What to do?

[Jings]

In recent months, during routine blood counts it's been noticed I was on the cusp of being prediabetic - as yet with no follow up necessary.
I take meds for blood pressure (which has been well maintained) and for under active thyroid. Last weekend my blood pressure spiked sky high twice over 10 hours. Ridiculous numbers such as 200/110 and pulse racing between 120-135. I was shaking, sweating, with nausea and tummy pain. It was scary and 111 sent a first responder. I took an additional BP tablet which calmed things down. At the the GP surgery Monday morning (whereby I was shaking again) the conversation focused on the likelihood of my BP meds no longer being the right dosage and they should be increased.
I have been unable to accept this is a good enough explanation. It seems bizarre that I had these specific symptoms when doing absolutely nothing at noon and 9pm. I don't know why my blood sugar wasn't checked by the first responder or Gp (it didn't occur to me until days after). I'm pretty convinced I had two 'hypers' and concerned I've actually crossed the line into diabetes 2.
I've started monitoring my blood sugar levels before/after meals and they are slightly raised. I feel odd before/after meals. I'm watching what I eat (been very hungry). I had to make a pest of myself at the GP's to get diagnosis on thyroid issues (Graves disease) as well as the right BP meds.
It feels like here I go again...saying to GP you've got it wrong and you should have done...
What should I do?

 

[Inka]

Hi @Jings That sounds a very scary experience. I hope everything has improved now.

You say your blood sugars are “raised” - what results are you getting before and after food?

I’m not sure what you mean by two “hypers” - do you mean hypos? High blood sugar would be unlikely to cause the symptoms you had.

I know very little about Graves but could that be involved in any way, particularly with your racing heart?

 

[AndBreathe]

In recent months, during routine blood counts it's been noticed I was on the cusp of being prediabetic - as yet with no follow up necessary.
I take meds for blood pressure (which has been well maintained) and for under active thyroid. Last weekend my blood pressure spiked sky high twice over 10 hours. Ridiculous numbers such as 200/110 and pulse racing between 120-135. I was shaking, sweating, with nausea and tummy pain. It was scary and 111 sent a first responder. I took an additional BP tablet which calmed things down. At the the GP surgery Monday morning (whereby I was shaking again) the conversation focused on the likelihood of my BP meds no longer being the right dosage and they should be increased.
I have been unable to accept this is a good enough explanation. It seems bizarre that I had these specific symptoms when doing absolutely nothing at noon and 9pm. I don't know why my blood sugar wasn't checked by the first responder or Gp (it didn't occur to me until days after). I'm pretty convinced I had two 'hypers' and concerned I've actually crossed the line into diabetes 2.
I've started monitoring my blood sugar levels before/after meals and they are slightly raised. I feel odd before/after meals. I'm watching what I eat (been very hungry). I had to make a pest of myself at the GP's to get diagnosis on thyroid issues (Graves disease) as well as the right BP meds.
It feels like here I go again...saying to GP you've got it wrong and you should have done...
What should I do?

Oh dear, that all sounds very distressing.

Firstly, I would suggest you don't start going down the rabbit hole, assuming everything relates to any particular condition. Infuriatingly, many symptoms, like you are experiencing, can be associated with many other conditions.

If you are unhappy with the advice and actions suggested by your GP, you could consider asking for a telephone appointment to make your case. That way, you are all staying safe.

In your shoes, I would be asking my GP for a wide blood panel, to look at my general health, but certainly taking in blood sugar statuses, kidney condition and also thyroid function - including thyroid related antibodies.

I have no idea what sort of thyroid disease you have leading it it's inactivity, but if that were to be Hashimoto's, then this can be characterised by swings from underactive<>overactive and back again. An overactive thyroid would also lead to you exhibiting symptoms such as you have had.

Obviously, I'm not attempting to diagnose you with anything, more demonstrating you could be trying to lead yourself and your GP down the wrong track. You may of course be absolutely right.

