Still struggling to get BG down

[Babycham]

Hi

I am fairly new to all this, although have been diagnosed with Type 2 for 3 years (have been in denial), now getting myself on track, as had awake up call following a recent fall.

My early morning BG is always high, regardless of what I have eaten for tea the evening before - today it is 13.4 and it generally hovers between 10 - 13 and then I struggle to get it down during the day - managed a 9.2 yesterday - I am on Metformin 2 twice a day and Gliclazide 2 twice a day - and have been threatened insulin by GP after my last Habc1 was 9.6%

Can't exercise at present time as have fractured a bone in my foot and am on crutches.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Teresa

 

[Northerner]

Hi Teresa, I see you joined a while ago -glad to see you post, and welcome! 🙂

A lot of people suffer from early morning highs. People can suffer greater insulin resistance in the morning - I know I do as I need more insulin per 10g carbs in the morning than I do later in the day. Some people also suffer from 'Dawn Phenomenon', where you liver decides to give you an (unnecessary!) extra boost of glucose in the morning. Have a look at the following, plus the link on there that gives a more detailed explanation:

http://diabetespoetry.blogspot.com/2009/07/liver-dump.html

Don't feel that insulin is a 'threat'. It may be the best method for you to achieve good control of your blood sugar levels. You shouldn't feel that it would represent any kind of failure on your part if that's what you need, and it's nothing to fear - just a different form of treatment to what you are currently on.

If you can manage any sort of exercise, it will be enormously beneficial. Is swimming an option?

Let us know how you get on, and never be afraid to ask anything - we're happy to help in any way we can! 🙂

 

[Steff]

Hi Teresa firstly welcome to the forum looking at when you joined you must of been one of the first,it is nice to see you posting.

Regarding your morning highs i struggled for along time and became very frustrated with it , in the end i was put on injections something called byetta and that has done the job, of course all dont have t be put on injections that was just right for me, i hope the numbers start coming down if not is your doctor the approchable type? have a word and ask for some suggestions/ideas.

p.s exercise wise can you not sit in a chair and maybe do some weights i dont mean hugeee dung bells or whatever there called but maybe a tin of beans or a bag of sugar and just keep the muscles and body moving.

 

[scootdevon]

Hello And welcome to the forum teresa, my levels are high in the morning as well, i was dx over 4 weeks ago and still new to type 2, my dr put me on 1 metformin tablet a day for the 1st week then 2 the week after then 3 the week after that, so now im on 3 a day with nothing else, i gave up smoking last year and been going to the gym after work 3 times a week, im gonna start going to the gym 06.30am instead of after work when my energy levels are mostly down till i have a powernap whilst watching the telly, hope you can bring ur levels down soon. 🙂

 

[thedame]

Hi Teresa

Like Steffie, I have found Byetta worked for me after years of struggling. However this is not available accross the board yet- some PCTs and GPs are reluctant to spend the money it costs! There are also strict guidelines which include being overweight -first time that was ever a bonus😉

If you have weight issue then the Glicazide isn't doing you any favours of course buit in the short term, ie until you are fit enough to excercise, had you condsidered recucing your carb intake? I did well on Byetta but found that cutting out the carbs for brekkie reduced them even more and very quickly. What works for me is virtually no carbs in the mornings as my levels were highest then, reducing carbs lunchtime as I felt bloated with bread etc but I stick to helathy balanced evening meal which includes carbs as I just can't give them up completely!

 

[PhilT]

Hi Teresa, wecome to the forum.

 

[Bazalona]

Hi Teresa,

First of all i'd like to say regarding using insulin Northener is completely right, if you do end up on it its not goin to be as bad as you think, and it really is nothing to worry about, its just a different treatment. With regards to exercise, you can purchase exercise bands on a popular internet auction site (not sure if im allowed to name website) for 3 pounds delivered. They are very effective, and you should be able to achieve a satisfactory workout with it. I hope this helps. Good luck!🙂

 

[Emmal31]

Hi Teresa,

Feel a little odd saying welcome when you joined the same time as I did but welcome I can't add to what people have already said but I hope that you get things sorted soon xx

 

[Lizzie53]

Hi there and welcome. I'm another head in the sand type until with an Hba1c of 10.5 I was threatened with insulin. As I was a few stones overweight - well actually morbidly obese (OMG how bad that sounds), my GP's nurse had the bright idea to pack me off to the hospital for Byetta. So I'm one of the Byetta gang on here too. I used to take Actos which was responsible for most of my weight gain and now have gliclazide which has been halved since Byetta and I may be able to ditch it completely before long. I also take slow release Glucophage. So far so good with the old lizard spit (Byetta) and BG's have come right down from being unable to get it into single figures. Now it's rarely over 7 and usually under 6. Anyway 5.4 seems to be the reading I get most before meals. Even an hour or 2 after meals its not over 8. So I'm really pleased. Well I did have a blip with a flap Jack the other day and it went up to 10 but that has been the only blip in the last month.
Now I was finding my am levels up a bit on bedtime ones but still under 7. So I did as someone suggested and now have a cracker with a small cube of cheese just as I go to bed. My am levels are now around 5.8 and I am pleased with that.
If you are overweight it might be an idea to research Byetta and to discuss it with your doctor. It's not for everyone but there seem to be a few here who are pleased with it.