Newbie needs advice please

[Poppyqueen]

Hi everyone, I found out 8 weeks ago that I have Diabetes type 2, and have started on Metformin. Apparently my blood result was 50 in January, but no one told me I was diabetic, and 8 weeks ago was 79. I’ve lost 1 stone 5pounds in 8 weeks, but I mentioned before id been having what i now know are false hypos, and it’s been putting me off going out as much. I’ve been invited to a Military Ball in 2 weeks, and am worried in case I have one of those false hypos, any advice please. I’m on thyroxine for an underactive thyroid but it’s been under control for years, just wondering if the weight loss may have affected it, and I need my meds adjusting. Planning on phoning my go tomorrow to ask for a blood test. I really hate feeling anxious.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Do you have a BG meter @Poppyqueen ?

You might find it reassuring to be able to take a reading if you were to get any symptoms again, to see that your levels are still in a good place (usually defined for T2 as 4-8.5mmol/L)

Weight loss can help reduce insulin resistance, and help your body cope better with food, but should not cause genuine hypoglycaemia. Nor should Metformin for the vast majority of people.

When was the last time you had any hypo symptoms? Has it happened again recently?

 

[ianf0ster]

@Poppyqueen Don't let from of false hypos stop you from going out. Just be sure to take with you what you need to fix it.
Type 1 diabetics suffer from real hypos and it doesn't stop them! Many always have glucose tablets with them.
But it doesn't have to be that just something either high in sugars or high in refined carbs - both are pretty fast acting.
What you don't want is for there to be either wholegrains or fat in it because both of those tend to slow down the reaction which would normally start as soon as refined carbs meet saliva.

 

[Poppyqueen]

No I haven’t got anything to take a reading with as diabetic nurse just put me on Metformin and told me to come back in 3 months. So this is something I need to buy then. It happened again on TUes but I think it was because again I’d rushed out without having lunch. I think someone mentioned last time it was probably a false hypo. I was more shaky than anything, but that’s why I’m wondering if the weighloss could have had an effect on my thyroid levels. Will see what happens when I speak to the doctor. Thanks for replying

 

[Poppyqueen]

@Poppyqueen Don't let from of false hypos stop you from going out. Just be sure to take with you what you need to fix it.
Type 1 diabetics suffer from real hypos and it doesn't stop them! Many always have glucose tablets with them.
But it doesn't have to be that just something either high in sugars or high in refined carbs - both are pretty fast acting.
What you don't want is for there to be either wholegrains or fat in it because both of those tend to slow down the reaction which would normally start as soon as refined carbs meet saliva.

That’s what I’m worried about that I’m going to be too scared to go out. Would a banana work just as quickly as jelly babies Ian? Thanks for replying

 

[ianf0ster]

I can't answer that in your case because A). I've never tested them B). We are all slightly different and so process carbs little differently from each other.
Try them for yourself.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

One (possible) benefit of jelly babies is the ability to treat increnentally - so one jelly baby 6g carbs, two is 12g and so on.

A whole banana is likely to be something like 20-30g of carbs, and isn’t easy to keep once its open.

If you worry about not being able to stop at a single JB, then perhaps something a bit more ‘medical’ in style, eg Dextrose tablets would offer the same graduated approach but be easier to resist?

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I would suggest dried fruit - easier to slip into your bag or pocket than a banana, and easier to eat small amounts at a time, and they're fast-acting carbs suitable for treating lowish blood sugar but without being huge quantities of carbs. My OH has reactive hypoglycaemia and we never go anywhere without some dried apricots.

 

[Poppyqueen]

I would suggest dried fruit - easier to slip into your bag or pocket than a banana, and easier to eat small amounts at a time, and they're fast-acting carbs suitable for treating lowish blood sugar but without being huge quantities of carbs. My OH has reactive hypoglycaemia and we never go anywhere without some dried apricots.

