• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

type 2 blood glucose readings

L

lmck

Member
Messages
6
Hi everyone i am new to this website. I have been a type 2 diabetic for about 5 years but just recently all my problems have started. My blood glucose readings used to be between 6 and 8 on 1 metformin tablet but now my doctor has increased my dosage to 4 a day my blood glucose readings have fell to 3 and 4 and when this happens i feel very ill but my doctor says that i have to stick to my medication. He says that i will never take a hypo but when my readings are low i feel as if i have the symptons of a hypo. Can anybody give me some advice please as this is really getting me down. :(
 
Hi Imck and welcome to the forum.

I am bumping your post up so that more people can see it and reply to you.
 
Readings of 6-8 are not too bad ! Why a huge jump from 1 a day to 4 a day ? I could understand if he said try 2 a day. I think you need to get back to your doctor and explain how you're feeling and ask why he quadrupled your meds. I know some people feel a little intimidated by doctors but you should not have to put up with feeling ill. Good luck and let us know how you get on.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I am on 4x 500mg metformin a day as well as 4x 80mg Gliclazide and 2x 5microgram injections of byetta and wish i could get my bs down to 6-8mmol, on waking up my bs is around 10,

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
lmck said:
Hi everyone i am new to this website. I have been a type 2 diabetic for about 5 years but just recently all my problems have started. My blood glucose readings used to be between 6 and 8 on 1 metformin tablet but now my doctor has increased my dosage to 4 a day my blood glucose readings have fell to 3 and 4 and when this happens i feel very ill but my doctor says that i have to stick to my medication. He says that i will never take a hypo but when my readings are low i feel as if i have the symptons of a hypo. Can anybody give me some advice please as this is really getting me down. :(
Click to expand...


If your blood glucose levels have been running a little high - and between 6 and 8 would be a bit high for me, but we are all different - your body will be used to running at that level and you may well get some hypo symptoms until your body gets accustomed to the lower levels. This is not unusual and is called "false hypo".

The NHS target blood glucose levels for a Type 2 are: 4 - 7 fasting/before meals; less than 8.5, 2 hours after eating.

For a non-diabetic, the target levels are: 3.5 - 5.5 fasting/before meals; less than 8, 2 hours after.

You could always treat for a hypo when you're low, until things settle down. There is a saying "4 is the floor"; if you find yourself in the low 4s, you could give your levels a quick boost. There are various methods for this; I carry glucose tablets (available from all pharmacies and probably sweet shops too. If I find myself below 4, I chew 2 tabs and check my BGs again 15 minutes later. If I'm in the high 4s or over 5, fine; if not, chew another and test again.

Some people carry Lucozade, but I find the glucose tablets an easier way to get a small does; easy to swig too much Lucozade!

Having said all that, I haven't eaten a glucose tab for more than 18 months. I feel fine now even in the low 3s, so my system seems to have adjusted.

After all, if 3.5 is okay for a non-diabetic, surely it should be okay for a well-controlled Type 2? :D

You could always drop your Metformin down to 3 a day for a couple of weeks, and go back up to 4 a day after that. It's usual to start Metformin by 1 a day for a week; then 2 a day for the next week; then 3 - and so on. Then next time you see your GP, discuss the symptoms and explain what you've done.

Hope this helps. Have a read round on here, too - there's lots about hypos.

Viv 8)
 
Thanks everybody for your comments i have been to see my doctor and she has reduced my tablets to 3 a day now still feeling unwell sometimes but she told me to stick with it and i should be fine in a couple of weeks once my body gets used to the higher dosage.
 
Have you eaten some improper food? Or you encountered some bad things so that you are anxious too much? Or i don't understand why your blood glucose readings fell such degree! Remember, you are bound to keep relaxed and regulate your meat in daily life, I'm a diabetic either, but now my blood glucose readings is stable, I hope you would be better soon!
 
thanks everybody for ur comments i am starting to feel a little better and my readings are starting to stabilise now so thanks again for your kind advice.
 
My readings have been averaging 17+, also getting tinitus, feeling clammy etc. Is this bad? Im on 2 slow realeasing metformin and saxaglyptin. Also Im waiting to see a specialist. Anyone give me any advice please. Thanks

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
ykcool said:
My readings have been averaging 17+, also getting tinitus, feeling clammy etc. Is this bad? Im on 2 slow realeasing metformin and saxaglyptin. Also Im waiting to see a specialist. Anyone give me any advice please. Thanks

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...


17+ is too high; does your GP know your readings are in this range? Don't know about the tinnitus, but feeling clammy is one of the signs of a hyper, I believe.

Hyper is hyperglycaemia - when your BGs are too high. Symptoms can be similar to a hypo, so you need to check your levels.

My first advice is to get an emergency appointment with your GP; the second is to go to A&E if you start feeling really unwell - or even if you don't. Or you could phone the specialist's secretary and tell her whats happening, ask if you can get an earlier appointment. It's always worth asking.

There's a section on Hyperglycaemia on the site somewhere - have a read of it, or Google. Running your BGs too high can be dangerous, and should not be ignored.

Meanwhile, drink plenty of water, and steer clear of carbohydrate foods; in your place I would be avoiding cereals, baked goods, bread, potatoes, rice and pasta. But you do need to see a doctor to discuss it - I'm not qualified and can only suggest things that I would do.

Let us know how you get on. :D

Viv 8)
 
Back
Top