Unstable readings

[AnneRay]

Hi, asking on behalf of my husband who has type 2. Normally we have no problem at all with stable readings, usually 7.5 to 9.5. At the moment they are all over the place, ranging from 9 to 15. Diet is well controlled and medication taken daily as prescribed. He is 87 years old and a wheelchair user, so exercising is a bit problematic, but he is mobile at home. Any suggestions at all, would be most welcomed. Thank you.

 

[Melgar]

I had unstable blood sugars @AnneRay, although I am quite a few years younger than your husband. My blood sugars would bounce around all over the place with significant hypo events , dropping into the 2’s mmol/ls and rises around 14-15 mmol ls . At one point I had to carry something sweet with me as my blood sugars would just plummet. I use Libre cgm’s, the low sugar alarm would regularly go off in the night. My Dr said I had labile blood sugars, likely due to me having coeliac. So Coeliac disease, is an autoimmune disorder whereby my immune system attacks the villi in my small intestines. It’s a systemic disease that causes malabsorption issues. I am also lactose intolerant. I cannot consume dairy, not so much old cheese and yoghurt, but milk, cream, ice cream, young cheeses etc. if I drink regular milk, a part from the digestive distress I would get, because of the lack of the enzyme lactase , my body would not digest the milk sugars (lactose). This means if I drank a pint of regular milk no milk sugars would enter my blood stream so I would not see any rise in my blood sugars. Where am I going with this? My Food malabsorption issues made my blood sugars bounce around. Some medications can do this too.
Malabsorption issues as well as Medications can have an impact on blood sugars being unstable. There may be other issues that cause blood sugar instability , the pancreas’ beta cells, possibly.

I am no dr, so please don’t take this as medical advice, but these were the things that had an effect on my blood sugars. My blood sugars are more stable now as I have gone 100% gluten free and my small intestines have healed somewhat.

 

[Antje77]

Hi, asking on behalf of my husband who has type 2. Normally we have no problem at all with stable readings, usually 7.5 to 9.5. At the moment they are all over the place, ranging from 9 to 15. Diet is well controlled and medication taken daily as prescribed. He is 87 years old and a wheelchair user, so exercising is a bit problematic, but he is mobile at home. Any suggestions at all, would be most welcomed. Thank you.

Has anything changed in his eating pattern lately?
Has he recently got additional medication for other conditions?
Can it be he has something brewing, a cold, flu or UTI?

All those things could increase blood glucose.
I'd be particularly weary of a possible UTI, many people don't notice the symptoms when they get older but it can make people very ill.

 

[AnneRay]

Has anything changed in his eating pattern lately?
Has he recently got additional medication for other conditions?
Can it be he has something brewing, a cold, flu or UTI?

All those things could increase blood glucose.
I'd be particularly weary of a possible UTI, many people don't notice the symptoms when they get older but it can make people very ill.

Hi Anje77,
Thank you so much for responding. Nothing has changed really, and no change to medication. He is well now, although was very ill from Easter last year with biliary sepsis and lost a considerable amount of weight, but back on track again. With renewed thanks and best wishes, Anne

 

[AnneRay]

I had unstable blood sugars @AnneRay, although I am quite a few years younger than your husband. My blood sugars would bounce around all over the place with significant hypo events , dropping into the 2’s mmol/ls and rises around 14-15 mmol ls . At one point I had to carry something sweet with me as my blood sugars would just plummet. I use Libre cgm’s, the low sugar alarm would regularly go off in the night. My Dr said I had labile blood sugars, likely due to me having coeliac. So Coeliac disease, is an autoimmune disorder whereby my immune system attacks the villi in my small intestines. It’s a systemic disease that causes malabsorption issues. I am also lactose intolerant. I cannot consume dairy, not so much old cheese and yoghurt, but milk, cream, ice cream, young cheeses etc. if I drink regular milk, a part from the digestive distress I would get, because of the lack of the enzyme lactase , my body would not digest the milk sugars (lactose). This means if I drank a pint of regular milk no milk sugars would enter my blood stream so I would not see any rise in my blood sugars. Where am I going with this? My Food malabsorption issues made my blood sugars bounce around. Some medications can do this too.
Malabsorption issues as well as Medications can have an impact on blood sugars being unstable. There may be other issues that cause blood sugar instability , the pancreas’ beta cells, possibly.

I am no dr, so please don’t take this as medical advice, but these were the things that had an effect on my blood sugars. My blood sugars are more stable now as I have gone 100% gluten free and my small intestines have healed somewhat.

Hi Melgar,
Your lengthy reply is very much appreciated. I am sorry you have experienced such issues, and hope you are now well. None of the problems you mention apply to my husband but we just seem not to be able to stabilise, one way or the other. Do take care of yourself and kindest regards. Anne