Help please

[dicktracy121]

Hi tracy I'm type 2 an not under diabetes team yet put on insulin 7days ago given my target an pretty much left to fend for myself my sugars were in 20 s an really trying but dropped to 9.8 an had uncontrollable shaking could stand is this normal an how long does it last I was terrified any help would be awesome

 

[EllieM]

Hi @dicktracy121 and welcome to the forums.

Can you clarify the details on your profile please? They currently say that you are prediabetic and on insulin. I would normally only expect you to be put on insulin if you were diabetic and your levels were extremely high.

Who has put you on insulin? Your GP? What kind of insulin are you taking? Have you been given instructions on how to adjust it?

As for the symptoms (which sound quite similar to hypoglycemia ) it is possible that you are getting "false hypos" at normal blood sugar levels because your body is used to higher ones. (Generally false hypos pass when people get used to the normal levels, but if you are on insulin you need to be careful about real hypos, which happen when your blood sugar goes below 4).

Having said all that, we are not doctors here and we can't diagnose, so the false hypo is just a possibility. It could be something else altogether.

Are you able to get in contact with your diabetic team. I've got to say it sounds very irresponsible to put someone on insulin without adequate medical help.

 

[dicktracy121]

Hi was told had pre diabetes year ago tried numerous tablets which I had reaction to then they said need get sugars undercontrol we put you on humulin m3 insulin diabetes team cancelled phone call get call 4sept my nurse wasn't happy so they sent 1pen an she showed how works sent home with paperwork about hypo hyper an ketoacidosis pretty much left to help self my sugars before last week were around 20 last week I was trying my best to bing down but take me awhile to understand easy things but this well .I have lost weight didn't have so now exhausted tired no strength struggling to keep hydrated sorry not good writing just scared emotion wreck at mo x

 

[dicktracy121]

Hi was told had pre diabetes year ago tried numerous tablets which I had reaction to then they said need get sugars undercontrol we put you on humulin m3 insulin diabetes team cancelled phone call get call 4sept my nurse wasn't happy so they sent 1pen an she showed how works sent home with paperwork about hypo hyper an ketoacidosis pretty much left to help self my sugars before last week were around 20 last week I was trying my best to bing down but take me awhile to understand easy things but this well .I have lost weight didn't have so now exhausted tired no strength struggling to keep hydrated sorry not good writing just scared emotion wreck at mo x

I also had to stop work this week as not feel safe enough as I'm all over place mentally have ordered food book to help until I speak diabetics team in Sept at earliest.

 

[EllieM]

Hi was told had pre diabetes year ago tried numerous tablets which I had reaction to then they said need get sugars undercontrol we put you on humulin m3 insulin diabetes team cancelled phone call get call 4sept my nurse wasn't happy so they sent 1pen an she showed how works sent home with paperwork about hypo hyper an ketoacidosis pretty much left to help self my sugars before last week were around 20 last week I was trying my best to bing down but take me awhile to understand easy things but this well .I have lost weight didn't have so now exhausted tired no strength struggling to keep hydrated sorry not good writing just scared emotion wreck at mo x

OK, try not to panic. Your situation at the moment isn't ideal but in the long term you will manage this. Do you have a follow up appointment booked with the nurse and/or a way to contact her with your results. If you have access to your online medical records you could also look them up and see what your most recent hba1c was?

Just seen that you have a proper appointment (with the hospital diabetic team?) in September, which is excellent.

Have you got a way to test ketones? Though high blood sugars are dangerous in the long term and low blood sugars (hypos) are dangerous in the short term, hypos are easily treated.

Your weight loss and sudden progression to insulin means you have some red flags for T1 diabetes. (Some red flags only, it's probably still more likely that you don't have it as only 10% of diabetics are T1) . This will be why your DN mentioned ketones to you as DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) is a medical emergency. As you are now taking insulin this becomes much more unlikely as DKA is caused by lack of insulin plus high blood sugars.

As regards hypos I strongly urge you to always carry some form of sugar and your testing kit. (Once you get used to them you should find them much easier to cope with, but they can be scary at the beginning). As a T1 I've been living with insulin and hypos for 53 years so try not to panic.

