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Signs of high blood sugar?

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J

Jpatti

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Hello, I am a fairly newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic (beginning of November) and am finally starting to get used to the new regime. However I have found that I struggle to tell when I have high blood sugar in the short term without testing myself. I know the obvious answer is to test myself but I already do this 4 times a day and sometimes it isn't possible to do this. Thanks for any answers, they're greatly appreciated!
 
I’m afraid you will be testing at least double what you are. Plus if you drive you’ve the extra testing there. You answered your own question test!
 
What are your levels generally like just now? I find that even when I'm just above 8 now that my legs feel 'odd' if higher than that I would no doubt be rather thirsty etc but as @Hepato-pancreato says the only way to know for sure is testing and I'm afraid no matter what's going on at the same time its now essential for you to do so, to be fair 4 times is the minimum and a lot of us test much more than that, and also you will just have to make it possible to test no matter what x
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

I’ve been playing this game for over 25 years and unfortunately I’ve never had very clear high BG warning signs - I have always had reasonable low BG symptoms and have managed (just!) to keep hold of them, but highs are much trickier for me to spot in the short term.

If I’ve been running high for a while I can feel lethargic, irritable and have a pseudo indigestion feeling, but there have been times where I’ll check BG and find a result in the teens with next to no physical sensations that I can identify.

I know other people get a very strong sense as soon as they get over 10ish, so I think it varies from person to person.
 
Agreed. It seems not impossible that with the right kind of training someone might be able to reliably know what high blood glucose feels like, I don't remember ever hearing of anyone doing that. It also seems likely not to be good enough to be of any actual value. Low blood sugar sense varies over time, after all. You really want the actual numbers in any case. (One of the advantages of Libre is that checking is (a bit) more convenient: it can be scanned through clothing with no need for hand washing. Disadvantage is mostly the cost.)
Why is it awkward to test more than 4 times a day?
 
Thank you all for your answers. @Bruce Stephens I would find it pretty tough to do more as i'm fairly busy at university most days and would find it difficult to just leave a lecture for instance. Its a pity because my friend can reliably tell when he is too high as apparently it feels like his nose dries out, but guess ill just have to try my best to test more often. Kaylz Now im back at university its gone down and is normal but over Christmas (despite carb counting as best i could and matching to my insulin) it was all over the place and rarely between 4-8 which was really disheartening to see. Thanks again guys.
 
Jpatti said:
Thank you all for your answers. @Bruce Stephens I would find it pretty tough to do more as i'm fairly busy at university most days and would find it difficult to just leave a lecture for instance. Its a pity because my friend can reliably tell when he is too high as apparently it feels like his nose dries out, but guess ill just have to try my best to test more often. Kaylz Now im back at university its gone down and is normal but over Christmas (despite carb counting as best i could and matching to my insulin) it was all over the place and rarely between 4-8 which was really disheartening to see. Thanks again guys.
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why would you have to leave a lecture to test? It takes at the most about a minute to test your levels and they cant say anything to you if you did it as that would be discrimination
I've had to chuck my shopping at my mum and partner and test in the middle of the shop due to a low, I also spent the whole of my partners grans funeral at the back of the crematorium testing due to a stubborn hypo and trust me there's not much worse than that x
 
Well - you have to tell all your lecturers you are diabetic and need to test, so they don't bat an eyelid when you do, and chances are no-one else will notice anyway, UNLESS you make a song and dance of it that is!

Universities have a mechanism of dealing with such things - not sure of the title, Medical Liaison or something? - you have told your Uni ?????
 
Kaylz and trophywench Please appreciate that I'm still a little self-conscious about just whipping out my reader, testing strips and finger pricker in front of a lecture hall full of people. I understand that I shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed but for the mean time it's just not something i feel comfortable doing.
P.s. everydayupsanddowns I'm really enjoying reading your blog!
 
Jpatti said:
Kaylz and trophywench Please appreciate that I'm still a little self-conscious about just whipping out my reader, testing strips and finger pricker in front of a lecture hall full of people. I understand that I shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed but for the mean time it's just not something i feel comfortable doing.
P.s. everydayupsanddowns I'm really enjoying reading your blog!
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They won’t be looking at you though, surely?
 
That's my point too - why would they even glance your way when they are sposed to be concentrating on Prof Lecturer? If children at school can do it in lessons - I'm certain you can !
 
I understand the self conscious aspect as it’s early days and takes some time to get used too - I have felt the exact same way but only now am I testing when I need too when at work whether at my desk or in a meeting I simply don’t care. I realised that my health and well-being is my most important thing and my employer has an obligation to support me as a duty of care and a Uni will be no different. I know it’s weird but we will get used to it and seriously suggest you just bite the bullet and test more regularly. I can test in under a min and it helps me to know where I am at and can reflect and match how my body is feeling to my levels. Anyways - go for it ! 🙂
 
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