The stress/blood glucose challenge

[Flower]

Outside the eye hospital all ok bg wise 6.5 no problem. I expect it to react as I am so frightened of going anywhere near diabetic complications clinics.

So it was like Brucie Forsyth's 'Play your cards right' - 6.5 heading for the lift to the reitina clinic - are we going higher or lower?

Booked in and sat in the waiting area, cgm alarmed and it's higher at 11.5 just in a few minutes

Went for drops and the last look before I couldn't focus on anything - higher 15.8. Managed to put in a correction

In the scan room then in to see my friendly Professor - "control going ok"? "Oh yes" - (even though I currently have syrup running through my precious eye vesels) 😡

Came out of the clinic, 3 pairs of specs on and my bg was at higher 16.5 😱

Went for the bus in the dark with the added peril of partial sight but sort of knew I'd start going lower but couldn't read my meter screen.

Home, heating on, no tea fell asleep in the chair and woke up to a much lower 3.5. Successful day all round really blood glucose wise!🙄

My blood supply to my precious bit of seeing retina hasn't deteriorated any more than last time thank goodness but why does diabetes have to make everything so much more of a challenge by trying to take centre stage. Rant over. Thank you for listening 🙂

 

[grovesy]

They are keeping you on your toes.

 

[trophywench]

I don't like the 3.5 … do you use the same amount of insulin for stress related highs as you would other ones? Think you need to reduce it ! It worked for me when I needed it and I know it does for other folk too.

 

[Flower]

do you use the same amount of insulin for stress related highs as you would other ones?

I did reduce the correction by about 0.5 of a unit from past experience of putting the suggested correction in for a high stress glucose and ending up with an awful hypo. My blood glucose took its time to drop and if I'd not fallen asleep once home I would have hopefully prevented the low - my pump had suspended insulin delivery by the time I woke up.

 

[Bloden]

So glad to hear there’s no change @Flower. 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Oh yes - sorry! - I omitted to say 'sigh of relief' didn't I ?

 

[nonethewiser]

My blood supply to my precious bit of seeing retina hasn't deteriorated any more than last time thank goodness but why does diabetes have to make everything so much more of a challenge by trying to take centre stage. Rant over. Thank you for listening 🙂

No further deterioration is good news.

This is the thing, on outside folk just think we test inject eat and that's all there is to it, unless you live with diabetes you cannot imagine how many factors effect bg levels.

 

[trophywench]

I had my annual retinal scan results in the post this morning - I still have background retinopathy and they don't need to see me for yet another 12 months, BUT! for the very very first time since it was first spotted 25 years ago the letter enclosed a leaflet specifically for background retinopathy which explains it properly for a change.

About time too - and hopefully will prevent quite so many people having to come to us and other forums in a panic when they first find out they have it. I mean it's still s shame and I have no objection whatever to people coming here and talking about it - but have always hated the fact that it causes such blind panic in the first place in that there's never a medically qualified person handy to chat about it either when you have the photos taken or more especially when you get the letter.

So, anyway - I was pleased!

 

[grovesy]

I had my annual retinal scan results in the post this morning - I still have background retinopathy and they don't need to see me for yet another 12 months, BUT! for the very very first time since it was first spotted 25 years ago the letter enclosed a leaflet specifically for background retinopathy which explains it properly for a change.

About time too - and hopefully will prevent quite so many people having to come to us and other forums in a panic when they first find out they have it. I mean it's still s shame and I have no objection whatever to people coming here and talking about it - but have always hated the fact that it causes such blind panic in the first place in that there's never a medically qualified person handy to chat about it either when you have the photos taken or more especially when you get the letter.

So, anyway - I was pleased!

I suspect they are updating the information leaflets.

 

[Flower]

Good to hear all is stable Jenny. Thank goodness for the National retinal screening programme. 🙂

It wasn't established when sight threatening proliferative retinopathy hit me at a young age and the sight in my one eye was not able to be saved but thank goodness after a period of no sight an amazing eye surgeon salvaged my central vision in my right eye. Getting some sight back was the best day of my life and it makes me incredibly relieved to hear good news about other forum members sight. Even better with a clear explanitory leaflet that will hopefully reduce the understanable fear it can bring. 🙂