Hello Everybody:

I came home from work yesterday around 4:30 was feeling strange. Like I had a little buzz and couldn't really concentrate and nervous. I got to my sister-n-laws house (diabetic) and asked her to check my blood. She did and it read 216. She told me it was high. I hadn't had anything to eat except at lunch and that was at 12pm. (sandwich,potato salad, coke) nothing else until later that night. I might add that I have been dieting (adipex) and have been cuting way back. I checked it later that night after I ate (2-hrs) later and it read 109, checked it again this morning before breakfast 109 again. I just had lunch about a hour ago and checked it again and its 199. I feel kinda like I did yesterday. About the diet pills the pharmacist said that those shouldn't effect my sugar levels, but if I were taking predisone that diffinetly would (I'm not). My father died at 39 yrs old with complications with diabetes and that was in 1974. I have had these weird feelings for awhile now. Is this something I sould be concerned about? Thanks for listening.

Lisa

Everyones sugar level goes up after eating a high sugar meal. A non diabetic's numbers will go down faster after a meal tho because the insulin kicks in. Diabetics either dont produce insulin or their insulin is not working properly. As a diabetic, a sandwich (especially on white bread), potato chips and a coke would have my numbers soaring....You did not mention what you had for lunch the next day when it was 199.... Also, what you eat and do today can affect your numbers tomorrow. Since your father was diabetic you are at higher risk for developing diabetes. I suggest you call your doctor and be tested. To answer your question though...yes I would be concerned. Please see your doctor and be tested.

Lisa,

As mentioned above, everyones blood sugar goes up after a glucose load. But it would hard to get a non-diabetics blood sugar to go above 140. The normal insulin response is very quick. And blood sugar levels are kept within a narrow range.

So, yes, unfortunately you need to act on this. And getting a doctor to do the tests and make a diagnosis should be the first step.

Cheers,

Mark

Hi Lisa,

It's a good idea for you to see your doctor about this and get a proper test done.

I want you to know, however, that things today are very different than in the 70's and even 80's. If you do turn out to have Diabetes, then accept it and learn to control it and you don't have to succumb to all the horrible complications. I'm sorry that your father died at such a young age. Back then we couldn't even do an accurate blood sugar test at home - and testing is the key. You might even turn out to be pre-diabetic, which is a warning sign to take care of yourself.

I hope you aren't going to be joining our club, but if you do have to you should know that it's a large one and no one is ever alone, especially in today's world of the internet. I've made a lot of friends online in the past couple of years.

best wishes!
HeatherP

I just want to say thanks to all of you for responding back. I checked it again last night about 1 hour after 1 small sclice of cheese pizza and it was 199 then I checked it again a hour later and it was 115 (ttl 2 hrs after supper). This morning I checked again before I ate anything and it's 85. Are these readings normal? Can stress bring up your sugar? Do you all agree that I should still get it checked out? What about the A1C test? Would that give me any information to ease my mind? Thanks again and I'm sorry for all the questions. I don't know alot about the diease other than when my father had it and I was very young back then (7 yrs old) when he died and I can only remember the effects it had on him. He was very mean and My mom still tells us that it wasn't his personality, it was the sugar. I have quite alot of family members that have diabetes on his side of the family and was told his mother and her sister were carriers of it, but they didn't have it. (make any sense?) Also back when I was in school our mother would have us checked at the health dept. and then only my brother and I were boarderline then. I remember they sent home info on a special diet for us to follow, no starches. What does boarderline mean? I read somewhere, maybe here on this board that there was no such thing as boarderline, you either was a diabetic or you weren't. Is this true? Again I'm sorry for all the questions, It's just this had me really worried.

Lisa

Lisa,
You may have reached the stage called "impaired glucose tolerance" or "insulin resistance", which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Target glucose levels for a NON Diabetic are as follows, according to the Joslin Diabetes Center:

Fasting: Less than 100
Before lunch, supper and snack: less than 110
Two hours after meals: less than 140
Bedtime: less than 120

A1c or HbA1c: Less than 6%.

