Diabetes question

[Acorn]

I was diagnosed about a month or so ago so I'm still learnin'.
Since then I have faithfully watched my diet, limited my carbs, no added sugar, diet pop, no beer (sob), and only good veggies.
Until Thanksgiving at Mom and Dads.
I had turkey(no problem), mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, and stuffing, glorious stuffing!
Once a year my favorite holiday comes around. It can't hurt.
I've been good!
Then I went home to face the glucometer expecting sky high readings.
Jabbed myself, waited a few seconds.
91! What the...?
Now it was about four hours after dinner but still I was expecting something a lot higher.
I plan on checking with Dr. P when I go back for my next A1C in Feb. but was curious is this normal?

 

[skeeter]

I am not trying to be a wise guy, but your question is like asking "why does my car make a noise." There are too many variables and not enough information. Do you take insulin? Do you count your carbs? Did you have activity? How long have you been diabetic? New diabetics have a "honeymoon" period where they are really easy to control. If you didn't eat many carbs for two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, maybe your body had enough insulin stored up for that day. You maybe would have been in trouble if you did that two days in a row. Talk to your doctor who knows you.

 

[vito]

I wouldn't advise seeking medical advice on a gun forum. Good luck.

 

[skeeter]

Free advice is worth the price you pay

 

[Acorn]

As I said Drs appointment is 2 months away. I know we have diabetics on this forum. I thought they may have insight. Too many people here like to be snarkey and really add nothing to the thread

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Turkey gravy smothers everything.

 

[Jeepnik]

As mentioned diabetes is a complicated disease. Even if you do everything right you will sometimes get a high reading. And conversely eat stuff you shouldn't and get a low one.

The key is to keep the A1C down as it is a better indication of the overall effectiveness of treatment. The regular self testing is a guide to how things are going.

Being a lover of data I set up a spreadsheet. It started with just date, time and test result. Running a graph was pretty interesting. I then added an area for comments to help better understand my situation (everyone is different).

Diabetes is a progressive disease. Even if you do all you should your medications will likely begin to loose effectiveness. The trend helps you see this and you can discuss the next step with your doctor.

 

[BearBio]

As a 20+ year diabetic, there are too many variables. I would not worry about a reading of 91. Also, how old are your test strips? It seems the older they are, the less reliable the readings. I was once diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy but it turned out to be sciatica. Just switched where I carried my wallet and I was fine.

If you were worried, you could have increased your testing frequency and give it to your doc. BTW: If you don't have a prescription for your strips, get one! Will save you considerable expense!

 

[Acorn]

I've only know I've had it since October and bought all my test stuff then. So i assume they are fresh. I am on 500mg of metformin and 5mg glipizide both twice daily. Initially I was on Janumet twice a day but it was $250 for 90 days and the met. and glipizide run me $14 for 90 days. It just seems weird with the carbs I had that meal to get a 91 reading. No real physical activity other than running my mouth and jumping to conclusions.

 

[winterwood]

From an old diabetic (and once an RN), it might be expected that the higher carb intake would have led to a higher reading that day, but the quantity of each of the carbs must also be considered. When I get a reading that is a long way from what I expect, I take another reading. There is often a pretty broad difference in testing over just a few minutes. Home meters are fairly accurate, but do have their limits.
As you become better acquainted with your new condition, you will most likely get to the point where you can "feel" where your sugar level is at. Watch the carbs, use your meter and keep accurate records; you should do well. Jim

 

[Sin6Sec63451022]

Anytime I get that low of a reading I'm practically comatose! I'm looking for a snickers. I don't feel good until I'm at about 120. All to say everyone's different. Keep some records of what you eat and when and your test numbers. And, yes, the daily numbers can drive you nuts.

 

[Bull Barrel]

For all of you on diabetes meds if you are taking glyburide see your doc and ask for a different med. It seems glyburide can have bad effects on the heart and can make recovery from heart sugery difficult.
My endocrinologist said it will probably be taken off the market.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

As has been mentioned, don't ask for medical advice on a gun forum.......but you did so here goes. Yes, I am a 20+ something year diabetic. A reading that was unexpected gets another reading. Still doesn't seem right? Go ask your pharmacist to check your sugar level and if his reading is more in line with what you think it should be, either buy new batteries or buy a new meter. If the pharmacist is not available, ask someone in your family to check it with their meter. If it's a large family, chances you are not the only diabetic.

