Hypoglycemia

[SOnotLayuh]

So I've had a couple of blood tests done in the past few weeks. This is pretty normal for me. I have PCOS and an insulin resistance. I've been on metformin since Halloween.

Before my most recent blood test I looked up the symptoms for diabetes once my family nurse told me to get it checked out (after I told her about the way I've been feeling for quite a while). At my first set of labs, they forgot to run my blood sugar, and ran it a day later. It showed up as 28. This was inaccurate, they said, because it was run after the blood was old. I felt super bad on this day, though, as I usually do when fasting. I wanted to come in and test again to see what showed up.

I went in again for a retest, and it was 58. I didn't feel so bad on this day, though. It could be because I had pie and ice cream at 10:30 the night before (not my fault - it was a LOST finale party... haha). I didn't mention it, because they just told me not to eat after midnight.... but I feel like it must have been off. I still didn't feel great, and having nothing wrong with me means that all of my symptoms are just random, which I have a hard time accepting. She mentioned I may be hypoglycemic, but she mentioned it as if it's no big deal and was hardly worth mentioning. I asked if I should start testing my gluclouse levels, and again she seemed apathetic. She did say I should start to see a primary care physician.

Well, hypoglycemia makes a lot of sense as far as how I've been feeling. I also know that I have an insulin resistance. I did some research and the ADA thinks I should be testing my levels since I have IR.

I guess my question is should I be concerned with that 58? Is the nurse just apathetic? Or should I follow her example and not be too worried? I'm waiting on a referral to a primary care physician.

Also, for those of you who have to test your glucose levels, how do you do so discreetly?

 

[PatsMom]

According to the charts I use, a fasting 58 requires attention. I would be treating it with 15 grams of carbs, waiting 15 minutes and retesting.

Have you made an appointment with a primary care physician? You probably should.

I test my blood sugar pretty regularly and I don't bother with discreet. If someone has a problem with me poking a hole in my finger, that is just too bad. No one has ever said anything to me. It is really easy to do once you get past the first finger stick. My insurance covers my test strips, but at a name brand co-pay so they are still pretty expensive.

 

[SueM in MN]

Since this is a general question, not about WDW, I have moved it to the disABILITIES Community Board.

 

[knieriem]

Also, for those of you who have to test your glucose levels, how do you do so discreetly?

I don't do it discreetly either. I'm a Type 1 diabetic and take 5 shots a day and test about 10 times a day. The shots will go away next Wednesday because that's when my pump will be here but the testing numbers will probably go up since we're getting me healthy enough to have a baby. Anyways, I just pull out my meter and test. I'm a firm believer that if we hide what we're doing then it doesn't help make people aware of Diabetes.

I've taken shots in front of clients and family both. All I have to do is give them in my stomach so you don't even see anything when i do it. I just push my shirt up a tiny bit under the table and take it. Now a dress...I have to go to the bathroom!

Now if I'm out with friends that i know have a problem with needles and blood then I'll excuse myself because I'd rather do that then see a friend pass out!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Howdy twin, I also have IR and PCOS. I've been on Metformin for something like 5 years now, but in the first year, it took some tweaking to get right. Going from different dosing (both quantity and how I took the pills, all at once vs spaced through the day) and switching from the normal ones to the extended release. It really seems like different doctors and nurses have different criteria for when they want you to test your bloodsugar. My old endocrinologist told me he didnt feel it necessary because I could tell when my sugar was getting too low, but my current doctor tells me she makes everyone test if they have any issue with insulin. Certainly if you feel out of sorts, you should make an appointment with whoever is handling your IR and PCOS so they can determine if they need to change your care plan, or at least tell you "No it's not from these things but you should get fill in the blank checked out"

I rarely have low blood sugars anymore, since they've gotten all my levels worked out, but I still carry glucose tablets with me just in case I can't get to something in the event it does drop. As far as eating before the bloodtest, I've always eaten shortly before the cutoff time (however many hours before) and told the blood techs and doctors that I do and they've told me its fine. I'm not gorging myself on straight up sugar, but I'll eat enough to last me through the night because if I don't, by the time I get in the chair to have my blood drawn, I'm a pale shaking mess. If I understand this right, whatever you eat before that cutoff time should be dealt with by your body in that fasting time, and if it can't, that signals a problem. Obviously if you're not eating for 14 hours before that blood test, your level is going to be low, but I believe they've figured that fasting window to be the appropriate span in which your body should be able to process whatever you've eaten prior to it.

Hope that wasn't too confusing!