Blood Sugar

Does anyone here have Type II diabetes? I have a question about blood sugar levels.

Before I started CPAP therapy, one of the major benefits was supposed to be better control of my blood sugar levels. Well, now that I've started, I wake up with levels about 20 pts higher than before. Previously, my levels were well-controlled and my HgBA1C was 6.0. Now, I can tell they are slipping up and my HgBA1C is 6.7. (BTW, I take about 30 units of insulin nightly.) Somehow, I expected the levels to improve and I'd be able to reduce my insulin.

I should point out that I took to CPAP unusually well. I'm almost embarrassed to say it, but I don't really notice the air pressure except when it's too low and I'm gasping for breath. (But,that's another thread.) I use it at least 6.5 hrs a night, more if I can get to sleep earlier. The AHI's went from 16 to 2 almost immediately. I can now sleep through the night, or at least go back to sleep almost immediately after waking up in the middle. (It seems like I go two cycles, wake up, and then start the whole thing over again. When I was having excellent results on my blood sugar, I'd sleep 1.5 hrs (one cycle or so), wake up, stay awake for 2-3-4 hrs, go back to sleep but never get into REM and wake up every 1.5 hrs thereafter.)

So, I'm sleeping better, and I'm feeling better. Why is the blood sugar going wacko? (Yes, I know I will have to talk to the doctor, but I thought I'd see if anyone else had any experience.

Thanks. I don't post much, but I love the forum. You guys have educated me a lot.

I have type 2, and use 200 units of mixed insulin daily. I have not noticed xpap lowering my insulin needs. You may be higher at night because as your XPAP treatment is working, you are stressed less in your sleep, I too run about A1C 6.7 (too High) I mix fast acting and normal insulin guessing what is needed at the time. what is your reading when you get up in the morning. I try for 100 but usually am 150, i eat before bed and am usually really high, but I don't want to run low while sleeping. (that doesn't happen often) Jim

I don't know if there is a causal relationship between OSA and morning glucose levels,but you should google "dawn phenomenon". I didn't experience it the first several years, but it's been a pain in my side for the last few.

I also have type2 diabetes. My readings in the mornings are high 140 and up in the early morning. Ocassionally it starts to get down into the 120's. When I was swimming every day I did better. The cold has set in and I have not been to the pool in a while. My sugar readings have been higher. it is beginning to get warmer so I hope to get back to the pool every day soon. I was worried about this for a long time. When I last visited my Dr she was elated. She said my A1C had dropped 3 points and I had lost 25 lbs so keep on doing what I was doing. I am not on insulin. I am on 500 mg of Metformin once a ay. I was on twice a day but it was causing my blood sugar to go too low. That was causing backouts which have stopped since my dose was cut in half. My Dr was not surprised that diabetes showed up after I started treatment she said it is common for that to happen. I also have high blood pressure. The three illnesses seem to go hand in hand.

Laura

I too have diabetes type 2 and have been taking the Metformin twice a day. My blood sugars are well controlled. I forgot to re-order my meds over last weekend and went several days without. I took my blood sugar on Monday after being without and it was as low as it was on medication. I don't know if it was still in my system or not but was surprised. I did restart my meds as soon as the prescription was refilled. I don't know if I should try and go without on my own or under my docs supervision.

Metformin can take weeks to build up in your system to get working properly, and therefore also can take several weeks to get out of your system if you stop taking it. You were probably still being protected

I'm a T2 and have started to notice my fasting numbers a little lower, FINALLY, after 4-months at this. My daytime numbers are pretty much the same. I'm well under control with my last A1C being 5.5%, but fasting numbers have always been my nemesis at between 120-150.

I've heard that CPAP hasn't helped some with their glucose numbers - my improvement is slight so I'm still on the fence about it.

Cheers,
xena

I have had type II for about three years now and take 3-4 500mg's of Metformin a day. My AIC has been 6.1 the last two checkups. My Dr. thinks I am "well controlled". I disagree. I wake up every morning with numbers in the 130-150 range fasting and my BG takes big swings throughout the day. Anytime your BG goes up and stays up it is doing damage to your body. It may be slow but it is doing irrepairable damage.

