Hi everyone, i'm new here, i was diagnosed type 2 just after lockdown. I'm confused on how to get my glucose down. I've had all sorts of symptoms from fluttering internally when laying down to lightheaded and giddy. My head feels like I have a swimming cap on at times. Whatever I eat or exercise my sugars rise and struggle to get down. Just like to hear how others have managed their symptoms in the hope I may find something helpful.
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rebrascora
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Hi and welcome.
Sorry to hear you are feeling rough. Are you self testing and if so, what sort of readings are you getting?
Are you on any medication for your diabetes and do you know your latest HbA1c result?
What sort of things do you typically eat and drink for breakfast, lunch and evening meal?
Exercise can increase BG levels as well as lower them whilst you are doing it, depending upon the type of exercise, but will eventually result in lower levels over the following 48hours. Generally exercise which stresses the body will push levels up in the short term whereas aerobic exercise like a long walk or leisurely/moderate cycle ride or recreational swimming for 30-40 mins will usually lower levels during as well as afterwards. Your fitness level will also factor into this so that if you are very fit already then it might take an hour or more of brisk walking to lower levels whereas if you are unfit, then 20 mins may be enough to start bringing levels down or a brisk walk might be too stressful if you are really unfit and cause your levels to rise at first. Balancing BG levels is quite complex and individual both in relation to food and exercise, so you have to experiment a bit to find out what works for you as an individual.
Sorry to hear you are feeling rough. Are you self testing and if so, what sort of readings are you getting?
Are you on any medication for your diabetes and do you know your latest HbA1c result?
What sort of things do you typically eat and drink for breakfast, lunch and evening meal?
Exercise can increase BG levels as well as lower them whilst you are doing it, depending upon the type of exercise, but will eventually result in lower levels over the following 48hours. Generally exercise which stresses the body will push levels up in the short term whereas aerobic exercise like a long walk or leisurely/moderate cycle ride or recreational swimming for 30-40 mins will usually lower levels during as well as afterwards. Your fitness level will also factor into this so that if you are very fit already then it might take an hour or more of brisk walking to lower levels whereas if you are unfit, then 20 mins may be enough to start bringing levels down or a brisk walk might be too stressful if you are really unfit and cause your levels to rise at first. Balancing BG levels is quite complex and individual both in relation to food and exercise, so you have to experiment a bit to find out what works for you as an individual.
Hi Barbara
Thank you for your reply. Yes I'm self testing I was put on glicazide which resulted in monitoring. I have come off that (didn't agree with me,) and just on metformin now. Nurse said don't need to test as only do this if low. My latest HbA1c is 76, its down from 79 last year. I felt I needed to test to see what is going on. I wake with high reading around 10 but normally 12. It's then a battle to reduce for me.
Breakfast is yoghurt plain with seeds and 3 strawberries. I can't drive after breakfast and metformin due to rush in head making me feel giddy so breakfast is around 8.30 when in work, this also enables me to walk it off around building. Breakfast is usually 2 hours after waking.
Lunch usually salad with protein , dinner can be very light too depending on my readings.
I am at gym and swimming plus aqua aerobics roughly 3/4 times week. I try to walk in evening at least 2x week gp said 30 mins. Yesterday evening I had got it down to 7.8 which I was very pleased with but after walk it rose to 10.5 and at least 3 hours later it was upto 13. The walk was slow steady with pit stops for about 40 mins. I had previously done a walk for hour then had dinner and about two hours later went for another.
I didn't realise exercise could increase BG maybe I am doing too much?
Thank you for your reply. Yes I'm self testing I was put on glicazide which resulted in monitoring. I have come off that (didn't agree with me,) and just on metformin now. Nurse said don't need to test as only do this if low. My latest HbA1c is 76, its down from 79 last year. I felt I needed to test to see what is going on. I wake with high reading around 10 but normally 12. It's then a battle to reduce for me.
Breakfast is yoghurt plain with seeds and 3 strawberries. I can't drive after breakfast and metformin due to rush in head making me feel giddy so breakfast is around 8.30 when in work, this also enables me to walk it off around building. Breakfast is usually 2 hours after waking.
Lunch usually salad with protein , dinner can be very light too depending on my readings.
