Blood Gluclose question

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dov on December 3, 2008 at 7:46am

If you're at 130 2 hours post-prandial, you're fine. That's a normal blood sugar in a non-diabetic.

Glucometers are accurate, depending on whose figures you read, somewhere around +/- 10 points below 100 and +/- 10%-20% above that. As an example, I was at my endo yesterday, and the first thing they do is a finger stick. I was about 1.25-1.5 hours post. Their meter said 135 or so; since I don't trust my meter, I always compare my number to theirs. Mine said 176, and a retest said 172. They gave me one of their meters as a freebie, and when I did a random test when I got to work after the appointment, their meter said 71 and mine said 87.

What you want to do when next you talk to your endo is have him do a lab test and compare it to your meter. They'll send blood off to a lab that'll give a very accurate number, and you can compare it to your meter number.

Glucometers show trends, not actual numbers. The trend is more important, I suppose. If you see your numbers keep going up and up and up, or, in the alternative, down and down, you have a problem. If your sugars are constantly within +/- 10% of the "normal" range of 80-140 (including both fastings and post-prandials in that), then the exact number really doesn't matter all that much.

That being said, it is irritating as hell, especially if you're as anal as me when it comes to hanging on every single number.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on December 23, 2008 at 5:30pm

Dear Angela.

They used to be very accurate when the measurement time was 60 seconds. But now with the 5 second measurement time they barely meet the plus or mius 20% which is so horrible you can tell anything anymore. 10 years ago my Bayer Ascentia was always 5% below the lab test at all times incredibly accurate. Now errors of 15% common and even worst in any direction. We need old time meters. It is true that time is money but to a diebetic accuracy is survival and a tolerable life instead of horseshit we have now.

In this case it is the FDA that has totally failed the people it is supposed to protect. 20% accuracy show not be allowed. Then again the EPA and the SEC. Maybe he deserves to go down as the worst President in American history. Even Pat Robertson gave him a C minus, I did not believe my ears.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Adam Kaufman on November 29, 2008 at 6:08pm

140 isnt high, if you are waking up with 140, that is fine. that is actually more or less perfect. taking insulin to get it lower is risky cause if u take too much insulin then ur level is gonna go lower. id be happy waking up at 140 occasionally.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela on December 3, 2008 at 5:26am

Hi Adam,

Thanks for the opinion. UNfortunately I am waking up anywhere from 130-160 in the morning.

The doctor just looked at my journal this and and agreed I my a1c might now be in the 7-8 range.

Recently I had about ~75-80 carbs (2 pieces of wheat bread with egg, sausage and 1 cheese (to make a sandwhich) 1 piece of white and 1 tblspoon of jelly) we were eating out.

My BG was 224 2 hours later. Yeah I know I should not have eaten it. It was when I was under the impression that wheat bread would digest slower. I found out it didn't matter. Normally I use an white english muffin for the sandwhich which has 1/2 less carbs and produces the same reaction a a whole grain english muffin (I started buying these and experimenting on my own).

Unfortunately, I have had a really bad couple of months. Neasea, Tired, letharic, week, jittery, unable to focus, and going to the bathroom at night anywhere from 2-6 times in a 8-9 hour period time frame, which doesn't make for a refreshing night sleep.

Something needs to give as it is affecting my performance at work.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ellie on December 3, 2008 at 6:48am

Check out possible side effects (there are some good online sites, especially those posted by people taking the meds) of other meds you may be taking. This sounds like some side effects I have had from blood pressure meds.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela on December 3, 2008 at 5:03pm

Hi Ellie,

Thanks so much for replying. That is a good thought :) thanks!

My symptoms unfortunately have been going on for several years now and are getting worse and better in different ways.

I use to just want to sleep mid day. Everyday, I get tired in the early afternoon and sleep. But sleeping never helped it. I started testing my blood sugar and it was a better than it is now. FBG was 83 and a1c was 5.6.

Finally I got angry one day and focused (how I use to in athelics pushing through the painful or hard workouts) and forced my self to ignore the mental tiredness. Sometimes I get angry and the adrenal would help me to over come the tiredness.

