Hypoglycemia

[daisy3174]

Hi there, can someone please help! Since my sister in law did 2 fasting glucose meter readings for me, both a bit high,8.8mmol and the other a bit lower, I bought a meter to test my own.I have felt unwell for a long time, going from a highly energetic person to someone who feels like they are on their last legs! I am 37 years old and have been a runner since I was 15, and still throw myself out of the door to run 2 -3 miles 5 nights a week. Since I have had my meter I have had readings from 3.3mmol to 13.8 mmol ( 1/2 and hour after eating) What has scared me to death is that at 3.8mmol and 3.3 mmol I felt so ill, shaking, shivering and out of it, it has happened while driving which is scary.I drank 2 mouthfuls of Lucozade on the 3.3mmol and went to 7.8 in 15 minutes.Also any reading under 4.5 leaves me feeling very shaky (although I believe this is a normal reading) When my blood sugar is high I feel fine.My moods are unbelievable, like a yo-yo, my daughter says I am bi-polar but I know I am not.Also I have noticed, if I go running it will go up 5mmol or so, I though exercise should bring BG down.This is all so strange, but I do not want to go to the doctor, although my sugar can go low so quickly, I will be fine one minute, then BANG! I have read a lot about Hypoglycemia, and the only difference I have is that mine also goes HIGH.The lows are scary when you are driving with your 5 year old in the car.Please help, I am so sick of feeling sick,thankyou, daisy3174



Posts: 4
Joined: October 4th, 2011, 11:18 am

 

[anna29]

Hi Daisy3174
Your profile dosent give your type of diabetes or any diabetic treatment.
So members can help you , please could you let us know if you have actually been diagnosed and what type?
As with type1 or type2 the treatments and symptoms can and will vary a lot.
Regarding your symptoms if you arnt eating enough to sustain you after activity it can/will leave you feeling bit weak and shaky.
Let us know if you have been diagnosed and what diabetic type 1/2 then we can help you more.
Anna.x

 

[daisy3174]

Thankyou for your reply.I have not been to a doctor ( I hate going).I have only been testing on the advice of my sister in law ( who is Type 1) because she had done a few tests for on her meter for me because of my symptoms and she said the results were not normal and to go to the doctor, but I bought my own meter instead.I have definately been having these "Hypo" things for a while but just didnt know what they were until I had my meter to measure.I just always used to reach for something to eat as I was starving with these symptoms so it used to work, Daisy

 

[Hobs]

What ever your type, if you are experiencing hypos, then you should NOT be driving. To drive in such a condition is not only thoroughly irresponsible it is also illegal. You should consult your GP straight away and explain accurately what you have been experiencing.

Good luck and please come back and let us all know how you got on.

 

[anna29]

Hi daisy3174.
It really is best to pop along to have a chat with your GP [ try just making an appt for a talk only ]
Then you will maybe find it easier to attend going to see your doctor?
Write a list down before you go of any questions or concerns you have , take the list with you when you go?
Ask your sister to go along with you for moral support?
We cant diagnose or advise on here as we arent medically trained or qualified.
If you are eventually diagnosed then we can support and steer you according to your diabetic type.
Best to go and see your GP ASAP and maybe NOT drive untill you have seen him/her...
As you already say it is worrying you with your 5 year old in the car with you.
I say this out of concern for your little child...
Let us know how you go on, we can help and support you, but first you must help yourself .
Anna.x

 

[daisy3174]

Thankyou Anna, yes I really must go, I just hate making a fuss at the doctors, I always feel as if I am putting them out x

 

[daisy3174]

Thanks Hobs, yes I agree, I have been taking a bottle of Lucozade everywhere I go because, it happens so suddenly,I just wonder if a doctor will take me seriously though, although I have the evidence of my Meter showing my low readings.I have read on some sites on the Internet that 3.3 and 3.8 are normal readings.However I know it isnt for me, if it was I would not have these terrible symptoms.Also I read that only a dabetic who is using insulin can get Hypo,s, thanks Daisy3174 x

 

[Grazer]

Daisy, the doctor won't necessarily be too impressed with your LOW readings, non-diabetics can have levels like that easily. My non-diabetic daughter does and gets the shakes etc. The danger with hypos is when your taking insulin or heavy-duty sugar lowering drugs which you're not. Then, you can go very low and it becomes dangerous. That's not to say you shouldn't discuss it with him in case of other problems, but what you SHOULD impress on your doctor is the reading of 13.8 which, at any stage after eating, could be symptomatic of diabetes. As others have said, we're not doctors, but 13.8 is high.
Good luck with the doctor, and do get along there.

 

[daisy3174]

Thanks for that, does anyone know, if Hypoglycemia can cause these HIGH sugar levels too, as well as the low ones?

