Type II Diabetic getting sick

ansonrinesmith
ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
edited November 14 in Food and Nutrition
I am the classic Syndrome X Type II diabetic. I am currently on full doses of Metformin, Glyburide and Onglyza. On days when I do especially well with my carbs, I get the symptoms of Hypoglycemia, even though when I test my levels, I am 80-100 which is considered normal for most people. I have to eat to not feel sick, but am so upset that I can't stay in what most people consider a healthy level. I've dealt with this for about 3 months now, as I thought it was just an adjustment period.

I will be talking to my Doctor this Friday, any advice or thoughts?
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Replies

  • Mistizoom
    Mistizoom Posts: 578 Member
    edited March 2015
    My husband has put his type 2 diabetes into remission (according to his doctor) by eating a very low carb, high fat diet and taking a small dose of metformin. Check out Blood Sugar 101: http://www.phlaunt.com/ and Dr. Bernstein's website: http://www.diabetes-book.com/
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    Doesn't really address my problem.
  • Mistizoom
    Mistizoom Posts: 578 Member
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    Doesn't really address my problem.

    Did you fully read the websites I posted? I highly doubt it in 2 minutes.
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    Summary: Eat better and get your blood sugar down. Problem: when my blood sugar gets to normal levels I get VERY SICK.
    Unless you are recommending I change my dosage of Metformin and stop taking my other two medications, this doesn't address my problem.
    Second problem, very limited on what websites I can reach from work or go to the break room and read on my phone.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    I think seeing your doctor is a really good idea, because he knows you and your history. Maybe he can refer you to a dietician who can give you specialized advice.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    have you kept an accurate glucose level log paired with an accurate and precise food log to start seeing if there are any correlations? Have you invested the time to find which glucose level is optimal for your well being?

    If no to either, I would think you have a little homework.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    I am the classic Syndrome X Type II diabetic. I am currently on full doses of Metformin, Glyburide and Onglyza. On days when I do especially well with my carbs, I get the symptoms of Hypoglycemia, even though when I test my levels, I am 80-100 which is considered normal for most people. I have to eat to not feel sick, but am so upset that I can't stay in what most people consider a healthy level. I've dealt with this for about 3 months now, as I thought it was just an adjustment period.

    I will be talking to my Doctor this Friday, any advice or thoughts?

    I don't have diabetes, but I do typically have lower blood sugars and I can get reactive hypoglycemia. I was having problems for several months where I would get the symptoms of hypoglycemia, but my blood sugars were usually 70-80; pretty much excellent.

    After a very long time of eating way too much to try and cope with the symptoms, I've actually figured out the symptoms weren't hypoglycemia at all; they were anxiety. It's something to consider, and the symptoms are almost identical.
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    edited March 2015
    dbmata wrote: »
    have you kept an accurate glucose level log paired with an accurate and precise food log to start seeing if there are any correlations? Have you invested the time to find which glucose level is optimal for your well being?

    If no to either, I would think you have a little homework.
    You bet. I keep VERY close logs of my food, here on MFP and my glucose levels. My optimal level is 100, which is where I start getting sick.
    The best correlation I have, is when I actually reach my carb goal, by being under why my dietitian has recommended.

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    If that is where you start getting sick, how is that optimal?
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    dbmata wrote: »
    If that is where you start getting sick, how is that optimal?
    I think you have just restated my very first question. I'm giving you the information from my doctor and dietitian.
  • Mistizoom
    Mistizoom Posts: 578 Member
    edited March 2015
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    Summary: Eat better and get your blood sugar down. Problem: when my blood sugar gets to normal levels I get VERY SICK.
    Unless you are recommending I change my dosage of Metformin and stop taking my other two medications, this doesn't address my problem.
    Second problem, very limited on what websites I can reach from work or go to the break room and read on my phone.

