Symptom Threshold Rising? Future Lada?

[Glink]

I was diagnosed prediabetic (IFG) about 15 mo ago. Am at high likelihood of future LADA/1.5 diagnosis due to age/BMI/progression so far. Am now on LCHF + metformin to try to control, after LCHF itself helped a lot but didn't keep things from slowly getting worse. Metformin has helped my A1c (normal levels at last check; I get checked quarterly). But, my fasting and postprandial #'s are slowly creeping up again, I believe. I used to be able to get fasting #s down into the low 5's and sometimes in the 4's with strict diet, but now it's high 5's and 6's.

What I'm wondering about is this: I used to be able to feel it when I got over about 5.6. Blurry vision, irritability, fatigue, etc. By the 6's I used to experience polydypsia and polyuria. Now I don't notice those symptoms until my sugars are higher--at least the mid 6's if not 7's. It was surprising to all before when I could feel it at such low levels, but I'm a little concerned that my body has perhaps gotten used to working at higher (less optimal) levels now, and it throws off my instinctual sense of when my sugars are nice low.

Does anyone here have experience with this kind of thing--a rising threshold at which you could feel symptoms? Is this something to be concerned about? I have recently had multiple experiences of checking my glucose just for my record keeping, assuming all was well, and finding it higher than I expected, which I don't like at all.

 

[Arab Horse]

When I went for my free NHS health check I was gobsmacked to find that my glucose was 18.4mmol/L and and my HbA1c was 10.4%; I had no symptoms at all so I guess it is a personal thing and my glucose had been rising for many years so that I was tolerant to those levels. I struggle to keep my levels normal, very few things I can eat and stay even near normal levels but I never have any idea where my glucose is without testing as I never have any symptoms.

Sorry, not a lot of help to you. You don't say what your age/ BMI are so no idea if we are similar. I was diagnosed just before I turned 70 with a normal BMI (height 5' 3", weight 8 and a half to 8 and three quarter stones) so within the normal range. Since cutting the carbs I have dropped to 7 stone with a BMI bordering on the "dangerously low" but it hasn't helped with my glucose control!

 

[Brunneria]

I think our bodies learn to adjust to 'the usual' which may be high, or low, or anywhere in between.

Personally, I have noticed that when my bg was swinging high then low (reactive hypoglycaemia) on a regular basis, I barely felt anything except the very lows (hypo symptoms). Now that I keep my bg within a fairly tight band, I feel it whenever I stray outside it.

I believe the T1s can lose their hypo-awareness by having too many, and then regain it by running higher for a while, and avoiding the hypos. I saw a study demonstrating this years ago, but have lost the reference, so hopefully someone with experience of hypo awareness changes can confirm this, or not

Anyway, I guess I am saying that even if you have lost your awareness, it may only be a temporary thing.

 

[azure]

@Glink Although gradually rising blood sugar can go undetected because the person feels fine, their body having been acclimatised to higher than normal levels, that would be unlikely to change the renal threshold - the level at which your body tries to get rid of the glucose in urine.

If you're concerned that 'something's going on', it's always worth checking with your nurse, if only for peace of mind.

 

[Arab Horse]

"Although gradually rising blood sugar can go undetected because the person feels fine, their body having been acclimatised to higher than normal levels, that would be unlikely to change the renal threshold - the level at which your body tries to get rid of the glucose in urine."

Very true, when the nurse did my urine dipstick it turned BLACK, absolutely loaded with sugar.