Thanks Juliet, I’m wondering if one of those small boxes of raisins would do the same. I honestly didn’t know that bananas were so high in carbs

 

[Drummer]

I had several false hypos in the early days of eating low carb, but I just had a drink and a couple of grapes and they went away.
If you are a type two you don't need to treat a false hypo as though it was a real one experienced by a type one - it is unlikely that an ordinary type two would go into a true hypo without glucose lowering medication.
I take Thyroxine and it has been reduced recently, but it too four years from diagnosis for that to happen.

 

[Poppyqueen]

I had several false hypos in the early days of eating low carb, but I just had a drink and a couple of grapes and they went away.
If you are a type two you don't need to treat a false hypo as though it was a real one experienced by a type one - it is unlikely that an ordinary type two would go into a true hypo without glucose lowering medication.
I take Thyroxine and it has been reduced recently, but it too four years from diagnosis for that to happen.

Thanks drummer, I’m going to speak to my gp anyway and just get it checked out , it could be that I’m anxious about these false hypos and it’s not my thyroid

 

[Quakerbod]

Hi. Take heart,

I think everyone finds the journey into managing type 2 diabetes an anxious time. I had real anxiety and stress in it. Metformin can cause some side effect one of which is anxiety. The advice to get a Glucose Meter and check regularly is rally good. I have an Accuchek meter and my GP provides the test strips and lancets for in in my prescription. Check if your GP will explaining your anxiety.

I still check my glucose at 0800,1200,1600 and 2000. (military too). Removing anxiety is a key issue and this will give you confidence as your BG gets under control. Keep a food diary and check it against your readings and you will see what foods spike your glucose. I have just been on a trial of slow release Metformin as I have had side effects after four years of use on the quick release version. Currently running a daily average of 7.5 for the last two weeks.

 

[Poppyqueen]

Hi. Take heart,

I think everyone finds the journey into managing type 2 diabetes an anxious time. I had real anxiety and stress in it. Metformin can cause some side effect one of which is anxiety. The advice to get a Glucose Meter and check regularly is rally good. I have an Accuchek meter and my GP provides the test strips and lancets for in in my prescription. Check if your GP will explaining your anxiety.

I still check my glucose at 0800,1200,1600 and 2000. (military too). Removing anxiety is a key issue and this will give you confidence as your BG gets under control. Keep a food diary and check it against your readings and you will see what foods spike your glucose. I have just been on a trial of slow release Metformin as I have had side effects after four years of use on the quick release version. Currently running a daily average of 7.5 for the last two weeks.

Thank you so much, I never even thought anxiety might be a side effect of the Metformin, I’ll definitely speak to my GP

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Thanks Juliet, I’m wondering if one of those small boxes of raisins would do the same. I honestly didn’t know that bananas were so high in carbs

Yes, raisins would have the same effect, though I don't know if you'd need a whole small box at a time (not sure how many are in a box, but I think one dried apricot is about the same as 8-10 raisins, and I find it only takes half a dozen raisins to raise my blood sugar if it's in danger of going too low).

Generally the best fruit for a type 2 to have are apples, pears, and berries, as they're lower in carbs than things like bananas and exotic fruit, but they're much less practical to take to a ball than dried fruit.

This site is quite handy for looking up how many carbs are in foods generally (you may need to change the amounts as it's an American site so tends to give oz or cupsful as default) - https://www.calorieking.com/us/en/foods/

And if you need to buy your own glucose meter, this is one people on this site have recommended before - https://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/ If you get it, make sure you chose mmol/L as that is the measurement we use in the UK, and you will need to get extra test strips with it (you can re-use the lancets - you're not supposed to, but a lot of people do - but you will need a new test strip every time you test). There are other meters mentioned on the useful links thread - if you haven't seen that yet it's here - https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/board...for-people-new-to-diabetes.10406/#post-938458

 

[Quakerbod]

Thank you so much, I never even thought anxiety might be a side effect of the Metformin, I’ll definitely speak to my GP

You can check the known side effects on the leaflet in the Metformin box.