High Blood Sugar Levels / Type 2

[P. ONeill]

Long story short my doctor advised me a while back to watch my sugar intake, cut down on the alcohol and move a bit more. My blood sugar levels were slightly high but nothing to be overly concerned at, at the time. We’d been through the worst of covid, my diet had gone to pot, I wasn’t exercising as much but I knew I could sort it. And I did. I’m 52.
I took on all the advice, cut way down on the alcohol, felt a lot better and checked my bloods periodically. They were averaging 5.2 with a slight peak in the mornings.

Over the last few weeks I’ve felt dreadful at times not well enough to get out of bed. Confused, lethargic. Lost interest in most things, no motivation. I should state that I am not depressed. I was at 5.5 on May 3rd and then 15.8 on May 4, but there was no real trigger. With an average of 11.0 over the next two weeks. I’m not currently taking any medication.
Nothing has changed, I drink alcohol only one night a week, no desire to drink at times, diet is ok.

Has anyone experienced anything like this or is it time to see my doctor again.

All advice greatly appreciated.

[P. ONeill]

Nigel Worc's said:

Good luck.....now ring the doctor.

Metformin was mentioned a while back. Looks like that’s the road I’ll be going down. How does it work/affect things? What are your experiences overall living with type 2. Is it controllable?

Have just booked the appointment.

[P. ONeill]

For want of a better phrase the last few posts have certainly given me food for thought.

I’ve gained a lot of weight over lockdown which certainly hasn’t helped. I’ve had one HBA1C test which suggested pre-diabetes but as I said previously my numbers are way up since then. 12.3 this morning before breakfast.

My diet is pretty much carb loaded, oddly enough my wife is a disciple of Keto, but I could never stick to it.

[P. ONeill]

mike9009 said:

I tried to email you. That before breakfast blood sugar would worry me, no wonder you feel awful. Essentially, overnight the pancreas is not producing enough insulin to bring the blood sugar levels back within the 'normal' range (between 5 and 6). Try drinking lots of water, this will clear the excess sugar through your urine and 'might' help. When is your doctors appointment? I would be looking at taking some more urgent action, today if possible. E-consult or 111 or something similar.

Thanks, I’m not even sure what email address I used when setting up this account, I’ll check later.
Level was down to 8.2 this evening before dinner. I am drinking nothing but water. Still have an emergency can of coke in the fridge but that’s more for reassurance. I’ll not go looking for one if I know it’s there. I have a medical appointment in two weeks, for a different matter, so I am going to be very strict between now and then and see how I am then. Hopefully things should have calmed down.
Coincidentally there was an article about diabetes on the radio today while I was driving. It was like I was meant to hear it. Scary, but I have to take ownership of this.

I missed a call from my doctor today, the procedure after covid seems to be a phone appointment before a physical appointment. To be honest, the doctors surgery can be Bedlam, his wife runs the place and does a terrible job, when she’s not there it’s fine. Sometimes a phone appointment is much less stressful. She’s Type 2.

Thanks for your support and advice. For a bunch of strangers on the internet you all can be very helpful at times.

[P. ONeill]

9.2 this morning. Still not where it should be, but lower than it was. Feeling better. Got a little bit more exercise yesterday. Still waiting on a call from the doc.
I can use this as my online diary, but your comments are more than welcome.

[P. ONeill]

Thanks for the link to the book. I’ll get it ordered.

My readings have always been higher first thing in the morning, but my averages were ok until recently. I’ve gone with my late afternoon reading as my standard which was nearly always under 6. It’s taken me a while to realise how serious this actually is, but I’m in now.

[P. ONeill]

mike9009 said:

Highly recommend the Libre sensors mentioned above. Transformed my diabetic control and I can imagine they would really help a T2 too.

Edited by mike9009 on Friday 20th May 17:14

I received one of those Libre sensors in the post, I assume it was from/through my doctor. I didn’t like the look of it, I imagined it would be extremely uncomfortable.

I’m down to 7.2 this evening. That’s my lowest level in over two weeks. This has been a scare, but I had to make changes.

Would love a warm brandy tonight

[P. ONeill]

Ruskie said:

You need your HbA1c doing, daily BM isn’t relevant here. If you were pre diabetes previously, and have put weight on then you may have tipped into T2DM.

I’m booked in to have my bloods done midweek.

[P. ONeill]

Still waiting on my blood tests, couldn’t get booked in until early next week. Should get a better idea then. Eating a lot better and only one alcoholic drink at the weekend, my average is 7.2 over the last few days. Moving a lot more really seems to help.

[P. ONeill]

Morning results are usually between 9 and 10, been 9.2 for the last few mornings. Feeling a lot better, none of the brain fog or at least it’s significantly improved. Still getting tired and hangry so I’m not managing it properly yet, but overall I’m improving.