 

[Fallenstar]

Its the swing between the two which cause the most symptoms!
Hi Daisy
Those are not Blood glucose readings of a Non diabetic, you need to see your HCP ASAP to get things sorted out.
You will feel very low at 3.8 or whatever because I suspect you are probably in a lot higher than normal figures a lot of the time ,if you are getting readings into double figures after meals. You need help soon, before you get very poorly.

Fluctuations in BG will effect and cause bad mood swings I'm afraid ,so this will explain the Bi polar feelings ,observations by others at times.
When you run and your BG goes up ,it is because your Cell's have not got enough insulin to get the Glucose they need from your blood for energy, You are demanding energy during your run, so your Liver is dumping to try and compensate for the energy deficit and is just pumping out more Glucose due to your Cells being starved of glucose/energy. This is why your Blood Glucose goes up not down during exercise...lack of insulin to your cells.
It is dangerous to run with high Glucose that is not going to come down over the course of the run. It can cause DKA very quickly. Either you have not got enough insulin or your Cells are insulin resistant. You could be early Type 1, get it checked now before you get poorly. I would hazard a guess at this, as you are thin..and the exercise is pushing you up instead of down..sounds like it could be this to me..but it is only a guess and you must see your Dr.

Come back and let us know how you get on..Ooo and welcome to the forum :wave:

 

[reidpj]

Hi

As has been stated above; you must seek professional medical advise a.s.a.p. But, in the meantime, you may want to Google 'reactive hypoglycemia'.

Hope this helps

 

[daisy3174]

Thankyou Fallenstar, that is extremely helpful, and makes a lot of sense and you have all encouraged me to make a doctors appointment which I shall do tomorrow, will follow up after my visit, thankyou all x

 

[Snodger]

Thanks for that, does anyone know, if Hypoglycemia can cause these HIGH sugar levels too, as well as the low ones?

it may help to know that:
"hypoglycaemia" literally means "too little blood sugar"
"hyperglycaemia" literally means "too much blood sugar"

doctors just like to translate things into greek and latin! sometimes it's easier to understand if you can translate it back into English.

good luck at the doc's.

 

[daisy3174]

Thanks, I have read that hypoglycemia causes either a flat line curve with all low values or cause a spike then a quick drop.But I dont see values in Hypoglycemics going as high as 12s and 13s.Plus mine will always spike at 1/2 and hour, so I will have 6.0mmol, starting BG, then 1/2 hour after a meal, 12 - 13.8mmol, then 1 hour, 10mmol and usually 7-8 mmol at 2 hours, the big drop will come a few hours later.These values are not really Diabetic range are they? Only the 1/2 hour reading, which they would not get on a GTT, as they measure at 1 hour and 2 hour intervals, thanks Daisy

 

[Grazer]

These values are not really Diabetic range are they?

Not a doctor, but I'd say yes.

 

[daisy3174]

Ok thanks.Am I right in saying that normal values for a GTT are these-:
Fasting - 5.5mmol - 7mmol
1 Hour - Less than 11.1mmol
2 Hours - Less than 7.7mmol

 

[daisy3174]

Hi,I decided to try and do my own home GTT, before I go to a Doc to make sure I am not making a fuss about nothing.I took readings every half hour, to see if there was a pattern, I drank a 368ml (small bottle) of Original Lucozade and washed hand thouroughly in between.Results were -:

9.05 - Fasting - 6.5mmol
9.20 - 10.9mmol ( did this after 15 mins to see how quick it was getting into my system)
9.35 - 10.1mmol
10.05 - 8.7mmol
10.35 - 4.2mmol (felt v shaky at this point even though it is normal)
11.05 - 5.5mmol Had 1/2 a can of Lemonade as I was really thirsty)
11.35 - 9.3mmol
12.05 - 8.2mmol

Went running this evening and reading was 4.8mmol only to rise to 8.7mmol.I really dont want to go to docs if these are okay and you guys on here probably know more than a lot of doctors, thanks in advance for any info x

 

[Fallenstar]

Hi Daisy
you certainly won't be seen as making a fuss, you need to go see your HCP with these figures and get checked out. You certainly are making insulin there is no doubt about that, as before I was diagnosed a can of Lemonade would have taken me up into the high 20's , higher even if my starting point was pre diagnosie :shock:
But things don't look right for you either, and you need to see a Diabetic specialist , so you can at least keep an eye on things with some professional help.

good luck Hun, let us know how you go on....BUT GO :wink: :lol:

 

[Grazer]

Trouble is daisy, in your first post you said you had readings of 13.8 We don't know if the lucozade quantity is the same as the glucose you'd have on an OGTT, so see the doc and make sure.

 

[douglas99]

Go to the doctors.

Apart from the fact I didn't check my sugar, you sound exactly like me.
Moods, tiredness, lucozade.

I was diagnosed as type 2, put on metformin, and put myself on a low GL diet.

It's unbelievable, I'm feeling so much better, and much more pleasent to everyone.

edit - Just read the "lemonade" part. I couldn't drink enough either.