Hello! I am confused - weird symptoms!

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Wmay1965

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Hi! I am so confused. I have had blood tests carried out a week ago to determine if I am diabetic 2. They returned as being "satisfactory". However, I am having hypos and hypers on/off for the past months but increasingly so this past two weeks. I also have traces of protein in my urine, but my nurse says this is normal.

Yesterdsay, after eating lunch, I lost consciousness for a very short time (seconds maybe) after eating lunch (this was 5 hours after breakfast). I was in the car with my husband and he got a fright too! Said I slumped down in my chair and started shaking my right leg. I remember shaking my leg trying to come to and gasping for air. It was very scary.

I'm frightened to go out by myself, dare not drive, and feel anxious much of the time now as this has progressed. Other times I have been standing and feel weak and strange for a short time and then things go back to normal when I eat a few jelly babies.

My nurse says there's nothing wrong with me. Mind that was before yesterday's black out.

My blood pressure is mostly pre high readings but once again, my nurse says she's not concerned. I'm trying to lose weight. I'm also waiting to see a specialist re sleep apnea to rule this out too but nurse told me waiting list is 3 years when I asked why I wasn't hearing anything.

Beginning to feel I don't want to get out off bed incase this keeps happening. I feel no-one is listening. I have even attended A &E twice in the past few years with similar faint feeling (but never passed out on those occasions) and they just took my BP and told me it was slightly high both times, but other than that they couldn't see anything wrong with me. No blood tests carried out but one urine test done on one of those two occasions and I was told I had protein in urine and to see my GP.

I have a GP telephone appointment today re: what happened in the car yesterday.

Don't know if diabetes.orguk is even the right forum for my situation. Has anyone else experienced similar I wonder?
 
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Are you testing your blood sugar @Wmay1965 ? If not, how do you know you’re having hypers and hypos? What was the result (in numbers) of your blood test to check for diabetes? Phone and ask or see if you can look online.

Your brief loss of consciousness could be caused by a number of things. For example, there’s a condition where people feel faint after eating (I can’t remember its name but I think it’s a brief drop in blood pressure). There are also absence seizure, narcolepsy - any number of things. Have you worn one of those 24hr blood pressure monitors? What other tests have been done apart from the diabetes?
 
Yes. I have had readings where it went lower than 2 and machine flashed and said to test again 15 mins. I then took 4 jelly babies and redid test 15mins later and it was 5.7. Also had readings of 10.1 (high) and readings in the borderline levels too.

My GP telephone appointment today has resulted in having an ECG booked for this Thursday. GP is mystified!

The O2 in my bloods has been low too, i.e. between 91-93. They fluctuate and settle to normal and then seem to fluctuate and drop again.

Re: the blood pressure monitor - I went to have it fitted just over a week ago and it was broken!!! Their other one was in use elsewhere. Second time I've had an appointment and gone to be fitted with one and twice it's been broken! Had to do my own at home for 7 days and report the results which I did (same time before). Nurse said my BP was fine, despite on several occasions the machine indicating in should see a medical adviser within 2 days. The BP machine I have takes 3 readings one after the other and gives an average result for each reading. I did this twice a day (14 readings in total) and when they were averaged by my machine, it indicated I should seek medical adviser within 2 days (once again same as last time re: my blood pressure results). So what my BP machine says and the nurse seem to be contradictory.
 
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Hi and welcome.

So sorry to hear you had such a scary incident and I can totally understand that knocking your confidence to do anything especially when you have had other less severe but still worrying incidents recently.

What in particular makes you think you might be diabetic?

Are you monitoring your Blood Glucose regularly and if so what with? Just wondering how you know you are experiencing hypos and hypers and can you give us an idea of how high and how low your levels are going and when they typically happen? If it is after meals, how long after and what was the meal?
It would be worth keeping a diary of what you eat and when these unpleasant incidents occur to see if there is any correlation to particular foods.

How frequently have you been getting these less severe incidents prior to the one in the car yesterday? Are we talking one a day of a couple a week or more/less? Is there a time of day when it is more common for it to happen. Do you experience anything like this through the night?

Just to clarify, hypos are not a symptom of Type 2 diabetes or even Type 1 diabetes for that matter. Diabetes is high Blood Glucose. Hypos are caused by an overdose of exogenous (injected) insulin or endogenous (produced by the pancreas) insulin in response to medication used to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. So if you are not taking diabetic medication then any hypos you may be experiencing are unlikely to be due to diabetes, because that makes your BG levels go high, not low.

