I am T2 and my normal is between 4.5 and 6.2. Anything above or below this I feel really unwell with headaches, stomach upset and blurry vision. I'm wondering if it it unusual to have such a small normal BGL range. It makes management really difficult because a small error in my food can cost me time off work.
"Normal" BGLs
- Thread starter Pippin1958
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mean people , gardening , dishonest people , and war.
why can't everyone get on........
hi there
could I possibly ask why an error in food would cause time off work ??
are you on any medication for the D ?? insulin ? or Glicazide ? ( which can indeed cause lows)
how often do you test >?
high BG's ( above 10 ) normally cause a person to feel tired or lethargic --- but having had T1d for over 44 years - I can honestly say that missing work due to high Bg's -- or indeed the after effects of a hypo never caused me to miss a day of work in 38 years .
perhaps you could offer more information to assist in getting you some answers.
could I possibly ask why an error in food would cause time off work ??
are you on any medication for the D ?? insulin ? or Glicazide ? ( which can indeed cause lows)
how often do you test >?
high BG's ( above 10 ) normally cause a person to feel tired or lethargic --- but having had T1d for over 44 years - I can honestly say that missing work due to high Bg's -- or indeed the after effects of a hypo never caused me to miss a day of work in 38 years .
perhaps you could offer more information to assist in getting you some answers.
I am on Metformin 500mg daily.
I was diagnosed in Sept 2016 and the symptoms I described had been causing me to have to leave work due to being unwell. I work in a Call Centre so have to wear a headset all day and work on a computer. Can't do this with a headache & blurry vision.
A simple thing like having a second glass of wine with dinner or having dessert with cause my BGL to go up to 7-8 (I have never been over 8) but then drop rapidly to under 4. This is when the headache happens.
I was diagnosed in Sept 2016 and the symptoms I described had been causing me to have to leave work due to being unwell. I work in a Call Centre so have to wear a headset all day and work on a computer. Can't do this with a headache & blurry vision.
A simple thing like having a second glass of wine with dinner or having dessert with cause my BGL to go up to 7-8 (I have never been over 8) but then drop rapidly to under 4. This is when the headache happens.
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mean people , gardening , dishonest people , and war.
why can't everyone get on........
short answer -- ditch the dessert ( sorry )
longer answer == it would pay for you to invest some time in learning about management of carbs
I will tag the lovely @daisy1 to provide a starter pack of info to assist you.
I also worked in a call centre environment ( headset, computer, and 70-100 calls per shift ) so I am aware of the work pattern
longer answer == it would pay for you to invest some time in learning about management of carbs
I will tag the lovely @daisy1 to provide a starter pack of info to assist you.
I also worked in a call centre environment ( headset, computer, and 70-100 calls per shift ) so I am aware of the work pattern
- Messages
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- Type of diabetes
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mean people , gardening , dishonest people , and war.
why can't everyone get on........
I am tagging some of the lovely and knowledgeable type 2's to come along and offer some support.
@andcol , @bulkbiker , @ickihun , @AndBreathe
@andcol , @bulkbiker , @ickihun , @AndBreathe
I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Unfortunately my diabetes educator was totally useless and didn't help me at all. I feel like I'm flying blind most of the time. Dessert has mostly become a distant memory and that really bother me but I enjoy a glass or two of wine.
douglas99
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Very unusual, I'm good anywhere in the normal range, (but low 4's I notice)
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
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@Pippin1958 - A fair number of T2s have the sorts of numbers you describe, including myself. My fasting test (on getting up) runs in the 3.5-4.5 range and I'm regularly lower in the afternoons.
Some T2s on the sorts of numbers you describe "feel it" when the go low, or high for that matter. I'm less affected. I feel fine, whatever my numbers are, although if I'm very low, I'm sometimes hungry, but it usually happens to be at a mealtime.
Alcohol can have a curious impact on our bodies, and will usually lead to a drop in blood sugars at some stage. Some drop sooner than others. I'm not a great drinker, so have a very low tolerance to it. By that I mean I can get squiffy more quickly than most.
