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Type 2 and struggling to get sugars down

L

Liam40

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
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Hello.

Im newly diagnosed with type 2. Found out in April this year. I have my 3 month check up in 3 weeks.

I’m a 40 year old male, 6ft 2. Been training in the gym (mostly weights) for 20 years, I’m fairly strong and fit. But added a fair bit of cardio since my diagnosis.

I am 16 stone, quite a muscular guy. Only lost a few pounds since diagnosis, but I don’t carry allot of fat.

I’ve been using a finger prick to test bloods but I’ve recently purchased libre 2 with constant blood glucose monitoring and now I’m actually seeing what’s going with my levels.

I’m waking up with high levels (>12) sometimes from 4am my levels significantly increase and do no not drop to normal levels (7) until afternoon.

Or sometimes my levels do not drop below 12 all night in my sleep, despite not eating from 7:30pm (low carb) then I’m waking up with high levels again, breakfast rarely affects, lunch will
Not affect it, then randomly in the afternoon. My levels with drop.

See attached image for my levels from midnight until now 7:30am (no breakfast yet).

Medication since April, I’m on metformin, ramipiril and atorvastatin.
 

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It is often said that managing diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint.
The Libre graph explains things like Dawn Phenomenon and allows you to see the impact of different foods on your BG.
It is also important to look back to April when you were diagnosed. Have you seen a drop in the average level?
It is easy to get disheartened when your graphs aren't as great as others you see (or some on tells you your numbers are "chronically high"). So it is important to look back to see where you came from.

A LIbre gives you that chance to try things and see the impact. For example, does your BG rise or fall with cardio? It is important to look beyond the time you are exercising and consider the next 48 hours.
Are you unwell or injured or stressed? All of these things can cause your BG to rise as your liver dumps glucose to help you fight.
 
Hi @Liam40 and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are struggling with your diabetes. Glad that you have found this forum. There is a wealth of experience and support to draw on.
You haven't mentioned what your hbA1c result was when diagnosed. Also did you have any of the common symptoms?
When I was first diagnosed my hbA1c was extremely high so when I was given a blood glucose meter my fingerprick readings were in the high teens for quite a while. Thankfully it has got better due to a combo of low carb diet, exercise and medication but I am still work in progress.
 
Before we were married I remember my (1st) husband filling in a form applying for finance or rather the salesman was completing it and in answer to the question 'Occupation?' my chap replied 'Trainee Millionnaire' and not such a brainly employee had written 'Trainee ...' before he realised Oh, This Was A Joke. And he had to start again ......

Are not all of us. whether with diabetes or not, constantly works in progress till we eventually shuffle off our mortal coils?
 
trophywench said:
Before we were married I remember my (1st) husband filling in a form applying for finance or rather the salesman was completing it and in answer to the question 'Occupation?' my chap replied 'Trainee Millionnaire' and not such a brainly employee had written 'Trainee ...' before he realised Oh, This Was A Joke. And he had to start again ......

Are not all of us. whether with diabetes or not, constantly works in progress till we eventually shuffle off our mortal coils?
Click to expand...
Absolutely! I try not to sweat the small stuff these days. Getting my BG lower and keeping it there for my cataract operations is important to me. (as well as the longer term diabetes management). Carrying out routine tasks is getting more difficult each week and I am trying very hard not to get frustrated.
 
Were you told what your HbA1C was at diagnosis, I suspect if you are seeing those readings it was pretty high so even though what you are getting from your monitor is still high your HbA1C may show something more positive in your progress. You are only on 1 medication that is for diabetes so diet is going to be all important and low carb of no more than 130g per day is what is suggested as a starting point for reducing carbs but if you are already at that and still seeing those high levels you may need less or you may find depending on your new result than another medication may be added.
In any case have a look at this link as it may give you some more ideas for menu changes. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
Hi. I suspect you may need a further diabetes med added. Note that both Ramipril and Atorvastatin are not diabetes tablets although the latter may increase BS a bit.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

Currently 7:30pm, I’ve been the gym and my reading is around 7. Sitting down for dinner now.

Yes my training does bring my BS down.

In April my HBA1C was 108, scarily high.

Since April, I’ve upped my water intake to 3ltr a day. Added cardio to my workouts, cutout 95% of my sugary snacks, I still have a little nibble.

Since having the libre, my average reading is 10, which estimates my HBA1C at around 64.

I guess I am being a little harsh on myself, but it’s the night high numbers that have been bothering me.
 
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Liam40 said:
In April my HBA1C was 108, scarily high.

Since April, I’ve upped my water intake to 3ltr a day. Added cardio to my workouts, cutout 95% of my sugary snacks, I still have a little nibble.

Since having the liver, my average reading is 10, which estimates my HBA1C at around 64.

I guess I am being a little harsh on myself, but it’s the night high numbers that have been bothering me.
Click to expand...
I would not try and drop your a1c any faster than you have already. Dropping a1c too quickly can cause eye complications such as retinopathy.
 
@Liam40, my knowledge about T2 issues is pretty scant. But I don't think the observation that your levels are chronically high is correct or helpful.

Yes they have been scarily high and yes they are still higher than desirable. But chronic, in medical parlance, means that an ailment is permanent and given your progress to date there is no reason to imagine that you can't make further progress and move yourself into the status of remission.

Well done in getting your HbA1c down to 64.
 
Admittedly my search just now was rapid and superficial, but I didn't find that definition of >53 HbA1c. However my real point was (and remains is) that the OP has offered no evidence of an enduring diabetes diagnosis. Further he has already made terrific inroads into lowering his BG and I think describing his status as chronic is premature and unnecessarily discouraging.
 
I can’t be bothered to argue with someone who is offended by facts, so have deleted my contributions to this thread
 
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