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irregular blood sugar readings

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Posted 10/10/2011 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

   I am new here. I am a 58 year old woman who has been feeling bad for several months.  I have been light headed, dizzy, have had blurred vision, fatigue, heart palpatations, pressing sensation on my chest and in general, just feeling "yucky."  I passed it off to a lot of stress.  Then two days ago I woke up shaking, cold, and dizzy.  I ate a sandwich and then on a hunch, went to the pharmacy and bought a blood glucose meter and the pharmacist took the sample and it was 188 an hour after eating. I  came home and ate low carb stuff and felt a lot better and then an hour and a half later I felt dizzy and  felt shaky.  I took my bs and it was 79.  I toughed it out and at 4:00 pm I ate a chef salad (low carb) and took my bs at 5:30 and it was 138 and I felt really good.  I took it agin at 7:30 and it was 118 and I still felt good.  At midnight I felt a little weak and dizzy and not well and I took another bs and it was 113.  When I got up the next morning, I felt good and it was at 112.  I ate well all day (a diabetes diet) and my blood sugar was 158 2 hours after breakfast and then it went to normal about 120 or so, then when I eat, it of course goes up to 151 and comes down later.  Sounds good, right?  But the thing is I still feel shaky, dizzy, and, my head hurts and i just feel yucky some of the time.  It usaully  lasts for 10 minutes and goes away.  But tonight, the yucky feeling is not going away, and I feel bad even though my blood sugar is

136 2 hours after eating.  I try to eat no more than 42 carbs in one meal.  SO, why am I feeling so yucky... like i am trembling on the inside but I do not look like I am shaking.  I am lightheaded, my head hurts and my chest feels heavy and my face feels a little numb.  I find it hard to think, too.  (Hope you can understand this post!)   Is this normal?  My doctor was closed today for the holiday, but I am seeing him tomorrow at 8:30. Is it possible I am eating too many carbs at one meal, even though the bs numbers look good?  I am really tired of feeling lousy and I am trying to do everything right, but I am so frustrated because I don't understand what is going on. HELP! Thanks.

Michele

 (I gave your post a title.)

Post Edited By Moderator (LanieG) : 10/10/2011 7:08:53 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/11/2011 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michele, your blood sugar is all over the place.  It's hard to know if your ill feelings are because of your blood sugar but it may be one place to start.  It does sound as if you cannot metabolize carbohydrates normally though which is why your blood sugar is like a yo-yo.  If you follow a more regular eating plan, cutting down on those carbs, and be consistent with the times and size of your meals, you will probably see better blood sugar results.  A diabetic or someone who is insulin resistant and who is eating 42 gr of carbs at one meal will have high blood sugar afterwards.  A non-diabetic would most probably not have such a high reading afterward for so long.  There are different opinions on what a "good" post prandial blood sugar reading is.  Doctors seem to have different parameters for diabetics and non-diabetics.  In any case, since you've seen your blood sugar range from 79 to 188 and points in between, it's obvious that you do have problems with metabolism of your meals.  If you cut down on the carbs and eat your meals at regular times in the day, then I'd bet your blood sugar will respond with lower numbers.  To confirm whether or not you are diabetic (or insulin resistant which is actually diabetic in my opinion), your doctor may have you take the glucose tolerance test.  However, your blood sugar readings that you just wrote about here would seem to confirm that you need to change your diet.  Since your blood sugar didn't really reach critical highs, you might be able to control this merely by diet and exercise.  Good luck!
Posted 10/11/2011 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lanie,
Thanks so much for the response. What you said makes sense. I looked back at the food journal and how I felt after eating certain foods and I can clearly see that when I have over 32 carbs in a meal, I feel ill. I was eating 40 or so in a meal because an article online said that was the target to shoot for. I think that target is too high for me. When I ate oatmeal (no sugar) for breakfast I felt sick about 30 minutes later. So I think I just have to pay attention to how I feel after eating. Thanks again.
Michele
Posted 10/11/2011 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
You know sometimes I think these articles and guidelines are written by people who are not diabetic or who don't have any trouble metabolising carbs.  It's ridiculous for anyone to think a diabetic would have good blood sugar after so many carbs.  This is double true for diabetics (like me) who are not on meds.  Some diabetics on meds may have to take the meds in order to 'cover' the carbs they eat.

As far as how you feel or have been feeling after eating, it's possible those ill feelings are due to the blood sugar.  One thing to remember is that some people who have had uncontrolled blood sugar for awhile may feel a little 'off' or even dizzy when their blood sugar is acually lower and near normal.  This can also happen when it's too low as in hypoglycemia or too high in hyperglycemia.  So, I'm glad you're going to see the doctor to have this sorted out.  Keeping a food diary along with the blood sugar readings is absolutely important so you and the doctor can see how the food you're eating is affecting your blood sugar.

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