I have found little difference in my numbers since being on CPAP. I was a bit disappointed in this as I had read that it is supposed to help BG readings. The best results I get are when I control carbs to the extreme and I work out with hard Cardio and weight lifting every day. I have metabolic syndrome and losing weight is extremely difficult for me.

Next week I'm going up to Rochester to the Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion and to try to control the diabetes more aggressively. In the end - I believe it all comes down to weight loss, diet control, and regular exercise. Even then the disease will progress, albeit more slowly.

If you do not have diabetes what should your A1C number be? Zero?

theguest wrote:If you do not have diabetes what should your A1C number be? Zero?

I'll betcha if you use Google and do a search on it, you'll find your answer.


Den

Greetings! I also have Type II Diabetes and use insulin. The fact your numbers are now worse is probably an indication of the advance of your diabetes, and not a negative impact of xPAP therapy.

Until very recently, I found that with good sleep my blood glucose levels were very predictable. Then, within the space of one month, my numbers went off the chart. As is all too common with Type II Diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas eventually produce less and less insulin.

So, I'm at the phase where I am attempting to titrate my dosage to bring my A1c numbers back toward normal. I'm at a night time dosage of 30 units of Lantus (long lasting or "basal") and 0-10 units of Humalog (fast acting mealtime or "bolus") per meal. And I suspect I still need to increase my dosages. But I sure don't want to overdo it. I had one hypoglycemic event and prefer to be cautious.

And to the question about the A1c test normal values, 6 or less is considered "normal". Here's a patient information note about it:

http://www.ndep.nih.gov/media/KnowNumbers_Eng.pdf

Hope that helps.

JohnBFisher wrote:Greetings! I also have Type II Diabetes and use insulin. The fact your numbers are now worse is probably an indication of the advance of your diabetes, and not a negative impact of xPAP therapy.

Until very recently, I found that with good sleep my blood glucose levels were very predictable. Then, within the space of one month, my numbers went off the chart. As is all too common with Type II Diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas eventually produce less and less insulin.

So, I'm at the phase where I am attempting to titrate my dosage to bring my A1c numbers back toward normal. I'm at a night time dosage of 30 units of Lantus (long lasting or "basal") and 0-10 units of Humalog (fast acting mealtime or "bolus") per meal. And I suspect I still need to increase my dosages. But I sure don't want to overdo it. I had one hypoglycemic event and prefer to be cautious.

And to the question about the A1c test normal values, 6 or less is considered "normal". Here's a patient information note about it:

http://www.ndep.nih.gov/media/KnowNumbers_Eng.pdf

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that link, the good thing about this site, someone always knows good stuff. Jim

I also have type 2 Diabetes, My numbers in the morning are usually around 95. I think the highest I have seen my morning numbers (after DX) was 120.
But I have no Idea how me being on CPAP has affected my numbers since I was DXed with diabetes a week after I was DXed with Sleep apnea.
I have a qustion for you, do you eat a snack before bed? it seems that if I don't eat about 1 hour before bed my numbers are higher in the morning.

If you have diabetes, either 1 or 2 PLEASE read this book. I saved my ass. In the process of deciding that I had to control my blood sugar, (and we all can control our blood sugar) I ended up losing over 80lbs. I'm in better health than I've been in in years.

The author is a type one that was diagnosed in 1946 and he's still alive and doing fine.

http://www.diabetes-book.com/

A non-diabetic's A1C is around 4.0%, not zero.

Jabman - I've tried snack, no snack, exercise no exercise, etc., etc., etc., to lower my fasting numbers. Nothing works better than just having lower numbers throughout the previous day.

Mind you, if I'm hungry before bed, I'll have a snack but it's very small, and either a piece of cheese, or some peanut butter or 1/4 cup of homemade muesli with cream.

Cheers,
xena