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Medication to off set Hypoglycemia

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Posted 6/1/2006 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I was asked by one of the monitors to repost this under it's own title, so here it is.

I know that there are meds out there that may control high blood sugars, but are there meds (like herbal, homeopathic, or prescription) that would help to maintain blood sugars so that they do not fall to low.

I heard that chromium may help.  Is this true...any assistance with this would be appreciated...

Thank you,

Gary

Posted 6/1/2006 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Gary,

I'm quoting Warren here from a recent post about an especially popular 'herbal' that's all the rage right now... It has a large amount of chromium in it..

"Chromium doesn't flush from the body like most vitamins, but stores there for the long term, so the doses you get are additive! Chromium is toxic. It will make your hair fall out, give you cancer, cause liver failure, etc. etc. etc."

I think what he means is that it builds up and causes metal toxicity, like lead or mercury. We need a small amount of chromium but that need is usually met by our food plan and a multiple vitamin with minerals.

Which meds are you on right now? I know that my doctor put me on a med (can't remember the name) about two years ago and it caused such terrible lows that it scared the living 'poop' out of me. I started on it just before vacation and we were out on the lake in our boat fishing... When one of the lows hit and my hubby went full bore for shore.. even so, I couldn't even get out of the boat.... He had to get me oj and bring it back to the boat...Felt like I was falling down a well.

I am now on Advandia (generic version) 2mg morning and night and glucophage (generic version) 1000 mg morning and night and never have bad lows... Oh, and I'm on Lantus insulin, 15 units at bedtime. The lantus is my best friend!!! Gives me morning sugars of 89 to 105 (if I stay on my food plan) and it's very long acting so there are no lows. When I get rich and famous (like Warren) I'm going to get on Gila Monster spit (Byetta) and my life will be perfect... tongue

Well, almost anyway....
Posted 6/1/2006 4:01 PM (GMT 0)

wow, thanks. This all started after I had my gall bladder surgery. Prior to and still on Aticand for blood pressure, and Prevacid for too much stomach acid.

I started experiencing low bloos sugars, where by I would get a head fog, extremely nervous, anxious and sometimes panicky.  My sugar levels can be find, according to normal levels, and then boom - I get the symptoms - ie... one eye goes blurry, I shake, gt nervous - and when this happens, my sugars have a tendency to tumble downwards.

for instance, a few minutes ago, I tested, and I was at 5.9 ( in metric terms the norm is between 4 - 8).  All is well, and then without any warning - I started to tremble, got nervous, and my head gets a bit light headed, and my eye feels funny - those are my symptoms right now as I speak. Nothing brought it on - I am just in my office enjoying the day - no stress, no pressure.  I just don't get it.

Every night I feel OK actually great - actually feel like myself - which becomes frustrating - cause not long afterwards it is time to go to bed. 

I always sleep well, at least until 5ish in the morning, and the I wake up to the jitters and nervous feeling.... and then it starts all over again until evening, and sometimes well into the evening.

My doc tells me that I am stressed out - that is what is driving down the blood sugars - but I sure don't know what from. Never have had this before, not until the gall bladder surgery.  So he put me on Ativan - well all it does is make me tired - still get the nervous stuff, and still wake up with the gitters...

What do you think, Gary

Posted 6/1/2006 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hiya...just a couple of questions to help me better understand you situation...Are you following a regular meal & exercise program? One as outlined with the help of a Dietician? How long after eating are you experiencing your lows? Do you eat a bedtime snack?

K. Enough questions :-)

The reason I ask is because most lows can be attributed to incorrect food intake and/or incorrect medication or dosage. As someone who's experienced a lot of lows, I found that the only way I knew what was going on was by keeping a log book. Document all glucose readings, all food & drink in their portions (i.e. 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 TBSP mayo, etc.), all meds, and any exercise, stress events, etc. By reviewing it every few days, I could identify at what particular time in the day I was having issues. For example, I realized pretty quickly that if I didn't eat a sufficient amount of protein at a meal, I wouldn't last 2-3 hours without going hypo. By going hypo at certain times of day, I could also identify that it was my background insulin that was too much. It gives you an opportunity for knowledge about your own personal situation, knowledge no one else can give you, including your doctors. If you share this info with them, then they are also more informed of your personal situation and can better diagnose any required changes.

