High blood sugars

[tillytaylor67]

Can anyone help please. I have been poorly since Wednesday and have barely eaten anything but my readings have been between 16 and 18. It doesn't make sense. Tested my husband to make sure the equipment was OK and his was a lovely 5.8 This is not the first time they have remained high when I've been ill. Is it normal?

 

[happydog]

Unfortunately if you are unwell this has an effect on your blood sugar levels and usually sends them up. Make sue that you keep your fluid intake high to avoid dehydration. Obviously not sweet drinks etc. Rest is also good. Try not to be too worried about the higher BG levels. They will come down when your body is in harmony again. There are others on here with huge knowledge and who may be able to give you more help. Take care

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Yes, unfortunately it is normal for BG levels to rise when we are unwell. It is important to drink plenty of water or low calorie drinks to help to flush the surplus glucose out of your system.... at least 100mls of water every hour is recommended.

Can you tell us a bit more about your diabetes and how it is managed.....
Things like:-
How long you have been diagnosed?
Your most recent HbA1c and when that was?
What if any medication you use to control it?

Hope you are feeling better soon but if your levels go into the mid to high 20s then seek medical advice.

 

[tillytaylor67]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I have had diabetes for over 10 years. I used to be on insulin but after having a gastric band fitted I no longer needed insulin. Over the last 2 years my hba1c has been going up due to my eating and although I try hard I can't get it to come down. Currently having 3 monthly hba1c bloods and may have to go back on insulin. Last hba1c was 91

 

[rebrascora]

As you will no doubt be aware 91 is not a good result and pretty much ties in with your BG readings being in the mid teens, so your elevated levels may not be due to illness. Have they given you any other medication for diabetes since they stopped the insulin? Oral medication like Metformin perhaps. I would assume they have given you something when your last HbA1c was so high!
When you say you feel poorly, is that as a result of your high levels or do you have a bug or illness? Could it be Covid? Have you had the Covid vaccine recently? That has caused havoc with some of our BG levels, as well as making us feel unwell for a few days.
When you say your HbA1c has gone up due to your eating, what sort of things are you eating? I know it has been difficult for many during the pandemic and I have certainly had a few wobble days but I try to stick to low carb foods and snacks as much as possible.
Having the right dietary advice (NHS guidance in this respect is not always the best) and using your BG meter to test before and 2 hours after meals to see the effect that food had on your levels and using that information to adjust your diet is one of the key things that we advocate here on the forum and many people have great success with it.

If you tell us the sort of things you normally eat, we can make suggestions for alternative foods/meals which would be more diabetes friendly and it doesn't have to be boring or unappetising. We have many inspirational cooks and bakers here who share their recipes and photos of their wonderful low carb creations, including cup cakes and brownies, but you do have to embrace a new way of thinking about food.

Hope we can help you get back on track but I think you need to also be speaking to your Diabetes nurse or GP for some help from them next week too.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your elevated BG levels @tillytaylor67

Yes fighting illness and recovering from injury can certainly raise glucose levels without the need for food. The body has all sorts of stored reserves that can be released when needed. Unfortunately, not always in an ideal way when you live with diabetes!

Hope they can come up with an effective treatment plan to help you manage your glucose levels with whatever combination of meds and diet suit you. Moderating or reducing your carbohydrate intake may well be a helpful strategy in the meantime?

Welcome to the forum!