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Does/can illness lower BG?

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valann

Well-Known Member
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I've had a few days ill, tonsilitis with a dose of summer flu and really haven't been able to eat at all excepts for a few mouths full of yogurt, drinking a lot of water though and sleeping a lot.
My BG was just dropping to lows I have never seen before, down as low as 4.0 to 4.3 which made me feel really woozy and I did get worried in case of hypo. Never had one, don't want one but frightened silly of them.
So my question is does being ill make BG drop and how low is too low?:confused:
 
valann said:
I've had a few days ill, tonsilitis with a dose of summer flu and really haven't been able to eat at all excepts for a few mouths full of yogurt, drinking a lot of water though and sleeping a lot.
My BG was just dropping to lows I have never seen before, down as low as 4.0 to 4.3 which made me feel really woozy and I did get worried in case of hypo. Never had one, don't want one but frightened silly of them.
So my question is does being ill make BG drop and how low is too low?:confused:
Click to expand...
As a rule an infection would cause your body to pump out more glucose. If I am ill as a type 1 then it is not unusual to have to double the insulin dose because of this physiological response so I think it is something else in your case namely the 'keto flu' perhaps?
If you are type 2 diabetic though and have drastically dropped your normal intake of food including carbs then this might explain the woozy feeling at what are actually normal bg levels (4-7 is normal but won't feel like that if you are used to running higher). Try adding salt to what you eat and if you are on meds to reduce your blood sugar or blood pressure meds you might consider getting those reduced whilst you are not eating very much.
Your body will adjust to a lower intake of carbs though so this shouldn't persist and will actually benefit your diabetic control.
 
Antje77 said:
Are you on medication for your diabetes?
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Yes Antje77, I take something called Canagliflozin 300mg 1 per day.

This is what brought me here as the DN wants me to add another tablet (unknown) and maybe an injectable again unknown. Because that 3 monthly blood test (can't think of name) isn't coming down fast enough. Hence me finding this forum, asking for help and trying low carb
 
NicoleC1971 said:
As a rule an infection would cause your body to pump out more glucose. If I am ill as a type 1 then it is not unusual to have to double the insulin dose because of this physiological response so I think it is something else in your case namely the 'keto flu' perhaps?
If you are type 2 diabetic though and have drastically dropped your normal intake of food including carbs then this might explain the woozy feeling at what are actually normal bg levels (4-7 is normal but won't feel like that if you are used to running higher). Try adding salt to what you eat and if you are on meds to reduce your blood sugar or blood pressure meds you might consider getting those reduced whilst you are not eating very much.
Your body will adjust to a lower intake of carbs though so this shouldn't persist and will actually benefit your diabetic control.
Click to expand...

Hi NicoleC1971, No I don't think its 'Keto Flu' simply because husband who is not diabetic has had the same thing as me for the same amount of time, and I recognise tonsilitis as I get it every single year. Also our son had this summer flu last week so think we picked it up from looking after him.

I have been adding salt, a sugar free Apple Tango drink that does have salt and as I've started to eat today I added salt to my omelet, so thank you for confirming I am doing the right thing regarding salt :)

Can't really lower blood pressure meds as they don't split nor does the Canagliflozin 300mg tablets. Am seeing someone on Monday at the surgery for annual med review and diabetic blood tests so have made a list of BP readings and BG readings to discuss if its not a health care worker. Believe me its like pulling hens teeth to get an appt with doctor or nurses, everything by phone only and thats not easy. x
 
valann said:
Yes Antje77, I take something called Canagliflozin 300mg 1 per day.

This is what brought me here as the DN wants me to add another tablet (unknown) and maybe an injectable again unknown. Because that 3 monthly blood test (can't think of name) isn't coming down fast enough. Hence me finding this forum, asking for help and trying low carb
Click to expand...
Trying low carb would be a brilliant idea because there is no diabetes drug that is going to sort out your HBa1c (the 3 monthly sugar average).
Canegeflozin works by helping your kidneys excrete some of the glucose you are eating and from experience running a low carb group, it shouldn't cause an issue but here's a paper to show the gp or nurse if you ever get an appointment!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6592353/
Re tonsillitis, I am not saying you don't have that but am saying that you might have gone low carb unintentionally by not eating very much carb at present. Both blood pressure and blood sugar can go down in this manner but hope the extra salt works for you. Any person, diabetic or not, can get this response to eating a lot less.
 
About 6 years ago I had an abscess on my tooth, I couldn’t keep my bloods up above 4 - I couldn’t eat but was having small amount of mashed potatoes and canned soups - felt lousy but my bloods just didn’t come up until I had antibiotics and reduced the infection. Never could explain it
 
NicoleC1971 said:
Trying low carb would be a brilliant idea because there is no diabetes drug that is going to sort out your HBa1c (the 3 monthly sugar average).
Canegeflozin works by helping your kidneys excrete some of the glucose you are eating and from experience running a low carb group, it shouldn't cause an issue but here's a paper to show the gp or nurse if you ever get an appointment!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6592353/
Re tonsillitis, I am not saying you don't have that but am saying that you might have gone low carb unintentionally by not eating very much carb at present. Both blood pressure and blood sugar can go down in this manner but hope the extra salt works for you. Any person, diabetic or not, can get this response to eating a lot less.
Click to expand...

Hi NicoleC1971, Sorry if I came across wrongly I certainly didn't mean to imply you were wrong. Initially I thought as son and husband had same symptoms as I did/have that it was just this horrid summer flu going around Doncaster, but as it turns out they are not as shakey and woozy as me. But having thought about it more I think you really do have a valid point, I know you can get withdrawal from many things so why not carbs! So thank you for the heads up NicoleC1971. It's good to know it will pass.
Also thanks for the link to that paper, I shall print it and take it with me on Monday if it is a health worker (as it has been for past two years) I shall put DB name on it and leave at reception.
It's been over two years since I managed to see a nurse (diabetics or not) and longer than that since seeing a doctor (except gastro at hospital), which is why I say it's like pulling hens teeth. But that's another story x
 
PS still have some brain fog sadly but that happens when I get the cursed tonsillitis,which normally takes about 9-10 days to go :(
 
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