Feeling un-well even though Blood Sugars are ok?

blu52

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi all. I am a female of 51. I take insulin twice a day. My Blood Sugars are below 10 but I still feel unwell. It seems that when my bs are over 10 I feel ok! I feel anxious, heart palpatations and dont look well. Any suggestions of how I can get out of this situation.
 

ziggy_w

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,019
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all. I am a female of 51. I take insulin twice a day. My Blood Sugars are below 10 but I still feel unwell. It seems that when my bs are over 10 I feel ok! I feel anxious, heart palpatations and dont look well. Any suggestions of how I can get out of this situation.

Hi @blu52,

I see you are new to the forum. Welcome. There are wealth of knowledgeable and helpful people here. So, if you have any questions, please just ask away. I am also tagging @daisy1 for some really helpful information that is provided to all newbies.

To your question:

What are your blood sugar levels normally? Is it possible that there higher than 10 most of the time? If this is the case, your body might have gotten used to the higher blood sugar levels and is reacting to lower blood sugar levels as if you were hypoglycemic. In fact, this is called a false hypo.
 

blu52

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi @blu52,

I see you are new to the forum. Welcome. There are wealth of knowledgeable and helpful people here. So, if you have any questions, please just ask away. I am also tagging @daisy1 for some really helpful information that is provided to all newbies.

To your question:

What are your blood sugar levels normally? Is it possible that there higher than 10 most of the time? If this is the case, your body might have gotten used to the higher blood sugar levels and is reacting to lower blood sugar levels as if you were hypoglycemic. In fact, this is called a false hypo.[/QUOTE
Hi all. I am a female of 51. I take insulin twice a day. My Blood Sugars are below 10 but I still feel unwell. It seems that when my bs are over 10 I feel ok! I feel anxious, heart palpatations and dont look well. Any suggestions of how I can get out of this situation.
Hi there, thanks for the prompt reply. My bs are normally 8.0 in the morning and around the same before tea. I am taking the same amount on insulin on both ocassions. I had high blood sugars for some time so I thought it could be my body wanting sugar?
 

ziggy_w

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,019
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only

Hi @blu52,

So, how are you feeling when your blood sugars are 8.0 in the morning?
 

ickihun

Master
Messages
13,698
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Bullies
What I do if this happens to me is.......
I get my diabetes paper diary out and give my diabetes a little bit more of a nudge.
What I do is test more.
One on rising, then just before and 2hrs after b/fast and same for each meal until my bgs are showing an improvement.
I get a little bit stricter with myself over carbs as I'm reducing my insulin currently. My weight too.
Only less insulin is making my weight loss easier. In November I've reduced my basal units by 21units of toujeo300, less. Due to a few hypos which were becoming a few too many. (Less than 4mmol/l).
I agree your symptoms sound like false hypos but if ill in all occasions please go see your gp as it may not be diabetes related.
Are you on mixed insulin or basal and bolus?
 
Last edited:

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@blu52

Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask questions when you need to 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 259,000 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
Reduce your 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 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
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

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.
  • 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.
 

blu52

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Thanks for the reply. I'm ok in the morning as I have my breakfast after I take my readings. I am on Novomix 30 Flex Pen twice daily. I am under some pressure at the moment due to family problems which doesn't help. I suffer from anxiety too, which I didn't know that could affect my bs.
 

ickihun

Master
Messages
13,698
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Bullies
Thanks for the reply. I'm ok in the morning as I have my breakfast after I take my readings. I am on Novomix 30 Flex Pen twice daily. I am under some pressure at the moment due to family problems which doesn't help. I suffer from anxiety too, which I didn't know that could affect my bs.
Oh yes. Sometimes quite a bit too.
How are you feeling tonight?