Blood sugar levels and neuropathy

kaazoom

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It has been a long time since I last logged in and posted here. Probably because my other health issue, ME/CFS (commonly called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), has taken up most of my thinking. I have sort of been ignoring my diabetes. I have type 2 diabetes, which was diagnosed in Sept 2009. I have been ill with ME/CFS since 2005 and haven't been able to work since. I have a lot of neurological symptoms many of which are listed here http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/.

This has of course made me wonder if my symptoms have actually been caused by undiagnosed diabetes rather than ME/CFS. I had problems that may have been diabetes related back in the late 1990s, needing to pee very regularly, constant dry mouth, problems with my eyes when driving at night and dizzy spells. I saw the doctor about needing to get up in the night to pee (I'm not sure I mentioned about this being the same during the day) and prostate problems were suspected. I don't remember having a fasting blood test done at that time. As for the over problems I ignored them.

The first blood test for diabetes I remember having was in 2008 while in hospital. I was told I was borderline diabetic and the consultant said he would ask my GP to carry out another test. I am not sure if this was done. I changed doctors in late 2008 and in 2009 I was given a fasting blood test and found to have type 2 diabetes. I have hypertension too which was diagnosed in early 2005. Having read some of the articles on the Blood Sugar 101 website, I am wondering if in fact I have had high blood sugar levels for a lot longer than 2 years, and if they have in fact been too high and causing me damage since the late 90s.

Since being diagnosed I have been very lapse about controlling my blood sugar. My last A1c test back in September last year was 8.9 . I am not taking any drugs for it. A couple of weeks ago I decided there was nothing much I could do about my ME/CFS, but there is something I can do about my hypertension, diabetes and weight. I started to diet which has started to reduce my weight, but more importantly it has brought down my blood sugar levels. This seems to have led to a reduction in my supposed ME/CFS symptoms. One of the problems I have is the doctor always assumes my symptoms are down to ME/CFS and forgets the symptom overlap there is with it and diabetes.

Before I started to diet I rarely got a BG reading of under 12 even first thing in the morning, I am now getting readings in the 8s. But even that isn't consistent as this morning my BG was 12 before I ate anything. It seems strange that my A1C tests seem to show that although my BG is high it isn't too high, my own readings using a monitor have, until recently, rarely shown a level under 12 and was often 16 or 18.

The fact I have seen some improvement since changing my diet has spurred me on to try and get a much tighter control of my diabetes. What I really want to do is get back to work, and even if it is just a possibility that most of my symptoms are caused by diabetes, it is well worth trying to get it under control. Although if my symptoms are diabetes related I am not sure how many of them can be reversed or if the damage is permanent.

Paul
 

cugila

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Depends on how bad your Neuropathy is as to whether it can be reversed or not. High Bg levels will cause the onset and the progression of the condition.

HbA1c is only an average which is why we advocate testing frequently. The HbA1c will always miss the daily highs and lows.........daily testing is more accurate.
 

kaazoom

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I was just looking at the basic information page, especially the bit from the NICE guidelines that says:

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

I can see I am still way over these levels even now. I am sure I wasn't given this information when I was diagnosed. I was also told nothing about cutting down on carbs. In fact the seriousness of the diagnosis seemed to be played down by both my GP and the nurse. I am now testing myself regularly throughout the day. I am going to get all the information about controlling my diet and work at getting my BG down.

Paul
 

cugila

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Good to see you are taking things on board Paul. Hopefully we can get you back on track and lessen or avoid those complications.

As for our advice.......we think ALL Diabetic's should be given this sort of advice when diagnosed, not just left to their own devices. A friend yesterday showed a copy of it to a GP who read it and commented that it was all good advice...... we must be doing something right ! :D

ATB.
 

kaazoom

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41
Thank you for the encouragement.

I can see this is going to be a struggle to get right. All I have eaten this morning is a small bowl of porridge and yet 4 hours later my BG is still 10! I had this problem when I tried to control things before, it didn't matter what I ate my BG was still high. By the way the readings in the 8s i wrote about were before eating not afterwards. It would seem that any amount of carbs is enough to make my BG spike too high. So the search is on to find a regime that works for me and not get discouraged when it doesn't.

Paul
 

sugarless sue

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It's not only the amount of carbs but also the kind of carbs that is the problem. Porridge ( Oats) are a slow acting carb so will affect you later.

You need to read up on carbs and test regularly to see which ones are best for you.
 

sugarless sue

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The best source for carbs is the 'Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible 2011' a book not a web site.

The problem with a lot of on-line carb sites is that they are US based and they count their carbs differently from us.

The Forum here also has plenty advice on various carbs.
 

kaazoom

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41
I am still managing to get my BG levels down. I am managing to keep my levels down in the single figures. Still often over 8 but much better than they were. I am not feeling ill all of the time, my concentration, which has been really bad for the past 5 years, has improved, I have more feeling in my feet, I have less muscle spasming in my legs which means my gait is almost back to normal and less pain. My gait has been very badly affected. I have been able to do lots of walking and yesterday drove for the first time in about 3 years. I had stopped driving as my concentration was so poor.

