High sugars

[Gillyflower]

Hi all, I am a new member today and feeling fed up. I have type 2 diabetes and take insulin. I have had it 8 years but have only been on insulin 3 years. Recently my sugars are all over the place, hypo's one minute and highs the next (as high as 18). I feel constantly tired. I have been referred to a new diabetic centre near me but have a 10 week wait for an appointment. My GP never seems interested and the diabetic nurse at the surgery is not very approachable. I feel I have no one to talk too, apart from my sister who is a diabetic as well. I am eating as sensibly as I can but still my sugars are not controlled. Can anyone offer any advice, thanks.

 

[Northerner]

Hi Gillyflower, welcome to the forum 🙂 What insulin are you using, do you have a slow-acting and a fast acting one before meals? How often and when do you test? I suspect your GP isn't very interested because he lacks the knowledge to help you properly, hopeflly you will be able to get better advice when you (finally!) get your appointment at the diabetic clinic.

You will find lots of friendly and experienced people here who will be happy to share their experiences with you and hopefully give you some ideas that will help get you better control - having levels that swing from high to low is bound to be having an effect on your mood, so getting them stabilised should be a big help. Let us know a little bit more about your treatment so our responses are appropriate 🙂

 

[Vicsetter]

If you can tell us what kind of insulin you are taking, what dosage and when it will help us to give you some idea of what to do.

What has changed recently, any idea as to what may have had this effect, infection, change of diet, exercise etc?

 

[Gillyflower]

Hi Northerner,
Thanks for your prompt reply.
I currently take 60 units of Novomix 30 twice a day (before breakfast and evening meal) and 4 Metformin tablets a day. I only usually test twice a day but of late have been testing more often because I have been feeling so lousy. I do currently have a cold but nothing major. I have started to exercise recently (Zumba!!) and have lost about half a stone. I also have a stressful job and my mood is very up and down. Can this affect my sugars?
Thanks

 

[Northerner]

Stress can certainly affect your levels, usually by raising them although some people also experience falls when stressed - no simple rules with diabetes!🙄 I would suggest that one of the main things that could help you get much more flexibility and better control would be if you were to move to a 'basal/bolus' or MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) regime. This would involve having one or maybe two injections of a slow-acting insulin (like lantus or levelmir) per day, and injections of a fast-acting insulin like novorapid before eating. On the novomix you are going high and dropping low because the peak action of your insulin is not corresponding with the digestion of your food and you can't make small adjustments when you exercise (most people need less insulin when exercising regularly).

I would ask your clinic about this when you finally get an appointment. I wonder if there is any way you can get an appointment sooner - 10 weeks is a long time to wait when you are having problems like this. Might it be possible to see a DSN (Diabetes Specialist Nurse) before the clinic appointment?

 

[SusieGriff]

I whole hearedly agree with Northerner... I was on a mixed dose insulin to start with and I would experience highs then drop way too low.... when the doses overlap things go haywire. since changing to MDI - a background insulin once a day, lantus, and humalog a fast acting one with each meal, my levels are really good. once you grasp the concept of how much to take - it's so much better. AND...it's all thanks to these guys here!!!

 

[trophywench]

Hiya, sorry to hear you are in a pickle!

The effects of stress are unpredictable to say the very least - sometimes will send you up, sometimes down and in the finish you don't know if you are on your a*** or your elbow. Sympathies. Also your cold - will send it up. And exercise will send it down. For up to 48 hours.

You need expert advice.

As suggested, try ringing the clinic, explain your predicament and throw yourself on their necks to try and get seen earlier - tears might help; anger won't! It's amazing how many half hours they can find when they want to .....