    Actually that would be great to do, but you must do it under a doctor's supervision. Read the websites I posted when you are not at work and they will explain why insulin is a much better drug for type 2 diabetics who need better blood sugar control than any other drugs (other than metformin). Eventually you may be able to ditch all drugs with proper diet (except possibly metformin), but it depends on how shot your pancreas is at this point.
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    My doctor is the one increasing the dosage and amount of medications I'm taking now. I would really like to hear from someone who actually has or had this problem.
  • Mistizoom
    Mistizoom Posts: 578 Member
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    My doctor is the one increasing the dosage and amount of medications I'm taking now. I would really like to hear from someone who actually has or had this problem.

    You need to research your disease and understand how the medications your doctor is prescribing are affecting you. There are very serious consequences of diabetes and anecdotes from a message board should not be your primary source of information. Please, take some time, read the websites I listed, and get a copy of Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution.
  • DAM5412
    DAM5412 Posts: 660 Member
    I am not diabetic, but know that carb restriction can make non-diabetic people sick (and several symptoms are similar to symptoms of Hypoglycemia). You say you've "dealt with it for 3 months" but not sure that's been in tandem with your carb reduction.

    I have watched many family members become dependent on meds to manage their diabetes, and I wish that their doctors had sent them to a nutritionist and helped them learn about lifestyle/diet/behavioral management of their illness. If you're in the early stages of it, and I hope so at your age, I would ask your doctor about how best to manage your illness without becoming so dependent on medication.

    I am sorry you are struggling, I hope you are able to get it under control and start feeling better soon.
  • djshari
    djshari Posts: 513 Member
    I'm sorry that you aren't finding much support here - people are just throwing information at you without reading that you sound like you're actually doing pretty good other than feeling sick.

    I'm glad that you've kept such detailed logs for your doctor though - I'm sure that will help. While it hasn't happened to me I have heard from others who had such high bs levels for so long that coming back to normal levels made them sick. I don't recall for how long though, and I don't know a lot more than that so I hope you are able to get a resolution from your doctor.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    dbmata wrote: »
    If that is where you start getting sick, how is that optimal?
    I think you have just restated my very first question. I'm giving you the information from my doctor and dietitian.

    Close, but not exactly.

    My question is, if you stated a certain glucose level is optimal, yet it makes you sick, how is it optimal?

    Is your definition of optimal as being sick? Have you tried maintaining other levels and you feel worse? Do other levels make you feel better?

    There's a pretty specific reason I'm asking, because if you haven't tried other levels, what are your thoughts on doing so? I'm not diabetic, although I'm learning to love the needle... I do have some friends who are, and each one of them had to become experts in their care, and direct their GPs in treatment, which included finding which glucose levels worked best for them, etc.

    If it were me, I'd explore maintaining different levels, and keeping a log. That's me playing with my own health though. Your level of comfort and risk assessment may vary.
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    I felt great at 300+
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    I felt great at 300+

    Would that be compatible with your affliction? Lol. I think I'd be half insane at 300+. What if you are better sub 100? 90? etc.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    OP, along the same lines as dbmata (though I don't recommend experimenting until you do some research and perhaps get a second opinion from a doc whose main practice is type II diabetics), consider the following:

    The optimal range your doctor is giving you. That is based on population statistics, so the range covers the mean 'normal' person, and several standard deviations above and below that mean.

    There are those whose optimal function lies outside of that range. Don't jump to the conclusion that you are one of those outliers, because they are rare. But don't exclude the possibility, either.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    It also doesn't exclude the possibility that you are within one of the deviations, and will find optimal health o nthe high or low end of the "normal" range.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    That coffee creamer you're logging isn't zero carb - it's glucose and margarine.

    When you say you feel "sick" do you mean like you[re going to throw up or something else ?

    You'll feel great at 300+ until you lose your eyesight and feet.
  • wils5150
    wils5150 Posts: 149 Member
    hey dude type 2 myself. It may take some time for your body to get used to your new low. I know mine did. I just recently stopped taking my glipizide because it was dropping my sugar into the 40's.
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,120 Member
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    I felt great at 300+
    The false hypos are most likely your body trying to get itself familiar with the lower levels. Your body is probably used to being at 300, and it might start producing hypoglycemia symptoms at non-hypoglycemia ranges because of it.

