hi my husband is type 2 he was discharged from hospital on Friday then last night his levels went to 30.9 was advised to get him to A n E but they sent him home and told us to go to docs on Monday morning. I don't understand anything about it could someone plz advice me is that very high thank you .
blood sugar level 30.9
- Thread starter worried.wife76
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Well, keep calm for now: 30.9 does look high, but there might well be someone who has been through similar here: it might help if you could post a little more context- is 30.9 a one off high reading after an operation in hospital or something, or is it always high like that? What medication is involved?
My dad is type 2 and his blood readings are usually around 6-8, but he once slipped and hit his head, and when he tested himself hours later the shock had sent his reading up to 20 something, even after he'd calmed down initially. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd been pushing 30 earlier in the day.
My dad is type 2 and his blood readings are usually around 6-8, but he once slipped and hit his head, and when he tested himself hours later the shock had sent his reading up to 20 something, even after he'd calmed down initially. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd been pushing 30 earlier in the day.
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Hi and welcome @worried.wife76
I agree with @Geordie_P - can you give us a bit more information?
What type of diabetes does your husband have?
What was he in hospital for, and why was he discharged? Is it diabetes related?
What medication is he on?
What do his blood sugars usually run at?
30.09 is high - too high - and your husband definitely needs to have medical attention, but if it has dropped to 19 now, then things are definitely improving. That must be a huge relief for you!
In the meantime, keep making sure he drinks as much as possible. But nothing with sugar in it - so no fruit juice, sugary fizzy drinks, sugar in tea or coffee, or sweet squashes. Give him water or drinks with artificial sweeteners instead.
As for food, reducing his carbohydrate intake (potato, rice, pasta, bread, biscuits, cakes, etc.) should help too, since all of those foods turn to glucose when we digest them, and they will send his blood glucose back up again.
Hopefully you can get an URGENT appointment at the surgery, or a phone consultation with the doctor in the morning.
I agree with @Geordie_P - can you give us a bit more information?
What type of diabetes does your husband have?
What was he in hospital for, and why was he discharged? Is it diabetes related?
What medication is he on?
What do his blood sugars usually run at?
30.09 is high - too high - and your husband definitely needs to have medical attention, but if it has dropped to 19 now, then things are definitely improving. That must be a huge relief for you!
In the meantime, keep making sure he drinks as much as possible. But nothing with sugar in it - so no fruit juice, sugary fizzy drinks, sugar in tea or coffee, or sweet squashes. Give him water or drinks with artificial sweeteners instead.
As for food, reducing his carbohydrate intake (potato, rice, pasta, bread, biscuits, cakes, etc.) should help too, since all of those foods turn to glucose when we digest them, and they will send his blood glucose back up again.
Hopefully you can get an URGENT appointment at the surgery, or a phone consultation with the doctor in the morning.
he is type 2 and was in hospital on a diabetic ward for an infection .When discharged they gave a thing to check his levels so I don't no what they would normally be. yesterday lunchtime it was 13.5 then went to 30.9 by the evening at 12 today it was 19.8 so just hope it don't jump bk up that high again are there any symptoms I should look for in an emergency please and thank you for your advice
Oldvatr
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I've been at (32+) myself so it is survivable for sure. It would become a problem if it repeats, but you did right to take him to A&E since there are conditions where it could be dangerous. Ketoacidosis can occur if the body is deficient in insulin, or has no insulin reserve or needs external insulin , It is a condition where the body is unable to lower the bgl, and cannot cope.
Normally Type 2's on oral meds only will probably not suffer such an episode, However there is a class of drugs, (SGLT-2 Inhibitors) which can induce ketoacidosis at relatively low bgl levels.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...-on-the-risk-of-diabetic-ketoacidosis.104325/
Normally Type 2's on oral meds only will probably not suffer such an episode, However there is a class of drugs, (SGLT-2 Inhibitors) which can induce ketoacidosis at relatively low bgl levels.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/thr...-on-the-risk-of-diabetic-ketoacidosis.104325/
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We often get higher levels when we have an infection, and then what we eat can send blood sugar up high as well.
What did the hospital say to do? Did they give you any instructions, or just ask you to monitor his blood glucose and report back?
Did they say how often to test?
I don't know at exactly what level medical attention is required, but you did the right thing taking him to hospital yesterday. If it rises like that again, dial the NHS emergency services on 111 and follow their advice.
Here are some links to tell you about blood glucose monitoring, and what blood glucose levels should be.
Since your husband has the infection, his levels will be higher that this until he gets better
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-testing.html
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/what-affects-blood-glucose-levels.html
Have a good read, and come back if you have further questions.
What did the hospital say to do? Did they give you any instructions, or just ask you to monitor his blood glucose and report back?
Did they say how often to test?
I don't know at exactly what level medical attention is required, but you did the right thing taking him to hospital yesterday. If it rises like that again, dial the NHS emergency services on 111 and follow their advice.
Here are some links to tell you about blood glucose monitoring, and what blood glucose levels should be.
Since your husband has the infection, his levels will be higher that this until he gets better
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/blood-glucose-testing.html
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/what-affects-blood-glucose-levels.html
Have a good read, and come back if you have further questions.
daisy1
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@worried.wife76
Hello and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope this will help you to help your husband. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 147,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
Hello and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope this will help you to help your husband. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.
A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 147,000 people who are demonstrating this.
On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.
The role of carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.
If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.
The bad news
Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.
The good news
People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.
Controlling your carbs
The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
- Reduce your carbohydrate intake
- Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.
The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.
Choosing better carbohydrates
The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.
Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
Eating what works for you
Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.
To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.
The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:
Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
- structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
- self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education
Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.
You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.
Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
DavidGrahamJones
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Hello worried.wife76,
welcome to the forum, there's always somebody here who has been there and done that.
I can't give medical advise, but can tell you what happened to me. I only went up to 23 and the out of hours GP showed as much interest as your A&E doctors. You did right though and it must be worrying. Anything like an infection will affect his BG, by how much is another question.
Just a thought and I'm not promoting any permanent diet change . . . . . yet . . . . . . It might be worth cutting back on the carbs and seeing what effect that has. You're obviously measuring his BG several times a day, cutting carbs should have an immediate effect. Just the obvious potato, pasta, rice and bread, just till he gets to see his GP and when he does see his GP I'd suggest having a c-peptide test which will show how well his pancreas is doing, whether it's making adequate quantities of insulin.
Just noticed that Brunneria has pretty much beaten me to it LOL
I think her last point is important as well, I hear different tales from different people at different surgeries, but this has got to be looked at quickly and not allowed to drag on. Hopefully just the mention of "elevated BG readings" would help obtain a face to face.
Hope it goes well, we're all keen to hear of a reassuring outcome. I wouldn't be surprised if the infection is mucking things up, but you need proper medical advice. You might like to read how antibiotics effect insulin resistance on this forum at http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/do-antibiotics-effect-blood-sugars-and-how.33601/
All the best
Graham
Oldvatr
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His levels are high, and you can help him almost immediately by reading up on the Low Carb diets on this site. Personally I have successfully used one called LCHF. but there are others discussed in the Low Carb Forum. thread. Basically carbohydrates directly influence blood glucose, so cutting out carbs and starches will lower his bgl,
azure
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Can you phone the ward he was on and ask? Have you called 111 for advice?
It will probably be the infection sending him high, but if the highs persist he may need extra/different meds.
