Really confused, what could be wrong with me?

[SugarSpike]

Hello, have just joined to try and find some answers seen as the doctors dont seem to know whats wrong with me!

Ive suffered what seem to be hypoglycemic attacks since I was a child, shaky,weak,sweaty etc, have something to eat and Im fine.
Ive been for various tests over the past few years but still none the wiser as to what is causing it. Ive had a few fasting blood tests, always normal, and a GTT test normal (as far as Im aware, must double check this as the dr never rang with results so assumed all was normal).
Around this time last year I was given a glucose moniter to keep a log of my levels and was told anything between 4-7 was normal. The lowest reading I got in the two weeks I used it was 4.1, during one my my 'episodes', as I was in the normal range they took no further action.

Forward a year and last tuesday I had quite a sudden episode and was very weak, dripping with sweat etc and my other half became concerned and check my level and it was 2.3! we took it again about 5mins later and it was 3.7, Ive never had readings this low and I had only just eaten something, and I thought good Ive finally got something to show the doctor to take me seriously, the thing is it then went the opposite end of the range, after having some chcoolate it went to 4.8 then 5.7 in about 20mins, however I then had my evening meal as normal probably about an hr and half later then retested and it had shot up to 11.0, I have never gone above 6.5 so now not only am I getting the lows Im also getting the highs and Im really confused as to what is happening now. I felt really rubbish the whole evening aswell.It was also still at 8 just before bed and was 7.7 the next morning.

Can someone shed some light, Im a bit confused as to what is normal range and Ive read the range of 4-7 on the moniter is for fasting, so if I take it randomly it can go over 7?

 

[Alasdair]

It's normal for your sugar levels to go up after eating. The fact that yours then returned to a normal level without a shot of insulin suggest your pancreas is putting in a shift like more other folks. A t1 would need insulin to do that.

 

[LisaR]

The normal range is between 4-7, but I have been told (only diagnosed in October so no expert!) and read that you can only have hypo's if you are taking medicines for diabetes ( not all and I'm not sure which) or are on insulin. This being the case I would definitely go back to the GP for some answers. Saying that, for a few years before I was diagnosed I too would have, what I now realise, as hypo symptoms until I had had something to eat. The GP put it down to low blood pressure! Good luck with this!


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[SugarSpike]

Just to add Ive not been diagnosed with anything, even though Ive been having these low blood sugar symptoms for as long as I can remember, I thought I had reactive hypoglycemia, but now these higher readings are confusing me as Ive never had them before, Im worried that years of not sorting whatever problem I have is now leading to diabetes.

I saw my gp the day after these recent readings and he has sent me for tests for IGF levels and Gastrin levels? no idea what these mean really

 

[Lozzybabyw]

Hi some of your symptoms are similar to mine I used to get really bad sweatiness my whole body hot & soaking then eventually cold but would almost conk out to sleep... Stupid as it sounds it wasn't my undiagnosed diabetes..it was dehydration.. If doing too much exercise too.. I take water with me everywhere now & take medication to help too. It may be worth a shot for you. My blood sugars were all over ghe place as j know through being diagnosed.. at one point it was said anxiety because difficulty in breathing & fast heart rate... It was all what seems to be the dehydration.. On beta blockers for my heart now though There is a test for dehydration & doctors do miss the signs mine did for a year!! Hope this helps you


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[slimtony]

Hi SugarSpike,

Have a read up about reactive hypoglycemia and see what you think.

 

[Geocacher]

I started having symptoms of hypoglycemia at around 30.

As it turned out reactive hypoglycemia is exactly what it was and in my family it's common in those who go on to be diabetic later in their lives. I had to fight to get treatment, in the end I got so stressed with my GP that I ended up having a hypo in her office, then I was believed and given a meter to monitor my BG. As for the GTT, I took advice from the Mayo Clinic and when they decided to finally do a GTT, I asked for a seven hour test, they found that my blood sugar went a bit too high after the glucose and then didn't stop going down until I ate something.

Metformin, interestingly enough, was the treatment offered and it worked. Before I found an answer I was nearly fired from a job because of hypo induced mood swings. With changes in diet and medication, I rarely have any lows. I have become diabetic, but then I expected that, there's no escaping the shallow end of the family gene pool.

Ask for a seven hour GTT and keep a good log of your BG readings... those two things will get you the help you need.

 

[viviennem]

A word about hypos - anyone can have a hypo, whether diabetic or not. It happens rarely, but it can be as a result of too much exercise, or not eating often enough, or in my case (in my heavy-drinking days ) as a result of too much alcohol. Among other things - sometimes they seem to happen for no reason at all.

In Type 2 diabetics, hypos can be caused by certain of the insulin-stimulating drugs. Metformin works in a different way, so it doesn't by itself cause hypos.

Having said that, I have Type 2 friend who used to get hypos on "diet only". Real, flat out on the pavement, call the ambulance hypos. Her Diabetic Specialist GP has given her to understand that her pancreas is functioning patchily - sometimes okay-ish, sometimes pushing out too much insulin. I can't really comment on that, as I have little faith in the only "Diabetic Specialist" GP that I have come across.

The only things I can suggest are what you seem already to be doing - carry your test kit at all times, test if you feel bad, always carry (eg) glucose tablets for emergency use. And keep on at your doctor until you get an answer!

Let us know how you get on

Viv 8)