Waiting Of Results & Really Scared

[designer2014]

Hi (apologises in advance for the long post)

Really need some advise whilst waiting of by blood results coming back.

3 weeks ago I ended up in hospital with a hypo. They initially thought it was caused by intense exercise (18 mile spinning and 5 mile walk) the previous evening. However since then it has happened once more, but this time I had a sugary drink and within an hour I was okay.

Everyday since the first one if I don't eat something every 3 hours I feel really wobbly, light headed and dizzy as if it's starting again. Fearing the full blown hypo I have a sugary drink or bread and cheese or a banana.

I went to have my blood done this afternoon (including for diabetes) and asked the nurse what I should do in the meantime because it is really scaring me. She said until your blood test comes back live your life as you normally would. She said if you change anything you may end up masking the problem, so do what you have always done prior to all of this.

I am meant to be going to a birthday party tomorrow evening and told her normally I would have a drink (no more than 3 large glasses of wine, all with tons of soda). I also told her that I always eat a carb rich meal before bed. She did say wine is wine whether you have loads of soda or not but she said as I have said just do what you would normally do, until we know your results.

I don't feel like going because I don't feel able to do that with confidence, I'm not a big drinker (only at weekends), so ideally don't want to give that up (at least until I know) but I never normally snack when I am out, I have something like 2 poached eggs on brown toast, with ham and tomatoes after I have finished drinking. Do you think it would be good to have a snack (such as crisps) when I am drinking? I read this is a good idea, I would be more confident doing this.

Also as I said whenever I get a wobble, or go dizzy I head straight for a snack because I never want to feel like that again but I have no clue whether in doing so I am making it too high, basically I have no clue what I am doing, hense really would appreciate some advise.

I did buy a glucose meter and have done a few tests, 2 in the morning (approx 8 hours without food) and one was 5.6 and one 5.7. The nurse said these were good. I also did one two hours after a big roast dinner and it was 4.8, she said this is great. She did however tell me to put it away and stop self monitoring.

I looked at glucose levels and it says 5.7 is prediabetic, my mam has type 2 diabetes and is on medication but prior to this she was borderline for 7 years and never had any symptoms, so it is scaring me why I am everyday.

In the last 18 months I have lost almost 7 stone and am now a healthy weight and my diet is very healthy. In the past I have been guilty of skipping meals, but no more!!! Also I walk 4-5 miles everyday, well I try sometimes I now have to cut them short.

Any advise would be so gratefully appreciated.

Thanks
L

 

[mo1905]

Those BG numbers seem fine really. Remember, there is a 15-20% tolerance too so they are only a guide. Also, if you are having regular hypo's, I can't see how this can be diabetes as the signs would be the other sway around. Diabetes causes high blood glucose levels, not low ( hypo ). I don't know your history or if there is anything else going on but it could just be excess exercise with not enough food or hydration ? Complete guess. Please let us know the results of your blood tests. Good luck and hope you start to feel better soon.

 

[designer2014]

Thanks for your reply.

I am confused, I have read that every diabetic is not hypoglycemic but every hypoglycemic is diabetic?

 

[jack412]

Take your nurses advice and go and enjoy yourself and keep eating and drinking

Home meters aren't accurate and are a guide. so a Lab blood test is used <5.5 is normal and over 7 is diabetic

Some readings when you feel hypo would be worthwhile

 

[mo1905]

No, non diabetics can get very low BG levels ( hypo ) but their body recognises these low glucose levels and counteracts it. Not every diabetic will have hypo's, these are usually associated with insulin but there are certain other drugs that can induce them too. See what your test results are but I very much doubt you have diabetes.

Here is a link with some info regarding "reactive hypo's"


http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/bloodsugarlow.htm

 

[designer2014]

Thanks for the explanation this is all new and very confusing to me.

I understand you can have hypos without being diabetic (I've spend the last 3 week researching ) but I figured the hypos were likely to be related to diabetes because only when I ate or drank something sweet did I feel better. It didn't seem like my body was going to correct itself anytime soon before I took the sugar.

 

[mo1905]

Thanks for the explanation this is all new and very confusing to me.

I understand you can have hypos without being diabetic (I've spend the last 3 week researching ) but I figured the hypos were likely to be related to diabetes because only when I ate or drank something sweet did I feel better. So someone who has a hypo but isn't diabetic their body will eventually correct the problem without the need for you to intake sugar? Am I understanding correctly.

Yes, that's pretty much correct. Diabetes is a condition that raises blood glucose levels, it never lowers them. It's the medication or exercise that lowers them. In non-diabetics, your body will automatically correct any low blood sugar. Take care, Mo

 

[designer2014]

Take your nurses advice and go and enjoy yourself and keep eating and drinking

Home meters aren't accurate and are a guide. so a Lab blood test is used <5.5 is normal and over 7 is diabetic

Some readings when you feel hypo would be worthwhile

Thanks. I know I should, and I'll try to push myself to go (felt like my life has been on hold for the last 3 weeks), but I'll probably chicken out at the last minute, The two hypos I had recently (be it diabetic or non diabetic) have really knocked my confidence. I'm just waiting for the next one and living with a can of pop next to me, sad I know

 

[designer2014]

Yes, that's pretty much correct. Diabetes is a condition that raises blood glucose levels, it never lowers them. It's the medication or exercise that lowers them. In non-diabetics, your body will automatically correct any low blood sugar. Take care, Mo

Okay I think this is finally starting to make sense, so thank you I just wonder how long it would of took my body to kick in and correct it if I hadn't got there first with the food and drink, cause it sure seemed to be taking it's time.