But I really urge you to phone your GP and get in contact with the DN who gave you the insulin. We can't give you dosing advice and I think you'd feel more confident if you spoke to a medical professional.

Good luck, you will manage this.

And don't hesitate to ask for more support from the diabetics here. There's no such thing as a stupid question when you are attempting to understand diabetes.

 

[dicktracy121]

OK, try not to panic. Your situation at the moment isn't ideal but in the long term you will manage this. Do you have a follow up appointment booked with the nurse and/or a way to contact her with your results. If you have access to your online medical records you could also look them up and see what your most recent hba1c was?

Just seen that you have a proper appointment (with the hospital diabetic team?) in September, which is excellent.

Have you got a way to test ketones? Though high blood sugars are dangerous in the long term and low blood sugars (hypos) are dangerous in the short term, hypos are easily treated.

Your weight loss and sudden progression to insulin means you have some red flags for T1 diabetes. (Some red flags only, it's probably still more likely that you don't have it as only 10% of diabetics are T1) . This will be why your DN mentioned ketones to you as DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) is a medical emergency. As you are now taking insulin this becomes much more unlikely as DKA is caused by lack of insulin plus high blood sugars.

As regards hypos I strongly urge you to always carry some form of sugar and your testing kit. (Once you get used to them you should find them much easier to cope with, but they can be scary at the beginning). As a T1 I've been living with insulin and hypos for 53 years so try not to panic.

But I really urge you to phone your GP and get in contact with the DN who gave you the insulin. We can't give you dosing advice and I think you'd feel more confident if you spoke to a medical professional.

Good luck, you will manage this.

And don't hesitate to ask for more support from the diabetics here. There's no such thing as a stupid question when you are attempting to understand diabetes.

I have straps to test for ketones an they are still clear and have my bag sorted with all things need x could please give me idea how long the shaking lasts as was really scary an is poss to work thru it till body gets used to lower level ?many thanks still a wreck but not as bad thankyou so much

 

[EllieM]

I have straps to test for ketones an they are still clear and have my bag sorted with all things need x could please give me idea how long the shaking lasts as was really scary an is poss to work thru it till body gets used to lower level ?many thanks still a wreck but not as bad thankyou so much

Not sure I've ever had false hypos (I was diagnosed very early in the days before glucometers) but if you google then the perceived wisdom seems to be that they do pass (days, weeks, months?) but you have to wait them out. Are you getting this whenever your bg goes below10 or just sometimes?

Two important issues here
1) as you are on insulin you'll need to make sure they aren't real hypos, as those definitely need treatment
2) it doesn't have to be a false hypo, other things can cause those symptoms. A phone call or visit to your DN would probably help reassure you.

Are you on any meds other than the insulin?
Hopefully some T2s will be along to advise soon.

 

[Mrs HJG]

Hi @dicktracy121 I hate hearing your story and can say I went through the same, given a dozen prescriptions, inc Humulin m3, metformin, test strips, lancets, sharps bin the lot, a £100+ prescription bill and sent on my way after being shown how to inject once, when I couldn't really see through the tears never alone take on board anything that was being said to me - so believe me when I say you will get through this.

My BG was up in the 20s and dropped below 10 within a week and then hitting low 5s soon after and the 'sugar withdrawal' was real, shakes and all - so this could be what you are experiencing - but call your doctors surgery tomorrow, it is not right to be abandoned so quickly - you have to be your own advocate - I am pleased you found this forum so quickly though, I spent a few weeks without any support or knowing where to turn and it was awful, (and it was Christmas, welcome to my pity party, I'm not bitter ).

Not to scare you, but to reassure you, if your blood glucose drops quickly, you could experience a lot of visual disturbance, it happens, it's scary BUT not to be unexpected, even if your doctors surgery have never heard of it and send you off for an urgent, (and completely pointless appointment at Specsavers!). Your eyes have been used to high glucose and don't adjust as quickly as your blood, so you could get a bit of blurry vision. Just top of my list of things I wish I'd been told.

Take care.