Newly diagnosed type 1

[Moly4]

Hi at new year I was poorly with a kidney infection at this appointment my blood glucose was high and the gp sent me for a blood glucose test where I had to starve myself have blood taken, drink this nasty stuff then 2 hours later bloods taken again. The next day I was told by the gp I was type 2 diabetic and was put on metformin twice a day had another load of bloods. Fast forward to 6 weeks ago where the gp receptionist rings me saying my gp wants to see me it’s non-urgent and books me an app for 3 weeks later. So attends this app for the gp to tell me he’s referring me to the hospital as my bloods are high.
So Friday just gone goes to see the consultant at the hospital who tells me my GAD blood results are 213 and that I’m a type 1 diabetic in a honeymoon fase and will be starting a insulin injection of a morning. Well my mind is blown!!
Over the last 5 months my ive struggled a lot with blood sugars ranging from 7-10 not really had any below maybe the odd once or twice but not by much. But yesterday and today between 12 and 5 I’ve been feeling ill, sickly a little disoriented and my blood sugars have been between 4-5 I’ve not stated insulin yet as a nurse needs to go through it all with me so have appointment tomorrow to do this. I really don’t understand and im confused as why I’ve suddenly got lowish blood sugar levels.

 

[kitedoc]

Hi Moly. You sound like you are not in Kansas any more but still not sure where you are.
I don't blame you ! It is all very confusing ! The floowing is from my experience and is not medical advice or opinion.
Firstly, assuming your readings are accurate ( glucose meters will be out +/- 10 % or a bit more), most people I have spoken with, and in my own experience of being on insulin for 51 years, do not experience low blood sugar symptoms ( Hypoglycaemia is the fancy medical term for 'low sugar in the blood', hypo for short, please look at the hypo site for details) until their blood sugar gets below 3.6 mmol/l. Yes, I can start to feel shaky if my blood sugar is falling rapidly say from a level of 5 mmol/l, but that is unusual. So I cannot explain why you feel unwell in the 5 to 12 reading bracket.
Secondly, my understanding of the onset of diabetes is that it can vary in how gradual it happens. And even after diagnosis of say Type 1 and the other form called Late Onset Diabetes (LADA - and it is not a motor car!) the pancreas gland still can produce some insulin so the body partly copes with the pancreas gland fighting a gradual losing battle as it its 'insulin factory' sort of goes into receivership. If diagnosed late, the process is pretty much over and the person is suffering from having so little insulin that they go into a very sick state.
Thirdly, so I wonder if your pancreas gland it putting up a fight, and that may be why your blood sugars are not even higher. And perhaps the more carbohydrate ( sugars in food e.g. bread, pasta, fruit etc) the more stress that puts on your pancreas gland to try to make and output enough insulin.
Fourth: The insulin you will be learning to inject is to assist your pancreas gland to cope with what you eat. I have heard that someone who loses their pancreas gland say in an accident needs about 30 to 50 units of insulin to keep their blood sugar somewhat stable. The amount depends on many factors such as the weight of the person etc. So you could expect ( and this is just a guess, not a professional opinion) to be on a smaller than this dose of insulin until your pancreas gland presumable pulls up stumps altogether.
Fifth: Other things can influence how much insulin our bodies need. Such as, if you were to suffer from another kidney infection ( and fingers crossed you do not!), the infection makes insulin less effective and more insulin is needed to keep blood sugars in range.
Sixth: Please ask your nurse and doctor about what might be happening to you. A test of your urine might help rule out kidney and urinary problems and they may have thoughts on why you feel unwell. I am not going to end on a 7th point, out of superstition so please keep asking questions and sharing your journey. Read heaps, learn heaps and love yourself heaps !!

 

[Jenny15]

Welcome, you've come to the right place. Do tell the nurse tomorrow about your current 4-5 BG levels as she may want to delay starting insulin or do some more testing and thinking before knowing exactly what to do. You might be feeling sick from false hypos, which are BGs above 4.0 (hypo threshold) that feel a lot like a real hypo. I am experiencing them today and I feel miserable with them. I am trying to keep up my food intake, which is helping a bit.

I hope you feel better soon! Don't hesitate to call your nurse or seek urgent medical help if you feel sick, weak or just really poorly. Better safe than sorry, at least until things stabilise a bit.