 

[gramps]

For all of you on diabetes meds if you are taking glyburide see your doc and ask for a different med. It seems glyburide can have bad effects on the heart and can make recovery from heart sugery difficult.
My endocrinologist said it will probably be taken off the market.

That is interesting BB. I have never heard that. Glyburide has similar effects to lasix too, and helps people with heart failure. I get notifications daily from i pharmacy, medscape, and DG.
gramps

 

[Pistolero]

Running a control for accuracy using a control solution made specifically for your brand of glucometer and test strips is a good idea when you get a questionable reading.

The following is some info from Diabetes Forecast: Of all your diabetes to-do’s, using control solution to run a check on your meter and test strips may be a low priority. Yet if you’re worried about how your meter system is working, control solution can give you peace of mind.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests using control solution:

Every time you open a new container of test strips
Occasionally as you use the container of test strips
If you drop the meter
Whenever you get unusual results (high or low)
Some meter companies also suggest other reasons to use control solution: before testing with a new meter for the first time and when blood glucose results don’t reflect how you feel.
http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2014/12-dec/how-to-use-control-solution.html

 

[WAYNO]

Acorn...

I didn't think for a second that you were asking medical advice, so ignore the fun haters that would put you down before they would help you. As in support groups, it is helpful to compare notes with others that have been in your shoes longer. That's the support part of it all.

I'm fortunate that I'm not diabetic, but I'm surrounded by friends and family who are. And yes, they do compare notes. And what I've learned by eavesdropping, is everybody is different. A dose, or management plan that works for one, doesn't work at all for another. So...Keep track of what you're doing, keep track of the results, and share all this with the doctor, soon. Not that anything needs changed, but just so you'll have professional reassurance. Seems to me, the two biggest concerns are control swings. Either your numbers remain way too low (for you), or they're not controlled at all. Sometimes it takes a long time to learn what keeps everything safely in the middle.

A very close friend of mine has had some serious complications over the last couple of years. He's spent some time in the hospital, and it surprised me, when the nurses would bring him his diabetic medications, he would double check the doses and if he didn't agree with the dose, the professionals stepped aside and listened to him, allowing him to dictate the doses.

Often it's the patient that knows best. All the more reason support groups are beneficial. It's hard to go out on a limb and correct your health care provider. When the folks in the support groups echo that is has to be that way, it's easier to deal with a doctor.

WAYNO.

 

[Bull Barrel]

The key is to keep the A1C down as it is a better indication of the overall effectiveness of treatment. The regular self testing is a guide to how things are going.

And how do you do that? By controlling your blood sugar.
Your daily reading is like how many hits a baseball player gets in how many at bats he had in one game. The A1C is his batting average for the year.
Its a reading of the hemoglobin levels in the blood. Hemoglobin attaches to glucose. More glucose, more hemoglobin.

 

[Don Lovel]

Diet soda is not your friend, stay away from it and your pancreas will thank you by working better
eliminating carbohydrate snacks, watch your salt intake, right down to the socks and shoes you wear are all important things to stay on top of
if you are on oral insulin, take it the same time every day

 

[Bull Barrel]

Yep. Diet soda has been said to be worse for you than regular soda. And high fructose corn syrup is very bad for you. The body has a hard time processing it. Dont listen to the "sugar is sugar" crap. HFCS is NOT sugar.

 

[Acorn]

Thanks Wayno. As You said I am not looking for advice. Just curious if others have had similar experiences.
Other than that reading I have been in the range I figure is normal for a diabetic.
It just seemed odd to me that with all the carbs I ate that evening it would be so low.

 

[mohavesam]

The CDC says 21 million-plus Americans have diabetes, and another 8.1 million people are diabetic but have not yet been diagnosed. Roughly one-in-every-eight people you meet.

Get your A1c to 6 or below, which means diabetes is in full remission. No one has "immunity" to diabetes, regardless of diet and/or exercise. You only get one pancreas!
But if one can understand and control what goes down one's throat, avoidance and/or remission is possible. I know, I went from years of 12-13 A1C to a steady 6.2, and no it wasn't easy. And I still don't eat kale.