Then it started a couple of years ago with the lethargy, weekness (trouble climing up steps or raising my arm to dry my hair). then recently in the past year it has been the tiredness couple with inability to control emotions (being negative alot and getting angry or impatient), inability to sit down or to focus. To peeing alot at night. To waking up in the middle of the night with an anxiety of something that is stupid to worry about. Something that wasn't even on my mind, out of the blue.

The meds I been on have just been ibuprophen for arthirits and allegra for allergies.

I just started taking medicines in June for insulin resistance.

Thanks for the help :)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise on December 24, 2008 at 6:16am

Have they ruled out sleep apnea?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dov on December 3, 2008 at 7:51am

The question is, are your other symptoms causing the high sugar, or is it the other way around? Personally, getting onto an anti-anxiety med got my sugars into normal-normal (as opposed to T1 diabetic normal) in about 2 days, by getting rid of the anxiety symptoms, which are close to what you describe.

You may also want to see about an Ambien-type drug to keep you knocked out at night. That stuff is GOOD at that!

Ellie's point about med side effects is also well taken, especially if you've recently changed your meds.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela on December 3, 2008 at 5:16pm

Hi Dov,

I am wondering the same thing and I been trying to get my doctor to quit focusing on the insulin resistance/Diabetes(? still waiting for test results form this week) and focus on something else.

She has said my thryoid is enlarge so I am having a ultrasound on that next week.

And she ordered my diabetic blood work.

I am a psorarsis suffer as well since 6 years old. Typical Psorasis is usually skin. But it can have a very bad affect on the heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, ect...

My psorarsis has always been a minimum and on my head mostly with a patch or so showing up on my leg or butt sometimes.

Now my psorarisis is on my face, my butt, my eyes, my feet and just breaking out.

I asked my endo if there is any correlation and she said yes it is autoimmune disease that can affect insulin levels.

So the question is like you said is something else causing this two things to go wacko or what.

That is why I am here hoping to help others and hoping others can share there information with me. And between us all we can figure out what is best for ourselves.

I am tired, I took 10 byetta and 500 of metformin and by BG for the first time is 91 after 1.5 hours... But I want to sleep.I also want to throw up I should not have taken the too together....

Thanks for you input, I will check out the anxiety. I have thought about that. I have never had it. People at work call me fastidious though (overly perfectionistic) always thinking of what if.

How does one all of a sudden have an anxiety disorder though?

I am scared to goto a psychitrist cause I don't want to be classified as nuts and doctors quite looking for what is wrong. I have seen it done before with people who are depressed. Medical community often labels them that then if they feel tired, lethargic, or any other physical symptom it must be depression. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't.

thing is I always been very active person, always did stuff, always was the most patient with people always making people feel better.

Now that is being covered over by whatever is wrong with me.

Sorry I babbled...

But thanks so much for your time and help!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gerri on December 3, 2008 at 5:27pm

So sorry to hear of the problems you're having & hope the thyroid & other tests get to the source. Common for diabetics to have psorasis & thyroid problems. We're so lucky:)

Know you're Type 2, but has your doctor discussed taking insulin? Lots of Type 2s resist this idea, but when nothing else is working to keep your numbers down it's worth a try. Better than feeling as you do with high BG that causes extreme tiredness. Going on insulin also helps preserve what functioning beta cells you have. You might not need to take much & it would give you better control.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Manwaring on December 3, 2008 at 5:11pm

that kind of thing can be near impossible to figure out/identify, as the body stores/produce it's own glucose. 140 is still normal, even though it is a high normal. Plus 118 to 140 isn't a huge difference really. I wish my readings were like that...if i'm not too high, i'm normal but falling, and this all depends on how active i am. I can't maintain a normal blood glucose level for long periods of time. OH did I have a couple high readings right around thanksgiving...ugh what a pain to have to worry about!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela on December 5, 2008 at 6:54am

Hi Steve,

Thanks so much for sharing :)

What I am realzing while this is considered high normal. For my Body it is not good. It is having a profound effect on my emotional state.

I managed to get my BG down to 90s one day recently and my mental clarity and emotions where far better than when I am in the upper range.

This is having a very negative impact on my work where i am being short, impantient with people and yelling at them. I am working in a team and I can't have this.

And it is having a bad affect on my marriage as all I want to do is watch T.V. cause I seriously can't do anything else because I am so tired, lethargic, and just plain exhausted.

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last