A blood glucose level of 216 four hours after eating is definitely high. The 109 before breakfast is in the area that is considered impaired glucose tolerance (fasting level over 100 but less than 126). If you had two fasting levels of 126 or greater, you would definitely be diagnosed with diabetes; however, sometimes your post-meal spikes can be used for diagnostic purposes.

You should definitely consult with a doctor AND with a registered dietician. It's quite possible that you are at the stage where proper diet and exercise could prevent you from developing diabetes, and ignoring these warning signs may actually worsen things more quickly than if you take care of it now.

Ruth

Hello Everybody:

I have another question. I bought an A1C test last night and used it and it said 5.9, with all of my symptoms is this the answer I've been waiting on? According to the instructions if your below 6% your not diabetic. Is there still a chance that I might still have a problem? Last night my readings were 177 and this morning it was 107, this afternoon it was 123. I have a Dr. Appt on the 28th I guess it would be a good idea to ask him to check this out. Thanks everyone for listening to me and also to all of you with the diease a special thank you for caring and taking the time to educate all of us that have questions. Lisa

Lisa,
As I said before, you're probably at the stage referred to as "impaired glucose tolerance" or "insulin resistance" (the two terms are used interchangeably). Is there still a chance that you may have a problem? Absolutely, sad to say. No, you're not yet considered a full-blown diabetic (thus your good A1c), but if you don't learn to manage this with diet and exercise, you will eventually become diabetic. At this stage, some moderate diet changes would be extremely helpful.

Keep testing, and bring the results to your doctor. Tell him you suspect that you've developed insulin resistance and want to learn how to take care of it NOW, not just "wait and see." Ask him for a referral to a registered dietician (RD) so you can learn portion sizes and what to eat when. And if you're not already exercising, add some type of exercise into your day, even if it's only taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work, or walking for a half hour. You have a chance to prevent the onset of diabetes and trust me, and ounce of prevention in this case is worth a whole ton of cure, since there is actually no cure.

Ruth

Ruth, Thanks for all the info and I WILLchange my eating habits. I had already begun a diet about a month ago and have already lost 17 lbs. with 67 more to go. The last few days is the most I have had any symptoms that I have ever had. My father had low blood sugar. Again, thanks for all the info.

Lisa

hi Lisa.

Not sure what type your Dad was, but if he died young..did he have diabetes for a long time? If so..he was probably a Type 1 diabetic.

A good resource for you to look at : http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Types_of_Diabetes

There's many others, this one will let you know of the different types.

You should get tested just for your peace of mind, it's a possibility you might have T2... either way it's best for you to get tested, better safe than sorry.

Dan.

Good Mornng ALL:

Thanks Dan for the info and as far as my Dads BS, all I can tell you is he died at 39 (1974) when I was 7 yrs old and he had really low blood sugar ever since 1955 when he and my mother were married. Moma always had Snicker bars around when he would drop. I do know he had shots in his shoulder and the insulin was refridgerated. I don't know when he actually developed it before that time. So I don't know the difference between T1 or T2.

This morning my level was 85 and I actually ate out last night (mexica food)and had a margarita (mmmm) but also this morning I was chilled and very weak (shakey). I don't want to seem like a hypo--but I have also had this symptom for quite some time, my tounge feels kinda numb. For that past 2 days I've had this and have done it in the past. I don't know if it's related I just thought I would mention it. And also I had a hysterectomy last Aug. (37 yrs if age) and was put on Climara patch. A friend told me that the patch could be causing the high sugar readings. Is that true? But like I said I have been showing signs for quite awhile now without testing my blood. (fatique,shakey,thirst,depression,sweaty ,brain fog,etc..) I will address all of this with my DR on the 28th, I just wanted to here from someone that actually has diabetes and get some answers before I see him.

Well I hope ALL have a great weekend, as for me I 'm doing some much needed house cleaning.

Lisa