My diabetes hasn't stopped me doing anything, ever, and although I don't work in a 9-5, commuting basis any more, I can't say my diabetes has stopped me delivering work, on schedule. Other things get in the way sometimes - like the odd cold or ordinary headache, but not my diabetes.
In your shoes, I would start a food diary and see if there are links with your diet to when you feel rough. You could, perhaps have some sort of food intolerance. Please be clear though, that is speculation on my part. I'd keep the food diary every day, whether I felt well or otherwise, because some things take a while to impact. I'd also always say to test if you feel rough, and also do some testing around your wine indulgences.
When did the tummy upsets start, in relation to your Metformin? Had you been on the Metformin a while before these symptoms started?
Finally for tonight, try upping your fluids a bit. Dehydration is more common than we like to think and certainly for e a symptom of dehydration is a headache.
Some T2s on the sorts of numbers you describe "feel it" when the go low, or high for that matter. I'm less affected. I feel fine, whatever my numbers are, although if I'm very low, I'm sometimes hungry, but it usually happens to be at a mealtime.
Alcohol can have a curious impact on our bodies, and will usually lead to a drop in blood sugars at some stage. Some drop sooner than others. I'm not a great drinker, so have a very low tolerance to it. By that I mean I can get squiffy more quickly than most.
My diabetes hasn't stopped me doing anything, ever, and although I don't work in a 9-5, commuting basis any more, I can't say my diabetes has stopped me delivering work, on schedule. Other things get in the way sometimes - like the odd cold or ordinary headache, but not my diabetes.
In your shoes, I would start a food diary and see if there are links with your diet to when you feel rough. You could, perhaps have some sort of food intolerance. Please be clear though, that is speculation on my part. I'd keep the food diary every day, whether I felt well or otherwise, because some things take a while to impact. I'd also always say to test if you feel rough, and also do some testing around your wine indulgences.
When did the tummy upsets start, in relation to your Metformin? Had you been on the Metformin a while before these symptoms started?
Finally for tonight, try upping your fluids a bit. Dehydration is more common than we like to think and certainly for e a symptom of dehydration is a headache.
I've been on Metformin since my diagnosis. It took a few day to adjust but since then I've been fine with it. I take it with my evening meal & I'm now wondering if there is a relationship between the Metformin & alcohol.
I also have Occipital neuralgia (ON) so have to be careful with headaches/headset so as not to trigger that. An ON flare puts me out of action for several days.
I may be overly cautious but with good reason.
I also have Occipital neuralgia (ON) so have to be careful with headaches/headset so as not to trigger that. An ON flare puts me out of action for several days.
I may be overly cautious but with good reason.
uart
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Yeah that's not really common. Many T2s have readings over 7 every single morning. Staying in a range as tight as 4.5 to 6.2 would be like dream to some of us. With low BG levels then yes there is usually an immediate effect, and some people might start to feel bad below 4.5. With higher levels however, many people wont notice so much unless they're elevated for a longer period of time. I usually don't notice any immediate issues with BGLs under 10.
Perhaps when you get the higher morning readings (like 6.2) that this is just the tail end of a much larger excursion. Try measuring two hours after the offending meal and see what's happening.
daisy1
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@Pippin1958
Here is the Basic Information, mentioned above, we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask more questions and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
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 235,000 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:
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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
Here is the Basic Information, mentioned above, we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask more questions and someone will be able to help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
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 235,000 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
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
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.
Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.
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.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
- Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why
- Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
ickihun
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When was your blood pressure last checked @Pippin1958 ?
I have variation of blood pressure depending on what my bgs are doing. I'm wondering if the unwell symptoms are due to something else rather than hyper symptoms at 7mmol/l. Some posts may get upset tummy on metformin but not hyper symptoms unless sugary foods have been eaten. However I could be wrong!
It is unusual to have hyper symptoms at 7mmol/l.
