Full Version: What is a "dangerous" reading?

From: ok_munchkin [#1]
6 Jan 18:49
To: ALL

OK - I have been a diagnosed diabetic for around 10 yrs. The highest that I know my sugar has ever been was 270. Currently I am taking metformin and glucotrol.

I am not good about checking my sugar levels - AT ALL. However, due to a series of events on Mon I checked it - - it was 476... the remainder of the day it stayed in the 400s

the next day my fasting sugar was 240 and the sugar levels stayed in the 300s all day. Today's fasting was 186 and has been in the upper 200s most of the day - but as I am writing this it is 333.

I called my dr on Mon and she didn't seem too concerned it was that high - she said often the body will raise the levels if it thinks its starving. (I had eaten breakfast and right before lunch too the reading and it was 476) - -the next day I called back and after pestering her she raised my dosage of glucotrol from 10mg 1xday to twice a day.

Altho, it has gone down some - I still think it is way too high. Anyone have any suggestions

From: Diabetes_Doc [#2]
7 Jan 9:55
To: ok_munchkin [#1] 7 Jan 10:56

quote: ok_munchkin

on Mon I checked it - - it was 476... the remainder of the day it stayed in the 400s

the next day my fasting sugar was 240 and the sugar levels stayed in the 300s all day. Today's fasting was 186 and has been in the upper 200s most of the day - but as I am writing this it is 333.
- I still think it is way too high. Anyone have any suggestions

Some thoughts:
1) Numbers in the 400's are way too high. These numbers are associated with increased risk of nausea and vomiting and dehydration, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
2) If you were nauseated and couldn't drink fluids you should go to an Emergency Room for intravenous fluid replacement.
3) If the 400's were associated with any acute illness, you needed dramatically increased therapy, not baby steps (sorry, I'm upset with what you say your doctor did).
4) Continue checking your glucose frequently, and record the numbers and whether they were before or after meals.
5) Ask your physician for a referral to a diabetes team. You need revised therapy and a look at your entire diabetes program.

Hope this helps.

From: toneylee in VA (TONEYLEE) [#3]
7 Jan 10:19
To: ok_munchkin [#1] 7 Jan 10:56

Please listen to Dr. Bill and take his advice seriously. Is your doctor an endocrinologist? I'd guess not, and I think you need one. An endo will know the importance of getting your numbers under control--both short term and long term. Dr. Bill has written an article called "When to refer to an endocrinologist". You can find the link at the bottom of the Start page under Recommended Reading. Good luck and take control! :)

From: Sue (SUEFIRST50) [#4]
7 Jan 19:16
To: ok_munchkin [#1] 8 Jan 11:12

It sounds like the "series of events" that happened led to your very high blood sugar readings and were probably the reason they were so high. Most people find stress makes their numbers go up but since you don't test very frequently you really don't know how your numbers were running prior. The fact they remained high is not good but at least they came down some. I hope you follow Dr. Bill's advice.

From: ok_munchkin [#5]
8 Jan 11:17
To: ALL

My dr took me a little more seriously - - I went from 500mg metformin and 10mg glucotrol once a day - - to both twice a day. I am checking my sugar levels before meals and 2 hrs afterwards. Currently, 2 hrs after eating I am finally down to 192, my fasting this am was 218.. and yesterday I spent most of the day in the mid-200s.

I am thinking about contacting an endro... but am trying to decide if this was just an unusual incidient - or if I need to see one.

Also, I am writing down everything I eat. It seems to me that your carbs are suppose to be no more than 45 per meal - is that what most of you do? Also, do you eat snacks or 3 meals a day?

From: Mark_in_MO [#6]
8 Jan 19:40
To: ok_munchkin [#5] unread

ok munchkin,

It sounds like you are doing some good things by testing frequently, logging your test results and tracking your food consumption. The concern I would have is that the BG numbers you are seeing are still too high. Your current numbers (218 fasting and mid-200's most of the day) are STILL way too high. For a person diagnosed as a diabetic you should be seeing fasting numbers below 120, and 2 hrs after eating no higher than 140, and even after a snack or a treat nothing over 160. Since all your numbers are well above these levels, you need to get some additional diabetes management education, and get better control of your BG numbers through diet and possibly some other medication. Seeing an endocrinologist, if possible, would be a good idea.

Full Version: What is a "dangerous" reading?

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