Hello my husband was diagnosed with Diabeties about 6 weeks ago with fasting he was at 315 he is now taking 500mg Glucophage once a day.He is now between 88-120 before eating.My problem is during the day, some days its around 135 to 148 then the very next day it will jump up to 220 I moniter what he eats and even if he eats the same types of food it just jumps around.This is so frustrating WHAT am I doing wrong? Please help!:confused

Don't get too hyper over some variations. There are many things which can cause his BS to vary including stress, exercise or a cold. My experience was very variable until I settled on a low carb diet (get "Protien Power" by Dr Eades as it discusses diet and diabetis extensively) and fell into a routine on when I tested. Even now my morning BS will vary from 80 to 140 but usually is around 110 and I today got back a lab which had a HA1C of 5.9 which equates to a long term average of 110. This is in the normal range.

Hi Patty--as a nurse, I've seen variables from different labs... each one has a different level of what is normal fasting blood sugar. Normal means you are not diabetic... A person who is not diabetic would have a "normal" fasting blood sugar anywhere from 70 to 120, depending on the lab. During times of stress or illness, the blood sugar will go up--For everyone, diabetics and non-diabetics. If you can think of blood sugars like you do the pulse rate, you will see that it varies at different times. Before meals, after meals, after exercise, at rest... all these readings will be different. Also stress, either physical or emotional, can affect the reading.. Sometimes if you take another reading 5 minutes later, the result will be 10 to 20 points different. The glucose monitor may need to be re-calibrated. You may need practice to perfect your technique. You may simply need to change the way the hands are washed before the reading.. As long as you are following the recommended foods and taking the meds, you should be ok. If the blood sugar reading seems unusually high or low, check it again. If it seems too high or too low, call the doc right away. I think you'll do fine! It's always scary at the beginning, just remember that if it seems too high (above 180) or too low (below 80), call your doc or 911. You will get the hang of it, it will become 2nd nature to you.... give it time. Kay

Hello Thanks for answering. Kay..said to call 911 if it gets above 180 it does that alot now, they changed his Meds to Glucophage and it seems to me it is not helping he does not seem to be to worried about it though he thinks over a period of time it will level out also we have a virus running through our house and for two days he would not eat (couldnt)but when he let me check his blood level it was at 50.I made him eat peanut butter crackers and it brought it back up but how do you keep it level when hes sick?

I don't know about calling 911 because of blood sugars being above 180. If my blood sugars where 180 I would be very happy. Now if your spilling ketones that would be a different story. Myself I wouldn't worry about unless I was vomiting or something along that lines. Now low blood sugars are different. It can be very dangerous. Thats why its very important to check your blood sugars often.

I've been a type 1 diabetic for over 10yrs. Havee neuropathy and a whole slew of other complications. Keeping blood sugars as close to normal is essential to avoid complications.

Don't know if I made any sense but I wish everyone out there luck with there blood sugars. And keep in contact with your doctor. This way they can detect complications early.

-Mark

[This message has been edited by PlaXibo (edited 04-05-2001).]

Hi Kay:

I think it is possible to have a normal fasting blood glucose and still be diabetic. I read that many type II's are diagnosed when their fasting levels are still normal.

Also, 120 is a little high for a normal value
They just recently (within the past few years, 1997 I think) lowered the cutoff from 140 to 126.

Chris