High sugar levels - how long before body damage?

[Tony]

I am a recently diagnosed type 1. Am fortunate to have an excellent GP-based diabetic nurse and none of the problems of restricted supply of test strips etc. that others have reported. I have been told that a short term, for an hour or two, of high blood sugar levels (8 to 15) which initially worried me, is not a great concern as damage to kidneys, retina, feet etc occur after a prolonged time (weeks/months) of levels this high.
However when attending a diabetes seminar in a hospital (in the USA) the impression was given that damage can occur even with short-term high blood sugar levels if it happens frequently.
Does anyone have information about the time factor of high BS levels before body damage can occur. Presumably there is a relationship between whatever that high level is, and the time that it stays at that level. I would be grateful for any informed advice.

 

[sugarless sue]

Found this after Google search.

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045678.php

Knowledge is the key to control

 

Tony

The key to avoiding complications is to keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible for as much time as possible.

Although the occasional level of between 8-15 doesn't do massive amounts of harm, having regular levels in this range over a period of time will eventually lead to complications.

One of hte best indicators is your HBa1C result which provides a sort of average of your bg levels for a period of 11 weeks. If this is within normal levels you can remain complication-free. However, even a 1% increase in hba1c as compared to 'normal' will increase your risk of complications greatly. Look up a site like labresults.com for more info.

One thing I would greatly encourage you to do, is try to get access to a proper diabetic consultant and diabetic specialist nurse - NOT a nurse at your GP's who likes to think this is her area. It isn't. She has great demands on her time and is not an expert. Telling you things like short term highs don't do you any harm are just plain wrong - if you have daily highs in those levels over a course of years, damage may well occur.

 

[Lady J]

Sorry, that last post was from me - wasn't signed in!


LJ

 

[Fugs]

I've had bgs of over 30 since Sept 06 and an hba1c greater than 14. Apart from numbness in one foot, I've had no other complications

Out of my mind,
Back in 5 minutes


>^..^<

 

[Pattidevans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Fugs</i>
<br />I've had bgs of over 30 since Sept 06 and an hba1c greater than 14. Apart from numbness in one foot, I've had no other complications


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I really think you need to amend that statement to "I've had no other complications <b>so far!"</b>

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3

 

Fugs

Numbness in one foot is bad enough. It's a sign of neuropathy.

In any event, the point about diabetic complications is that they develop over a period of time and get progressively worse the longer your blood glucose is out of control. Running the levels you've described WILL result in complications and if you haven't already, I would recommend that you get in touch with your medical team and ask for help.

Is there anything we can do to help/support you in getting your levels under control?

 

[Lady J]

Ooops that was me, sorry forgot to sign in AGAIN.

LJ

 

[Fugs]

Patti you're right & I have become rather complacent. If on the rare occasion my bg is in the hi 20's both my OH & I are happy because its below 30.
My consultant has tried everything he can think of but nothing seems to work I had a pump for 6 weeks & was getting thru 45 units of novorapid an hour topped up with 200 units of glargine twice a day.
I've become an ostrich over possible complications - if I don't think about them they won't happen lol.
I'm lucky, I get loads of support from my diabetic team

Out of my mind,
Back in 5 minutes


>^..^<

 

[fergusc]

Hey Fugs,

What are you eating that sends your blood sugars so high and still needs so much insulin? I've been low-carb for the past 7 years and can't recommend it highly enough.

If you want low insulin doses and normal blood sugar levels, you know what to do!

All the best,

fergusc

 

[Pattidevans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Fugs</i>
<br />Patti you're right & I have become rather complacent. If on the rare occasion my bg is in the hi 20's both my OH & I are happy because its below 30.
My consultant has tried everything he can think of but nothing seems to work I had a pump for 6 weeks & was getting thru 45 units of novorapid an hour topped up with 200 units of glargine twice a day.
I've become an ostrich over possible complications - if I don't think about them they won't happen lol.
I'm lucky, I get loads of support from my diabetic team

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. I just thought that it wasn't great advice to give anyone asking about whether high BGs will give them complications. I'd second Fergus re what are you eating, but I would also say that the only other person I've come across with a similar problem was a Steroid induced T2 still on massive doses of steroids. I'm sure your team know all this, but were it myself in the same situation I'd be asking for oral meds as well as insulin.

