Hello from newbie Rosebud

[Rosebud]

Hi, This is my first post on forum and newly registered to the website. I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2 a few years ago, am female and 65 next month. My HBAIC has always been below 4.6 so believed I had pre diabetes and stopped taking Metformin after a year. My numbers seemed ok but in the last couple months I’ve not being active by working and think I’ve had hypos - my blood sugars have gone haywire and am also feeling tingling in the eyes so I’m getting worried. Any info on a quick fix until I can see my doctor?

 

[Inka]

Hello @Rosebud 🙂

Sorry to hear that you’re having problems. When you say your blood sugars have gone haywire, what numbers are you getting? What numbers are you getting when you feel like you’re hypo?

I haven’t heard of tingling in the eyes, but some people have tingling in the face when low. Is your tingling occasional or all the time?

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Rosebud and welcome

Do you have a blood glucose meter to test when you feel unwell. It is unusual for a Type 2 diabetic to have hypos even if they are taking Metformin, so I would be surprised if that is happening, especially if you are less active, as hypos would be more likely to occur if you were more active.

Do you mean your HbA1c has always been below 46? Your figure of 4.6 doesn't really compute.

Can you tell us a bit about how you came to be diagnosed with Diabetes? Symptomatic or just a routine blood test?
It is unusual for a pre diabetic to be prescribed medication and generally a change in lifestyle (diet and exercise) would be suggested to see if that improved things.... Have you made any changes to your diet since you were diagnosed?

I would be more concerned that your BG levels might be going too high rather than low, but if you have a meter, telling us your readings will help.

 

[Rosebud]

Hello guys
This site is all new to me and a bit overwhelming but I’d like to introduce myself and learn from your experiences and the wealth of information proffered on the site. I’ve had prediabetes for a few years and came off Metformin by keeping HBAIC below 4.8. In the current climate and not being as physically active my BP and blood sugars have shot up and I’m now monitoring more regularly since the lockdown. I’m female and fast approaching 65 but whilst I have a young disposition everything seems to have caught up with me and symptoms are more evident so I strongly suspect I've gone into the diabetic range.
Need to get my head out of the sand urgently
Happy Easter.
Rosebud

 

[Rosebud]

Hello @Rosebud 🙂

Sorry to hear that you’re having problems. When you say your blood sugars have gone haywire, what numbers are you getting? What numbers are you getting when you feel like you’re hypo?

I haven’t heard of tingling in the eyes, but some people have tingling in the face when low. Is your tingling occasional or all the time?

Hi thank you for responding. I was 7.7 this morning on rising and it can be in the 7-8 range before I have my evening meal? The hypo was probably my fault from rushing to a low level exercise/relaxation class without eating or having had some water for a few hours, but now I’ve experienced it I don’t want it again. Ive noticed I get tingling toes until I get moving in the morning but the tingly eyes are there most of the time - and there is a pressure - but may then be due to dry eyes which was diagnosed last year with a mild autoimmune rheumatoid disorder. I’m probably more aware of how I’m feeling since I see my numbers have gone up from the usual 5-7.

 

[Inka]

Ok. So it looks like your blood sugar is running a little higher than the ideal. These are the target levels for Type 2.

If you have Type 2 diabetes

• before meals: 4 to 7mmol/l
• two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l

It’s worth testing after meals too to see what your blood sugar does and what effects various foods have on it. Did you stop the Metformin on medical advice? Do you have the number of a diabetes nurse who you could phone for advice? What kind of foods do you generally eat?

It would also be worth testing your blood sugar next time you feel hypo, just to see if you really are. Sometimes people can feel hypo at normal levels if their blood sugar has been running a little high.

The tingling eyes sound unusual and possibly not connected to your diabetes at all. Just for reassurance I’d seek advice about that. I’m not sure if an optician could help via the phone, but the pressure you mention would be something I’d want feedback from a medical professional too, especially as you mention you have other conditions.

 

[Inka]

If your diet is carb-heavy, you might find something as simple as reducing your carbs a little will help bring your blood sugar back down. That, in turn might help your tingling toes if they’re connected to your diabetes.

 

[Rosebud]

Hi, This is my first post on forum and newly registered to the website. I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2 a few years ago, am female and 65 next month. My HBAIC has always been below 4.6 so believed I had pre diabetes and stopped taking Metformin after a year. My numbers seemed ok but in the last couple months I’ve not being active by working and think I’ve had hypos - my blood sugars have gone haywire and am also feeling tingling in the eyes so I’m getting worried. Any info on a quick fix until I can see my doctor?

Hello @Rosebud 🙂

Sorry to hear that you’re having problems. When you say your blood sugars have gone haywire, what numbers are you getting? What numbers are you getting when you feel like you’re hypo?