[P. ONeill]

Finally got my blood test results and I’m now a member of the Type Two Club. Bit of a kick in the stones but it is what it is. HbA1c is 71 which is way up on what it was. Started on Metformin today.
I’m going on holiday tomorrow, doctor has insisted no alcohol and strict diet. He has impeccable timing.
Spent an hour with the doctor yesterday, my head wasn’t in this before our talk. It’s definitely in it today. ‘Tis what it is. Feck.

[P. ONeill]

Thanks for the advice it’s very much appreciated. Like a lot of people I became a regular drinker during COVID, before that it was the odd Saturday night or social function. It isn’t a problem and I’ve got it in my head now that I’ve stopped.
If I was to live on my three home cooked meals a day I wouldn’t have this problem, wife is a wonderful cook, we are both foodies, but I drink way too many sugary drinks and they are always accompanied by a bar of chocolate. I started grazing in the evenings as well. I’m preaching to the converted.

Just how bad is my score? 71

[P. ONeill]

mike9009 said:

71 is 'high'! But now you are aware and being treated (and hopefully a significant (positive!) change in lifestyle) that will drop over the coming months. You will start feeling so much better too...... Get it as far below 42 as possible and you are a winner!

I was at 41 six months ago. I can’t figure out what has gone so wrong, there has been no real change to my diet in that time.
But it has to be dealt with I cannot let it get any worse.

[P. ONeill]

On a positive note I didn’t get COVID.

[P. ONeill]

I really don’t want to have surgery, it should always be the last resort.

I’ve been away for a week’s holiday, feel good, ate well, moved a lot and only had a little amount of alcohol on Saturday night. I don’t feel an urge to drink at present and for the first time in a very long time I can safely say I am fully focused on my health and diet. Down 3kgs in a week, but will be happy with a moderate loss every week. Slow and steady.

Got up early this morning, walked the dogs and had breakfast, baked eggs with chicken and chorizo, all healthy and a cup of tea. Blood levels are going in the right direction, still a little on the high side but Rome wasn’t built in a day etc. Around lunchtime I can only describe what happened as a crash. Zero energy, felt terrible, didn’t have any of the little sticks to measure my blood levels but I had a blood pressure monitor beside the bed and it was very low 89/51. Was it some sort of a crash? I listened to my body and a glass of coke and a little bit of chocolate brought me round but it wasn’t nice and I cannot believe how disgusting coke actually tastes after a couple of weeks. Things have returned to normal now though I do feel tired.

[P. ONeill]

We bought the puppy to get me moving again, she’s wonderful and it seems to have worked, but it’s a long road. I managed to gain 37kg in 2 years, if I could lose it in a year I would be delighted.
This is one of those things that happens to someone else, I’ve heard the stories. I was healthy, fit and strong. Now my clothes don’t fit.
Thanks for the advice and support.

[P. ONeill]

Things are coming along nicely. Diet very much under control. No alcohol. Regular exercise with a bit of resistance training. Weight coming down steadily.
Numbers are well down, had my lowest reading on Saturday evening at 5.2, but I’m still getting higher readings than I’d like in the morning. I know it’s the ‘dawn phenomenon’ but is there any way around it or is it just one of those things. Wife says I shouldn’t bother taking a measurement in the morning.

[P. ONeill]

mike9009 said:

P. ONeill said:

Things are coming along nicely. Diet very much under control. No alcohol. Regular exercise with a bit of resistance training. Weight coming down steadily.
Numbers are well down, had my lowest reading on Saturday evening at 5.2, but I’m still getting higher readings than I’d like in the morning. I know it’s the ‘dawn phenomenon’ but is there any way around it or is it just one of those things. Wife says I shouldn’t bother taking a measurement in the morning.

I have not found away around the dawn phenomena. I cycle 13 miles to work. In the morning I don't eat anything and cycle the 13 miles and usually my blood sugar Is still rising. Conversely when I cycle back at the end of the day, I need half a pack of dextrose and my blood sugar still falls through the floor.

If not cycling I inject a few units of insulin to temper it a little. I realise this is not possible in your scenario.

So even exercise in the morning does not calm it down, but it must help.....

There might be a solution for T2D...... Which might be just to ignore it!

I went for a short walk this morning, 3k ish and tested my bloods about 30 minutes later. 6.2, not bad. Could be my new routine, walk before breakfast, not after. Or it could be a one off, we’ll see.

[P. ONeill]

HBA1c now at 45, slightly higher than normal but going in the right direction, I was at 71 not that long ago. I’ve another set of bloods booked in eight weeks so I’ll hopefully be well under 42 by then. I’m following a pretty strict diet over the last while and it’s starting to pay off. Look better, feel better, moving better, moving a lot more. About half way with my weight loss, but I know from experience the second half will take longer.
Onwards and upwards, or hopefully downwards on the scales.

[P. ONeill]

Phil. said:

Brilliant result. We’ll done for making the lifestyle changes

Liver tests are still a touch on the high side, they’ve come down, but they’re not where they should be. I lost my best friend to liver disease a few years back, that what scared me into action.