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Blood sugars out of control

T

Type2confused

Newbie
Hi all, I wonder if anyone can shed any light... I have struggled to control my type 2 diabetes since the beginning, medication did not work, but had huge success with a very low carb diet. I will occasionally have carbs on special occasions like birthdays, but 95% of my diet is low carb. I am mildly overweight and just in the 'overweight' BMI category and regularly I am in the normal BMI range, depending on the time of the month (water weight). But I am disabled and therefor can only move in small amounts and exercise is very limited - so this will impact on my BG.

My issue is, lately I seem to be getting very high morning readings and they seem to be uncontrollable, increasing after medication and low carb food. I am now taking Metformin and Gliclizide (sp?) but neither seem to be working as they should. For example, I woke up with a BG of 22, I had my morning coffee and my medication and it came down to 13. I then had my scrambled eggs and peppers and it shot up to 28. I went to bed with a BG of 5, so I am unsure how my BG went up so high. Yesterday I had Cajun Chicken & Veg (peppers, onions & broccoli), Scrambled Egg & Cheese, a coffee (no sugars), a banana and yoghurt (sugar free) and 2.5 litres of water.

Previously, my low carb diet sat me between 7-8 BG and when I was more active it helped reduce it more to 5-6.
The medication makes me feel ill, I often throw up, I am on anti-sickness but it does not help me, I often see my food go down the toilet, but at least it helps me lose weight. I am always very well hydrated but never thirsty.

Any food (even carb free) or medication seems to raise my blood sugars?

I was told I had very high cortisol levels, so much so they were looking to see if my adrenal gland was functioning okay, the tests came back fine. My urine is FILLED with glucose and showing the highest result.

What is going on? Why is my blood sugars reacting so strangely? Where is the sugar coming from?
 
Your GP ought to become involved with those sort of number, even if it is the medication you are on causing the problem.
I do not that you describe banana and yoghurt as sugar free - but it can't be, and it is the carbs which count, so perhaps you are miscounting your carb intake. Even so, those numbers need investigating.
 
Hi @Type2confused and welcome to our forum.

I do believe that you need to speak to your GP. What you are describing is not good.
Extreme highs and going from high to normal is something that needs looking at. I have no idea what it is.
I do think you need to be referred to a specialist.
Just to add, it could be T2, but the reaction is not T2 , you are getting the highs, but not as a T2 would.
If you have these readings wrote down, it will help with your GP understanding what is going on.

Best wishes. Let us know how you are getting on.
 
Type2confused said:
Adding to say, a few weeks back I ended up waking up with a BG of 33 after a previous day of hydrotherapy and literally a zero carb diet day. Where is the BG coming from?
Click to expand...
Hi @Type2confused , welcome to the forum.
From the foods you mention the banana is pretty high sugar/carb but the rest sounds low carb.

How long have you had diabetes?
Have you been tested for different types than T2?

When I was first diagnosed I was put on gliclazide as well, which didn't really help much. Turned out I'm a T1, it happens.

Another thought: Are you on any medication, especially steroids?
 
Resurgam said:
Your GP ought to become involved with those sort of number, even if it is the medication you are on causing the problem.
I do not that you describe banana and yoghurt as sugar free - but it can't be, and it is the carbs which count, so perhaps you are miscounting your carb intake. Even so, those numbers need investigating.
Click to expand...
I am talking about no added sugar yoghurt - plain natural yoghurt. I know milk has carbs in it. I was told not to restrict whole fruit, particularly with my low carb diet, I never have smoothies or fruit juice, only whole fruit. My total carbohydrates for the day add up to less than 65g per day, everything is tracked and weighed.
 
Antje77 said:
Hi @Type2confused , welcome to the forum.
From the foods you mention the banana is pretty high sugar/carb but the rest sounds low carb.

How long have you had diabetes?
Have you been tested for different types than T2?

When I was first diagnosed I was put on gliclazide as well, which didn't really help much. Turned out I'm a T1, it happens.

Another thought: Are you on any medication, especially steroids?
Click to expand...
4 years, never been tested for other T2 types. I have a family history of T1, but doctor is certain it isn't T1?
No steroids. I take tramadol or co-codomol, levothyroxine (underactive thyroid), diclofenac, paracetamol. Nothing else.