I still can't be sure that this is all down to better BG control. My ME/CFS diagnosis means this could just be a remission. However, I still wonder whether I haven't had ME/CFS all these years but instead uncontrolled diabetes. I was reading the information the World Health Organisation has about diabetes and testing for it. It says that 30% of people with diabetes are not picked up on the fasting blood test, they are only recognised when a oral glucose tolerance test is done. This does make sense to me. The fasting blood test measures blood after not eating for longer than you may usually do. Most people eat something at least every 4 hours and often have an occasional snack too. Which would logically suggest they are always topping up their BG and not allowing it to go down.

One thing I have noticed, but never related it to diabetes, is my concentration is better in the mornings before breakfast. It then plummeted afterwards and reading and thinking would become difficult. Since lowering my carbs this hasn't been the case.

Time will tell if this vast improvement is down to better glucose control and not a ME/CFS remission. Convincing my GP that perhaps I have had diabetes longer than 2 years and that it is the cause of my ill health will probably be impossible. But if this recovery continues I will be able to work again, which will be great.

I am keeping a diary of what I am eating including how many carbs, my BG levels throughout the day and how I am functioning. I am s glad I came back to this forum. I wish I'd listened more when I was here 2 years ago.

Paul
 
C

catherinecherub

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Hi kaazoom,

I am so pleased that things are improving for you. Keep up the good work.
 

Madame P

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Hi Kaazoom

I'm a bit concerned about the fact your AB1c level was lasted noted at 8.9! :shock: Mine is currently 7.7 but when it was 8.5 I was told I had background retinopathy. Your doctor should be shot at dawn methinks since he/she is blatantly disregarding your diabetic symptoms. He should be treating all your symptoms not just the ME/CFS. Why hasn't he tried you on some blood sugar lowering medication? I think you should go back to your Dr straight away and get some medication prescribed accordingly. If he isn't too hot on that ask him to refer you to a specialist diabetic clinic. You need also to get your eyes tested every year too.

YOu mentioned you had some problems with your sight whist driving at night and if your sight test shows you've had some damage then it can be rectified with laser treatment or so I'm told.

Good luck - and not meaning to scare you either but put a rocket up the backside of that GP of yours.

Regards, Madame P
 

kaazoom

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41
I may have got my AB1c figures wrong :oops: as I was quoting from memory. I am not sure where I've put the results. I hadn't been taking my diabetes seriously. I know the DN was a bit concerned and said the doctor hadn't seen or commented on them.

I have just had the results of my retina scans and everything is normal. I have started to wear glasses in the last couple of years , so it may be that it was just a deterioration in my eyesight due to age. Having said that I have noticed I've had much less eye pain since getting my BG down. I managed to get it down to 7.2 two hours after meals a couple of times yesterday, I am really pleased with myself. All of the symptoms that have plagued me in the past 5 years have either gone or lessened considerably. If this continues I could be able to go back to work which would be great. :)

I have got to have another AB1c test in the next couple of weeks.

Paul
 

kaazoom

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It looks a if the vast improvement in my health had little to do with my better BG control and more to do with a remission of my ME/CFS. The muscles in my legs and arms went back into spasm again last night and it is like I have forgotten how to walk properly again! Very frustrating. :(


I am going to continue with trying to reduce my BG though as it must be making some difference.
 

Madame P

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I'm also :( for you suffering from the ME/CFS - it must be hard to cope with that and the diabetes on top. Try to keep cheerful and remember all the good things you have already achieved especially improving your bs just with what you eat.

All the best Madame P
 

Serena51

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Paul, I've had ME/CFS for 15 years and the diabetes diagnosis was a real blow to me 8 years ago so I know where you're coming from.

I too have thought that maybe there had been a diagnostic mistake but have found the ME symptoms are different.

For the spasms in your legs (arms as well in my case) I would suggest that you speak to your gp as I was given Baclofen and then Gabapentin for these and it definitely helped.

jane
 

kaazoom

Active Member
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41
Thank you Jane.

The problem is M.E. causes so many symptoms that can be also caused by diabetic neuropathy. So many people think it is just about being tired all of the time, but as I am sure you are aware this isn't the case. I have many neurological symptoms :(

I suppose the key I keep forgetting is the link between activity and the worsening of symptoms that is probably the thing that distinguishes M.E. from anything else. I have had short periods in the past where I have seemed to recover, they usually last 2 or 3 days and then I crash and often end up worse than I was before! This time it coincided with getting my BG down and lasted longer, so it made me start to wonder. I know getting my BG down has made a difference, but just not as great as I hoped. So I am going to continue to take my diabetes and BG control seriously. I may not be able to do anything about the M.E., but I can make a difference to my diabetes.

I will look into Gabapentin. Thank you.

Paul