My blood sugars are in a world all their own lately. Last weeks averages are in the 200's...something I haven't experienced in probably three to four years. Even between sick days, periods, and holidays, my averages never top 190.
But last week was a total landslide in the diabetes realm. My body is telling me something, although I'm not positive what it is. And unfortunately, those blood sugars are now telling my body something else as they've wreaked havoc on my immune system, my energy level, and my concentration.
I really did try to work on my list of diabetes "to-do's" over the past week. I stopped forgetting my Lantus injections and I only let a bolus slide once or twice. I didn't check as much as I should have, nor did I get any more workouts into my routine. But I was hoping the slight increase in positive diabetes behavior would have a decreasing effect on those blood sugars.
Yet here I am, looking at numbers like 393 and 435 followed by averages like 209 and 194. Only two lows in the last week. And an onslaught of unexplained spikes.
I'm also feeling incredibly tired, terribly worn out, and like I just want a day to catch up on everything. Plus, the elevated blood sugars are dampening my immune system beyond belief. I'm fighting off some sort of runny nose/cough on top of a yeast infection. Those 200 range averages really mean business!
I'm just not sure what to make of all this. I decided to raise my morning Lantus dose by one unit for the next few days, plus I'm moving my evening dose up by a few hours. I don't know if either of those will help, but I really hope so. I can't take much more high-related fatigue or the endlessly fuzzy feeling surrounding all my thoughts.
If that doesn't work, I'm actually feeling desperate enough to consider trying the pump again. It doesn't sound so appealing to me. I've adjusted to not having something attached 24/7. Dating and a pump just sounds ridiculously hard. Plus, the year and a half of elevated A1c's doesn't appeal to the logical thought that I'm looking to lower these numbers!
But desperate times call for desperate measures.
Maybe I need to take a closer look at what I'm eating and doing too. I know my diet has been off in the past few weeks, between school and hanging out with friends I just don't have the energy to cook as well as I usually do. But I didn't think I'd gotten that far off track. Not enough to cause spikes like this!
I also know that last week was a bit tough for me because of a rise in pain and fatigue (not related to diabetes) so I was taking it a bit easier than normal. Walking less to class, skipping a few classes, and just being calmer than usual. But could it have that drastic of an effect on these numbers? 400's are not normal for me...and I've been lazy before in my life!
Probably just one of those flukes of diabetes that can't be explained. A week of random blood sugars that somehow stabilize themselves. And hopefully let my immune system build back up so I can fight off this cold and get rid of this yeast infection completely.
I have been reading your blogs and was going to ask you about your diet. I'm a T2 and we get diet drilled into as and a fear of 'having to go on insulin'. I can easily lower my blood sugar with a lo-carb diet and medis and controlled my T2 for seven years with diet and exercise alone. If you tweak your diet I think you'll find that things will go a lot better. I never eat ice cream, sweets, seldom bread, the whole idea of eating a 'normal balanced diet' like normal people eat and relying on insulin does not make any sense to me. Though I realize you must depend upon insulin. I am also using it right now but my fasting is 100.
yours,
Craig
Lindsey,
First, have you tested for ketones?
Second, for me I know my metabolism can go kinda wacky when I have a day or two of being lazy (it seems to slow way down), and either my numbers shoot up or my TDD goes way up. Add to that just the capricious nature of diabetes and I get a real mystery on my hands.
When this happens I try and do three things. Eat smaller portions, test more frequently and I force myself to be more active.
Fair Winds,
Mike
Lindsey Guerin,
I'm going to let you in on a little secret I've been keeping to myself, so don't tell anybody, okay?
During my teenage years as well as my early 20's, I was still growing and producing growth hormone just like anyone else my age. My blood sugar levels really did get out of whack, just like yours. My adolescent HbA1c was probably always between 6.5 and 8.5. I could have tried harder, but like you, I didn't really want to. :-) When I put in the effort, managing diabetes pretty much worked, for the most part anyway -- but when I did not, I paid dearly.
By around age 27, 28 or 29, I just wasn't seeing so many unexplained highs. I don't pay quite so dearly anymore if I decide it's time for a little irresponible diabetic mis-management.
I suppose my whole point is that quite possibly right now at your age it is more difficult to manage diabetes because of internal physiology, so you really must stay on top of it at all times. Yes there will be unexplained highs. But I suspect as the years pass, it may actually become easier to manage diabetes because your body will have finished all the growing its going to do.
You know I'm not a medical expert, and at best I can only hope that your situation will continue to improve like mine did. There's no way to tell until it actually happens.
Just remember I'm in the state directly north of yours -- and since you are from Texas, I'm sure you will understand what it means when I say that if you keep on messin' with those high BG leves, I'm gonna have to come down there and open a can of Whoopass...
Just kidding. :-) But please do consider the insulin pump, you may be embarassed to wear it when dating, but Lindsey... let's get "real" here. You can probably guess what I might say next, so I won't say it. :-)
Just take care of yourself -- you're the only one who knows how.
Dantony C.
Hi Lindsey,
Life can be such a challenge! I have a question relative to your high BG numbers. Do you monitor your ketone levels and what is your plan for dealing with high ketone numbers? I have fould that getting blood glucose down "quickly" is only half the battle. Giving the body time to clear the elevated ketone levels has a different schedule. I am concerned that your energy levels could be linked to elevated ketone levels. The ability does exist to measure blood ketone levels. Given the variety of your daily activities and eating patterns I say HERE...HERE to Dantony C. comments about returning to a pump.
AS always have a great day.
D2
My ketones are typically non-existent, so that's usually not a factor in the fatigue. Pumping might give me more eating flexibility, but I just don't want to have to fight again with the A1c. Lantus has lowered it, so I just can't argue with that...we'll see though at my next appointment if Lantus has kept its helpful attitude. Thanks for all your support!
Hi Lindsey,
Question? How do you measure your ketones?
Ketostix. Accurate, although there is a 3-5 hour delay so I check several times. Plus it's 16 years of history with a low risk of ketones and learning the signs of a ketone high compared to just a "normal" one.
So lindsey we're dying to know how is it going? what did you change to help you?
Well if you read in my more recent blogs, the Lantus going up a unit did help with the highs. I started running low constantly (a mix of the Lantus and stress) so now I'm back at my normal dose. May have to raise it again once the stress subsides...we'll have to see!