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Is continuing blood sugar 14.5 worrying?

Posted , 7 users are following.

gill70346
gill70346

New years eve 2014 my blood sugar went up to 30.4. I had been told by my doctor not to check my levels as I would panic but this day I did because I felt so ill. Over the next 3 months he increased my medication so that I am on 4 x 500 metformin daily and 4 x 80 gliclozide daily. Once my blood sugars were at a good level - average 6.5 - I was told to stop checking them regularly a.d told I cannot get test strips and lancets on prescription. I decided that for peace of mind I would buy my own supplies and check once per week. Everything has been fine until 27th December when it was 16.2. I have been testing once per day since then and only twice has it been below 10. Today it is 14.4. I am beginning to worry but given the doctor was adamant I should not home test do not know what to do. Any suggestions?

1 like, 37 replies

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  • Guest
    Guest gill70346

    Posted

    On the surface that is a high number, What were you doing/eating? When did you test? I handled my Big D for 10 years on Metformin. Then it changed and now I am on insulin. What I have learned is this keep a schedule, for eating, for medicines and pretty much everything else in your life. Every one is different and you are the only one that this impacts, So it is up to you to keep on top of the situation. I am happy with 5-6 in the mornings. After Christmas dinner I tested about 10. I knew why because of eating late the evening before. A day later back down. It is up to you to figure out what effects your machine, No one can tell you. Sure they say don't eat this or that. Personally potatoes do not effect me much at all. White bread or white rice and it is a guaranteed high spike. Wild rice not so much of a spike. I check my BS 3 times a day. Up to you but if you do not know the number there is little you can do to manage your beast.
    • gill70346
      gill70346 Guest

      Posted

      What you are saying is true but it is difficult when my GP won't give me a prescription for lancets and testing strips when I am a pensioner and can't really afford that amount of money on a regular basis. He says I just rely on the twice-yearly HbA1c test which is not for 3 more months.
    • kathleen39
      kathleen39 gill70346

      Posted

      Then you need to go see another gp in the surgery  or even ask at the despensary i to am a pensioner and i get mine from the doctors
    • gill70346
      gill70346 kathleen39

      Posted

      It would be difficult to go to another doctor in the surgery as this one is a diabetes specialist and all the other doctors in the practice refer ME back to him for diabetes related questions. I also cannot go to the dispensary - by which I presume you mean the pharmacy - because I would still need a prescription for the lancets and testing strips in order to get them for free. By the way is yours type. 2 diabetes. Also, I have to say that I have 7 friends with diabetes registered with 4 different practices in the area and all say that the GPs here will not prescribe blood testing monitors and testing strips for type 2diabetics. Clearly there is not a nationwide agreement as to who can get monitor and strips, and who cannot.
    • kathleen39
      kathleen39 gill70346

      Posted

      Hello Gill,Yes i do have type 2 diabetes and i can go and see which ever doctor i like at my surgery  and talk about it.when i asked at my despensary and got one my doctor when i saw her said it would help them and me by having one has they would know my high`s and low`s. I get more lows.

      ​I really dont know  how to help you,The only thing i can suggest if your at all very worried is go see your gp before the 3 months.

       

  • seangreen420
    seangreen420 gill70346

    Posted

    Odd hi blood sugar reading would not concern me however there are many studies that show that the spike in the blood sugar is what causes the damage.

    The current standard of management of diabetes is by looking at HbA1c. This looks at your blood sugar control over the previous three months .

    Our surgeries don't prescribe the strips for testing blood sugar however they cannot refuse HbA1c test at least twice a year.

    If your blood sugar reading is high most of the time than it may be time to make some changes to your diet.

    Diabetes uk have done a course on this that may interest you, as has "curejoy".

    Hope all this help, but if you need more help from someone who has fallen off the wagon more times than I can count, please ask.

    • gill70346
      gill70346 seangreen420

      Posted

      I think you are missing the point. If it had been just an occasional blood sugar spike I would not worry - it is the fact it has been high now for over 2 weeks when there has been no change in diet. I know I am allowed 2 HbA1c tests per year but my next one is not due till April so is it safe to wait until then. Last January it clearly was not and I had to take my blood sugars 5 times per days until they were properly under control 3 months later at which point I was told not to take the tests again. 3 months seem a long time to wait when the blood sugar readings are continuing to rise
    • marilyn_92910
      marilyn_92910 gill70346

      Posted

      it sounds as if all the rich food over christmas has made you high, i take what you take plus extra metformin during day and astigalatin, and over the christmas period my sugars were in teens, and was told by the diabetic specialist not the nurses or doctor to test 3 or 4 times aweek, as the astigalatin could cause hypos,
    • marilyn_92910
      marilyn_92910

      Posted

      also if you are stressing over your sugars this will make it high too.
    • gill70346
      gill70346 marilyn_92910

      Posted

      I did not have any rich food over Christmas, and even if I had why would it last 2 weeks? I am not under a diabetic specialist just GP and nurse who both say don't test as I am not at risk of hypos, however I do feel I am at risk of hypers. Apparently the NICE guidelines say you only need to check your blood sugars if you are at risk of hypos so even if is high for over 5 months which it was last time, it is nothing to worry about. Very confusing
    • cathy_94688
      cathy_94688 seangreen420

      Posted

      Hi

      I have a question. Around week ago I had blood work and I asked to check on my augers level as well. My A1C was 5.7 is this normal?

      I asked my doc that should I be worrying about it and he said nope it's normal. I told him but my online reaserch says different and he told me to stop reaserching otherwise I'm going to get my self mad. Now I'm lost and worried.

  • kathleen39
    kathleen39 gill70346

    Posted

    Hello Gill,If i was you i would make appointment to see your diabetic nurse.

    ​You need to check so you know what you can eat.Start by testing when you get up.then test a hour before you eat and 2 hours after i was told i should be between 5 and 10 no lower no higher.

    • gill70346
      gill70346 kathleen39

      Posted

      Yes, Kathleen I know what I need to do and when and what the levels should be - the problem is that both my GP and my diabetic nurse have told me not to take my blood sugars at all but to rely only on HbA1c which is 3 months away and I am concerned that my blood sugars will get completely out of control if I leave it till then, especially when there is no obvious reason for the spike.
  • kathleen39
    kathleen39 gill70346

    Posted

    I brought my first glucose meter from Amazon the one that had the cheapest Strips and lancets.Isnt there another doctor you can see at your practice.I asked at the doctors despensary for a meter and they got me one.

    ​Stress can also cause the sugar to rise has well.I see i have not answerd your question here either sorry.You could always take yourself of to A&E

    • gill70346
      gill70346 kathleen39

      Posted

      I have actually got a meter from the hospital when I was in about extremely high blood pressure, and have bought strips and lancets, although they are quite expensive.  My problem is what I am supposed to do when it is consistently higher than it should be, but both GP and nurse say I should not be taking it anyway so I am not supposed to know. Could anything go seriously wrong if I don't tell the GP or nurse or would I be safe to wait 3 months until April when my next HbA1c test is due.
    • kathleen39
      kathleen39 gill70346

      Posted

      Hello Gill.if i had blood sugars has high has you do i would want to know you need to be in control of your diabetes not the doctor or the nurse and i would keep checking my blood glucose.There must be something your eating thats making it high do you eat a lot of carbs like potatoes,bread,pasta or rice.or are you eating something that has a lot of sugar in it(without knowing it) please try not to worry that can put your levels up.I can`t exercise like i used to. if need be make appoinment and go see the doctor.
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