My Diabetes update....

Just thought Id mention it in case anyone was wondering or in case I mention it later no ones puzzled~
Turns out Im not Prediabetic Im hypoglycemic (which sometimes leads to diabetes) I hate this stuff now I have to eat protein with everything I guess - Im goint to see my endocrinolgist who does my Hypothyroidism since the 2 can be linked and my fam doc seems clueless on inspecting it further although everything I read says it should be inspected. Anywho...just wanted to say so in case I mention it in passing later and someone wonders how I went from prediabetic to hypoglycemic the nurse just didnt explain wells all. Have a great day XO

It sounds like they are trying to play, "Name that Illness". They love Labels.

Do a "A1C" test, and find out where you stand, and plan you life from there. Jim

Labels are for people without clues. A score of 4.3 to 5.8 is in range, the middle is the Best.

I have to admit that I thought you sounded more hypoglycemic then diabetic. From what little I know of it, that's a pain. If I remember correctly you have all the diet restrictions of a diabetic along with the need to eat several small meals. (but can't eat sugar because it sets off too much of a sesaw blood sugar reaction) - I may not be correct with that, this is second hand and I wasn't that interested. Just that it seemed that it was even more of a pain than my type 2 diabetes.

Excuse my ignorance, I know they say that untreated sleep apnea can be a factor in causing diabetes and so I guess it could be linked to hypogliecemia too. But does CPAP treatment ever help a person get out of diabetes or get better control of sugar levels?

Hi. I am one who went from being hypoglycemic for most of my adult life and in the last few years have flip-flopped. Although the docs have said I'm diabetic, it is as often in the low normal range as it is high, and that's without treatment. (my choice - maybe it's denial, but I fear it going too low)

My glucose tolerance tests way back in the early 80s showed that my glucose barely budged after the test drink, but at the 3rd hour bottomed out in the 50s. At that point I felt disoriented, weak, cold, and shaky. That still happens with me, but there are times (probably diet related) when my fasting BS is between 130-160. I'm wondering if all the fluctuation means I'm prediabetic instead of diabetic.

I was told that those with hypoglycemia who continually stress out their pancreas by eating wrong and causing it to shoot out too much insulin will eventually wear the pancreas out (for lack of a better description). So, theorectically, wouldn't not overchallenging the pancreas prolong it's ability to function and stave off the diabetes, right?

Anyhow, I'm reaping what I sowed. Maybe I would have been at this place regardless, but if I had a chance to do it over...

Kathy

Never say Never, But when you develop a serious sugar use problem, it's got to be dealt with from now on. Jim

We don't mean normal sugar, everything you eat the body turns to sugar (Fuel). the worst thing about raw sugar, that form goes into your system fast, carbs are slower but still fast. Protein is slower still. That's why they want you to balabce your food groups. And smaller portions more often spread out the load.

I have hypoglycemia and because of it I have given up on all sweets, easier said than done, but I no longer have low blood sugar episodes. I check my glucose 3 times a day and so far, my overnight fasting glucose is between 75-100, but if I eat anything with sugar in it the night before I will wake up in the middle of the night sweating and dizzy and I will test my glucose and it will be anywhere between 40-60

My glucose after a meal is between 80-110 and has not gone any higher..yet...

Sometimes where there is hidden sugar in a food item 4 hours after I eat I will start to feel low and yes I will be going low and have to drink some orange juice to correct the low.

Now with me losing some weight, I am having more hypoglycemic episodes I was told when I get down to about 140 pounds my body will even out.

I also had this when I was a teenager.

My fasting glucose was 39.....defintely having hypogylcemia (not reactive but fasting)

I've also experiences some hypoglycemic events. Yes, avioding sugar is a must! I also ahve family members with either hypoglycemia or diabetes and it is something you deal with in some way for life. I haven't had an event in a while, but keep a bolld sugar meter at homa and test here and there to spot check things. I also ahve hypothyroid, which has beenmentioned a couple of times as well.

OKay so theres 2 types of hypoglycemia fasting and reactive - I have fasting supposedly so anyway this whole thing bugs me cause I felt fine even though I was at 39 (my 1 hr was 79) anyhow so I got a cheap meter and this morning after basically 12 hrs of fasting Im at 111 - completely normal so....does that mean its a fluke that I got 39 the other morning? Or is that how hypoglycemia works? I thought either your carb intolerant or not - thismorning my insulin knows how to work adn at the lab it didnt??? Im gonna keep testing for the next week and if every time Im normal Im gonna say the heck with it - being hypothyroid maybe it was just irradic for a second or maybe they mixed up my results or maybe it was a freak event?? ANy input?

