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darren_m

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
hello guys -I,m new here but have been surfing the forum for a few weeks . I,m a bit worried about some results I had and lack of knowledge from my GP .
Anyway I,ll jump right in with my 1st question if I may.
right -- I had been feeling a bit off for a few months , having to urinate a lot , rageing thirst , not sleeping at night , some odd sensations like heat or burning sensations in various places , falling asleep in the day , and finally feeling like **** after breakfast .
Any way I finally asked for some blood tests etc and one came back as a fasting blood sugar level of 6.4 , so on the bases of that I,ve since had a fasting 2 hour glucose blood test , so I get the results and I,m a bit confused and so is my doctor .
The 1st overnight fast blood test came back as 7.2 , then I drank 410ml of Lucozade and waited 2 hours and this test came back at a lower reading of 3 .
I,m confused and so is my doc , so this morning did the overnight fast / 2 hour glucose test again and getting the results in a few days.

Anyway - can anyone tell me whats happening to my blood sugars , as I would of thought that the level would rise not fall . could this be the reason I feel like I,m about to pass out ie light headed , start sweating , and just feel **** and want to go to sleep , always approx. 30-45 mins after my breakfast every morning...

thank you in advance for any help
 
It is not that unusual to get a lower reading after two hours, it all depends on your body's reaction to the glucose.
I have had quite a few glucose tests, but mine have been prolonged.

You could have what is known as dumping syndrome, but I'm only guessing!
Of course, we don't diagnose on here, only suggest!

Did you get your blood results from the half hour after, the hour and hour and a half, that will show you the spike and how quickly you spiked and the progress towards normal levels.


Your fasting blood glucose levels are high but not too bad. You still need to get that back down to normal levels. The way to do that is through a dietary change.

I've tagged @daisy1 to give you the newcomers welcome information.
Please read and have a look at the low carb forum.

I have hypoglycaemia, which is low blood sugars, my condition is described in our forum called Reactive Hypoglycaemia.

Hope this helps.

Oh yeah! GPs, really don't have a clue about blood glucose disorders.
You usually have to see a specialist endocrinologist, to get proper diagnosis.
 
Hi and welcome!

Yes, it looks like you might find it useful to read the Reactive Hypoglycaemia section of this forum.
Many many people have a mild form of RH where their blood glucose rises then dips a bit lower than its starting point after food. But if it is more extreme, which happens to some of us, then we can get hypo symptoms and live in what @nosher8355 affectionately calls 'hypo hell'.

Have a good rummage through the RH section and ask any questions you like. Welcome!
 
@darren_m

Hello Darren and welcome to the forum :) Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. 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 over 150,000 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

Reduce your 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

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

LOW CARB PROGRAM:
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/low carb program


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
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

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 bloodglucose 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.
 
thank you for the info , very helpful
just been looking at symptoms etc , **** I feel depressed , been having leg pains too and did,nt realise that they could be a possible symptom too . This as been going on for months and my GP still hasn't refered me anywhere

I,m not sure which way to go , will going low carb help , I don't understand it . if my sugar drops after a meal down to say 3 , will low carb diet help .
I really need to monitor my bloods to see whats happening daily .
where could I get a blood sugar monitor please , and which do you recommend
thanks again
 
darren_m said:
thank you for the info , very helpful
just been looking at symptoms etc , **** I feel depressed , been having leg pains too and did,nt realise that they could be a possible symptom too . This as been going on for months and my GP still hasn't refered me anywhere

I,m not sure which way to go , will going low carb help , I don't understand it . if my sugar drops after a meal down to say 3 , will low carb diet help .
I really need to monitor my bloods to see whats happening daily .
where could I get a blood sugar monitor please , and which do you recommend
thanks again
Click to expand...

Hi, yes, it's all confusing ain't it?

You have practically answered your own questions.
Yes, if you have read, any of the threads on the RH forum, low carb will ease your symptoms. And by testing and experimenting, you will find out what foods you can eat and those you avoid. I believe you need to eat smaller meals more often to offset the lows.
Unfortunately most doctors haven't got a clue, you need to annoy them with data and a list of symptoms to encourage him to get you to get a referral to a specialist endocrinologist.

You need to get a diagnosis, the only way you can is by seeing a blood glucose disorder endocrinologist. Make sure your GP gets you one who understands your symptoms.

Hope this helps!
 
Hi again.

Self testing blood glucose can be a pricey business - and it is the test strips that are the expensive part. You can pick up a test meter gadget for a tenner in your local boots the chemist, but it might cost you £25 for 50 test strips.

On the other hand, go for a budget meter like the SD Codefree (available from amazon, ebay or Homehealth, the manufacturer) and you can get a meter for £13 and 50 strips for £7

So worth shopping around.

