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BG not coming down yet

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.

happydog

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Since my husband died in August my BG has been higher than it was. At first I hoped that it was just stress but two and a half months on and it is still higher in the morning, often about 8 and seldom going below 6 now. I control it with diet and exercise but it does not seem to be working as well as it was. I have not changed my eating or exercise habits. I am just hoping that it is not the beginning of a deterioration. My doctor is firmly of the opinion that diabetes is progressive and that it will get worse and eventually I will end up on insulin. Feel sad that it looks as though he will be proved right in the end :(. I have tried so hard.
 
What are your levels after eating?
Those are the things you can check and adjust, and which did cause a readjustment in my Hba1c level.
As a type two you start off overproducing insulin, it is only years of exertion which cause a pancreas to fail, if you are a standard type two.
 
Since my husband died in August my BG has been higher than it was. At first I hoped that it was just stress but two and a half months on and it is still higher in the morning, often about 8 and seldom going below 6 now. I control it with diet and exercise but it does not seem to be working as well as it was. I have not changed my eating or exercise habits. I am just hoping that it is not the beginning of a deterioration. My doctor is firmly of the opinion that diabetes is progressive and that it will get worse and eventually I will end up on insulin. Feel sad that it looks as though he will be proved right in the end :(. I have tried so hard.
Sometimes your body needs a little bit of extra help, it certainly doesn't mean you have failed or your GP is right. Remember after a bereavement you grieve for a very long time and two and a half months is not very long at all (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))). The fact you are achieving 8 and below under the circumstances is amazing so well done you.
 
Sorry to hear your BGs are still raised @happydog

You are going through a lot at the moment, and it’s understandable that diabetes might be taking a be taking a back seat. I think during grieving its not uncommon for the future to look a bit bleak at times and to worry about what’s coming.

it doesn’t help that you’ve had the ‘inevitably progressive’ line from your HCP - and maybe that is true for some people - but it certainly doesn’t seem to be true for everyone on the forum and even if there is a gradual movement towards needing a little more support through meds etc, there are others on the forum who have slowed or reversed that progress and now need fewer or no medications.

Not that meds are a bad thing - we all just need what we need - and as a T1 nobody would consider I’ve failed because I need insulin. So no one should consider it a failing for a T2 to need some medication support to help their BGs IMO.
 
Oh Happydog two or three months is no time at all and to be honest I am amazed that you are achieving such good levels without meds.
I think your doc has a jaundiced view as he has likely seen far more people with T2 who have followed that healthy eating plate advise and those that make no changes than people like yourself who try very hard. Yes in some people it may progress it may even be that they have undiagnosed LADA instead.
No , meds are not inevitable for T2 nor if you do need to go on tablets does it mean you will need to stay on them.
And to be honest if you do need to go on meds you must not and should not feel you have failed, it’s just that your body needs a little extra help.
TC XXX
 
Hello Happydog,
My heart goes out to you, as you are having to cope with one of life's most difficult events. As others have said, give yourself and your body time to adjust to the many changes. In different circumstances my doctor said very much the same to me, and that was 6 years ago, and it hasn't been correct for me as my BS levels have gradually dropped.
Are you getting as much sleep as you were? Disturbed sleep can effect blood sugars, especially morning readings. There are many ideas to help with this. I have a list that I can send you if this would be a help.
 
I agree with what others have said, @happydog, a few months is no time at all - when my first husband died I only started to feel life was starting to be bearable after about 18 months in, so please be kind to yourself, look after yourself and try to take one day at a time. Your readings are still good, and I applaud that you are managing without medication. Put your doctor's remarks to one side and carry on as you have been doing, and remember that we are all here for you. Love and {{{hugs}}} to you xxx
 
Since my husband died in August my BG has been higher than it was. At first I hoped that it was just stress but two and a half months on and it is still higher in the morning, often about 8 and seldom going below 6 now. I control it with diet and exercise but it does not seem to be working as well as it was. I have not changed my eating or exercise habits. I am just hoping that it is not the beginning of a deterioration. My doctor is firmly of the opinion that diabetes is progressive and that it will get worse and eventually I will end up on insulin. Feel sad that it looks as though he will be proved right in the end :(. I have tried so hard.
Hello happydog,
My sympathies for your loss. Like the others I feel you are doing very well under the circumstances. So don't be hard on yourself and expect too much.
Partners usually split roles to a certain extent, thus you are probably still dealing with things that are fairly new to you, So it isn't just the grief that you are having to deal with.
Are you on any new medicines to help you cope?
If so, they could be raising your Blood Glucose levels.

Best Wishes,
Ian
 
Hi. What meds are you on? Diabetes isn't necessarily progressive but it is if you follow out-dated NHS diet advice. Are you keeping the carbs down and not following 'low-fat' diet advice? Aiming for 150gm/day or less carbs is a good target to start with but may be you are already doing this.
 
I am so sorry for your loss.
I agree with the others that you are still quite early in the grieving process and that is a huge upheaval on your whole system, so don't be too impatient for your previous good results to return.... I would personally be extremely happy with those results as my readings are all over the place, but I appreciate they are not ideal.

As regards diet and exercise having controlled it so far, it may be that tweaking your diet a bit might help to lower your levels a little for the moment if you feel you want to be proactive . Can you give us an idea of your average daily menu, so that we can perhaps suggest where changes might be made.
As @Ljc mentioned, it is likely that there are quite a few people who are LADA (a slow onset variety of Type 1) rather than Type 2 and have been misdiagnoses for many years and whilst eating low carb and exercising can possibly slow the degeneration process down, they will eventually need insulin and it is certainly not a failure that this happens.
 
