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OK, as stated above, this is a rather odd question, but after searching the web, I thought maybe someone hear could understand.

I was recently diagnosed with diabetes. It wasn't a dramatic, scary scenario in which I felt really sick or had lots of symptoms. In retrospect, I was just really craving water. Just water. Which for me and my addiction to caffeine was a little odd. Anyway, I had a routine physical, where I happened to mention this and she checked my BG in office and it was 445. She sent me to the ER and there it was 540. Other lab test came back with something about ketones and my blood ph.? So they treated me, put me on shots with little info and referred me to an endo, which I will see in about a month.

Since then, I've been a little hazy, and have become very skeptical. I started having lows, so I've stopped giving my insulin like I was told to. I'm also constantly eating loads of sugar and carbs, like I'm testing myself, just to make sure it's true. Usually, my BG will go up to about 250-270, but it always comes back down. I tell myself that it only went up because I carb loaded. Any normal meal wouldn't do that, and anyone's bg would do that with 12 rolls of smarties. My fasting number is only 108, and I can't make myself take the insulin, if I'm not convinced I need it.

So, now my question. Has anyone else felt this way? Could they be all wrong?

It's driving me crazy that I have to wait so long to get some real answers.

Tags: diagnosis

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When you go to your first endo appointment they will run some tests on your pancreas to see if it is functioning. Personally I don't think that a non diabetic person's BG would jump like that even if carb loading. I have eaten ice cream and cake take my BG and it is 95. My Hubby can eat the exact same thing and check his and it is 270 + Your pancreas might actually still be functioning, but for you to have a BG of 540 is not good. My DD who was diagnosed T1 in Nov. was 520 when she was diagnosed. I watched what she ate like a hawk until I could get her into an Endo. We skipped the ER and the GP. Keep the Endo appointment. Something is definately going on. I would say if you aren't comfy taking the insulin and have plenty of strips to test test test to watch your BG levels, maybe you can skip it (I personally would do what the Dr. tells you to. ) I could be way off base, but I don't think so.

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Thanks for your reply. How is your DD doing? Was she symptomatic? Has her insulin needs changed? Sorry, I'm just full of questions, like does your bg really not go above 95?

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My DD is doing great now. Here A1c dropped 7 pts from 7.8 at diagnosis to 7.1 2 months later. :) And her insulin needs have not changed. She takes 4 shots a day at least. No my BG has not gone above 95. I am not diabetic. :) Please feel free to ask any questions you need answered. If I can't answer there are PLENTY of people here who have Been There Done it answers for you.

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My GP who diagnosed me & started insulin b4 I saw the endo said that a non D person like him could not eat enough carbs to get to even a 200 reading...the correctly working pancreas would nail that sucker as it started going up...just food for thought

How low are your lows? Did they start you on just long acting insulin or a combo--maybe you shouldn't stop, just decrease the amount so you don't go over 140 (where kidney damage can begin) and so you don't get any lows ( some endos don't condier anything >75 low)

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Hey Denise,
I find it so hard to think that anybody wouldn't hit above a 200 with a lot of carbs. I've even questioned whether my meter is lying to me. I'm going to get really huge if I keep deliberately trying to raise my bg and feel guilty too. It can't be good for me.

Currently they put me on novolog at meals and levemir morning and night. I've had two lows, one of 45 and the next was a day later, and it was 39. Both were really scary, so now I'm only taking the one shot of Levemir in the morning of 7 units instead of 14. I've stopped the novolog completely. I wonder what harm it could do to take a medication I don't need, besides those nasty lows.

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My non-diabetic friend--put down 2 (yeah really 2) normal cinnabons--they have like 600 carbs a peice--never got over 100--we tested every 15 min for 4 hours (thought maybe all the fat from the butter would delay the spike)

she was down to 80 in 90 min..and never went back up--spot checked a few times over the next several hours---

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Denise.

I am really jealous. As a former control Enginneer I tip my hat to God. How the body accomplishes this is beyond my comprehension. When I get to a hundred after a meal and very low carb it is I break out the champagne (figuratively speaking). May be there is a Maxwellian Demon in there shovelling pure solid insulin into the blood stream or some other miracle.

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Funny, we did this last night. My husband, and teenage daughter and I ate all the same food (I haven't had choc cake in 6 months and it was REALLY good!). Then tested every 1/2 hour to see the difference in our blood sugars. They never made it over 110!

I however, ended up with a high BG hangover and will probably never eat cake again :(

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Dear Veronica.

Wow if your blood sugars were in the 500 you are seriously diabetic. The bit about ketones and blood pH is about a thing called DKA diabetic keto-acidosis a potentially fatal condition. I think if your blood is not in the normal pH range you will not be able to eliminate the carbon dioxide in your body and die. Look up on wikipedia.

If I understood your introduction that you are armed with insulin, a blood sugar meter and not too much info on how to use this. This is not a good combo. Insulin is dangerous you have to clear understanding of what you are doing. Low blood sugar are at best a very unpleasant occurance and a serious emergency situation at worst.

If your BG goes up to 250-270 when ingesting a lot of sugar you have confirmed that you are a diabetic. This is called a glucose tolerance test or glucose uptake test. Look this up too.

The fact that you go back down to normal fasting is really good news means that your pancreas is still working somewhat. And you want to keep it that way. Keeping your blood sugar in the normal range is one of the best ways that is under your control. Some people suggest that if you do you may maintain this happy state for a long while.

What do do until you see the Endo? Good question. If you dont want to inject insulin until you see the Endo go on a low carb diet in the meanwhile. You can measure your blood sugars 2 hours after a meal. If they are horrendous you may need insulin.

Not sure what kind of insulin they gave you so I dont dare suggest how to use it.

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Thanks Anthony for the info. I will have to look up the DKA thing. I really didn't get much of an explanation about anything, just the $75 bill for the copay and some scripts and samples. And of course the this is how to inject saline in your stomach. I didn't actually do my first shot of insulin til I was alone at home. The saline was easier!

So, I would go low carb, but I'm a vegetarian. Most of my diet is carbs and gummy bears. I'm afraid I might lose weight if I lose my main food source, and I really can't afford to.

"this happy state for a long while." Does that mean it will go away for awhile...forever? And what is considered a "horrendous" blood sugar?

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Dear Veronica.

Wow, nonchalant your health care system is, although they seem professional about the billing. Our Commie one would do much better for the patient. So at least they showed you how to inject salt water into tummy.

Damn, a veggie diet if it is high in carbs not the best and no comments on gummy bears. Then you can cut calories on a short term basis that will improve BG a bit. Are nuts veggies? if so they are good. Avocado is good. Lot of calories, fat and low in carbs.

Happy State: There are 2 main parameters that describe a diabetic 1) How well your pancreas is working and 2) how insulin resistant you are.

The best possible case is somewhat working pancreas and no insulin resistance. The worst possible case is pancreas not working and insulin resistant. This is still called Type 1: damaged pancreas and Type 2: insulin resistance. Most diabetics have some degree of both parameters and are not theoretical pure type 1 and not theoretical type 2.

You want to have a working pancreas with low insulin resistance. This will never go away without a major cure and if you do not take corrective measures it will get a lot worst.

Over 230 , 2 hours after a meal would be horrendious.

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Don't diss the gummy bears. LOL
Nuts are not veggie, and I know they are supposed to be good for you, but full of fat. Little fat phobic. I'm just really athletic (runner) and carbs pretty much fuel my activities. I actually thought I was REALLY HEALTHY before this.

So maybe when I see the endocrinologist he'll tell me what the problem is. Meanwhile it's good to know what a horrendous BG is. Thanx!

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