And yes, i agree with noshy. If you have RH then cutting carbs will even out the highs, which then reduces the lows.
 
thanks again guys --- going to spend more time searching the RH forum , I had a quick look and then started to panic LoL.

weird thing is I was quite healthy , still go to the gym 4 days week , but I do like my food , well what I thought was good food ie fruit / veg // rice /oats / pasta etc along with my proteins like eggs / beef/ fish( mainly tinned ) / chicken / and I still get this problem .
Last year I got diagnosed with N.A.F.L.D , they did 2 biopsy procedures and told me I have first signs of scirrosis too . Even though I tried to look after my health I gained weight around the middle rapidly last year and now here I am .... yesterday I literally had my breakfast of porridge and 30 mins later I laid down on my living room floor feeling totally drained and could not move just zero energy for about 2 hours ...... Anyway sorry about the waffle .
I really want to get this sorted and under control .
I will sort out a monitor prob one from boots and look for ideas for low carb meals ( especially breakfast )
I,m sure there will be more questions to come.
Thank you again for your advice.
 
ps.forgot to say - I also have high cholesterol and take lipantil , not sure if that matters at all
 
Please do read the forum, we are not as bad as you make out, if in fact quite friendly but definitely weird!!

Porridge was the cause of my doctor having problems explaining what was going on.
Didn't have a clue.

I really think you do need to gain as much knowledge and press your GP to get you a endocrinologist that knows about our blood glucose disorder condition.
It seems that your GP is treating the effects of hypoglycaemia and making it worse by contributing to the problem by giving you meds that have sugars in them.
The meds you mentioned have a warning about lactose and if you have a problem with that. All RH ers have to be careful about the meds they take, as it can cause problems and more symptoms.

NAFL, I had, but due to a very low carb diet, this has been gone away, but I didn't have the scarring or sclerosis. My wife also had it and has seen an improvement since cutting out the baddies.
Cholesterol is a big subject and another one that will be brought down by eating healthier.
The good news is that eating low carb will sort out the weight problem. And as a bonus, the more in control of the condition helps with weight, because the excess insulin doesn't turn into visceral fat.
That's the reason for weight gain. I went up to seventeen stone, and now because I'm in control after just over two years, I'm now around 11 and a half stone.
And feel great!
I have great energy, just started a full time job (and more) do the shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing, plus all the other chores.
And I don't get the tiredness you do.

Very low carb works for us RH ers.
 
Meant to also say that your leg pains could also be attributed to the side effects of those meds you are on.
I was asked to try statins, because I was in the risk percentage. They gave me muscle aches as a side effect, I didn't need them. So stopped them. Started feeling tired.
Felt great after that!

But always talk to your GP, and start doing a food diary and record everything you eat and what your glucose monitor readings are, to help the doctor decide to get a referral.

Keep asking.
 
nosher - thank you ,you are not weird its just me feeling sorry for myself !! you guys have been very helpful.

really interesting to hear your NAFLD is getting better , I didn't know it could , my LFT's are high but stable , re the scarring I,m told its minimal at the mo , but if I can reverse it that would make all the difference.
just had a cholesterol result and its shot up from a steady 4.9 to 5.9 and that's with the meds .

I,ve just got back from the doctors after seeing the nurse to get results of my second fasting/glucose blood test and its come back the same fasting 6.9 and 2 hours after Lucozade dropped to 2.7 ... she cant explain it (surprise) and as booked me to see a doctor , got to wait 3 weeks though to get in ( ridiculous ).
In the mean time she as given me a TEE 2 monitor to self check my sugar , she said there's an idiots guide enclosed , I,m supposed to log the results and take them along to my appointment . Thing is I,m not sure when I should take a reading , if its before and after every meal etc that's a lot of pricking
what would you advice .
 
just used the above monitor for the 1st time , fasted was 7.2 , going to have breakfast and retry in an hour
 
I got my meter a month or so ago and have been testing 2 to 3 times a day aince. My dietician gave me a sheet to record my levels over a two week period. Basically on Sat, Sun, Wed i test in the morning and two hours after breakfast and before bed. Mon and Thr is before and after lunch and Tues and Fri is before and after supper. I also record everything i eat and drink every day for those two weeks. The idea is this will give me an idea of what causes my bg to rise and an overall idea what my bg is doing.

I have also tested if i feel shacky and light headed just to see. I'm lucky though as insurance pays for my strips. Your DN or GP may have another schedule for you so check with them.
 
darren_m said:
nosher - thank you ,you are not weird its just me feeling sorry for myself !! you guys have been very helpful.

really interesting to hear your NAFLD is getting better , I didn't know it could , my LFT's are high but stable , re the scarring I,m told its minimal at the mo , but if I can reverse it that would make all the difference.
just had a cholesterol result and its shot up from a steady 4.9 to 5.9 and that's with the meds .

I,ve just got back from the doctors after seeing the nurse to get results of my second fasting/glucose blood test and its come back the same fasting 6.9 and 2 hours after Lucozade dropped to 2.7 ... she cant explain it (surprise) and as booked me to see a doctor , got to wait 3 weeks though to get in ( ridiculous ).
In the mean time she as given me a TEE 2 monitor to self check my sugar , she said there's an idiots guide enclosed , I,m supposed to log the results and take them along to my appointment . Thing is I,m not sure when I should take a reading , if its before and after every meal etc that's a lot of pricking
what would you advice .
Click to expand...

If you have the strips, test fasting, before each meal then two hours after meal.
Also if you feel awful test then!
If you are getting those sort of results and you have strips maybe do the odd one hour after to see how high you are going.
There are a lot of threads about testing including the one I advise on the reactive hypoglycaemia forum.
Do please read the RH forum, and start trying to do without some carbs, especially the worst ones, spuds, rice, wheat, pasta, cereals.

Keep asking, and I did say that GPs and dsns haven't a clue, when you go hypo like you do and when I do!
That's why we are here!
 
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