In the meantime, keep an eye on things, but try not to stress. Whatever is at the core of your symptoms, increasing your stress never helps.

Easier said that done, of course.

Good luck with it all.

 

[Jings]

Hi @Jings That sounds a very scary experience. I hope everything has improved now.

You say your blood sugars are “raised” - what results are you getting before and after food?

I’m not sure what you mean by two “hypers” - do you mean hypos? High blood sugar would be unlikely to cause the symptoms you had.

I know very little about Graves but could that be involved in any way, particularly with your racing heart?

Thank you. I do mean hypo’s.
My Graves gave me an over active thyroid (yes racing heart etc) but now I’m under active as thyroid has been ‘nuked’ with radio iodine - so previously had way too much and now need to take artificial thyroid to make it up (very common outcome). Graves is an autoimmune issue which over produces antibodies so your soldiers are always on alert looking for a battle/war. I think they may have phantom battles and attack perfectly functioning systems and this may cause you problems.
My BG readings have been 5.9/6.0 in the morning and highest has been 9.0 after meals but usually 7.9/8.0.

 

[Inka]

Thanks for the explanation about Graves and your thyroid 🙂

Those aren’t awful blood sugar numbers but I can understand why you think you might be tipping towards prediabetes. If it was me, I’d ask for another HbA1C test, presuming that was what you had before and that that was more than 3 months ago.

Obviously you must treat the racing heart and BP symptoms first, but if you get the shaking hypo feeling again, do a test to see if it is your blood sugar going low.

I agree with Andbreathe above that some general screening tests would also be sensible. Although hypos can cause a racing heart, those are normally severe hypos as a reaction to insulin, and your blood sugar would be very low. I’d be concerned that there was another cause and I’d want that checked thoroughly. If you have blood tests done, you could ask for the HbA1C test as part of those.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Those symptoms could be from a couple of things, and personally I wouldn't go for diabetes as an answer them. (I'm not saying to avoid being checked for diabetes though.)

My BG readings have been 5.9/6.0 in the morning and highest has been 9.0 after meals but usually 7.9/8.0.

That's pretty good. It doesn't Shout diabetic. You could be with those levels. As an undiagnosed diabetic, I'd expect higher levels though.
You need a HbA1c test and to discuse with the Dr.
Why do you think you're diabetic in particular?

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Jings

As others have said your levels are not extreme. Everyone will rise after eating, as the body deals with glucose which is going to come from any carbohydrates that you eat. If you are concerned about developing diabetes, you could ‘be nice to your pancreas’ and reduce your carbohydrate intake. This will then reduce the amount of insulin you are asking your pancreas to make.

Let us know how your further enquiries go.

 

[Perfect10]

I know how scary those BP figures are, mine shot up to 205/146 earlier this year, I had the worst headaches I have ever had, nausea etc. 111 sent me straight to hospital where they checked me over and placed me straight on BP meds. They have also found I have high cholesterol.
I don’t know if this can be linked to diabetes but a few months later I was tested and was just in the diabetes range, there was never a link made and the only reason I was tested for diabetes was because the BP medication side effects were also similar to diabetes eg swollen ankles, peeing all night etc. However when they changed the BP meds the side effects disappeared.
I have lumps in my thyroid and have this checked out every year. I have also been anaemic a few times and this has had similar symptoms to what you are describing.
If you are worried and scared then this is going to affect your BP further so worth getting bloods done to rule things out and put your mind at ease?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Jings

Hope you can get to the bottom of the unpleasant symptoms you have been experiencing.

As others have said, your description of what you have been through don’t scream ‘classic diabetes’, and the fingerstick BGs you are getting remain pretty well behaved.

Diabetes is generally diagnosed with an HbA1c, which is based on glucose levels over the preceding 4 months or so, so it is unlikely that 2 isolated spot readings would have swung things one way or another - a diagnosis is made on the basis of a much longer period of BG outcomes.

Hope you get some clarity soon 🙂