diabetes Centre. I do not know who to go to now.
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I'm so sorry to hear that. If I were in your shoes I'd be beside myself with frustration and worry. I don't know enough about high BGs and insulin to be able to advise you. Hopefully others who do, will come into this thread and comment.

As a last resort, if possible, you could pay to see a specialist privately. They tend not to fob people off so easily. Can you go to the diabetes centre, and just refuse to leave until they do something? What is your DSN's reason for not increasing the insulin? What effect is he worried about?
 
CatLadyNZ said:
I'm so sorry to hear that. If I were in your shoes I'd be beside myself with frustration and worry. I don't know enough about high BGs and insulin to be able to advise you. Hopefully others who do, will come into this thread and comment.

As a last resort, if possible, you could pay to see a specialist privately. They tend not to fob people off so easily. Can you go to the diabetes centre, and just refuse to leave until they do something? What is your DSN's reason for not increasing the insulin? What effect is he worried about?
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I am worried sick that something serious will happen because of the consistently high blood sugars but I am the only one who seems to be taking this seriously. It is the week-end so there is no diabetes staff on duty and no emergency service. The diabetic consultant that I was under in my second hospital has gone on holiday to China for about a month, and his able assistant has moved on to another function within the hospital.
The surgeon that performed my triple A aneurysm operation is on holiday and is not due back until next week. I asked to speak with the consultant (I volunteered to join his study group on Liraglitide a couple of years ago and managed to get his study published and he won a prize for the study) at the Diabetic Centre during last week but he is also on holiday. Every doctor that I have seen this week has given me a different theory as to what is spiking my blood sugars. Interestingly the mention of C Diff appears to trouble them, since it is a notifiable virus and hospital wards are immediately closed if this is suspected. I am 100% convinced that I have acquired the C Diff virus following my prolonged stays at two hospitals in my town, when extensive antibiotics were administered to me following AKI, Pneumonia and also two courses for "deep lying infections" which were never specifically identified at all. Believe me I could write a book about the last 8 weeks, and it is still going on.

Edited to remove Doctor's name.
 
@etabgeo it sounds like a nightmare :( Once you have got your health back on track, it sounds like a complaint or two might be a good idea.

Do you know much about diabetic ketoacidosis? Is that when the BG goes so high that the kidneys start dumping ketones and you can detect that in a urine sample? Is this the sort of situation we are talking about with BGs in the 20s? If so, can you get a urine test kit at a pharmacy or from one of these medical services?
 
I have had my ketones checked twice this week at a Walk-in centre some distance from where I live. Both appointments were after midnight with GPS and both tests were perfectly clear. Unfortunately for me, I have investigated every possible scenario and I have read many times that high blood sugars are very dangerous and also C Diff can damage my intestines and lead to further surgery. Death is possible with either of these conditions. That is why I am worried. I have been a type 2 diabetic since 2007 and my blood sugars prior to my surgery were constantly around 7. They are currently 30 and above. You can understand why I am frustrated.
 
I guess there is nothing you can do about a possible C Diff infection until you get the test results. Someone on this forum must know what to say about the high BGs and possibility of ketones or other effects. I hope they will post soon. If you feel unwell, sleepy, faint etc, call an ambulance. Sometimes arriving at A&E in an ambulance means they see you more quickly, as well as being the safest option if you think you might go unconscious. Do you have someone there with you?
 
CatLadyNZ said:
I guess there is nothing you can do about a possible C Diff infection until you get the test results. Someone on this forum must know what to say about the high BGs and possibility of ketones or other effects. I hope they will post soon. If you feel unwell, sleepy, faint etc, call an ambulance. Sometimes arriving at A&E in an ambulance means they see you more quickly, as well as being the safest option if you think you might go unconscious. Do you have someone there with you?
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My wife is with me so I can get to A&E easily. At the week-end there are only junior doctors available and the service is atrocious. I think I need an experienced diabetic doctor and these tend to be in short supply at the best of times, or on holiday in China! Your advice is appreciated and I will be monitoring my blood sugars every 2 hours. If my readings go above 30 I will have to bite the bullet and go to A&E, much to my annoyance that I will not be seen to for at least 3 hours.
 
Hi please tell us you're not one of those newly diagnose diabetics that have been advised to EAT CARBS?

What have you eaten over the last 24 hours?
 
rosserk said:
Hi please tell us you're not one of those newly diagnose diabetics that have been advised to EAT CARBS?

What have you eaten over the last 24 hours?
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I have been a diabetic since 2007. I have eaten the correct foods for years. My readings prior to my surgery were consistently around 7. My readings post-op are around the 30 mark. You need to read the full thread.
 
etabgeo said:
I have been a diabetic since 2007. I have eaten the correct foods for years. My readings prior to my surgery were consistently around 7. My readings post-op are around the 30 mark. You need to read the full thread.
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Apologies, there can be a delay in posts. I noticed once I'd posted but it was to late to retract. Sorry !
 
This article on DKA gives me the impression that even with high BG, you wouldn't have DKA unless you had the signs and symptoms of looking and feeling like ****, basically. There are a bunch of other lab tests that have to be abnormal besides BG.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/118361-overview

High BGs certainly do long term damage. Besides DKA, what exactly are the short term risks of high BG? (In terms of serious, acute illness).
 
If your readings were around 7, why are you on insulin? Or has that only been since the surgery?
 
If I was you then I would go to A@E and be assertive.
You have high blood sugars and you need to know the cause and what steps are they going to take to reduce them as they are unacceptable over a period of time due to possible repercussions of DKA or H.O.N.K. (Not sure which would apply to a Type2 on insulin.)

Junior Doctors cannot deal with everything and there are more Snr. Staff that they can contact. They probably won't get any brownie points for doing so but your condition needs investigating.
 
catherinecherub said:
If I was you then I would go to A@E and be assertive.
You have high blood sugars and you need to know the cause and what steps are they going to take to reduce them as they are unacceptable over a period of time due to possible repercussions of DKA or H.O.N.K. (Not sure which would apply to a Type2 on insulin.)

Junior Doctors cannot deal with everything and there are more Snr. Staff that they can contact. They probably won't get any brownie points for doing so but your condition needs investigating.
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This is so true. There are always senior doctors on call that they can contact 24/7. They can even contact nearby larger hospitals if they have to. For senior doctors, being available for complex emergency cases is their job. An ICU specialist should be able to handle this, and they are always available in the hospital network.

I am reading an article about hyperglycemic crises, which covers DKA and HHS. The latter is hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, and the threshold BG for that is 33.3 mmol/l, plus certain other lab values that relate to the hyperosmolar part of it.

I'd be asking for a thorough explanation of why they are satisfied that you are not at risk of HHS or DKA, for that matter.

Here's the article if you are interested:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699725/
 
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