In a panic! What's going on?

[Katieb]

Oh my goodness I'm in a panic! After being diagnosed prediabetic in May I have steadily lost weight and been watching what I eat. Last night I had a barbecue and a couple of glasses of red. This morning 6.2. Not too different from my normal waking numbers. Had porridge and raspberries for breakfast and an hour later 10.8 followed by 9.8 (cos I tested again straight away)!!! My highest numbers ever and surely not a prediabetic number?? The highest I have ever recorded was 7.6 before this, but not for a while. I regularly have porridge, though in all honesty don't usually test after eating it. As low GI surely this shouldn't spike so early anyway? Am in a real tiz now! Advice anyone? Katie😡

 

[Ellie Jones]

Don't panic

It might just be a blip a one off sort of things, the system having a bit of a wobble...

If the barbque food was high fat base it could still be affecting your system this morning, doing two things still impacting and because you BG is slightly higher than norm, causing a slight insulin resistent and shoving your BG up a bit higher..

I would test over the next couple of days, to see what's happen and check out your porridge affect as well.. Yes it's low GI but for some people it can still cause a spike so it maybe that you need to change to a different breakfast!

And are you sure that you haven't got a cold, chill or perhaps another infection brewing in the background as this can put our BG's up slightly

 

[mcdonagh47]

Oh my goodness I'm in a panic! After being diagnosed prediabetic in May I have steadily lost weight and been watching what I eat. Last night I had a barbecue and a couple of glasses of red. This morning 6.2. Not too different from my normal waking numbers. Had porridge and raspberries for breakfast and an hour later 10.8 followed by 9.8 (cos I tested again straight away)!!! My highest numbers ever and surely not a prediabetic number?? The highest I have ever recorded was 7.6 before this, but not for a while. I regularly have porridge, though in all honesty don't usually test after eating it. As low GI surely this shouldn't spike so early anyway? Am in a real tiz now! Advice anyone? Katie😡

When you say "prediabetic" do you mean IGT ( Impaired Glucose Tolerance).
Your numbers look reasonable for that - two random bgs over 11 are diagnostic of T2 diabetes - yours seem to be still under that. Another diagnostic criteria for T2 diabetes are two fasting bgs over 7.
In IGT you have lost your First Phase Insulin response but have long term insulin to cope overall so your numbers should spike in the first hour but subside rapidly thereafter.
You could do the Home OGTT - in a fasting state, drink 75 ml of lucozade and test at the 2 hour mark. If its over 11.1 its T2 diabetes, between 7.8 and 11.1 its IGT. Under 7.8 its "normal".

 

[Katieb]

Thankyou for your prompt replies! It's awful when you feel isolated and panicky! Yes I do mean impaired glucose tolerance. I had an oral glucose tolerance test to confirm this along with an HbA1c (results of which I don't know!). 15 minutes after testing around 10, my BG had returned to 8.2 so it's obviously dropping. I do worry though that they have got my diagnosis wrong (yet what do I know? Am not a doctor!!). I don't feel unwell particularly, though this morning's panic has left me feeling a bit shaky! I will try the porridge and test again, then avoid it if it pushes my BG up. Thanks also for the explanation about the first phase insulin thingy! Makes more sense now. I guess I'll just have to stick with it and only trial and error will tell. Thankyou for your much appreciated support.🙂Katiex

 

[Robster65]

Hi Katie.

Sarah often goes up to the 8s and 9s after eating and has been in the 10s, but she restricts her carbs so much that she keeps it in the 7s and 8s mostly.

If you're ever worried that you've gone too high, you can try some vigorous exercise to bring your BG down a bit. We go for a brisk walk if things seem to be getting too bad, but I believe that regular 'pottering' is of great beenfit to keep the metabolism going and maintaining a lower resistance.🙂

Rob

 

[Katieb]

Hi Katie.

Sarah often goes up to the 8s and 9s after eating and has been in the 10s, but she restricts her carbs so much that she keeps it in the 7s and 8s mostly.

If you're ever worried that you've gone too high, you can try some vigorous exercise to bring your BG down a bit. We go for a brisk walk if things seem to be getting too bad, but I believe that regular 'pottering' is of great beenfit to keep the metabolism going and maintaining a lower resistance.🙂

Rob

Thanks Rob. Did Sarah get her IGT test results back by the way? Off for a walk now in the sunshine. Katie

 

[Robster65]

She hasn't had an IGTT because her HbA1c was in the normal range. If she were to eat a 'normal' diet or anywhere near one, her BGs would be a lot higher but the GP only looks at the figures in front of him, so no follow up required.

He did acknowledge some intolerance and said we could follow up in maybe 6 or 12 months.

But was generally very dismissive and uninterested. Hey ho.