 

[this is too difficult]

c

Thanks for your reply.

I am confused, I have read that every diabetic is not hypoglycemic but every hypoglycemic is diabetic?

When I was young (A long time ago) I fainted several times because I hadn't eaten for several hours so some kind of hypo I suppose.
I was not diabetic then. I am diabetic now and there is almost no chance of me being hypoglycemic.

 

[designer2014]

[QUOTE="I am diabetic now and there is almost no chance of me being hypoglycemic.[/QUOTE]

Is this because in someone who is diabetic, only medication or exercise lowers it? In someone who is diabetic can't exercise lower it enough for you to have a hypo?

 

[this is too difficult]

[QUOTE="I am diabetic now and there is almost no chance of me being hypoglycemic.

Is this because in someone who is diabetic, only medication or exercise lowers it? In someone who is diabetic can't exercise lower it enough for you to have a hypo?[/QUOTE]
Partly. I also cant exercise. There are several people here who do though. they will advise. In general diabetes raises blood glucose. If you are thin eating few carbs and exercising a lot it may be possible, but I am no expert. This applies to unmedicated type 2.

 

[designer2014]

Well only time will tell, but this has been helpful. what I am taking from it is either:

I am not diabetic
Or I am diabetic and my exercise is the thing causing the hypos.

I think I will just go out tomorrow evening and enjoy myself, after all when I have had a drink and no exercise I have been fine,

 

[designer2014]

I think reading the forums and seeing people refer to their lows added to my confusion. I understand now that diabetes make it go high never low, but when you read so many people discussing lows (one post mentioned 2.5), are all these people who are experiencing the lows all either on medication, insulin or exercising?

Would be good to hear from someone who exercises and gets hypos.

 

[mo1905]

Very low BG levels ( 2.5 as you mention ) arise because of medication, normally insulin. As well as taking insulin with meals, most take a long acting background insulin too. This means that when combined with excessive exercise, blood levels can drop to these levels.
Non-diabetics can still get very low BG numbers during extensive exercise but your body deals with it.
Have a look at this link:

http://www.healthline.com/health/hypoglycemia#Diagnosis5

 

[Indy51]

There are a couple of people on the forum who have reactive hypoglycemia and it isn't always related to diabetes.

Hopefully they will see this thread and tell you a bit more about it - I think @nosher8355 is one; @Brunneria is another - think there's also a newly diagnosed one as well, but can't remember their name.

 

[designer2014]

Thanks for the link, the problem I have is until I know for sure what is going on my nurse has told me not to test my own BG levels, she was actually very stern about this. She said it makes people paraonoid. She said we rarely even allow or diabetic patients to self monitor. When she said put it away and do as you have always done, I did feel like saying easier said that done!

Also can you just clarify your comment about someone who is not diabetic but has a hypo. You said in non diabetics your body works to correct itself, but mine didn't and on the link you provided it states to consume 15g of carbs. Do you mean with the 15g of carbs it corrects itself, without those it wouldn't?

 

[designer2014]

There are a couple of people on the forum who have reactive hypoglycemia and it isn't always related to diabetes.

Hopefully they will see this thread and tell you a bit more about it - I think @nosher8355 is one; @Brunneria is another - think there's also a newly diagnosed one as well, but can't remember their name.

I hope so Not good when you have to eat every 3-4 hours so you don't feel the wobbles coming on and you have worked your butt off to lose weight.

 

[mo1905]

Thanks for the link, the problem I have is until I know for sure what is going on my nurse has told me not to test my own BG levels, she was actually very stern about this. She said it makes people paraonoid. She said we rarely even allow or diabetic patients to self monitor. When she said put it away and do as you have always done, I did feel like saying easier said that done!

Also can you just clarify your comment about someone who is not diabetic but has a hypo. You said in non diabetics your body works to correct itself, but mine didn't and on the link you provided it states to consume 15g of carbs. Do you mean with the 15g of carbs it corrects itself, without those it wouldn't?

OK, I mean a non-diabetic can have low BG levels in the hypo range but deals with it automatically. There are no meds in the system to reduce levels further.
The link I provided is only a guide and a lot of it is related to diabetes. That is the recommended advice for a diabetic having a hypo. Some quick acting carbs such as lucozade or dextrose tablets, followed by 15g of carbs, a piece of bread for example.
I must admit, I sort of agree with your nurse, I can't see the point of you self testing your BG levels yet as your numbers seem fine. My guess is that you are possibly doing too much exercise and maybe not taking on enough fuel. See what the blood tests result say. It may be something completely different or nothing at all.

 

[designer2014]

OK, I mean a non-diabetic can have low BG levels in the hypo range but deals with it automatically. There are no meds in the system to reduce levels further.
The link I provided is only a guide and a lot of it is related to diabetes. That is the recommended advice for a diabetic having a hypo. Some quick acting carbs such as lucozade or dextrose tablets, followed by 15g of carbs, a piece of bread for example.
I must admit, I sort of agree with your nurse, I can't see the point of you self testing your BG levels yet as your numbers seem fine. My guess is that you are possibly doing too much exercise and maybe not taking on enough fuel. See what the blood tests result say. It may be something completely different or nothing at all.

Sorry if my questions are somewhat confusing, but basically all I want to know for the moment is, if I am non diabetic hypoglycemic, when I had the 2 hypos why didn't my BG levels automatically correct themselves?