I haven’t heard of tingling in the eyes, but some people have tingling in the face when low. Is your tingling occasional or all the time?

Hi Inka
Thank you for replying. Dr diagnosed my diabetes because the gloucose drink test, (high @11) and I was given metformin. After that I saw the nurse and she said they used new numbering? I had read 4.8 was the point it went into diabetes and after a few HBAIC tests showed around 4.2 to 4.6. I asked to come off it as kidney problems were showing through various medications. After rising this morning I was 7.7 which used to be between 5-6.

 

[Inka]

I understand 🙂 If you want to avoid medication, then looking at your diet is the way to go. Some Type 2s can control their diabetes by diet only. Your numbers aren’t awful, so you could more than likely improve them by some adjustments to your diet.

If you’re a bit stuck as to what to change, you could give a typical day’s meals below and then get some suggestions as to where you could possibly make changes. Exercise also helps - although obviously that’s more difficult now.

I’d still ask about your eyes though as that sounds unusual to me.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

After that I saw the nurse and she said they used new numbering? I had read 4.8 was the point it went into diabetes and after a few HBAIC tests showed around 4.2 to 4.6.

You misheard the HbA1c numbers. 48 is the line for diabetes. 42 to 46 is a bit below that, but above what you'd expect for a typical "normal" person, so a bit over 42 would make them worry a bit (and say you were prediabetic).

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Rosebud. Glad that you have found us.

As Inka has said one way of reducing you glucose levels is to reduce your carbs at meals.
I was surprised by the amount of carbs we were eating when I started to do this. Once you know how many you are eating, and knowing that all of them will become glucose once inside you, it gives you a chance to make decisions about choosing different foods, or reducing portion size.

The information a out carbs is given in many different ways, even on raw ingredients. However the information is available and well worth finding out what your current position is with this. Ince we New we set ourselves a target to aim for at each meal which we aim for (but don’t always hit).

Another things that helps me is to just do something for at least 15 minutes after each meal. I know this may be more difficult at present, but I think of it as ‘don’t Sit down for 15 min’. I might iron, walk up and down steps putting things in the right place, .... I just do something. At present we do our daily walk, so it tends to be a bit more than 15 min.

 

[Rosebud]

You misheard the HbA1c numbers. 48 is the line for diabetes. 42 to 46 is a bit below that, but above what you'd expect for a typical "normal" person, so a bit over 42 would make them worry a bit (and say you were prediabetic).

Hi, Thank you for confirming that - though it’s been highest at 46. I think I was right to not need metformin. Though I do believe having been ill early this year I’m now higher and didn’t get to my annual HBAIC test last month. My blood sugars showed 7.7 this morning and previously to being ill it was always around 5.3 to 6. I’m regularly checking now as in addition to not being so active (I’m a market trader couple days week) blood pressure has also gone up. regards

Welcome to the forum @Rosebud. Glad that you have found us.

As Inka has said one way of reducing you glucose levels is to reduce your carbs at meals.
I was surprised by the amount of carbs we were eating when I started to do this. Once you know how many you are eating, and knowing that all of them will become glucose once inside you, it gives you a chance to make decisions about choosing different foods, or reducing portion size.

The information a out carbs is given in many different ways, even on raw ingredients. However the information is available and well worth finding out what your current position is with this. Ince we New we set ourselves a target to aim for at each meal which we aim for (but don’t always hit).

Another things that helps me is to just do something for at least 15 minutes after each meal. I know this may be more difficult at present, but I think of it as ‘don’t Sit down for 15 min’. I might iron, walk up and down steps putting things in the right place, .... I just do something. At present we do our daily walk, so it tends to be a bit more than 15 min.

Hi, Thank you, that’s worth knowing. It’s too easy to flop down after dinner which sometimes can be quite late for us . We’ve now decided being home during the day we would eat our main meal at lunch time and I’ve been told to look out for 8.5hrs 2hrs after eating? We’ll definitely have to do a walk then. Regards

 

[Rosebud]

If your diet is carb-heavy, you might find something as simple as reducing your carbs a little will help bring your blood sugar back down. That, in turn might help your tingling toes if they’re connected to your diabetes.

Thank you.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Rosebud

Some people’s experience of diabetes changes over time, as the body’s relationship to carbohydrate alters - which can mean that the strategies, menu approaches that have managed blood glucose effectively in the past need to be tweaked, or medication added or altered.

Glad you have found the forum! Diabetes can be quite an isolating experience, and its very helpful to have others sharing the same experiences to walk alongside. Lots of friendly helpful folks here, to exchange ideas with and to lift you up when you are feeling glum.

Let us know how you are getting on, and keep asking questions!

 

[grovesy]

I am on who has had to alter what and how much I eat over the years. This is despite my weight being stable and lowest it has been for a number of years.