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Are my blood sugars good bad or indiifedrent?

W

wallplug

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi All,

I have been in-puting my BS levels into a bit of software supplied by one of the tester manufacturers, and it shows a number of interesting reports. Most significant to me is that since I have been taking my diet seriously (3 weeks or so) my levels have been coming down consistently. In the last few days they have plateau'd at between 7 and 10 (being post meal) most of the time. The software suggests that anything between 4.5 and 10 is OK - I am a bit confused as I heard for example that you are considered diabetic at a lower BS level in the South of the UK than you are in the North for example (as a result of different eating traditions).

Can anyone shed any light on what levels are good bad or "safe"?

Many thanks

Wallplug
 
Hello again Wallplug.

I have cut and pasted the numbers from the advice that Sue and/or Ken post in the advice for new T2s:

"As a Type 2 the latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better."
Click to expand...

I suggest you aim to keep your numbers as close to the above as you can. 8) :D

I really think that it matters not a jot whether you are in the north or the south of the country the point at which you are considered to be diabetic ought to be the same and the numbers to aim at should be the same.
If 'they' are saying that the northern diet is more carbs laden than those in the south then I would say that there is then even more reason for the numbers to aim at being the same. :? Good health is good health wherever you live. :)
 
I know I'm repeating myself - I've asked this question before but I can't remember which page :? :?
My BM's can go as low as 2.7 and I still don't get any hypo symptoms. Is this normal and OK? My diabetes nurse says this is far too low. I like to keep my BM's between 4.5 and 5.5, but she says this is far too low!!! Who do I believe and if I'm feeling OK, losing weight, eating the right things, not going hungry etc., am I doing harm to my body or not?? PLEEEEZZZZ HELP :o :o :o
 
sue32 said:
I know I'm repeating myself - I've asked this question before but I can't remember which page :? :?
My BM's can go as low as 2.7 and I still don't get any hypo symptoms. Is this normal and OK? My diabetes nurse says this is far too low. I like to keep my BM's between 4.5 and 5.5, but she says this is far too low!!! Who do I believe and if I'm feeling OK, losing weight, eating the right things, not going hungry etc., am I doing harm to my body or not?? PLEEEEZZZZ HELP :o :o :o
Click to expand...

Sue, I notice you are type 2 on insulin, so unsure what insulin routine you are using, but as to answering your question depends upon on the following;

The frequency of your hypo's (2.7) are they on a daily bases or less frequent?

Do you still have your hypo awareness?

Do you drive or operate machinery, or are in a position of responsibility i.e caring for someone who is dependent upon you?

Being type 1 on insulin, I prefer to stay above 5 at all times wherever possible, so I would not be happy with your lower figure, but quite happy with the upper limit of 5.5 being my lower reading.

Nigel
 
Going as low as 2.7 with no symptoms is not ok, it is far too low like your nurse says. I guess she is saying trying to keep your levels between 4.5 and 5.5 is too low because you are frequently having hypos so it is dangerous. Speak to your nurse about letting your blood sugar run high for a while to get symptoms back if possible.
 
Thanks guys. No, I'm not experiencing hypos at all. I take Glargine at night, reduced becos of the Byetta, but I no longer need to take Novorapid as BM's are so good. I don't get hypo's every day, maybe once a week, if that. I do get hypo awareness and I know how to, and do, treat it. I went out to Sainsbury's yesterday, no trouble, except from the osteoarthritis, then checked my blood before some lunch. It was 2.7, but no hypo symptoms whatsoever. I do know the symptoms, only too well, of a hypo. I had frequent and bad ones before sorting out the Byetta. So what is the problem guys if I'm feeling OK?? I just want to know that I'm not causing any long term harm. I used to have such high BM's and I feel it such an achievement to get them down so much. :D :D
 
2.7 is a hypo, there is something wrong so you aren't feeling the symptoms like you should though. Repeated low blood sugar causes brain damage but I don't remember how low it has to be for this to happen. You are having hypos weekly you says? So if 2.7 isn't a hypo what is? Do you mean you go lower than 2.7 weekly?! Wow I hope you don't spend any time alone, I hope you are always with someone to call 999...
 
Hi,
2.7 is a hypo. Anything under 4 is a hypo. If you get to 2.7 with no symptoms, that's hypo unawareness. You don't drive, do you?

Feeling ****** isn't actually the problem with a hypo. It's more to do with the fact that your brain isn't getting enough glucose to function properly and you could die. You need the symptoms to occur before your sugar gets that low so you can do something about it before it gets dangerous.
Letting your sugars run a bit high is a good idea so that you can get your awareness back and avoid ending up in a coma or worse.
If you drive, you need to tell the dvla about your loss of hypo symptoms as it would be dangerous to drive.
 
Oooohhhh, talk about scaring me guys!!! OK, I'll try and keep BM's 'normal'. Thanx all of you :D :D :D
 
sue32 said:
Oooohhhh, talk about scaring me guys!!! OK, I'll try and keep BM's 'normal'. Thanx all of you :D :D :D
Click to expand...

Sue,

I don't imagine anyone is trying to scare you, merely offering sensible advice based on past experience and knowledge gained over many years. Diabetes is a learning curve, and none of us have all the answers, but hypo's is one aspect of diabetes that must be given the utmost respect, and must never be taken lightly.

Here is a excellent site (from New Zealand) that explains hypoglycemia rather well:

http://www.diabetes.org.nz/living_with_ ... ucose_hypo

Nigel
 
hi guys,

i am new to this site i am type 1 diabetic and have been now for 18yrs in the last year or so i have been trying to ge my Hba1c down and it is currently 6.2 but since doing this i am having around a hypo every other day. my bloods drop to 1.9 and i dont get any signs at all. i have seen my specialists and they say this is normal for someone who has had diabetes for such a long time and with a Hba1c of my reading.

this is starting to become a pain in the bum i have reduced my lantus down to 8 in the mroning and i am hardly having any humalog when i have my meals between 2 - 5 sometimes none at all. i am at the end of my patience with it all now i dont know what else to do to keep myself from having hypos.

i fell down the stairs a wk and half ago in a hypo and broke my jaw in 2 palces and had to have 8 stithces and an operation to put metal plate in my jaw to fix it........ as you can see i NEED HELP!!!

thank you all :roll:
 
Hi Tamla and welcome to the forum. :)

Poor you, what a thing to happen! Hope you heal quickly and everything is back functioning well really fast. Hopefully a T1 will be along soon to help out with the hypo problems. :)
 
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