I am at gym and swimming plus aqua aerobics roughly 3/4 times week. I try to walk in evening at least 2x week gp said 30 mins. Yesterday evening I had got it down to 7.8 which I was very pleased with but after walk it rose to 10.5 and at least 3 hours later it was upto 13. The walk was slow steady with pit stops for about 40 mins. I had previously done a walk for hour then had dinner and about two hours later went for another.
I didn't realise exercise could increase BG maybe I am doing too much?
rebrascora
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- Type 1
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- She/Her
It sounds like you have stripped your carb intake down pretty much to the limit and you are doing plenty of exercise, so my thoughts are that perhaps you are not Type 2 but perhaps a misdiagnosed Type 1 or LADA. There are quite a number of us here on the forum who were initially assumed to be Type 2 but were actually found to be Type 1 which can have a slower onset in more mature adults so can initially make it look like Type 2 and will sometimes respond to lifestyle changes and/or Type 2 (oral) meds.
Exercise will have a long term benefit to insulin sensitivity even if there is a short term rise in BG, so you can't really do too much exercise because the next 48 hours should see levels drop to have an overall very beneficial result. What you are seeing with your levels suggests that your body is not producing enough insulin, which suggests you may be Type 1.
Can you tell us a bit about how your initial diagnosis came about? Did you suddenly develop symptoms and if so, which symptoms? Or was it picked up via a routine blood test or some other means? Do you know what your HbA1c was at diagnosis?
Had you had Covid just before you were diagnosed?
Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get an idea of your particular circumstances.
Exercise will have a long term benefit to insulin sensitivity even if there is a short term rise in BG, so you can't really do too much exercise because the next 48 hours should see levels drop to have an overall very beneficial result. What you are seeing with your levels suggests that your body is not producing enough insulin, which suggests you may be Type 1.
Can you tell us a bit about how your initial diagnosis came about? Did you suddenly develop symptoms and if so, which symptoms? Or was it picked up via a routine blood test or some other means? Do you know what your HbA1c was at diagnosis?
Had you had Covid just before you were diagnosed?
Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get an idea of your particular circumstances.
Hi
I was feeling very tired I had been having problems with iron and given iron tablets. Then vit D which was given this too. During this time and blood tests it was picked up and Hb1AC was 57 which fasting done which was 10mmol that was Feb 21 by December it had risen to 70, by July 22 following year it was 98 ...I was having much stress at this time and had surgery in April of that year to remove growth on thyroid. This caused all sorts of complications and my BG was not in control , it took at least 10 months to recover from surgery due to complications. BG has reduced very slowly. I do have a cortisol tummy and I know weight loss will help hence the exercise and watching what I'm eating.
Another thing was I have been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer due to H.pylori although no one has actually checked it out , its just assumed due to pains and H.pylori. This was back in February this year. I have been having tummy and back pains for just over 3 years eventually I was given antibiotics in Feb this year and take omperazole every day.
I do have family history on maternal side of type 1.
I was feeling very tired I had been having problems with iron and given iron tablets. Then vit D which was given this too. During this time and blood tests it was picked up and Hb1AC was 57 which fasting done which was 10mmol that was Feb 21 by December it had risen to 70, by July 22 following year it was 98 ...I was having much stress at this time and had surgery in April of that year to remove growth on thyroid. This caused all sorts of complications and my BG was not in control , it took at least 10 months to recover from surgery due to complications. BG has reduced very slowly. I do have a cortisol tummy and I know weight loss will help hence the exercise and watching what I'm eating.
Another thing was I have been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer due to H.pylori although no one has actually checked it out , its just assumed due to pains and H.pylori. This was back in February this year. I have been having tummy and back pains for just over 3 years eventually I was given antibiotics in Feb this year and take omperazole every day.
I do have family history on maternal side of type 1.
rebrascora
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- Type 1
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- She/Her
Sounds like you have really been through the mill the last few years. It certainly isn't classic Type 1 presentation but with your history it is certainly possible. The other concern is that the pains in your stomach and your back could be chronic pancreatitis and that might be the reason your levels are not coming down. Of course lots of things can cause stomach and back pain, but it would tie in with your diabetes too.
Are you still taking steroids as they can induce diabetes too?
Are you still taking steroids as they can induce diabetes too?
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