Stress and blood sugar- any rhyme or reason?

[Flower]

Why oh why does my blood sugar either shoot up into the stratosphere or crash into hypo land when I'm stressed and frightened? Two weeks ago at a similar retina clinic I was in the high 2's, today I peaked at 20. Why on earth don't I get the same reaction all the while?

Today I was at a retina clinic discussing whether or not to try and put a lens in my blind eye - I had to have everything removed from inside that eye in a vain attempt to save my sight. I can vaguely sense movement with a contact lens and due to ongoing problems in my other eye I would welcome any awareness on that side of me - however faint.

So my well controlled 🙄 blood sugar did this today . Apart from firefighting which is what I did, does anyone have any ideas/ theories as to why some days it's hyper and some days it's hypo. I really just can't fathom diabetes sometimes!

 

[kentish maid]

This is only a theory, as I am not type 1 or on insulin. Would it be anything to do with how long before the appointment you had eaten? If one appointment was shortly after a meal and the other one shortly before would that make a difference?

 

[Flower]

It might well make a difference to the rise but I don't eat breakfast so both mornings I had no food on board apart from coffee a few hours before the appointment so that shouldn't really affect why one day I went hypo and today I opted for hyper!

 

[HOBIE]

Stress has always done me in. Low BG. I know everyone's different but I think its because your head is working. Good luck Flower 🙂

 

[Radders]

I have found that stress usually increases my levels (the Adrenalin response presumably)but then every now and then it causes a hypo. I think that ongoing stress possibly empties out the stores of glycogen in my body so then I get hypo because my background insulin is covering a background trickle of glucose from the liver which has vanished. That’s my theory!

 

[Flower]

I like your theory @Radders 🙂 I do usually expect to go low way more often than high but I've had a few weeks off from frightening appointments contemplating blind eyes and leg amputation. I'm back facing a run of them now. Maybe my liver had restocked itself with useful glucose to trickle out and over the next few weeks I'll rapidly use it all up and start to hypo instead. Just a bit of predictability would be so useful when my head is in overflow situation from complications and what choices - if any- I have to make.

I did start to go hypo this morning before the appointment and my pump suspended insulin for a while. This definitely added to the peak reading of 20. Oh the sheer variety diabetes throws at us! 🙄

 

[trophywench]

LOL - I sometimes do either though usually cause highs - and the low ones are always a Big Surprise. I've never been able to fathom it either - so I like Radders' theory too - it is logical.

 

[Northerner]

I have found that stress usually increases my levels (the Adrenalin response presumably)but then every now and then it causes a hypo. I think that ongoing stress possibly empties out the stores of glycogen in my body so then I get hypo because my background insulin is covering a background trickle of glucose from the liver which has vanished. That’s my theory!

You might be onto something there @Radders. I remember reading that you can only use glucagon once in 24 hours because it specifically acts to virtually empty the liver of its glucose stores and it takes time to replenish them, so perhaps the prolonged stress is acting in a similar way.

Very sorry you are having such an unpredictable time with your BG @Flower Just adds to the difficulties of what you are having to deal with at the moment. Lots of {{{HUGS}}} for you, and a Johnny Wilkinson-style punt over the crossbar for the Diabetes Fairy - hope it puts her out of action for a while 😱 😉

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

Sorry to hear you're having such a hard time Flower I hope you level out soon x

 

[Flutterby]

I am the same, Flower, no way of predicting which of course adds to the stress which only escalates the problem. Swearing is my only solution. Big hugs for all you face.xx