CarbMonster
Member
- Messages
- 14
Hi all
Long story short - been having symptoms for some time, ie thirsty, hungry, running to loo a lot, especially at night, feeling shaky before meals or if miss meals, feel horrible and hot, sweaty, tired and ill after sweet/carby food.
At Easter, I stupidly decided to indulge my sweet tooth and tuck into a delicious Easter egg, even though I knew I'd probably pay the price. A mere matter of a few hours later, I was literally passed out on the sofa for half the day. When I finally came to, I was in a cold sweat and had gone pale and felt horrific. Partner made me a cuppa then I managed to drink something sweet and haul myself to the bathroom (feeling sick) but wasn't sick, then I tested my blood (have a few meters lying around after similar episodes happened not so long ago). The reading was 3.6 - have no idea what it was before I came to. The thing is, my partner says I am passing out half the time on the sofa and he cannot wake me up and often I literally fall asleep mid-text or holding a mag/book or phone etc. When I do come round, I have no memory of falling asleep or of him shaking me or shouting at me to wake up, which he says he does regularly. He has been on the brink of calling an ambulance several times but I have come round eventually.
Anyway, after Easter episode, I went to the doctor, new GP, who questioned why I would even be using a meter etc. I said because I drive a lot for my job and these episodes of low blood sugar were concerning me, as were the post meal readings, which have been anything up to 9.5 even 2 or 3 or more hours after a meal. Fasting levels in the mornings have been in the 5.6-6.6 range and I do tend to hover around 8 after most breakfast/lunches/dinners and feel extremely sleepy 2 hours after a meal, to the point where I'm struggling to keep my eyes open.
This doctor said readings after meals don't count and I should only worry if they are above 11 and that the main readings that matter are fasting ones. Last year I had a fasting test which was 5.4 after a 13 hour fast (although have seen higher readings at home on occasional fasting tests I've done with BG meter) and a HbA1C was done on blood screen, which was 5.1 but I was never given those results until today (tests were a year ago due to same symptoms which are worsening slowly over time). The GP also said that levels of 4 or below are nothing to worry about, only levels below 3, but I am persistently having fairly severe hypoglycemic symptoms at even 4.4 and certainly much worse at 3.8, 3.7 etc. In context, when I came to after last 3.7 reading, I was that confused I could hardly work out how to take a reading and I was confused over where our bathroom was a few mins previously! If this happened while I was driving, I don't even want to think what might happen.
I felt that the GP dismissed my concerns, especially when I said I now also have blurred vision, like lines across my vision, which started a few months ago and comes and goes. In fact, she spent most of the consultation downplaying the numbers and simply wouldn't comment on whether it is safe to be driving currently or not.
So, apparently post meal readings are not significant, even at 9.5 and readings below 4 are not significant, only below 3. If this is correct, why do I feel horrendous when I get post meal readings above 7/8 and I feel horrendous when I drop to 4.4 ish and below? Is it true then that even if I am hovering around 8/9 mmol/l for hours after meals that no damage is occurring? Or if my levels are swinging between 4 (or less) and 9ish all during the day, that no damage is occurring? What is blood sugar supposed to be doing during the day, during normal activity i.e. seated computer use and normal meals ie balanced carbs/protein/fats?
I must admit I am more inclined to listen to my body despite the doctor's dismissiveness and these hypo episodes along with post meal sweating/boiling hot/sick feeling, coupled with my worsening fatigue etc is really making me feel quite ill for large chunks of time.
Any advice welcome, especially re swinging blood glucose readings, the range of numbers i.e. under 4 and above 9 and the implications of fluctating between these.
Long story short - been having symptoms for some time, ie thirsty, hungry, running to loo a lot, especially at night, feeling shaky before meals or if miss meals, feel horrible and hot, sweaty, tired and ill after sweet/carby food.
At Easter, I stupidly decided to indulge my sweet tooth and tuck into a delicious Easter egg, even though I knew I'd probably pay the price. A mere matter of a few hours later, I was literally passed out on the sofa for half the day. When I finally came to, I was in a cold sweat and had gone pale and felt horrific. Partner made me a cuppa then I managed to drink something sweet and haul myself to the bathroom (feeling sick) but wasn't sick, then I tested my blood (have a few meters lying around after similar episodes happened not so long ago). The reading was 3.6 - have no idea what it was before I came to. The thing is, my partner says I am passing out half the time on the sofa and he cannot wake me up and often I literally fall asleep mid-text or holding a mag/book or phone etc. When I do come round, I have no memory of falling asleep or of him shaking me or shouting at me to wake up, which he says he does regularly. He has been on the brink of calling an ambulance several times but I have come round eventually.
Anyway, after Easter episode, I went to the doctor, new GP, who questioned why I would even be using a meter etc. I said because I drive a lot for my job and these episodes of low blood sugar were concerning me, as were the post meal readings, which have been anything up to 9.5 even 2 or 3 or more hours after a meal. Fasting levels in the mornings have been in the 5.6-6.6 range and I do tend to hover around 8 after most breakfast/lunches/dinners and feel extremely sleepy 2 hours after a meal, to the point where I'm struggling to keep my eyes open.
This doctor said readings after meals don't count and I should only worry if they are above 11 and that the main readings that matter are fasting ones. Last year I had a fasting test which was 5.4 after a 13 hour fast (although have seen higher readings at home on occasional fasting tests I've done with BG meter) and a HbA1C was done on blood screen, which was 5.1 but I was never given those results until today (tests were a year ago due to same symptoms which are worsening slowly over time). The GP also said that levels of 4 or below are nothing to worry about, only levels below 3, but I am persistently having fairly severe hypoglycemic symptoms at even 4.4 and certainly much worse at 3.8, 3.7 etc. In context, when I came to after last 3.7 reading, I was that confused I could hardly work out how to take a reading and I was confused over where our bathroom was a few mins previously! If this happened while I was driving, I don't even want to think what might happen.
I felt that the GP dismissed my concerns, especially when I said I now also have blurred vision, like lines across my vision, which started a few months ago and comes and goes. In fact, she spent most of the consultation downplaying the numbers and simply wouldn't comment on whether it is safe to be driving currently or not.
So, apparently post meal readings are not significant, even at 9.5 and readings below 4 are not significant, only below 3. If this is correct, why do I feel horrendous when I get post meal readings above 7/8 and I feel horrendous when I drop to 4.4 ish and below? Is it true then that even if I am hovering around 8/9 mmol/l for hours after meals that no damage is occurring? Or if my levels are swinging between 4 (or less) and 9ish all during the day, that no damage is occurring? What is blood sugar supposed to be doing during the day, during normal activity i.e. seated computer use and normal meals ie balanced carbs/protein/fats?
I must admit I am more inclined to listen to my body despite the doctor's dismissiveness and these hypo episodes along with post meal sweating/boiling hot/sick feeling, coupled with my worsening fatigue etc is really making me feel quite ill for large chunks of time.
Any advice welcome, especially re swinging blood glucose readings, the range of numbers i.e. under 4 and above 9 and the implications of fluctating between these.
Here is the information that Louiseb mentioned. This basic information is prepared for new members by the Forum Monitors and you will probably find things that will help you in here, particularly on diet. Even though you have not been diagnosed, whether you will be or not, this advice will be useful to you.