In Need Of Advice Please.

AmandaAnne said:

Hello all,

I'm new here and it's good to meet you all.

I'm in a bit of a pickle right now and would be so grateful for any advice that you may be able to offer me.

I'm a 53 year old woman and I have diabetes type 2 and have done for about 8 years or so.

I take Metformin at 2000 mgs per day and that has always kept my diabetes under control and I've had no real problems.

However, this has changed in the last year with my hba1c creeping up by 2 points each time I have my blood test, which is every 6 Months.

At my last test, 3 Months ago, my hba1c was 56 but the diabetes doctor at my surgery said that it was still within the normal levels so he wasn't concerned, I told him that I was concerned as I'm not understanding why my hba1c is creeping up.

He said that we'll leave things how they are and for me to keep having my 6 monthly checks, which I was happy with.

However, last week I started to feel really unwell, I kept coming over hot, sweating and feeling really sick, I'm tired and feel exhausted all the time now and it's really taking it's toll.

I had thought that it was to do with the heat, but then I started to get that unquenchable thirst and sometimes my eyes were blurry, this alarmed me as it was these symptoms that lead me to the doctor when I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2.

Now I don't normally test myself, a lesson learned that's for sure!! but I decided to test myself and was horrified to find that my reading was 23.6, I tested myself in the morning when I got up so I'd had nothing to eat.

Strangely, and I really don't understand this at all, on Sunday morning, before food, my reading was 20.1 after I'd had my dinner, I waited an hour and tested again and it had gone down to 16.7?? How come it had gone down, I thought it normally went up after food??

Anyway I spoke with the diabetes nurse and doctor today, the doctor said that he doesn't want to rush in with more medication for me, he wants me to have my diabetes blood tests done again so that he can see what my hba1c is doing.

I am a large lady and have put on weight during this past year, I'm not sure if that's connected to this hike?

I'm really feeling confused, I feel dreadfully unwell and just don't understand what is happening.

Many thanks for reading my post.

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Hello AmandaAnne

I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough patch. I'm sure people on here will have some ideas which might help allay your fears a little.

I'm not too sure what you would most like advice about so I'll see what I can muster.

First I wonder if your having gained weight may indeed have had your HbA1c results creeping up. As I understand it the fat in our bodies is related to the amount of insulin resistance we have, so the more of one the more of the other. Greater insulin resistance leads to higher blood sugar.

Second it sounds like your high reading Sunday morning followed by a drop after food might be a result of the dawn phenomenon. There is a whole, long thread on here about it and ways to tackle it. 50% of Type 2s get it and it is the liver pumping out glucose ready for the day ahead.

Finally your feeling unwell with high readings just now might be chicken and egg. High blood sugar causes feelings of illness, but illness also put up blood sugar. Is it possible you are unwell at the moment?

I hope that helps a bit.

Good advice above. If you have put on weight, then you have your answer as to the change in blood sugar levels. Test 2hrs after meals and you will see what you has been hidden to you. Seriously think about reducing carb intake (sugar and starch) and cut food portion sizes now. Very pleased your doctor is not increasing your medication. Apparently, Metformin will not make very much difference to your levels anyway.You can make a difference first through diet. Hot sweats -you may also be menopausal. Best wishes.

this has been a sudden onset, it may be because of an infection. I don't see the benefit of an A1c test, I would be wanting an insulin level test. Just to be safe, I would go to the chemist and get some urine ketostrips for about 5 pounds and check for ketones, if you have ketones I would contact your Dr or go to A&E as it would need treating

Reduce your carb intake. It will amaze you what happens.

Jack412 - it's NOT sudden - been creeping up over a year plus weight gain? If weight were stable and no other changes and difference in blood sugars only in last couple of weeks, perhaps an infection but seems not. Your HBAC1 will give you an average over the last three months or so. Get it done. If you then want to ask for other tests too then that's good.

Mushroom said:

Jack412 - it's NOT sudden - been creeping up over a year plus weight gain? If weight were stable and no other changes and difference in blood sugars only in last couple of weeks, perhaps an infection but seems not. Your HBAC1 will give you an average over the last three months or so. Get it done. If you then want to ask for other tests too then that's good.

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?

there has been a slow rise of a couple of points each test over years but this is sudden onset in my book....and I would be concerned if it was me and the first thing I'd do/get checked is ketones

However, last week I started to feel really unwell, I kept coming over hot, sweating and feeling really sick, I'm tired and feel exhausted all the time now and it's really taking it's toll.

I had thought that it was to do with the heat, but then I started to get that unquenchable thirst and sometimes my eyes were blurry, this alarmed me as it was these symptoms that lead me to the doctor when I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2.

Now I don't normally test myself, a lesson learned that's for sure!! but I decided to test myself and was horrified to find that my reading was 23.6, I tested myself in the morning when I got up so I'd had nothing to eat.

jack412 said:

there has been a slow rise of a couple of points over years but this is sudden onset in my book....and I would be concerned if it was me.

However, last week I started to feel really unwell, I kept coming over hot, sweating and feeling really sick, I'm tired and feel exhausted all the time now and it's really taking it's toll.

I had thought that it was to do with the heat, but then I started to get that unquenchable thirst and sometimes my eyes were blurry, this alarmed me as it was these symptoms that lead me to the doctor when I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2.

Now I don't normally test myself, a lesson learned that's for sure!! but I decided to test myself and was horrified to find that my reading was 23.6, I tested myself in the morning when I got up so I'd had nothing to eat.

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****. We all need to test.

My user name has nothing to do with diabetes. I lost my spectacles and had difficulty registering.

That's good news, Lets hope it was an illness/infection that shot your BG up for a week, and it returns to your normal levels