Diabetic readings

Welcome @IR52

Can I move this to the Type 1 section for you?

I suggest you give your DSN a call. If you've not been told why you need to test, then that sounds worrying. You need to be given the right information and if you're not then please do,push to get the support you need.

What insulins are you taking and when?

Hello and welcome,

I see you are a Type 1 (and presumably on insulin). I am a Type 2 and unmedicated so am not in the best position to help you. However, these are the NHS guidelines for Type 1s.

Upon walking (fasting) 5 to 7mmol/l
Before meals 4 to 7mmol/l
At least 90 minutes after meals 5 to 9mmol/l
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

Briefly, you need to keep your blood sugar in the normal range because if it goes too low then you could suffer from hypoglycaemia which can be potentially dangerous. If your blood sugar is too high, then that can cause both short term and long term effects and possibly cause damage to your body (diabetic complications).

As its likely that you've been recently diagnosed, I presume you've been given blood sugar targets by your nurse or doctor? Often those initial target sugars are higher so that you can bring your blood sugar down gradually.

Are you Type 2 diabetic? Just checking as your profile says Type 1 but your treatment so far has been tablets etc.

The after meals target for Type 2 diabetics (testing your level around 2 hours after eating) is to not go above 8.5. You may want to give yourself a bit more leeway in the early stages and aim to keep it below 9 or 10 after meals. Before meals it should ideally be below 7.

@IR52

Can you confirm whether you are Type 1 or Type 2? Your profile says Type 1 but Gliclazide is a drug for Type 2's.

Gliclazide works by stimulating your pancreas to produce extra insulin. Depending on what you have been eating and drinking, the drug may stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin than you need and when that happens you can go too low and experience a hypo. This is one reason why you need to test, and this is especially important before you drive (you must be over 5 to drive) and before you go to bed.

What is too high? You set your own personal targets with help from your nurse if necessary. Generally speaking it is unwise to go above 7.8 at any time. Have a look at the link I gave you in my first reply. We all follow different targets. My personal one is 4 to 7, although as I'm human I don't always manage this.

Edited to add that steroids cause raised blood sugars. They do not cause reduced blood sugars.

IR52 said:

Sorry yes I'm type 2 I will try and change my profile

Click to expand...

You can change that by clicking your Profile then Personal details

Heremis info about levels and target ranges. Scroll down for a table:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

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