A friend in need..

[weeza44]

Hello there,

I have recently started a new job and now sit next to a girl, 23, who is a type 2 - diet controlled - diabetic.. Her mother, grandmother, etc all have type 2 and on the relevant meds she however isn't on any drugs and simply diet controlled. Every time I have tested her numbers, she is always below 5. In fact the other day we had a special day and had a donut and still her numbers only went up to 5.6!! I've asked her how she feels and more often than not she says she is fine, but does complain a lot about being tired, or sometimes lightheaded and she also has a hayfever type cold which she has been unable to shift.. I explained, as I am a type 1, how hypo's feel for me but maybe her she is less sensitive to symptoms of hypos as she is always riding low.

So my question is, is it possible to over produce insulin - is her pancreas working double time rather than working sporadically? She has now got a new Dr (as she is new to the area - and has moved over from Zimbabwe a few years back) and he didn't know how to treat her.. Fortunately, he is sending her for a fasting blood test, but I would love to be able to help a little more and give her really supporting advice.. Thoughts would be very welcome :thumbup:

Thanks v much,
Weeza

 

[Daibell]

Hi. One question in my mind would be what level of glucose she had when diagnosed as being below 5 most of the time would not be typical of someone with diabetes. People do vary in ther' natural' blood sugar level so may be your colleague just has a normal low'ish blood sugar level. A Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) might be more indicative of diabetes and glucose control than a fasting test? Also if she is a confirmed diabetic as you know she should be having at least annual Hba1C blood sugar checks which would indicate what her average sugar level is?