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Hypoglycemia/Diabetes?

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Posted 9/26/2011 5:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, everyone,

I have had reactive hypoglycemia for as long as I can remember... I've got a load of other health issues, but hypoglycemia has definitely been one of the more annoying ones. Anyway, while visiting my mother, I passed out, prompting her to take me to the emergency room. I believe it was my blood PRESSURE that made me pass out (I also have Neurally-Mediated Syncope), but while at the E.R., my blood sugar level dropped to 55, prompting them to make me eat a sandwich. 20 minutes later, they took my blood sugar level again, and it was 160. It's been a long time since I last monitored my blood sugar levels, but I've never seen a reading as high as 160. I know it's not 300 or 600 or more, but isn't 160 a little high? Mine has never gone over 125, even after drinking multiple Cokes and eating sugary donuts... and to jump from 55 to 160 after a sandwich... is that a little extreme? I have loads of books on hypoglycemia, and some of them mention a blood sugar 'rollercoaster' and how it can lead to type 2 diabetes... does anyone know anymore about this, or if 55 to 160 within 20 minutes is an excessive jump? Diabetes does run in my family, which is why I ask. I was also pregnant and miscarried about a month ago. I was only about a month along, but I wonder if that would have anything to do with it being higher than it used to be.

I have a doctor appointment on Wednesday, but I'm curious. Is this jump excessive?

Thank you so much ahead of time!

Post Edited (Kel84) : 9/26/2011 12:17:53 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/26/2011 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the Forum, Kel.  What a scary experience!  You've done a lot of research about this so I think you might understand that you're probably at risk for diabetes ll.  Hypoglycemia in younger days seems to predict trouble keeping blood sugar normal when you're older.  The reason for that might be erratic insulin production.  I also think that's a huge jump from 55 to 160 with just a sandwich.  I'm sorry about your miscarriage.  You know that physical and emotional trauma can also have effects on blood sugar.  Pregnacy throws the body out of whack with hormones in any case.  I think the best you can do is monitor your blood sugar yourself if you have your own meter (if not, get one) and talk it all over with your doctor.  Make sure you eat three meals a day, and maybe small snacks.  Don't over eat, just normal meals.  Don't overload on carbs as they will contribute to the yo-yo effect.  If you are taking your blood sugar, then write down what the readings are, the time, when and what you eat, etc.  This information will be helpful for the doctor.  Let us know how the appointment goes.  Good Luck!
Posted 9/26/2011 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Lanie,

Kel says her blood sugar was tested again just twenty minutes after eating the sandwich and the reading was 160. That is a big jump from a reading of 55, but isn't testing the sugar just twenty minutes after eating the sandwich too soon to tell how she would have actually used the sugar in her system? Wouldn't waiting two hours after eating the sandwich and then testing her sugar have been a better indicator as to how she is using the sugar in her blood? I'm having a hard time wording this, but I know you know what I'm saying. Wouldn't anyone...diabetic or not have a fairly high blood sugar after just twenty minutes of eating a sandwich?

Joni
Posted 9/26/2011 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
They tested her that soon to make sure her blood sugar was rising, but that's still too high too fast.  A non-diabetic would not have a blood sugar rise that high in that time.  A non-diabetic's blood sugar would not spike like that unless she ate a very large amount of pure carbs.  Even then, a non-diabetic's blood sugar would probably be lower at 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours. However a person who is insulin resistant or an outright diabetic would have quite a rise such as that and we would expect it to come lower by 2 hours later.

There is no magic in the 2 hours post prandial.  Doctors need a guideline to go by for diabetics' blood sugar results and for some reason, it's 2 hours.  But if you test a non-diabetic, there's not going to be much difference between a reading at 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours when the metabolism is working correctly, and a non-diabetic's blood sugar mostly remains 'normal'.

Diabetics, so-called prediabetics, those who are insulin resistant (like me) will have blood sugar readings that are rather inconsistent because our metabolism is 'off' and our blood sugar responds acutely to food.  Because of this and depending on how severe it is, we can use diet and exercise to sort of control the blood sugar or meds. 

Posted 9/28/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I just went to the doctor appointment I had, but the doctor was not in, so I have to reschedule. The nurse read my blood test results and told me how high my blood sugar was, but says that it was probably because I had just eaten the sandwich (although I've still never seen it that high - not even during my glucose tolerance test a few years ago, or when I used to use a monitor to monitor my low blood sugar), but THEN she told me that I had high protein and ketones in my urine, and she assumed that maybe I had a UTI. But, I know that those can indicate high blood sugar problems.

