Type 2 diabetes - Erratic Sugar Levels

Hi @mary121658 it is confusing why your sugars levels are all over the place. You may have noticed that I changed the title of your discussion to "Type 2 diabetes - Erratic Sugar Levels" so that others can find and take part in this discussion.

@enska @retiredteacher @hopeful33250 and @kamama94 all have experience with diabetes and may be able to offer you support.

Back to your sugar levels @mary121658 does your diet change at all during the days when the level increases? Or is your diet very consistent?

@mary121658 Hello and welcome. For the thirteen years or so you have had diabetes, have your numbers always been up and down? I have had diabetes 2 for almost three years, but my morning numbers have always varied. I do not take any medicine because my endocrinologist says as long as there is a drop from my morning number to my afternoon number, then he's not concerned. My morning numbers can be in the 120's, 130's and occasionally in the 140's. My afternoon reading is always below 100. So my morning number is my concern, but the dr. says it's not a concern at my age. (I'm 74.). I'm sure if my numbers were into the 200's or higher and never returned to "normal" he would be. I rarely vary my menu and stay away from the foods I know cause problems In the time you have had diabetes, have your numbers always been high? Does your endo talk to you about your numbers? What about you meals? Do you eat allowed foods or just eat what you like? I found early on that I had to follow the food guidelines in order to get control of disease. Sometimes, I think I could eat a whole chocolate cake and have ice cream on the side, but I do not eat dessert because I know my numbers would spike. Have you seen a dietician in all this time? They can give you advice on what works and what doesn't in your meal plan. I also exercise a minimum of five days a week. Most everything I read says diet and exercise are the keys to helping control the numbers. I have an endo appointment tomorrow, and I have a few questions to ask him. Because my A1C is low (6.0 or lower), he calls me a controlled diabetic. I hope my A1C is lower tomorrow. What is you A1C? Do you have that checked regularly? Sometimes there are small things we are doing that cause our blood to go up and down, like a see-saw. What does your Dr. say about you erratic numbers? I'd love to hear from you since I have the same problem in the A.M. I have also had it drilled in me that all diabetics are different, so what works for me, may not work for you. There are so many variables for each person. That's why it takes a team to control this disease. I'd love to hear from you again. You can find me here on Mayo Connect in the Diabetes/Endocrine Group under @retiredteacher.So glad to hear from you, and maybe we can figure out why your numbers and my numbers are not in line.
Carol

@mary121658 are you Type 2? You didn’t actually say, other than the 2006 onset. The reason I’m asking is because I’ve been diabetic for 44 years (Type 1 in 1975 and developed many complications; pancreas transplant in 2005 and reversed, stabilized &/or slowed down the progression of the complications; 2016 - present started clinically behaving like Type 2- “post transplant Type 2 diabetes”). Long complicated history here. As Carol said, “all diabetics are different” & “there are so many variables for each person”. The blood sugars you describe sound like mine the 30 years before transplant. I would bounce from 20 - 500 and back again in the course of a day. I also had peripheral neuropathy in my hands. Plus I had autonomic neuropathy in the form of gastroparesis. During the past 3 years my blood sugars & A1C have gradually increased, then a lot in the past 4 months. Good blood sugar control is the key to staying healthy & feeling well. There are so many factors that affect blood sugar (physical conditions/illness, psychological, spiritual, medications, diet, exercise, daily schedule, work, sleep, activity ....) it sometimes takes a team to figure out what the problems are and come up with solutions for them. Right again, Carol. Who is prescribing and monitoring your meds? Perhaps it is time for an adjustment. Or maybe your provider can consider some of the other possible factors and refer you to some other specialists so that you can assemble a team to get to the bottom of the problem and meet your needs. Remember that “1 size doesn’t fit all”. We also change over time and sometimes what used to work stops working. Then we need help to find something that does work. It is a never ending process.

I pretty much have the same things every day. Toast with butter and coffee for breakfast, a scramble egg sandwich for lunch and since I'm wheelchair bound my husband makes our meals so my evening meals do vary.

@mary121658 Your post concerning your food could be a problem. I eat from the same food groups almost every day, but I vary them. The Mayo Clinic food Pyramid for diabetics shows how to vary your choices. You are eating eggs and bread twice a day. You don't say what you have for the evening meal. But, you should have dark leafy greens, like green beans, turnips, mustard greens, spinach and others in that category. You should have some meat: chicken is the first choice, and turkey a little ham and beef. There should be some nuts and fruits and salads. Occasionally, you should have some dairy and a variety of other foods. I find that though my morning numbers are usually over 120, they are in the 120's or 130's. Then after my lunch, they always are down below 100. Evening meals add more veggies and variety so that I have fiber and healthy choices every day. Does you husband cook your evening meal and change it regularly? Have you seen a dietician to help you and your husband plan a menu that would be healthy and help your numbers? Do you see an endocrinologist? Perhaps your medicine needs changing. Diabetics are all different, and we need to be sure that what we are doing is working for us. I made several adjustments in my food choices over the last six months and at my endo appointment on Monday, my A1C was 5.9, which is really good. My Dr. was very pleased. Has your Dr. made suggestions for change? Of course, I don't know, but it sounds to me as if you need to rethink your food choices and see your Dr. about getting to a dietician who can help you and your husband. Diabetes is like anything: if you do the same thing over and over, your body will give you the same results. Maybe you could get a check-up and ask some questions or read what you could do. I hope you can take the initiative to do something that will help you and get you back in line again.
Keep us posted.
Carol