Also one thing to note about taking a blood sugar test....it's gonna tell you what your sugar is at the moment. At the moment. Not an hour ago, not 20 minutes from now, but at the moment. I'm only laying it out like that 'cause it took me the longest time to really understand that. It wasn't until I'd test when I thought I was going low, and was happy enough with the 5.2 reading, only to find myself getting worse despite having some oj, so I tested again 10 minutes after the 1st one and it was 3.9! I've done this several times and I am always amazed at just how fast I can drop, particularly the first half of the day. Guess I'm just trying to make the point that sometimes it's not just the number on the monitor. If you're feeling low - test and then eat something small. Keep the carbs low and include some protein.

Hope this helps some :-)
Posted 6/1/2006 6:26 PM (GMT 0)

To answer your questions, yes, I am eating regularily, trying each time to have a carb, a protein, and a simple carb, and then determining the right amounts for each. 

This is what is confusing and frusrtating.  For instance - I can test, and be at for instance 5.9.  I will have dinner which will include meat, multi grain bread, vegatables, etc.  I will test about an hour and a half later and be lower than before I ate --ie..4.9 when in fact I was 5.9 before I ate.

I know that I am lower than when I started, even before I test, as i just do not feel right.

The other night, I had dinner, tested about 1.5 hours later and was around 7.  I went for a 1/2 hour walk, and as I was getting home, I started to feel the signs.  I tested and was in the low 4's. Just that fast.  Makes me afraid now to even go for a walk in fear that the levels will plumet to quickly.

This has all started as a result of my gall bladder surgery. Never ever had this problem before.  It is like something has gone wrong inside (adrenal, pancreas) etc. which is eating blood sugars....

It is kind of scary, and I think worrying about it has in fact increased some stress in me, which I guess in turn is helping to eat away at the sugars

Thanks,

Gary

Posted 6/1/2006 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thax guys thats good info. Im seeing a surgeon on the 6th about getting my gallbladder taken out. I was worried about what would happen in the healing process? I dont know which type you are but im T2.


Jaclyn
Posted 6/1/2006 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Gary - just a note. 60 minute test are not the entire picture. I like 60 minutes myself - I peak about then, but, 90 minutes is pretty much the accepted "peak." Sometimes it takes longer for the carbs to really kick in. You will get some flack for not testing at 90 minutes, I have.

Jeanie - What is the generac Avandia called? I asked about it and was told there is no generac. I am heading to a no insurance situation and have to find a cheaper version.....

Phishbowl - Could you expand on what you said about some foods causing a hypo. I know you are on insulin, but, I have never heard of anything that you can injest except drugs and insulin that will drive you low. I probably just misunderstood what you said.
Posted 6/1/2006 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hiya, DD....what I was trying to say was...if I DIDN'T eat enough protein at a meal, I wouldn't last more than a couple hours before I'd have to eat again. Meaning, if I didn't eat - I'd go hypo. I count carbs for my Rapid insulin injections at meals but that's only part of the picture (for us Type 1's anyway :-)

I couldn't eat just a mixed salad, for instance. No matter how big it is, unless it has protein/fat, I'd go hypo. Throw on some chicken or egg, cheese, some nuts...and I'm good to go.

So...no food causes hypos, but lack of certain elements to a balanced diet certainly does.

Hope this helps scool
Posted 6/1/2006 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't think so, but I am always open for some super food to show up. I understand that with injecting insulin it is a real cause and affect situation. I have an opinion about the diet part of it, but, I don't express it becaue i don't inject insulin and don't go hypo so my opinion is not from experience, only from reading and my observations - not enough to have an actual opinion......
Posted 6/2/2006 3:59 PM (GMT 0)

Hi DD,

Rosiglitazone is the generic that you will ONLY find offshore.  Its still under patent here in the US so generics aren't available here.  Jeannie gets hers from SharpMeds.com which is in Mexico.  Same Avandia, same quality, just cheaper

scool Warren
Posted 6/3/2006 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, it seems to be a better quality... My numbers have improved since I started using meds from India... I tolerate their generic glucophage much better as well. Less tummy problems...

But then again, maybe I'm just paying better attention to my food plan... Who knows?

Wish I was organized enough to start my journal again...
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