Patti
On Levemir/Novorapid. Last hba1c 5.3

 

[Tony]

My thanks to those who have responded to my query. I may have incorrectly given the impression that my diabetes nurse was playing down the effects of high BS levels; my understanding of her comments was that occasional or infrequent high readings that were short-term was not necessarily cause for concern.

 

[toeless2]

Maybe we should meet uo, im now registered blind and recently had a toe amputated. Im only 35 now but was diagnosed at 18 and thought I knew everythingn dont learn the hard way like I did:evil:

 

[Bobro]

oh my god oh my god oh my god!!

PLEASE need help... dont wanna be blind, and dont wanna lose a toe... i seem to be in the high numbers too!! the main problem i have is i go low, eat loads until i feel better and thne go high, most of my checks i do are when i feel low or feel high so my results are always saying something bad...

i know i hate testing and dont have a clue how much to give myself when high... its easy to work out insulin per carb in food but how many units should i give if im 29mmols ? in the past i gave myself 13 of humalog with the intention i probably wouldnt need one at dinner and that worked fine but last night did the same with a little less insulin as i was 21mmols and the intention of not havnig any with supper! 3am and pow i have a hypo stuffed myself stuppid with sugar, wake up this morn and im 21mmols again!!!

any help appriciated if not any artificial limbs going spare welcome!

Bobro

 

Babro

The first thing to do is really really THINK before you treat a hypo. It's very easy when you're in the throes of it just to want to cram in sugar, and that's really normal. However, you need to take one glucose tablet at a time (eg I find one tablet raises my BG about 1 mmol, so if I'm at 3.4 I just need one...). Then eat something like a biscuit. THEN STOP. Test again in 10 minutes and you'll probably be fine without the need for more!

If/when your BG is very high, you should think about a correction dose. I find Novorapid brings my BG down by 3mmol per unit (without food). So, if I were at 29mmol, I would take about 7 or 8 units to correct this.

If you go too far the other way you're going to keep yo yo ing between too high and too low. if you go too low in the night, your liver might dump glucose sending you sky high again.

 

[Bobro]

its so hard not to cram food in, i do try and take it easy... last night i muched down a handfull of minstrals (yummy) and then i waited a bit but i didnt feel better so i panic that i might still be going low and munched some more!!
also i didnt test as i was shaking and it was 3am and i was dizzy and disoriented so i wasnt in the fram of mind to stab my finger i was to busy with the intake!!

 

[qrp]

FergusC You mentioned you were low carb and getting good control. Mind if I ask what low carb is in your case? I mean, how many carbs per day? I'm at about 70-80 but that's not really low, is it? Not like Atkins or Bernstein. Thanks QRP

 

[fergusc]

Hi QRP,

I think I've been going lower and lower carb over the last couple of years. Lately, I've been self-experimenting. I have my next clinic appointment in April, so I've been going as low as possible, just to see how the numbers turn out.
At the moment, it's 0 carbs at breakfast, 0 carbs at lunch and 10-20 for dinner!
It's been a revelation because the food is great, and I've never felt less hungry between meals. Sugars are anchored in the 4's and life is good.
It probably sounds cranky, I know, but right now I'm strugling to see the point of carbs!
However, I've just figured out how to make a really low carbohydrate bread - 20g of carbs in an entire loaf! So they may be creeping back in, albeit in quite a small way.
I think Bernstein advocates 30g carbs per day, but it sounds a bit too restrictive to my mind, specifying precisely how many grams of carbohydrate one can eat every day. I prefer my meals to be more focused on delicious food than mathematics!

All the best,

fergusc

 

[hails]

I think as well having different 'hypo' rations would help more. For instance with me when Im in a hypo half a glass of milk helps me and actually keeps me going for a fair few hours when I have hypoed late into the night. The best thing to do is experiement until you get it right. I dont mean one day try 2 pints of milk and the next day 2 minstrals. You need to make sure you are careful not to under estimate what you need either but go down slowly until you have it to a T!

 

[Lady J]

Also, Chocolate is a really BAD hypo treatment. The fat in the chocolate slows the absorption of the sugar (ie carbs). You need something very sugary and non fatty - glucose tablet or drinks, fruit jouce etc.

LJ