Look, any time you got low blood sugar - below 60, you got to do something about it. I'm a type 2 diabetic on insulin. I check my glucose level about 5-8 times each and every day. It's that important to me to stay on top of this. With hypoglycemia, you run the opposite problem of diabetes, that is your blood sugar stays low or dangerously low while I don't have to eat and my sugar goes high. You should keep that meter with you and check your sugar levels as often as you feel tired, light-headed, cold or any funny feeling that might be a sign of low blood sugar. I know for myself that if I feel cold or tired I am going low and the colder I get the worse I am, since I'm on insulin. Likewise, if I am happy and energetic I know I have high blood sugar. It's a real nuisance and inconvenient at times but the choices are simple: do what's right or seriously suffer the worse effects of the diabetes. For you, the solution is easy: eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. Nothing wrong with that. You can have a fruit or a snack between meals. That's great. You can carry around a piece of candy or a candy bar for those times when you need a quick boost. That's a lot better than diabetes, by far.

An important thing to remember about testing blood sugar with the meters and strips is that accuracy is only within 15%. That means that the reading is only an indicator, not an exact or a true reading. Discuss this with your doctor to be sure, but you need to know a range (within 15% of some number) at which you need to take action.

You might find it helpful to keep a chart of your readings and the time of day when checked. An important consideration is how long it has been since you ate and what you ate. The information from that chart will help you and your doctor refine your treatment to be more safe and effective. You might also record extra information about what you were doing or how you felt, such as having finished jogging or stressed about a problem at work, being tired from not enough sleep, or even whether you were cold or tired as oldvaham mentioned.

For you, the solution is easy: eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. Nothing wrong with that. You can have a fruit or a snack between meals. That's great. You can carry around a piece of candy or a candy bar for those times when you need a quick boost. That's a lot better than diabetes, by far.

I know diabetes is worse but that doesnt make this easy or not an inconveinece - I like to excercise first thing in the morning and now Im not suppose to. Im not hungry first thing in the morning and now I have to force feed myself. Plus I have to eat things that dont appeal to me if Im going to eat something as simple as pasta I have to force feed myself fat or protein even if I dont want it. I have to eat when Im not hungry. It may not suck as much as diabetes but it still sucks and maybe its easier for some to just eat fat and protein and not excercise certain times of day but for me in grosses me out the mere idea of stuffing food in my hole when Im not even hungry is gross to me. Now I cant look in the fridge without analyzing everything Ive ever known here eat some fat youll feel better?!? If I even have it....

So I pushed it intentionally today monitoring every step of the way....I last ate some veggies last night at 10 so I tested first thing in the am 111 and then an hour after my thyroid meds still in the 100s so I had my usual cup of coffee with sweetened creamer and a dab of sugar then I was super naughty (on purpose to test) and a half a chocloate muffin that was around 10. Around 12 I started cleaning and getting very hungry a little caffeine shakes and light headedness I might set myself as worse as possible. If I am hypoglycemic I shouldve had my insulin overwork at this point and my blood sugar plummit. SO I check my blood its in the 90s......If Im hypoglycemic that shouldve kiccked my arse right? He didnt even tell me to get a meter he just said eat protein with any carbs (I already snack throughout the day thats life with 2 toddlers- i start eating around 10 oclock and often even have a small meal at 10 at night - I eat about 5 meals a day - its just not fish eggs meat nuts and cheese all day. I did get some boost shakes with protein and I will keep in mind if I feel like crap try some sugar but so far when I do feel like crap my sugars fine???

I still say from what I have heard Hypoglycemic is worse because its not as well understood. Sweetie, (okay, I'm old enough to be your mother and I tend to call youngster's sweetie - hope you don't mind) why don't you do a search on the internet and find a good hypoglycemic support forum. Then you can talk to other people going through the same thing and people who hopefully understand what's happening. I bet that just like sleep apnea you will find that they know more than the doctors do and can help out a lot. I'm frustrated because I'd like to give you some advice but I don't know anything first hand.

Thanks Jirel I was mainly posting in the first place to see if there was a correlation with SA got some good advice and info on the way. I know its OT now but still just responding to those responding to inform and maybe hear any ideas from all you SA friends. I am intending on going to an Internist instead of a fam doc who can maybe work with many health issues. Most of the help out there is for diabetices - hypoglycemics are treated as its no big deal and theres few forums out there - funny how people think its no big deal even though it can cause brain damage seizures and death. Point is resources are alot less everything I find for hypoglycemia forums has diabetic attached to it and its centralized around diabetes not hypoglycemia. I did find one though and am signing up to it.

ETA: Well I guess that forum no longer exists and the other 2 I found have 1 post a month on them. theres gotta be soemthing out there youd think.