I am told to take a banana to try and prevent sugar dips and spikes. Is it just me, or is the advice different depending who you speak to? Even diabetic nurses and doctors all say different things.
 
Type2confused said:
I have a family history of T1, but doctor is certain it isn't T1?
Click to expand...
Type2confused said:
levothyroxine (underactive thyroid)
Click to expand...
So you have a family history of T1, you already have a possible autoimmune condition with your thyroid (autoimmune conditions like to travel in packs), you were diagnosed with T2 at the relatively young age of 32, you aren't very much overweight and your doctor refuses to consider you might be anything else than a T2 without even doing a single relevant test?

I'd want a second opinion if I were you.

Can you test for ketones?
With your numbers going above 20 regularly that's pretty important.
Don't hesitate to call 111 for advice if you're that high, you're not wasting their time.
 
Type2confused said:
I am talking about no added sugar yoghurt - plain natural yoghurt. I know milk has carbs in it. I was told not to restrict whole fruit, particularly with my low carb diet, I never have smoothies or fruit juice, only whole fruit. My total carbohydrates for the day add up to less than 65g per day, everything is tracked and weighed.
Click to expand...
A banana is about 1/4 carbs by weight, and the yoghurt is not automatically low carb if it is low sugar. Some people seem to give very strange advice - whole fruit has carbs and I can't see any good coming from counteracting a low carb diet.
Personally I don't eat anything over 10 percent carb as otherwise my blood glucose would spike. It feels safer to eat lower carb foods spread throughout the day.
Those number still seem rather high, particularly if that is an accurate carb count for the day
 
Sugar might be coming from your liver and or skeletal muscle via the catabolism of glycogen if it's not coming from the diet
 
Type2confused said:
Adding to say, a few weeks back I ended up waking up with a BG of 33 after a previous day of hydrotherapy and literally a zero carb diet day. Where is the BG coming from?
Click to expand...
I'd echo what's been said above already. Antje sums it up. The numbers are very high and if you are actually taking in 60 or 70 g carbs a day that needs an explanation.

My advice is to get hold of your GP asap, failing that (as we're heading into the weekend) 111 or A&E.
 
Type2confused said:
Hi all, I wonder if anyone can shed any light... I have struggled to control my type 2 diabetes since the beginning, medication did not work, but had huge success with a very low carb diet. I will occasionally have carbs on special occasions like birthdays, but 95% of my diet is low carb. I am mildly overweight and just in the 'overweight' BMI category and regularly I am in the normal BMI range, depending on the time of the month (water weight). But I am disabled and therefor can only move in small amounts and exercise is very limited - so this will impact on my BG.

My issue is, lately I seem to be getting very high morning readings and they seem to be uncontrollable, increasing after medication and low carb food. I am now taking Metformin and Gliclizide (sp?) but neither seem to be working as they should. For example, I woke up with a BG of 22, I had my morning coffee and my medication and it came down to 13. I then had my scrambled eggs and peppers and it shot up to 28. I went to bed with a BG of 5, so I am unsure how my BG went up so high. Yesterday I had Cajun Chicken & Veg (peppers, onions & broccoli), Scrambled Egg & Cheese, a coffee (no sugars), a banana and yoghurt (sugar free) and 2.5 litres of water.

Previously, my low carb diet sat me between 7-8 BG and when I was more active it helped reduce it more to 5-6.
The medication makes me feel ill, I often throw up, I am on anti-sickness but it does not help me, I often see my food go down the toilet, but at least it helps me lose weight. I am always very well hydrated but never thirsty.

Any food (even carb free) or medication seems to raise my blood sugars?

I was told I had very high cortisol levels, so much so they were looking to see if my adrenal gland was functioning okay, the tests came back fine. My urine is FILLED with glucose and showing the highest result.

What is going on? Why is my blood sugars reacting so strangely? Where is the sugar coming from?
Click to expand...
Do get a second opinion, maybe ask to be referred to an endo. Those levels are too high for comfort, especially considering the medication you're on. A banana would spike me horribly, but the rest of your diet seems fairly okay... (Fruit, whole or otherwise, is not a good idea for a diabetic... Berries, sure, but banana's... Yikes.). You'll want a C-peptide and GAD test, as soon as you can get them arranged. If you're feeling ill a lot, and your blood sugars are high, ring 111 and tell them what's going on and you might be a T1.

