Unexpected erratic levels

MauraH said:

Hi, I'm looking for some advice as a newly diagnosed T2 (2 1/2 months). I lowered my carb intake after reading the material on Blood Sugar 101 and had a nice few days of almost non-diabetic readings. Then today my level dropped to 3.1 (my first hypo in months) and later in the day my level went up a couple of points after a 25 minute walk--I hadn't eaten in a few hours at this stage and I thought that exercise brought levels down, not up. Needless to say, I am confused (confusion seems to be the natural state for diabetes) and would appreciate any comments. Could stress, for instance, do this? Thanks!

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Strange as it sounds, it is possible to have an increase in BG after exercise. IIRC, it is to due with your liver pumping out glucose because it thinks your body needs a boost. Not eating for a few hours is the clue here.

When your level dropped to 3.1, did you happen to test first thing in the morning and do any other tests as well? what time of day was it 3.1?

If you're not on insulin or insulin-promoting drugs, then dropping low without a lengthy fast could suggest reactive hypoglycaemia.

Hello MauraH, welcome to the forum
Congratulations for taking a proactive approach to your T2 diagnosis and realising that reducing your carbohydrate intake is the key to getting good control.
If your sugar levels get too low your liver will help you out by releasing some stored glucose, the same thing can happen if your liver decides that you need a little more energy when you exercise, It's a natural response that happens to everyone.
It can be unsettling to see low numbers on your meter but you need to take into account that the metres are only accurate to +/- 15% and if you use two two strips on the same drop of blood you will probably get different results. So unless you feel unwell or are taking insulin or other drugs that can cause a hypo, you don't need to worry too much if a result is lower or higher than you were expecting.
This page at blood sugar 101explains better than I can how blood sugar control works
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046621.php

Hi and welcome!

Some people find a walk will make their levels drop like a stone, others find it raises them (I am one of those).

Please don't worry about fluctuating results. If you get an unexpected reading, test again and maybe even a third time. We all get rogue readings from time to time, and meters are only required legally to be within 15% accurate (plus or minus). There is also the contamination possibility, either the strip or your finger.

Well done for taking this seriously. You seem to be doing very well indeed.

MauraH said:

Thanks so much for the replies. It's so great to know that there are others out there and with such knowledge.

My FBG was 5.2. I was slightly high at 7.1 an hour after a low carb breakfast, oddly, after two days of perfect readings following the 1 hour-2 hour method at Blood Sugar 101. Then an hour later I was 3.1. This was 9 and 10 am respectively. I kept getting 7s & 8s through the day despite the low carbs.

Today I took a day off testing because it was making me too anxious.

I also attended a webinar on diabetes distress so that was helpful at least in understanding the emotional side of diabetes. I wonder how long the distress goes on for. I scored above average for it and am in month 3.

I hope you both are doing well. Thanks again!

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I'm doing good, thanks

I think going from 5.2 to 7.1 an hour after a meal is perfect and not high at all. The drop to 3.1 does sound like reactive hypoglycaemia (RH), but you should collect a few more results as it's not ideal to base anything on one result. Also keep in mind that the meters are allowed to be up to 15% inaccurate.

I don't understand why you then had 7s and 8s, but I guess the picture will become clearer over time. Taking a day off testing was a great idea. If you want to keep your testing at a low stress level, then just test on waking up then pre meal and 2 hours after, then take the next day off or something. The key thing is that an FBG of 5.2 is excellent. Keep low carbing, as that is the best thing for RH if you have it.

There is good info on RH at wikipedia and if you want to discuss it in more depth, the @nosher8355 and @Brunneria can help.

MauraH said:

Hi, I'm looking for some advice as a newly diagnosed T2 (2 1/2 months). I lowered my carb intake after reading the material on Blood Sugar 101 and had a nice few days of almost non-diabetic readings. Then today my level dropped to 3.1 (my first hypo in months) and later in the day my level went up a couple of points after a 25 minute walk--I hadn't eaten in a few hours at this stage and I thought that exercise brought levels down, not up. Needless to say, I am confused (confusion seems to be the natural state for diabetes) and would appreciate any comments. Could stress, for instance, do this? Thanks!

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Hi,
Welcome to the forum.
Going on only one testing, seems a little too less information to go on.
It is very confusing, we have been there, knowing not what's going on.
Stress can alter your blood levels by a couple of points and its yet another symptom you could do without.
You posted, your first hypo for ages, did you suffer from them before low carbing and tell us about what symptoms you were having?
I hope you feel better soon.
Keep posting.

Hi and welcome.

Looks like stress, exercise and or a rogue reading may be to blame.

Don't worrit about reactive hypoglycaemia unless a recurring pattern develops, and if you have taken the Jenny Rhul thinking on board, then you are drifting/moving/already low carbing, which will let bg even out.

Having said that, it is rare for type 2s to hypo. Have you had many previously?

MauraH said:

Great info, thanks! Yes, I had hypos before diagnosis but not after until yesterday. I didn't feel too bad so I'll just consider it a mystery and move on with the low carbing. I tend to get very anxious with all this so I should focus on dealing with the emotional side of diabetes.

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I would test and experiment with foods that you like.
If you don't your denying yourself the opportunity to enjoy your meals.
Keep a food diary and record all your readings. This will help you throughout your change in lifestyle.
Low carbing is the way to go as it is essential to all blood glucose disorders. Including reactive hypoglycaemia and diabetes.
The only way you know is symptoms and having hypos, and like me I only get hypos if I have carbs.

What meter are you using I have tried s few none are truly accurate and some are more in-accurate than others.
It is s good idea to test your meter against low and medium range control solution.