Now I'm stuck in limbo because I'm not sure what I can eat - if I should eat to control my low blood sugar, or if I should eat to control the high blood sugar, or if there's a special diet to keep the rollercoaster'ing levels more consistent, and I can't get in to see my doctor for a few weeks... I know I've had different symptoms lately. I've had mood swings (I assume from the blood sugar rollercoaster), frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme starch cravings... constant sweating and severe night sweats... frequent yeast infections, itchy skin... I need to get a monitor, but the strips are soooo expensive. Anyone know the cheapest place to get test strips from?
Posted 9/28/2011 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Meters:  Sometimes you can get a free meter from the manufacturer online (like Bayer and OneTouch).  Google search for their websites.  You fill out their little form and they'll send you one.  Each kit comes with about 10 test strips but you would have to continue to buy the strips.  If you have insurance, then the doctor's diagnosis (that you need to monitor your blood sugar) should be enough for the insurance to cover a meter and all the extras including a certain supply of test strips a month.  If all that doesn't work, go to Walmart and buy their own little meter ReliOn.  It was rated pretty well for accuracy and the strips aren't as expensive as the other brands.

Eating:  I would suggest eating smaller meals, each with some protein and a few vegetables and a salad.  Green beans, for example, and the like would give you enough carbs but not an overload.  Smaller meals and eat four meals a day.  One of those 'meals' may look like a snack.  If you like veggies, make up a plate of just that during the afternoon if you can.  If you're working and not at home, pack some nuts, cheddar cheese, carrots.  Hopefully this will try to keep your blood sugar evened out.

Your doctor's office should absolutely guide you about what to eat.  Call them back. 

Doctor's office: so the nurse presumed you had a UTI?  And just what is she doing for you about it?  She sent you home with a possible UTI?  It doesn't matter whether the doctor is in or not, if you have an infection and you were in their office, someone should have given you a prescription for antibiotics.  And that's another thing:  you had an app't and the doctor wasn't there.  Why didn't they call to tell you that before you went down there? 

Ketones by themselves may or may not be serious but if you also have protein in the urine, your doctor would want to do more tests especially to see kidney function.

https://www.onetouch.com/offers?utm_source=DISP_ONETOUCH_HOME&utm_medium=OneTouch&utm_campaign=2011DRTV

 I can't find a free offer on the Bayer website. Sorry.

 

Posted 9/29/2011 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your help! I will check out the Relion meter... I don't have insurance (I have too many pre-existing conditions, and I'm self-employed so I can't get on group insurance), so I definitely need to find the cheapest strips I can find. I just checked out Walmart.com... 50 for $19.99, wow!

Yes, my doctor office really irritated me today. I drove 35 miles for the appointment, and I had to wait an hour in the waiting room, and then they brought me in the little room and told me that the doctor had to leave because he closed on the house he was selling, and the bank wanted his stuff out TODAY. As far as the potential UTI, the nurse told me I just needed to get some Azo Yeast at the pharmacy, and that should take care of both a yeast infection and a UTI. The last time I had a UTI, nothing got rid of it but antibiotics, but she said she couldn't get me a prescription, so the over-the-counter stuff should 'knock it out.' She also said that my white blood cell count was down, but that was probably due to the miscarriage I had.

I think I'm going to find another doctor.
Posted 9/29/2011 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
You know I'm not a doctor, BUT.......... AZO Yeast is for vaginal infections not UTIs.  Nowadays you can buy different meds for yeast infections over the counter and that's fine but if it's a urinary infection, AZO Yeast or plain AZO will not get rid of it.  In fact, if you take just plain AZO, it may mask the symptoms of the UTI to the point that if you delay getting to the doctor because it doesn't bother you, the infection would become worse.  I just read an article about that very thing.  In any case, drink cranberry juice, too!

And, yes, get another doctor.  It just doesn't seem as if he's very responsible or caring about his patients.

In our town, there's a health center that has all sorts of volunteer doctors working for it for those who don't have insurance.  Payment is a sliding scale according to what they can afford (and for those who cannot, they're treated free.)  My very own doctor volunteers.  This means she takes a certain number of patients in her office but their fees are substantially lower when they see her. 

Try to keep on a regular meal plan as I've described.  It's the best way to keep the blood sugar as level as it can get to. 

If you can get in some regular exercise like walking, that would also help.

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