 

[mistermills357]

As I said Drs appointment is 2 months away. I know we have diabetics on this forum. I thought they may have insight. Too many people here like to be snarkey and really add nothing to the thread

I have a serious case of diabetes, and it has clocked me too many times to count. But, learning your own body reaction is the key. Like me, I can eat a couple of baked potatoes, or a pan of fried taters, and it does nothing to my BS. It is very counter to medical advice to do that.

Now when you ate, did you have a lot of protein, like a lot of turkey? Because it will not raise your BS, eat to your hearts content. And a lot of what you listed will not raise BS.

A BS of 91 indicates that the disease has not started tearing you up yet. But, it might---does you mother or father have it---and if they do, what has it done to them? Both of my parents had it and had the bad kind, so now, I have it bad too.

And, I have had to find my own answers with food, in most instances. And you are right, snotty answers only add salt to the wound of diabetes. I have to carry a pill bottle filled with sugar, because of BS crashes.

If you vision ever goes dark, swallow some sugar: if you ever get very confused or crabby, swallow some sugar & then take your BS.

Those are symptom's of hypoglycemia, and so is very dry skin. You will get to the point when you swallow sugar, without hesitation. Because a crash is a terrible thing, and something that you will learn to avoid.

Low BS has caused brain damage in me, and it can kill you, so beware of it.

Did this help?

 

[Bull Barrel]

Diabetes is not always caused by a malfunctioning pancreas. It can also be due to insulin resistance. The muscles dont uptake sugar from the blood and the pancreas cant make enough insulin to counter it. That is what Metformin does is increase the uptake of sugars. That is where exercise comes in along with diet.

 

[Acorn]

MM357 my initial A1C was 11.3, so it was high. No history of it in my family except for my Dad who has been fighting pancreatic cancer for 4+ years and had part of his pancreas removed. My "normal" BG readings have been between 91-190. I believe I had a crash shortly after I was diagnosed. Nauseated, flushed, sweating like mad in a 50 degree room. I was so disoriented I wasn't able to test. I took a shot and drank a can of pop and I came around in a few. One other time I started feeling "hot" and I did test out at around 50. Now that I had these I know what they feel like and hopefully I can head them off at the pass.
Thanks to all.

 

[Toyman]

I was advised I was Type 2 10 years ago when my A1C was 6.0. I was given ACTOS and was showing A1C of 5.5. Moved and new doctor decided to take me off ACTOS for 3 months 5.7 A1C. I do not drink soda watch my bread intake, work out 3 times a week.
Also try to watch portion control and so far so good.
Weighed this morning got through Thanksgiving and am 1 pound less than last week.

 

[Bull Barrel]

The doc who said you were diabetic at 6.0 should be made to take his own script. This is a case where the patient should be informed before they start taking drugs that arent needed.
Imo the doc was being paid by the drug co to push their product.

 

[mistermills357]

MM357 my initial A1C was 11.3, so it was high. No history of it in my family except for my Dad who has been fighting pancreatic cancer for 4+ years and had part of his pancreas removed. My "normal" BG readings have been between 91-190. I believe I had a crash shortly after I was diagnosed.

Nauseated, flushed, sweating like mad in a 50 degree room. I was so disoriented I wasn't able to test. I took a shot and drank a can of pop and I came around in a few. One other time I started feeling "hot" and I did test out at around 50. Now that I had these I know what they feel like and hopefully I can head them off at the pass.
Thanks to all.

I have been through the mill with diabetes, and it sounds like you are in for some real trials with it too.
To start, you may be prone to hypoglycemic attacks, and they are dangerous. As you have seen for yourself, they can severely disorient a person, and cause a stupor.

An A1C of 11.3 is lousy, but mine is 8.5 or so. You may be swinging back and forth with your BS, that is what I do.
Make sure that you get a Glucagon kit, and carry it with you. If you feel yourself going down from low blood sugar, go into a bathroom and shoot yourself up, put it into the thigh muscle. That is what I did one time, and it stopped a pretty bad crash.

I have had sweat pour off of me in a BS crash, and I shook with weakness, then my vision went dark. Pretty scary stuff.

God Bless.