Heart racing 2-3 hours after dinner and leg rash

[ChezChez]

Hi, I am awaiting confirmation of diagnosis of T2 this week (had 3rd fasting blood this year this morning at GP) but upon checking it myself it before going it after fasting for 14 hours was 7.8 so I know from previous ones showing the same I'll be diagnosed, he told me if he had seen me back a few months ago I'd have been diagnosed then but no-one bothered to tell me. Previously gestational diabetic on high levels of insulin, bloods got up in the 20s towards end of pregnancy, my daughter was 9 pounds 10 ounces, however I was not overweight prior to, or during pregnancy. I am maybe a stone overweight at the moment.

I suffer from chronic UTIs, neuropathy in legs (I also have psoriatic arthritis), nausea, dizziness, sweating even if I'm not doing anything, blurred vision and what I think are episodes of low blood sugar if I do anything which exterts my body beyond my usual realms. I have also, over the past year, developed a symetrical rash on both of my legs which isn't psoriasis. I managed to see my GP and we both suspect it's necrobiosis lipoidica, I just wondered if anyone else has this and if it's OK for me to post pics as I'm hoping for some advice regarding treatments which aren't incredibly strong steroids that my GP prescribed.

Also for the past year after meals at night when I go to lie down my heart races, it's not anxiety and is definitely linked to food as if I skip dinner it doesn't happen. A year ago a GP told me it was reflux, but it went away, however it's now back with a vengeance. Can anyone tell me why this would be? I only eat one meal a day and know I need to overhaul my vegan, very restricted, diet (I believe I'm autistic and have issues around food). Any advice greatly welcomed. If I've posted this in the wrong place I apologise but I'm unfamiliar with the forum and still finding my way around, hoping to get a grip on things as currently have buried head in the sand and pretended it's not happening as I have so much else to cope with including my other health conditions and an autistic teenager who requires a lot of care and doesn't sleep, so neither do it. Thanks

 

[Dr Snoddy]

You certainly seem to have an awful lot to cope with and being diagnosed as diabetic is a nasty blow. I note that you eat one vegan meal per day. Would you mind telling us when you eat this meal and what it would usually consist of please?

 

[ChezChez]

You certainly seem to have an awful lot to cope with and being diagnosed as diabetic is a nasty blow. I note that you eat one vegan meal per day. Would you mind telling us when you eat this meal and what it would usually consist of please?

Hi Dr Shoddy, thank you for replying. I usually eat around 6/7pm and try to go to sleep for two hours or so around ten o'clock, the rest of the night I am awake with my daughter, usually she doesn't sleep until 5am (she's awaiting melatonin from sleep clinic) and I either don't go to sleep after that, or maybe get an hour or so.

All I have meals wise is pasta and pesto, rice and chilli, and rice with curry sauce, all vegan. I have had an awful habit of surviving on full sugar soft drinks to basically get me through the day and stay awake, up to 3 cans per day, I cut it back to one and plan on stopping asap. I'm becoming afraid to eat as the rapid heart episodes are frightening, last for ages and prevent me from sleeping despite being exhausted. I had an episode a couple of weeks ago where I had very painful irregular heartbeat and palpitations, I thought I was having a heart attack but waited it out till it passed, my GP checked me over and said he couldn't really do much as they'd have to examine me while it was happening. I'm pretty sure I'll receive a call some time over the next week to tell me I'm diabetic, and will ask for a dietitian referral as there's no way I'm going to be able to figure this out initially on my own. Once I know what I can eat I'll manage but I need it explained to me clearly, reading recipes and food websites online overwhelms me. I lost my uncle two years ago to diabetes after a cut on his foot caused sepsis, he was only in his early 60s, my grandmother was also type 2. Both were active and not overweight. My brain is doing it's best to block this out and it's almost as if it's happening to someone else because I don't want to face it along with every other thing that's going on. Thank you again for replying I really appreciate it

 

[Dr Snoddy]

First up, no one on the forum is able to give medical advice. However, thank you for your detailed response. It sounds as though you are suffering from extreme physiological (body) stress even though you do not think that you are anxious. This would be due to a combination of factors: lack of sleep, an extremely limited and carbohydrate-heavy diet, concerns over your family history and trying to deal with your daughter's condition. I only feel confident enough to try commenting on how your body may be responding to your one meal a day and your sugary drink intake. Eating a large amount of carbohydrate in one go releases a very large amount of insulin from the pancreas (assuming that your pancreas is still functioning). This then removes glucose from the blood into the cells. However, if this is not happening in your case additional adrenaline and cortisol would be released leading to a stress response - rapid heart rate, sweating, etc. In the mornings you could be experiencing liver dump - an attempt by your liver to increase your blood glucose levels. However, lots of your symptoms at other times are indicators of low blood glucose levels or very high blood glucose levels.
Your body would seem to be in a state of dis-ease literally meaning out of balance and health. Addressing your issues around food would seem to be crucial going forward. Even as a vegan you could be eating a varied, nutritious, low carbohydrate diet spread over for example an 8-12 hour period. There are certainly people in the vegetarian and vegan sections of the forum who can offer support and ideas.
Is your doctor aware of your dietary habits? Could s/he refer you for specialist help? Do you have access to a dietician or nutritionist?
Many people have had great success in controlling their blood glucose levels by having a high protein, high healthy fat, low carbohydrate diet - the opposite of what you are currently eating. Vege curry and cauliflower rice with soya or coconut milk yoghurt, pasta made from pea protein with a big salad and pesto, vege chilli made with extra added vege like courgette, peppers served with roasted celeriac!!! Time to value yourself and your health!

 

[EllieM]

Welcome to the forums @ChezChez and I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time.

Stress, carbs and steroids all push blood sugar levels up so if you are prone to T2 (which might be the case from your family history and the fact you had GD and the UTIs) then it's not surprising that your levels might be a little high at the moment. (However we can't diagnose on here so will wait for your results from your GP).

The rapid heartbeat could be something serious, or just a reaction to stress/anxiety. Again, we can't diagnose, maybe ring 111 if it happens again?

I agree with @Dr Snoddy that modifying your diet might help. The first line of attack for most T2s or prediabetics on here is to reduce carbs, difficult but still possible on a Vegan diet. (I assume you're not B12 deficient, my Vegan adult son has to have B12 injections if he forgets to take his daily B12 pill?) Another issue is your stress, which sounds very high to me. Small children and sleepless nights are not conducive to a stress free life. Have you spoken to your GP about this?

And though 7.8 isn't an ideal fasting blood sugar, it's not massively high. When you fast your liver releases glucose to help you get through the day, so this can push your levels up.

Lots of virtual hugs.

 

[Gannet]

I was diagnosed with type2 nearly 20 years ago. For months I had been suffering with rapid and pounding heart beat. The dr said it was anxiety but if it got really bad go to A and E. I finally did present myself there, they did a finger prick test and said I was diabetic. They insisted the heart problem was unrelated. They treated me with beta blockers, which made me ill and I stopped them. Once I was on a sensible diet the heart discomfort stopped.
I now have a low carbohydrate, high fat diet, which works well, though my sugar levels are creeping up (I’m 81).
Try cutting down on rice and pasta, and definitely banish the sugary drinks.
I hope you feel better soon.