Type2: Another new forum member.

[Cobhireland]

17.8 Eek!!

This is my first post here. I have been Type 2 for around 15 years and suffer badly from Peripheral polyneuropathy. Up until about 6 weeks ago, I was really pleased with myself. I had cut carbs right down and my BS was around 4.5 to 6.5. However about 6 weeks ago, I ended up in hospital for 10 days unconscious for the first 3 days. The hospital initially thought I had mucked up my meds (I am on, amongst others, Morphine, Duloxetine, Amytryptiline, Pregabalin, Byetta). However, I have never, never taken more meds than I am supposed to. Anyway, by the time I was discharged the Consultant and Doctors told my husband that I actually had Functional Brain Failure due to severe hypo. We also thought I had caught the hypo in time as my hubby had given me 6 glucose tabs (not that I remembered that though). I apparently got increasingly confused and was stumbling around as if I was drunk. My hubby rushed me to the doctors, (as my blood was 9..6 after all those glucose tabs), who immediately called an ambulance. On about day 5, I was convinced I was all better and thought there was nothing wrong with me and was insisting I wanted to go home. However I had apparently, bitten a nurse, punched a doctor, stolen another Doctor's stethoscope which I tried to break and all sorts of shenanigans (SO SO embarrassed). A psychiatrist called my husband in and asked my hubby if that was my normal behaviour!!!! I was absolutely mortified and worst of all, once I got home, bits of my memory started coming back and I can now remember most of my bizarre behaviour. I also remembered that I thought they were giving me tests that I had to complete so they would let me out and I thought they were peeking at me in the loo and whispering about whether I washed my hands properly. The Doc said this was paranoia which goes along with the Functional Brain Failure. I went back and apologised to all the staff. They said don't worry about, we see that all the time with brain dysfunction. (I'm still totally embarrassed though).

The upshot of all this was I got sent back to my DN who took me off Byetta and put me on SR Metformin which is making me feel hideously nauseous and giving me rotten tummy ache. Also, I haven't had a reading under 11 since I went on it without the injection. She also said my level of carbs was ridiculous and told me to eat at least 80-100 gm per day!!

I'm waiting for them to send me an appointment. I definitely DO NOT want this neuropathy to get worse, which is what will happen if I don't get my BS down.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? What was their experience? Did they regain all their memories and brain function? (Mine is still a bit slow). Also does anyone know if you are allowed to break your SR Metformin in half? Mine is the size of a horse tablet and I cannot swallow one that big.

Sorry if this post is too long and also apologise if this is the wrong part of the forum. Thanks in advance for any replies

 

[azure]

Welcome

It sounds like you've had an awful time of it recently. I have Type 1 diabetes but ive had hypis that have made me behave very strangely. Don't be embarrassed by it. It's not like you were doing it on purpose or were aware of what you were doing. I promise you that someone somewhere has done much worse with low blood sugar. Unfortunately, weird behaviour and out of character behaviour isn't unusual.

Hopefully, some members with Type 2 will be along to give you some advice soon.

 

[Daibell]

HI and welcome. What a story! I have to be careful what I say here as you are on so much medication and I wouldn't want to make things worse. First, you mustn't break Metformin SR tablets down as some of them are coated. Read the leaflet or ask the pharmacist. Can I ask what your BMI is? Byetta is normally prescribed for diabetics who has a lot of excess weight. To go from Byetta to Metformin seems strange unless any excess weight has come down. Metformin helps if you do have excess weight, but only a little. It's unusual for Metformin SR to cause serious stomach problems but not unknown.The advice to have 80-100gm of carb per day is OK, although having less shouldn't do any harm as long as you have other foods such as protein, fat, veg etc. I suspect some of your meds are causing blood sugar to increase; this is a common problem and not easy to manage. If your blood sugar doesn't come down you must discuss insulin as an option with the GP/nurse as it may be the only way currently to control your sugars but I wonder whether they aren't keen currently?

 

[Cobhireland]

Hi Daibell. My BMI is 26.5. I am trying to stick to 1200 calories per day to shift the extra weight.

I think they took away the Byetta in hospital because my BS was around 7. However this was because the hospital food was terrible and I was living on natural Greek yoghurt and fresh fruit which my husband was bringing in for me.

When I saw my DN about a few weeks ago, she changed me to SR Metformin because of tummy problems. I have in fact, been to the Doctor today as I was in tremendous pain with the neuropathy. I have also been suffering from ice cold hands and feet whilst simultaneously having sweat pour from my head. I also told him about the high BS. He upped my morphine and put me back on the normal Metformin as he said I shouldn't be breaking the SR Metformin (it has a special coating apparently). I said I was trying to get to see the DN about the high BS and had rung on Monday of this week but still hadn't heard about an appointment. Doc said he would send urgent reminder. He said the longer my BS is up in double figures, the more damage it could be doing to my neuropathy.

As you see it seems somewhat of a balancing act to get all this right. One question about insulin, which might or might not be an old wives tale. Doesn't insulin cause weight gain?

Thanks for your reply and thanks to the first person who is Type 1 who replied. Any tips from anyone is much appreciated . Thanks again

 

[Cobhireland]

Welcome

It sounds like you've had an awful time of it recently. I have Type 1 diabetes but ive had hypis that have made me behave very strangely. Don't be embarrassed by it. It's not like you were doing it on purpose or were aware of what you were doing. I promise you that someone somewhere has done much worse with low blood sugar. Unfortunately, weird behaviour and out of character behaviour isn't unusual.

Hopefully, some members with Type 2 will be along to give you some advice soon.

Thanks Azure for the encouragement about my bizarre behaviour. I was SO embarrassed and had never heard about this aspect of diabetes. Hopefully others may read this and know that they are not alone if this ever happens to them (obviously hope nobody has to go through it though. It was dead scary for me. Thanks again