There is a condition called Reactive Hypoglycaemia and this is a mis-regulation of the balance of BG where levels go high after a meal, usually a meal which is high in carbohydrate and then the pancreas kicks in to late after levels have gone much too high and sometimes overproduces insulin to bring that high down. The sensation of levels going high and then dropping rapidly can feel horrible and even if your levels don't drop dangerously low, your body can panic and go into shock and give you the sensation of a hypo but people with RH do often drop below 3 and sometimes really dangerously low due to over production of insulin and I think I have read of some people dropping below 2mmols on occasion. I believe the suggested treatment for RH is to eat small lower carb meals regularly, rather than high carb foods as big meals. So if yesterday was after a typical Sunday lunch with Yorkies and roasties and perhaps a sweet dessert, then that might trigger it, if it is RH.
RH can also result in a "satisfactory" HbA1c result because the highs and lows cancel each other out a bit.

If you can give us more details about the readings you are getting and when you get them relative to meals and what you ate then that might suggest if this is a likely cause.
 
I see you provided some further info whilst I was typing. Going down into the 2s is not nice. Which meter are you using?
 
@Wmay1965 I assume from your descriptions that you are using the Libre for your readings.
Unfortunately, Libre (and other CGMs) have limitations which is why it is advised to check highs and lows with a finger prick before making any corrections (unless you are feeling very low).
CGMs are amazing pieces of kit but they have limitations. These include compression lows (false lows when you apply pressure to them), being designed to be most accurate at "normal" levels so highs and lows can be out by quite a way, and taking a few days to bed in (this is why some of us apply the sensor a day or two before activating them).

I am sorry top read about your scary experiences. If you want to reviews these with blood sugars in mind, I recommend using a finger prick meter.

I hope you get to the bottom of your issues soon.
 
Wmay1965 said:
Yes. I have had readings where it went lower than 2 and machine flashed and said to test again 15 mins. I then took 4 jelly babies and redid test 15mins later and it was 5.7. Also had readings of 10.1 (high) and readings in the borderline levels too.

My GP telephone appointment today has resulted in having an ECG on Thursday. GP is at thisoont mystified!
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Which meter are you using? Some meters will show a low reading when there’s not enough blood on the strip (ie blood glucose is normal but the meter wrongly gives a low reading).

10.1 is the high end of normal. I’m not sure what you mean by borderline level? As a comparison, my blood sugar was almost 30 when I was diagnosed. Sometimes in Type 2 the blood sugar goes high after eating - say 15 or 16 - because the first response insulin is delayed. Then the insulin kicks in but overreacts and can occasionally push the blood sugar a bit too low.

It’s good your doctor is doing an ECG. Heart issues can also cause faintness, of course, so getting that checked is very sensible.
 
rebrascora said:
I see you provided some further info whilst I was typing. Going down into the 2s is not nice. Which meter are you using?
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The machine I am using is called Sinocare. Yes I am keeping a diary. Both Glucose levels and BP. I actually read about Reactive Hypoglycaemi and it comes closest to what I have been experiencing.
 
I wonder if this is something related to your sleep apnoea since you mention 'fighting for breath'
Please do be persistent with your GP for further investigation
 
helli said:
@Wmay1965 I assume from your descriptions that you are using the Libre for your readings.
Unfortunately, Libre (and other CGMs) have limitations which is why it is advised to check highs and lows with a finger prick before making any corrections (unless you are feeling very low).
CGMs are amazing pieces of kit but they have limitations. These include compression lows (false lows when you apply pressure to them), being designed to be most accurate at "normal" levels so highs and lows can be out by quite a way, and taking a few days to bed in (this is why some of us apply the sensor a day or two before activating them).

I am sorry top read about your scary experiences. If you want to reviews these with blood sugars in mind, I recommend using a finger prick meter.

I hope you get to the bottom of your issues soon.
Click to expand...
I am using a finger prick Sinocare machine method of testing. If you don't apply enough blood, it won't read and beeps as an error.
 
Wmay1965 said:
It's called Sinocare
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I am sure that Sinocare is one of the meters which people have reported gives an erroneous low reading when there is insufficient sample on the test strip. We have had a few posts over the years about them here on the forum, so it is one we would not recommend. If you are feeling wobbly or shaky of course, you will be more likely to wobble when applying the blood to the strip and therefore more likely to get a false reading.

As @Inca has mentioned 10 is not a hyper but a high side of normal post meal reading. It is not unusual for none diabetic people to spike up to 10-11 occasionally so I would not consider that a Hyper or be concerned about it.
 
Leadinglights said:
I wonder if this is something related to your sleep apnoea since you mention 'fighting for breath'
Please do be persistent with your GP for further investigation
Click to expand...
Been referred and advised 3 year waiting list. I've been on the waiting list 6 months to-date. I asked to be referred.
 
Wmay1965 said:
I am using a finger prick Sinocare machine method of testing. If you got apply enough blood, it won't read and beeps as an error.
Click to expand...

Ok, that’s not the most accurate of meters. What would be useful when you attend the doctors is to find out your HbA1C (the number).

I would think your symptoms are down to something else not diabetes. I’m not a medical person, just someone with diabetes. I wouldn’t put any faith in the Sinocare readings.
 
