Headaches and feeling nauseous
- Thread starter Hrw1959
- Start Date
daisy1
Legend
- Messages
- 26,457
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Cruelty towards animals.
Hi Hrw and welcome to the forum 
This may not have anything to do with diabetes. Are you seeing your GP again soon ? Other members will be along soon to share their experiences with you. In the meantime here is the information we give to new members. Ask any more questions you like and we will do our best to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 30,000 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 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/
Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
This may not have anything to do with diabetes. Are you seeing your GP again soon ? Other members will be along soon to share their experiences with you. In the meantime here is the information we give to new members. Ask any more questions you like and we will do our best to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 30,000 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
Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes ... rains.html
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
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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please sign our e-petition for free testing for all type 2's; here's the link:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/petition/
Do get your friends and colleagues to sign as well.
I guess you're asking "are these related ?"
DIRECTLY, I'd say no.
For instance, having a headache could be (theoretically) linked to a brain tumor, but to do so would be utterly foolish, without further investigation, and it would be way down the list of the likely causes of a headache.
Feeling really sick can similarly be put down to any number of causes.
INDIRECTLY, I'd say possibly.
If you've been running really high blood sugar levels, and not knowing it, then you may just have noticed feeling really ******.
What were your results that led to the diagnosis ?
Geoff
Welcome HRW1959,
Or it could be down to the fact you have just had a shock from the diagnosis, that's knocked you sick and got you stressed out. I know it did me at first, but settled down when I started getting my head round it. But as always if you are concerned see your GP.
Or it could be down to the fact you have just had a shock from the diagnosis, that's knocked you sick and got you stressed out. I know it did me at first, but settled down when I started getting my head round it. But as always if you are concerned see your GP.
Hi HRW and welcome. It says on your profile that you are on oral treatment, did the Dr give you Metformin? If you are new to Met it can make you feel a bit rubbish for a few days. I did have some nausea and even was sick once or twice when I first started taking it. If this is the case it should ease off. Another thing could be the shock and overwhelmingness of such a diagnosis, its hard to get your head around it all but that will also come in time. Ask us lots of questions and we will be only too glad to help!
daisy1
Legend
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- 26,457
- Type of diabetes
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- Tablets (oral)
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Hrw said she had the nausea and headaches the day before she was diagnosed when she was presumably prescribed the medication and started taking it, so it can't be due to that. Am I understanding this correctly, Hrw ?
angieG
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 725
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Headaches can be due to dehydration so if levels are running high the OP could be dehydrated.
Sickness and feeling nauseous is one of the symptoms of DKA so I would be inclined to check levels and keytones in case it is a mis-diagnosis and not really type 2 if current levels are not known.
Alternatively as others have said, it may not be connected at all.
Regards
Angie
Sickness and feeling nauseous is one of the symptoms of DKA so I would be inclined to check levels and keytones in case it is a mis-diagnosis and not really type 2 if current levels are not known.
Alternatively as others have said, it may not be connected at all.
Regards
Angie
- Messages
- 51
- Type of diabetes
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- Insulin
Thanks so much for replying to my post. I had my 2 yearly eyesight check- up about 6 weeks ago ( I have been shot-sighted since being 15 and for the last few years have needed to wear varifocal lenses) and my optition suggested I had my cholesterol levels checked. I made an appointment at my doctors and they took various blood samples and the results came back that my cholesterol level was raised. They then asked me to have a fasting test and when I went for the results last week, my Doctor told me I had diabetes. He said that the blood sugar level was 14.6 and he wanted to check for keytones in my urine. I have had blurred vision for over 4wks that seems to be getting worse and been drinking fluids a lot more than normal. The urine results showed no keytones but glucose +++ ( this done at 11.30am).
I then spoke to another doctor in the practice that specialises in diabetes and he told me to cut back on sweet things and drink plenty, but, if I felt unwell to ring him again. They want to do another fasting test this Thursday. Yesterday I felt really unwell and started to vomit, so the doctor told me he would see me yesterday evening. The last time I had something to eat was at 4pm. He checked my glucose level at 7.20pm and it was at 18.9. I was then put on 40mg of Gliclazide taken in the morning.
The doctor saId that I will have to monitor my glucose levels and he will discuss this more on Thursday. I just feel a bit dumbstruck and very nervous. I also have epilepsy And am worried about how my seizures may affect the diabetes and vice versa. I am still drinking a lot of water but feel dehydrated at the same time.
I then spoke to another doctor in the practice that specialises in diabetes and he told me to cut back on sweet things and drink plenty, but, if I felt unwell to ring him again. They want to do another fasting test this Thursday. Yesterday I felt really unwell and started to vomit, so the doctor told me he would see me yesterday evening. The last time I had something to eat was at 4pm. He checked my glucose level at 7.20pm and it was at 18.9. I was then put on 40mg of Gliclazide taken in the morning.
The doctor saId that I will have to monitor my glucose levels and he will discuss this more on Thursday. I just feel a bit dumbstruck and very nervous. I also have epilepsy And am worried about how my seizures may affect the diabetes and vice versa. I am still drinking a lot of water but feel dehydrated at the same time.
- Messages
- 51
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Hi Daisy, I wasn't prescribed any medication for diabetes until yesterday. The Dr just told me I had diabetes and he was sure it was type 2, then said he wanted another fasting test this Thursday. I felt so ill yesterday that the dr that normally deals with diabetes wanted to see me last night and that was when he put me on Gliclazide .daisy1 said:
