Question about diabetes numbers

[LexieD]

Hi, I have found out this week that my mmol has shot up from 49 to 109 since just before the Covid-19 business started. I expected an increase as, like a lot of people, I've found the isolation and worry a lot to handle, especially as I am largely housebound due to other health problems as well.
What I really feel I need to know is how high is 109? I can't seem to find anything beyond the fact that over 54 means you are diabetic.
I was diagnosed with Type 2, and a number of 54 about 18 months ago, used dietary changes and got down to 48 quite quickly, crept to 49 a short while later, and so you can imagine the shock of such a high number this time.
The nurse practitioner seemed unconcerned and said she was having lots of conversations with people in my situation due to Covid. I guess I need a little reassurance from you lovely people as this is still so new to me really.
Hoping you can help. (((hugs))) Lexie

 

[LaoDan]

109 is pretty high and requires immediate attention. IMHO go ultra low carb carb, stay hydrated. Not trying to scare you, but you should bring those numbers down because they are damaging you.

 

[EllieM]

Welcome to the forums and well done for getting your numbers down when you were first diagnosed.

109 corresponds to an average blood sugar of 16.7, (normal is 4 - 8) so yes it's a very high reading and would lead to serious illness if you kept it at that level for any length of time.

What is the nurse saying? Are they increasing your medication? Plenty of people on here start with levels like your and then return them to normal by cutting down on the carbs in their diets.

I'm assuming you were initially diagnosed as T2, but be aware that with a sudden increase like that there is a small possibility that you are in fact T1/LADA. It wouldn't be the end of the world if you were (T1 for 50 years here) but you would need to eventually move to insulin. C-peptide and GAD tests would determine whether this is an issue for you. (But honestly, T2 levels are mostly influenced by diet, if you've been eating a lot more carbs in the last few months then your levels would have gone up.)

Good luck, plenty of T2s on these boards have been in your position and bounced back from it. But you do need to take action.

 

[LexieD]

109 is pretty high and requires immediate attention. IMHO go ultra low carb carb, stay hydrated. Not trying to scare you, but you should bring those numbers down because they are damaging you.

Oh I am pretty scared, to be honest. It was a terrible shock. But I am already working on it. I was surprised the nurse was so blase about it, to be honest.

 

[LexieD]

Welcome to the forums and well done for getting your numbers down when you were first diagnosed.

109 corresponds to an average blood sugar of 16.7, (normal is 4 - 8) so yes it's a very high reading and would lead to serious illness if you kept it at that level for any length of time.

What is the nurse saying? Are they increasing your medication? Plenty of people on here start with levels like your and then return them to normal by cutting down on the carbs in their diets.

I'm assuming you were initially diagnosed as T2, but be aware that with a sudden increase like that there is a small possibility that you are in fact T1/LADA. It wouldn't be the end of the world if you were (T1 for 50 years here) but you would need to eventually move to insulin. C-peptide and GAD tests would determine whether this is an issue for you. (But honestly, T2 levels are mostly influenced by diet, if you've been eating a lot more carbs in the last few months then your levels would have gone up.)

Good luck, plenty of T2s on these boards have been in your position and bounced back from it. But you do need to take action.

Hi, thank you for such a detailed response. Yes, I am type 2. I've edited my post to include that now. I am being started on medication as I was controlling it with my diet before. I'm being put on Metformine, but still not received the prescription so going to have to chase it up on Monday. I am already working on my diet as I genuinely had no idea it had got this bad. I have been feeling worse than usual for weeks, (number of other health issues too) but now realise it is because of the sugar levels, so I am on a mission to sort it out. That is why I joined Diabetes UK actually. Trying to come back from such a high number is quite daunting. One thing about me, once I get over a shock like this I am very much a 'Right, what do I need to do to sort this!'.
With all the added stress of being vulnerable to Covid I started to stress eat, and once I started that it was a downward spiral, I guess. All I was craving was carbs. So they are most likely the culprit, but I will mention T1/LADA to my doctor as I have been diagnosed with a number of things in the last couple of years that may indicate that to be the case. Thank you for letting me know about it, as I did not know it existed. (((hugs)))

 

[Antje77]

Oh I am pretty scared, to be honest. It was a terrible shock. But I am already working on it. I was surprised the nurse was so blase about it, to be honest.

A hba1c of 109 is nothing to be blasé about to be honest.
Good thing you do take it seriously!
What are you doing at the moment to improve things?
you might like to read our short introduction to diabetes: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.17088/

One thing about me, once I get over a shock like this I am very much a 'Right, what do I need to do to sort this!'.

In that case, I'd also read this piece by Jo Kalsbeek: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/

And I agree with keeping the possibility of T1 in the back of your head. There's no way to tell with the information you have at the moment but it is a possibility.

Do you have a glucose meter? It's a very helpful tool to see how different foods affect your blood glucose. Your nurse practitioner doesn't sound like she'll prescribe one to you, so you might want to buy one yourself.
If so, the cost is in the test strips, not the meter itself, so that's what you want to look for!

'Right, what do I need to do to sort this!'.

Right you are and way to go!

 

[Tophat1900]

Hoping you have meter, if not, then you need one. This will provide valuable info on how your levels are responding to foods and trends along the way. Lots of good advice already posted.

The nutritional thingy is a great dietary starting place for diet as posted by @Antje77

A lot of people have a huge amount of success with going low carb or keto instead of the drug route that GP's and DN's usually head straight to.

I'd wager that your nurse wouldn't be so unconcerned if her hba1c was 109

Good on you for getting started again. You can do it.

 

[Resurgam]

I would council lowering your BG levels slowly - I didn't but that's just me. You can get problems with eyes by reducing really fast. I got away with it, but I usually do, it is a lifelong habit. Making just one deduction/substitution per week might be the safest way to go - and seeing how your BG settles down before changing another food - it might nor remove the cravings as quickly, but personally, I think that a Hba1c so high should be taken seriously.

 

[LexieD]

Thank you for you reply and the links. Very helpful. When I was diagnosed with T2 and a number of 54, I immediately worked on my diet and was at 48 next time I was tested. So even though I have really struggled with food lately,, I didn't think for a moment it had got this bad, and because I have a number of health issues, it isn't easy to figure out which is causing what.
Anyway, knowledge is power. I am researching, changing my shopping to minimise temptation and already restricting carbs intake by over half. Got back to weighing everything again. It is surprising the difference when you just eyeball portions.
I will take your info about glucose meters on board too. I think that's a great idea. It is frustrating when you don't have information immediately to hand, and I like to be able to see what is going on. I feel that the more informed I am the more effective I can be while still enjoying my food. Luckily I love veg.

 

[LexieD]

I would council lowering your BG levels slowly - I didn't but that's just me. You can get problems with eyes by reducing really fast. I got away with it, but I usually do, it is a lifelong habit. Making just one deduction/substitution per week might be the safest way to go - and seeing how your BG settles down before changing another food - it might nor remove the cravings as quickly, but personally, I think that a Hba1c so high should be taken seriously.

Thank you for that advice. There is so much to learn. I was told to halve my carb portions to start with. Does that sound slow enough to you?

 

[LexieD]

Hoping you have meter, if not, then you need one. This will provide valuable info on how your levels are responding to foods and trends along the way. Lots of good advice already posted.

The nutritional thingy is a great dietary starting place for diet as posted by @Antje77

A lot of people have a huge amount of success with going low carb or keto instead of the drug route that GP's and DN's usually head straight to.

I'd wager that your nurse wouldn't be so unconcerned if her hba1c was 109

Good on you for getting started again. You can do it.

Thank you. I agree with you about the nurse, but she did mention something about herself being in diabetic denial! Not sure if she was joking or not, but had a friend who was, and she made herself incredibly ill! Will look into low carb and keto and see what they offer.

 

[Resurgam]

Thank you for that advice. There is so much to learn. I was told to halve my carb portions to start with. Does that sound slow enough to you?

Without knowing your previous intake of carbs it is a bit difficult to advise - the best thing is to use a blood glucose tester and try to achieve a drop in levels week by week, whatever that takes. Do replace higher carb foods with lower ones.

 

[belfastbiker]

I would council lowering your BG levels slowly - I didn't but that's just me. You can get problems with eyes by reducing really fast.

I started with a very similar HbA1c - 107, mid September. I've been going hell for leather in terms of diet (IF/LC mostly), exercise, supplements & medication ever since, and my numbers are very clearly going the right direction, and now I'm concerned they might be too fast.

It all started with a random BG reading on about 12th Sept, showing me 20 mmol/L (I was then diagnosed T2 on 17th Sept).

My fasting BG is now 5.3, and 2hr post prandial is 7.2 with low carb and 8.6 with higher carb. My eyesight *was* getting much worse before this, but in the last few weeks has hugely improved, and retinopathy test on 22nd Oct showed no issues.