Inka said:
Ok, that’s not the most accurate of meters. What would be useful when you attend the doctors is to find out your HbA1C (the number).

I would think your symptoms are down to something else not diabetes. I’m not a medical person, just someone with diabetes. I wouldn’t put any faith in the Sinocare readings.
Click to expand...
Had HbA1C carried out just over a week ago. Came back satisfactory. Wasn't told the reading though. My late mum had diabetes 2 and some of my symptoms seem similar and that's why I ordered a Sinocare system to keep a check. From what I'm reading here, they don't seem brilliant.
 
Wmay1965 said:
Had that comes just over a week ago. Came back satisfactory.
Click to expand...

You need the number not “Satisfactory”. The number will show you if you’re close to the Diabetes zone, for example.
 
Wmay1965 said:
I feel I am having to push for anything to be don. its Its frustrating.
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Yes, it can be very frustrating to have to push for each test. I advise you keep notes - what they’ve tested and what the result was. Again, make sure you get the actual result not a Good, Satisfactory, etc. Ideally, you’d get the result and the lab range so you can see where your results falls within that range.

Have you had your kidney function tested? Thyroid? There are so many things it could be.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome.

So sorry to hear you had such a scary incident and I can totally understand that knocking your confidence to do anything especially when you have had other less severe but still worrying incidents recently.

What in particular makes you think you might be diabetic?

Are you monitoring your Blood Glucose regularly and if so what with? Just wondering how you know you are experiencing hypos and hypers and can you give us an idea of how high and how low your levels are going and when they typically happen? If it is after meals, how long after and what was the meal?
It would be worth keeping a diary of what you eat and when these unpleasant incidents occur to see if there is any correlation to particular foods.

How frequently have you been getting these less severe incidents prior to the one in the car yesterday? Are we talking one a day of a couple a week or more/less? Is there a time of day when it is more common for it to happen. Do you experience anything like this through the night?

Just to clarify, hypos are not a symptom of Type 2 diabetes or even Type 1 diabetes for that matter. Diabetes is high Blood Glucose. Hypos are caused by an overdose of exogenous (injected) insulin or endogenous (produced by the pancreas) insulin in response to medication used to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. So if you are not taking diabetic medication then any hypos you may be experiencing are unlikely to be due to diabetes, because that makes your BG levels go high, not low.

There is a condition called Reactive Hypoglycaemia and this is a mis-regulation of the balance of BG where levels go high after a meal, usually a meal which is high in carbohydrate and then the pancreas kicks in to late after levels have gone much too high and sometimes overproduces insulin to bring that high down. The sensation of levels going high and then dropping rapidly can feel horrible and even if your levels don't drop dangerously low, your body can panic and go into shock and give you the sensation of a hypo but people with RH do often drop below 3 and sometimes really dangerously low due to over production of insulin and I think I have read of some people dropping below 2mmols on occasion. I believe the suggested treatment for RH is to eat small lower carb meals regularly, rather than high carb foods as big meals. So if yesterday was after a typical Sunday lunch with Yorkies and roasties and perhaps a sweet dessert, then that might trigger it, if it is RH.
RH can also result in a "satisfactory" HbA1c result because the highs and lows cancel each other out a bit.

If you can give us more details about the readings you are getting and when you get them relative to meals and what you ate then that might suggest if this is a likely cause.
Click to expand...
Yesterday the incident in the car when I passed out momentarily was right after a white bread panini and minute steak with red pepper and tiny bit of cheese. Other times I've felt weak and faint have been after meals or a biscuit. Sometimes if I haven't eaten for a while is when the Sinocare machine reads very low, e.g. 2. If it 'could be' Reactive Hypoglycaemi, it seems to be suddenly very bad.
 
Wmay1965 said:
Yesterday the incident in the car when I passed out momentarily was right after a white bread panini and minute steak with red pepper and tiny bit of cheese. Other times I've felt weak and faint have been after meals or a biscuit. Sometimes if I haven't eaten for a while is when the Sinocare machine reads very low, e.g. 2. If it 'could be' Reactive Hypoglycaemi, it seems to be suddenly very bad.
Click to expand...

Reactive Hypoglycaemia wouldn’t happen immediately after eating. I’ve found the name of the blood pressure thing I mentioned above. Here’s some information:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/eating-can-cause-low-blood-pressure

I’m not saying it’s that, but it another thing to rule out.
 
Inka said:
Yes, it can be very frustrating to have to push for each test. I advise you keep notes - what they’ve tested and what the result was. Again, make sure you get the actual result not a Good, Satisfactory, etc. Ideally, you’d get the result and the lab range so you can see where your results falls within that range.

Have you had your kidney function tested? Thyroid? There are so many things it could be.
Click to expand...
Yes. My GP advised me that the blood test covered liver, thyroid, HbA1C and I think he said kidneys too.
 
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