What are your levels after eating?
Those are the things you can check and adjust, and which did cause a readjustment in my Hba1c level.
As a type two you start off overproducing insulin, it is only years of exertion which cause a pancreas to fail, if you are a standard type two.
Thank you for your response. My waking number has always been higher than during the day. I have tried taking my BG during the early hours and it is lower so it seems that it goes up just before I get up at about 6.30 am. Two hours after eating now my levels will be below 9 but used to be better. I suppose I just have to keep trying. I have had a cold which has not helped. Thanks for your advice which is appreciated.
 
Sometimes your body needs a little bit of extra help, it certainly doesn't mean you have failed or your GP is right. Remember after a bereavement you grieve for a very long time and two and a half months is not very long at all (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))). The fact you are achieving 8 and below under the circumstances is amazing so well done you.
Thank you Sue. I am trying but I do have a genuine fear of things getting worse. My surgery are not very supportive of treatments other than tablets or insulin and I had to fight hard not to get one either of those yet. I have had a cold which probably has not helped either.
 
Sorry to hear your BGs are still raised @happydog

You are going through a lot at the moment, and it’s understandable that diabetes might be taking a be taking a back seat. I think during grieving its not uncommon for the future to look a bit bleak at times and to worry about what’s coming.

it doesn’t help that you’ve had the ‘inevitably progressive’ line from your HCP - and maybe that is true for some people - but it certainly doesn’t seem to be true for everyone on the forum and even if there is a gradual movement towards needing a little more support through meds etc, there are others on the forum who have slowed or reversed that progress and now need fewer or no medications.

Not that meds are a bad thing - we all just need what we need - and as a T1 nobody would consider I’ve failed because I need insulin. So no one should consider it a failing for a T2 to need some medication support to help their BGs IMO.
Thank you everydayupsanddowns. Having lost your wife I feel you understand that life is different now. Deep inside I know that one day I will probably have to go onto medication to exist with this condition, but I don't want it to be yet if I can avoid it. I don't have anyone to talk to about this so I have used the forum which is what inspired me to have a go in the first place. Thank you as always for your support and inspiration.
 
Oh Happydog two or three months is no time at all and to be honest I am amazed that you are achieving such good levels without meds.
I think your doc has a jaundiced view as he has likely seen far more people with T2 who have followed that healthy eating plate advise and those that make no changes than people like yourself who try very hard. Yes in some people it may progress it may even be that they have undiagnosed LADA instead.
No , meds are not inevitable for T2 nor if you do need to go on tablets does it mean you will need to stay on them.
And to be honest if you do need to go on meds you must not and should not feel you have failed, it’s just that your body needs a little extra help.
TC XXX
Thank you for your reply. We do not have diabetes in our family and I have never been overweight, in fact I get told off at the surgery because I have lost quite a lot of weight and am now underweight for my height. I follow a low-carb diet and decided not to listen to their advice as it was daft, e.g. suggesting small bunches of grapes as a snack, 60 to 70% carbs at all meals as they are "the building blocks of life". It took me quite a while to get good results, last HBA1c was 40, but I do want to keep it there. Be even better if it was lower than that. Next review is May 2020, so may have retrieved the situation by then. Thank you for your help.
 
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Just want to say thank you to all the kind and lovely people on this forum. You have been and still are an inspiration and make me believe that I can do this. I will carry on trying.
 
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Thank you for your response. My waking number has always been higher than during the day. I have tried taking my BG during the early hours and it is lower so it seems that it goes up just before I get up at about 6.30 am. Two hours after eating now my levels will be below 9 but used to be better. I suppose I just have to keep trying. I have had a cold which has not helped. Thanks for your advice which is appreciated.
Hi happydog,
From the post I quote above, it seems there are some partial explanations for your readings:

1. Waking BG Levels are usually high due to the Liver being helpful and providing energy for you to hunt/gather your Breakfast. It seems that the liver is still in the stone-age and has not heard of Larders, Fridges or Supermarkets!

2. Any infection, injury, lack of sleep, Vigorous exercise, lack of exercise, can increase your BG. It isn't just Stress, Grief and various Medications that do that.

Another possibility is that a new batch of test strips could affect readings compared with an older batch. Although we rely on them being accurate, the tolerances allowed for them are bigger than most people realise. So it is always best to compare Before a meal with 2 hrs after or to compare today's Fasting BG with yesterday's Fasting BG.

I hope this reassures you.
 
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Just want to say thank you to all the kind and lovely people on this forum. You have been and still are an inspiration and make me believe that I can do this. I will carry on trying.

what a lovely post @happydog

It’s great that we can all support each other on the forum - and having folks to walk alongside and face things with certainly makes them easier. You too are an inspiration with your bravery, openness and determination.
 
Thank you for your response. My waking number has always been higher than during the day. I have tried taking my BG during the early hours and it is lower so it seems that it goes up just before I get up at about 6.30 am. Two hours after eating now my levels will be below 9 but used to be better. I suppose I just have to keep trying. I have had a cold which has not helped. Thanks for your advice which is appreciated.
I have been using a Libre, I am not suggesting you get one. It has shown that my levels can be fairly stable over night but after getting up to the bathroom, or if i sleep a bit later will start to rise. This is before eating anything. Though my levels usally fall again following breakfast.
I dont snack late evening as I find it does not have much affect on my morning readings.
 
@happydog I'd just like to agree with others that 2-3 months is no time at all. I have certainly experienced the same issues in stress related to family illness and bereavement. Give it time and hang on in there! Thoughts with you. Nick
PS Also I concur that the 2hr after eating test is a better indicator than the morning one
 
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I think you were right in your first post - you are under stress and your morning levels are a reflection of that. It is perfectly normal and nothing to be concerned about or fret over.
 
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