    I was diagnosed as a T1 with a BG in the 500's and average BG for the previous 3 months at around 270. Once I was placed on insulin and got my levels down to around a 140 average, I ended up having hypoglycemia symptoms at around 80-90 for the first few weeks until my body was more used to being at 70-120. Now, for an average BG of about 115, I typically start feeling hypoglycemia symptoms at about 65-67 and hyperglycemia symptoms at around 180-190.
  • brendak76
    brendak76 Posts: 241 Member
    Yes what abatonfan said. I have type 1, as well as my son and my mother. If your body is used to 300 you can definitely feel low at 100 even though you're not. You just have to push through it and your body will adjust the more you are in a normal range. It's like a caffeine withdrawl sort of. If you don't have caffeine you feel awful until your body adjusts even though you are medically *ok*.

    I've had to learn the difference between feeling hungry/weak/tired and feeling low. It's really hard to tell sometimes....
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited March 2015
    I have T2 and I first started feeling symptoms of hypo when my glucose numbers were in the 90's. My doctor recommended that I gradually work my carbs down to the recommended level (max of 180 daily) to allow my body to get used to the lower number. Eventually I could get into the 60's without feeling hypo and that is when she took me off the medication. Talk to your doctor about the symptoms you are having and your daily carb amounts. Perhaps cutting them more gradually will help, but that is definitely your doctor's call and should be based on your individual case.
  • AyaRowan
    AyaRowan Posts: 80 Member
    edited March 2015
    My ex had type I and his "normal" blood sugar was higher than most people's. Everybody's body is different, and the normal blood sugar range is based on an average across a lot of people. Meaning some people's optimal blood sugar levels can be higher or lower than the norm. He did say he felt his best when eating lower carbs, though, and whenever he did this for a while his typical blood sugar gradually decreased and he had to reduce his medication.

    If you start getting symptoms of low blood sugar when you're at a supposedly normal level, discuss it with your doctor fully and tell him that number range isn't working for you. Or discuss a more gradual way to work towards lower levels instead of trying it all at once. If he's only paying attention to numbers instead of how you really feel, then it may be time to find another doctor who will work with you to find your optimal medication level to keep you above the threshold of feeling ill.

    Good luck and hope you start feeling better soon!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Also, you can ask the doc for another a1c which will give the doc information, along with your logs, with regard to lowering one of your medications.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    ansonrinesmith wrote: »
    I felt great at 300+

    Stop judging by how good you feel, go back to your dr, explain how you feel and understand why. No one is having a risk from numbers around 100 and feeling good at 300+ does not mean it is safe for you. If you are seeing numbers this high at all, it means you are either not cooperating with dr's orders, or that your meds need adjustement again, because your life is at risk.
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    Ok, the 300+ comment was not meant as a serious one. I know that is not healthy, thus why I am currently low carb and getting sick when I get below 120. I was making a point that feeling good and a healthy glucose level for me, do not seem to go hand in hand. I never had any of the common diabetic symptoms. Wasn't discovered until a random blood test/labs done for a checkup.
    I've been having this issue for weeks, so "push through it" just doesn't seem reasonable. For those saying "see your doctor", that was in my very first post, appointment Friday. Thank you for those that actual have had this issue and responded.
  • Delicate
    Delicate Posts: 625 Member
    How much metformin are you taking, 2,000mg??, I found when i lowered my carbs i felt rubbish with the highish dose I was getting (1500mg), and requested my doctor could I take a lower dose, she was happy about it and I no longer felt ill (500mg) and then requested for the slow release. Changing the dose may help, as per your profile you've lost weight so less of you for metformin to work through (so to speak).

    The other two meds I have no personal knowledge of. Sorry
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