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Understanding meds

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Posted 8/31/2005 1:30 PM (GMT 0)

I am new to this site and I am looking for some information on the meds I am currently taking. My blood sugar levels are all over the chart. I am taking Glyburide and metformin. I take a dose of meds at dinner. Every morning my sugar is high, even if it was within a good range before going to bed.This has been a point of real frustration. Ok at bedtime, high in the morning!! In the morning I take glyburide, 4 mg. Sugar stays high until midday , it goes down a little but not enough, by then I am starving and eat and up it goes.

Questions are how long does it take for meds to have effect. Any other meds I could try?  Low sugars for me are 89 etc. I get confused and shaky at that level. Sometimes I take meds, eat  poorly , pasta etc and have a low sugar! I cant figure it out. My doc just seems to know the basics. The effect of the meds seems to be very erratic. I am at the point now where I go from watching what I eat with no success, to screw it and eat what I want. And the blood sugars levels are basically the same. sad Overall crappy.

Posted 8/31/2005 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Przrat,
You seem to have what I have. (Not diagnosing here... just sounds like me.) It's called Dawn Effect and happens when you have a low sugar episode in the night and your body goes to your liver for some of your stored glycogen (glucose precursor) and spikes your sugar so your brain (which lives on pure glucose) is happy. One way to help keep those overnight sugars in order is to eat a low glycemic carb that will release energy in your intestines to your blood stream slowly over night. This can be accomplished with some cooked barley (about a 1/2 cup serving) or perhaps a 15 gm carb serving of some canned beans. Another option would be to eat a low carb vegetable in a large enough quantity that it will be available all night. The cell walls on plants slow down the accessablility of the carbs in them. Our bodies don't get to all the food energy from plant sources that are in simple states. In other words, you will get more food energy out of pureed cooked carrots than from eating a raw carrot. Your body doesn't break down the hard, raw carrot pieces entirely and they pass thru your system unused.

A good nutrition teaching with a qualified dietician would be in order for you. They know how to deal with meds/meals/bloodsugar stuff and put it together for you in a workable package that will make your life simpler. Ask your doctor to prescribe a nutrition session for you.
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