Get help, basically. Don't muddle on through alone.
Hugs,
Jo
 
Type2confused said:
Hi all, I wonder if anyone can shed any light... I have struggled to control my type 2 diabetes since the beginning, medication did not work, but had huge success with a very low carb diet. I will occasionally have carbs on special occasions like birthdays, but 95% of my diet is low carb. I am mildly overweight and just in the 'overweight' BMI category and regularly I am in the normal BMI range, depending on the time of the month (water weight). But I am disabled and therefor can only move in small amounts and exercise is very limited - so this will impact on my BG.

My issue is, lately I seem to be getting very high morning readings and they seem to be uncontrollable, increasing after medication and low carb food. I am now taking Metformin and Gliclizide (sp?) but neither seem to be working as they should. For example, I woke up with a BG of 22, I had my morning coffee and my medication and it came down to 13. I then had my scrambled eggs and peppers and it shot up to 28. I went to bed with a BG of 5, so I am unsure how my BG went up so high. Yesterday I had Cajun Chicken & Veg (peppers, onions & broccoli), Scrambled Egg & Cheese, a coffee (no sugars), a banana and yoghurt (sugar free) and 2.5 litres of water.

Previously, my low carb diet sat me between 7-8 BG and when I was more active it helped reduce it more to 5-6.
The medication makes me feel ill, I often throw up, I am on anti-sickness but it does not help me, I often see my food go down the toilet, but at least it helps me lose weight. I am always very well hydrated but never thirsty.

Any food (even carb free) or medication seems to raise my blood sugars?

I was told I had very high cortisol levels, so much so they were looking to see if my adrenal gland was functioning okay, the tests came back fine. My urine is FILLED with glucose and showing the highest result.

What is going on? Why is my blood sugars reacting so strangely? Where is the sugar coming from?
Click to expand...
I have cushings disease (pituitary tumour)in remission which is where I had high cortisol levels I wonder what tests you had done ?
 
Echob said:
I have cushings disease (pituitary tumour)in remission which is where I had high cortisol levels I wonder what tests you had done ?
Click to expand...
Cushings disease /syndrome is a rare disease before my diagnosis and surgery to remove tumour my bg levels used to be sky high, I can give you more information if you think it will help but if your tests were done by gp they often don't see a case of cushings in their whole career.
Echo
 
Echob said:
Cushings disease /syndrome is a rare disease before my diagnosis and surgery to remove tumour my bg levels used to be sky high, I can give you more information if you think it will help but if your tests were done by gp they often don't see a case of cushings in their whole career.
Echob
Click to expand...
 
Resurgam said:
A banana is about 1/4 carbs by weight, and the yoghurt is not automatically low carb if it is low sugar. Some people seem to give very strange advice - whole fruit has carbs and I can't see any good coming from counteracting a low carb diet.
Personally I don't eat anything over 10 percent carb as otherwise my blood glucose would spike. It feels safer to eat lower carb foods spread throughout the day.
Those number still seem rather high, particularly if that is an accurate carb count for the day
Click to expand...
Hi can you tell me what fruits you eat cheers
 
Hi, ask you doctor for a c-peptide test, I had a similar story re nothing was working, I don’t believe a person of normal weight should see 33 after eating a banana, the fact your numbers go back down could be explained by a honeymoon period. Something not right here.
 
Cleggy12 said:
Hi can you tell me what fruits you eat cheers
Click to expand...
This time of year I have mixed berries in the freezer - I make a sugar free jelly with several spoonsful of gelatine powder and just enough water to dissolve it, then mix in full fat yoghurt and frozen berries. That makes a dessert which is low carb enough even for me not to worry about having a second helping.
In the summer I buy strawberries or melon - not the ones labelled supersweet though.
 
Cleggy12 said:
Hi can you tell me what fruits you eat cheers
Click to expand...
I keep berries frozen and use a few at a time.
8 raspberries or blackberries or blueberries

I also use blackcurrants, redcurrants or gooseberries from the garden as they can be difficult to buy.

Occasionally I might have half a ripe small pear.

I always add cream or yoghurt as that's supposed to slow down the sugars going into the body... plus it tastes nice
 
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