What's 'normal' and what's not

[Laki]

I am diabetic type two. My glucose level was normal, I checked my hbAc1 was 43 on 24 December 2019 and 53 in 29 February, 2020. However I used an antibiotic medicine which had a side effect and it increased hbAc1 to 103 in 22 June 2020 and 111 in 6 July 2020. I have a glucose machine accu check, I have the following data for the last two days:-
Date Time Value
13 July 2020 5:00 pm 500mg/dL
13 July 2020 8:00 pm 350/mg/dL
14 July 2020 5:40 am 300mg/dL
14 July 2020 9:14 am 350mg/dL
14 July 2020 12:20 pm 451mg/dL

I Stoped the antibiotics and I only use metformin tablet 500 mg for 4 times but it does not change anything. I feel dizziness and sick. I was also denied for treatment of insuline injection to lower down the glucose.

At the moment I run for 30 minute every day and make some exercise.

Any professional advice will be appreciated!!

Hi, thank you for the welcome and responses I received from my introductory thread! I really appreciate all your advice.

Yesterday morning I popped to the Chemist to pick up my new prescription (500mg Metformin and *5mg Folic Acid), and a chat with the chemist about the drugs and about purchasing a blood glucose meter. The chemist to be fair tried to sway me away from having a meter, but as I want to be as informed as possible what's happening to me, I bought an Accu-Chek one. Probably I could get one much cheaper, but as I was in the chemist it seemed right to buy it.

Today:

9:00 am - My fasting BG was 7, same as the fasting blood test last Friday

10:00 am - Had a late but full breakfast and took my 2nd Metformin and a Folic Acid tablet - the 1st tablets I took last night with dinner, without any noticeable reactions.

1:30 pm - BG reading was 6.5 and I felt fine.

2:00 pm - had my daily tipple of one whisky shot with ginger ale (just one drink a day is all the alcohol I have), after about 2 sips I started to feel really light headed, blurry vision, weak, foggy, and got stomach cramps... I felt really awful. I had to lie down for about 20 minutes. Soon after I started to feel better, thought I'd better take a reading:

3:00 pm - had a glass of water and took a BG reading, it was 5.7.

So what went wrong there? Is this a normal reaction to newly taking Metformin? It looks like the two sips of alcohol caused the reaction.

Breakfast was low in Carbs:

View attachment 14781

A question about the meter, instructions say to change the needle every time it's used. I'm sure, seeing that I'm the only one using the meter, leaving it for much longer before it get changed would be fine?

*GP said my Folic Acid count was low which I thought was strange as I try to make sure I eat well - I do take an aspirin every morning for heart support (I've not been diagnosed with a heart problem, just thought it was a good idea at my age of 67), after a Google search I discovered aspirin can lead to Folic Acid depletion. I'll mention this to my GP at the next opportunity.

Thank you for any help.... it's a voyage of discovery 😉

 

[Drummer]

We cannot offer professional advice, though I don't understand how you can be using an antibiotic for so long - though if you have had a continuous infection that might explain higher blood glucose levels.
Most type twos who have lower BG levels control it with a low carb diet, avoiding starchy and sugary foods.
What had you eaten - for instance, when you saw the 451 level? Which I think equates to 25mmol/l in the number we use in the UK and is rather high. Metformin would have little effect when you are seeing such numbers.

 

[Docb]

You need professional advice which as Drummer says we cannot give you.

 

[leonS]

Antibiotics do not usually raise BG levels, some may lower them. Infection does raise the BG often to very high numbers!

Are you sure that you are type 2? Have tests been done to confirm this. This also could also explain your problem.

Can you test for ketones? This would help diagnosis.

You must seek medical help, we can not give it here!

 

[DaveB]

Hi. Those levels are too high and could be dangerous if your ketones are also high. Are you overweight or slim? If the latter then you could be T1 (LADA) and not T2. If so do ask for the two tests GAD and C-Peptide. You need to see the Doc urgently to avoid the possibility of DKA.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Date Time Value
13 July 2020 5:00 pm 500mg/dL
13 July 2020 8:00 pm 350/mg/dL
14 July 2020 5:40 am 300mg/dL
14 July 2020 9:14 am 350mg/dL
14 July 2020 12:20 pm 451mg/dL

We use mmol/L in the UK, so i am translating your results for members here:

Date Time Value
13 July 2020 5:00 pm 27.7mmol/L
13 July 2020 8:00 pm 19.4mmol/L
14 July 2020 5:40 am 16.6mmol/L
14 July 2020 9:14 am 19.4mmol/L
14 July 2020 12:20 pm 25.1mmol/L

Those levels are worryingly high

Exercise like running is not advised when BG levels are above 14mmol/L (250mg/dl)

I’m not sure what infection you were taking antibiotics for, but illness and infection can raise blood glucose values. Did you complete the course of ABs?

We can’t give professional advoce on the forum, as we aren’t medically qualified, but I think you need to see your GP as soon as you can. It may be that you should have been diagnosed with T1 or LADA, in which case the nausea you are feeling might be a worrying symptom.

If you get abdominal pain or shortness of breath, please seek urgent medical attention at A&E

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi Laki,
I agree with everydayupsanddowns, levels so high mean that vigorous exercise isn't a good thing for you.
Rather than run, I suggest you take a brisk walk or do resistance exercises which are very good for T2's since they build muscle which then helps absorb the excess Glucose from the blood.