Tachycardia and spike in blood sugar

I probably had minor flares for years without knowing, but last summer was the big kahuna and I had no idea what hit me. High fasting blood sugar, bloody diarrhea every day, rapid pulse and lost 5 pounds a week for a 40 pound total loss. I was tested for type I diabetes, pancreatis, celiac disease, ulcers, and finally the diagnosis of UC via colonoscopy. I took colazol for 3 days which made the situation much worse before I realized that I am allergic to it. Then miraculously a week later I went into remission. So I never really got started with meds. I have been controlling my UC since last summer thru diet (avoiding caffeine, and my personal food triggers like shellfish) and natural supplements like boswellia, turmeric, psyllium seed, aloe vera, and the usual suspects like vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and fish oil.

My problem is that I feel another flare coming on. I lost some weight initially but by being careful my weight has stabilized these past 2 weeks. BM s are normal. Just minor stomach pain once in a while if I do something stupid like take a sip or two of coffee. I feel that this flare will be ending soon (I hope).

My question is why would I have a rapid heart beat? It has never been less than 100 bpm for the past month. This is exactly what happened last summer. Normally it is 68-70 bpm. Another symptom from last summer that again reared its ugly head is a spike in my fasting blood sugar. For the past year since my diabetes scare I have been testing my blood sugar first thing every morning. During last summer’s flare it spiked from 85-95 to 110-120 which really scared me. Hence the diabetes testing. After last summer’s flare ended in remission it immediately went back to 85-95. Now it has climbed back to the pre-diabetic range.

I have heard that tachycardia can be a symptom of the meds for UC, not UC itself. Same with a spike in blood sugar. But I never took meds for UC or anything else. I am wondering if I may have a problem that is much deeper than UC alone. Thanks

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 2/17/2010 3:04:33 PM (GMT-7)

Yes, I do have trouble sleeping. And I forgot to mention that night sweats have also returned, although not as bad as last summer, and not every night. I noticed in your signature that you do not take meds either.

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 2/17/2010 3:29:03 PM (GMT-7)

     I don't mean to be nosy....but could you be going through the change of life?  When I went through the change I had heart palpitations and a rapid heart beat.  I would be checked out by my family physician if I were you.  Get a stress test, etc..  Have you had a glucose tolerance test to see if you do indeed have diabetes?  Prednisone increases my blood glucose but then as soon as I come off it, my glucose levels return to normal.

Because, in UC, the sick colon is full of ulcers and struggling to heal itself, the body has to work extra hard, and that includes your heart.

Roughly 20-25% of Cardiac Output (the blood your heart pumps OUT) goes to the GI system, including the colon.

Does the Tachycardia increase after eating? (post prandial tachycardia)

Check it.

If so, then you should query with your GI Doc if this is what is happening. A sick colon can take a lot of extra blood flow.