Rob

 

[Katieb]

She hasn't had an IGTT because her HbA1c was in the normal range. If she were to eat a 'normal' diet or anywhere near one, her BGs would be a lot higher but the GP only looks at the figures in front of him, so no follow up required.

He did acknowledge some intolerance and said we could follow up in maybe 6 or 12 months.

But was generally very dismissive and uninterested. Hey ho.

Rob

Glad the HbA1c was normal and she sounds a bit like me in terms of numbers. Will just have to carry on with the diet and exercise and hope my numbers behave themselves in future!! Thanks for your support (and Sarah's too, she often replies to my threads). I really appreciate it. Katie

 

[Newtothis]

Oh my goodness I'm in a panic! After being diagnosed prediabetic in May I have steadily lost weight and been watching what I eat. Last night I had a barbecue and a couple of glasses of red. This morning 6.2. Not too different from my normal waking numbers. Had porridge and raspberries for breakfast and an hour later 10.8 followed by 9.8 (cos I tested again straight away)!!! My highest numbers ever and surely not a prediabetic number?? The highest I have ever recorded was 7.6 before this, but not for a while. I regularly have porridge, though in all honesty don't usually test after eating it. As low GI surely this shouldn't spike so early anyway? Am in a real tiz now! Advice anyone? Katie😡

Hi Kate,
Porridge is a definate no no for me; even with fresh fruit or nuts, that's why I can only have a protein breakfast; my sugars rose to 9.3 after porridge and 11.1 when I swapped to All Bran. Its just a case of testing before and after you try something new...even though you're told its good for you . Worrying and panicking also does'n't help because that too can increase you're sugars. You are doing really well; just test immediately before and 1 hour later; this should give your highest peak. If its above what you normally are then you need to modify or cut out the meal... We'll both be living on sugar free jelly 🙂 Please don't worry; I know what is feel's like...I am and have been there. As I said, we'll do it together. Just see it as a small set-back and start again.... Throwing you a big hug {{{{}}}}} Mandy x

 

[Newtothis]

When you say "prediabetic" do you mean IGT ( Impaired Glucose Tolerance).
Your numbers look reasonable for that - two random bgs over 11 are diagnostic of T2 diabetes - yours seem to be still under that. Another diagnostic criteria for T2 diabetes are two fasting bgs over 7.
In IGT you have lost your First Phase Insulin response but have long term insulin to cope overall so your numbers should spike in the first hour but subside rapidly thereafter.
You could do the Home OGTT - in a fasting state, drink 75 ml of lucozade and test at the 2 hour mark. If its over 11.1 its T2 diabetes, between 7.8 and 11.1 its IGT. Under 7.8 its "normal".

I was diagnosed Type 2 with a fasting of 7.4 (above the 7 guidelines) and 11.7 (above the 11.1) guidelines. Amanda x 🙂

 

[Katieb]

Thank you Amanda, you're such a good support! It's just such a shock when you think you're doing OK then something throws a rather large spanner in your already fragile works!! It's a great help to be able to share worries and to have others who have been through similar experience share their thoughts. A big hug back!((((()))))Katie.x

 

[Newtothis]

Thank you Amanda, you're such a good support! It's just such a shock when you think you're doing OK then something throws a rather large spanner in your already fragile works!! It's a great help to be able to share worries and to have others who have been through similar experience share their thoughts. A big hug back!((((()))))Katie.x

Hi Katie, I think the problem is when you have higher numbers then expected you don't know what to do 😱; when I had my 10+ with porridge and 11 with Allbran I really panicked because I didn't know what harm it was doing. The only thing I could think of, advice given, was to go for a walk or potter in the garden. I went on my treader for 15mins. When I tested again numbers did come down but I promised myself no more porridge or Allbran. It is scary but something we have to learn. The advice on this website is something you're not given when first advised re diabetes/pre-diabetes. I'd be a nervour wreck without you and these guys.....best thing my DN advised "if you need to go on the web just join Diabetes UK". You'll be fine.....Amanda x🙂

 

[smithdas]

As a pre-diabetic I do sometimes find when I am stressed my blood sugar is higher than normal as your liver starts to add more glycogen into the blood stream as your body thinks it is in fight or flight mode.

Of course the stress of higher blood sugar readings can also make your blood sugars go up even more. Its a catch 22 situation.

Try and relax when your bg is higher than normal and adjust your diet temporarily and your blood sugars will come down in a few days or a week. If it continues to be that high after a week or two then see your DN or doctor.

Hope this helps!

 

[smithdas]

Oh I forgot to add, because you had a largish meal the night before your insulin levels stored in the beta cells in your pancreas might be at a lower level than normal. So a normal breakfast that you normally have no problems with may produce a higher bg reading.

This is of course open to interpretation by more experienced Type2's. So if I am wrong, someone please put me right 🙂