Please help! How high can blood sugar levels be/fluctuate for a newly diagnosed type 1?

[beccyy14]

Hi, my boyfriend has just the other day been diagnosed with Type 1. We think he may have had it undiagnosed for a year though.
He has very high blood sugar levels - initial blood test at doctors was 23 when it should be around 7.
He did have ketones levels, they are now in minus numbers after taking insulin.
How long should his blood sugar levels stay high? They range from around 16-mid 20s, sometimes higher. It's only the 1st few days and he is getting used to a new diet, and is being 'weened' on to insulin as doctors don't know much insulin he will eventually need yet.
Trial and error period, but I just would like to know if fluctuations within high blood sugar levels have happened to anyone else?
Thanks

 

[Daibell]

Insulin normally works within a day or even hours depending on whether it's Slow or Fast acting, but as the doctors are sensibly being cautious it may take a few days to gradually come down. After the number of insulin shots has settled down, the fluctuations in blood sugar will depend on the insulin regime being used, normally what's called Basal/Bolus i.e. 24 hr and meal-time rapid is given to T1s. Your boyfriend will sooner or later be taught to carb-count for meal-time injections which enables the insulin to be matched to meal-time carbs. This gives the least fluctuation in blood sugar. BTW, the NHS can sometimes give very poor advice regarding diet for diabetes. The important thing is to keep the carbs down to avoid weight gain with insulin and also blood sugar fluctuations. Be aware that if carbs are reduced a lot then the insulin also needs to be reduced to avoid 'hypos'. Seek advice as needed for the docs to get the right balance or ask a question in the T1 forum if needed.

 

[beccyy14]

Insulin normally works within a day or even hours depending on whether it's Slow or Fast acting, but as the doctors are sensibly being cautious it may take a few days to gradually come down. After the number of insulin shots has settled down, the fluctuations in blood sugar will depend on the insulin regime being used, normally what's called Basal/Bolus i.e. 24 hr and meal-time rapid is given to T1s. Your boyfriend will sooner or later be taught to carb-count for meal-time injections which enables the insulin to be matched to meal-time carbs. This gives the least fluctuation in blood sugar. BTW, the NHS can sometimes give very poor advice regarding diet for diabetes. The important thing is to keep the carbs down to avoid weight gain with insulin and also blood sugar fluctuations. Be aware that if carbs are reduced a lot then the insulin also needs to be reduced to avoid 'hypos'. Seek advice as needed for the docs to get the right balance or ask a question in the T1 forum if needed.

Thanks for your detailed reply! He has been told to take more insulin now so his blood sugar levels are slowly dropping a bit more . Thanks for your advice!

 

[sammyc123]

How is your boyfriend getting on now with the newly adjusted insulin doses? Has his vision been affected/blurred at all?

It's great you are showing an interest and researching, he will defo appreciate it - I have just been diagnosed T1 in the last 12 days and my girlfriend has really been supportive which makes things much easier .

Hope both you guys are doing well!

Sam


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[tomvonc]

During my first week in hospital after diagnosis, My BM would frequently shift between 2 and 30 mmol/L within 1/2 an hour. Soon settled down though.

Tom

 

[mo1905]

Great advice from Daibell. What your boyfriend is experiencing is normal and should gradually reduce to near normal levels.

 

[Dazza1984]

I have been T1 now for ~1yr and my BG levels rarely go above 8mmol/L, with a long term sugars of 35! I have the odd spike and highest reached was 18, but this was after being very naughty at a party with food :-( My levels at diagnosis were 26mmol/L!

I am only on 4iu morning and 6iu evening of Humalin M3 (mix of long and fast acting). My specialist thinks I am either still in the honeymoon period (still have some pancreatic function and producing my own insulin) or am very sensitive to insulin. It is all variable in the early days. I was originally started on 10iu twice a day and was constantly having hypos but steadied out now.

If you dnt mind me asking, is your bf a bit obese/have a high BMI? This can alter how sensitive he may be to insulin also. As an aside how often is he testing his sugars; should be prior to a meal then ~2hrs afterwards. My specialist say "play around with foods" now so I can find out how I react to different things. I know now to avoid deep pan pizzas and, oddly enough bananas, as they send me high. He should do the same.