[Nasda]

I am new to the site and new to diabetes.
I am currently trying to manage my glucose levels with diet.
I do not feel well at all today, im shaky dizzy lightheaded and feel like passing out.
My blood sugar today was 4.0 mmol/L, 72 mg/dl first thing this morning, I had porridge for lunch before I ate the porridge it was 4.8 mmol/l, ,86 mg/dl .I took the dogs for their exercise(and mine) I couldn't wait to get back as I thought I was going to collapse, I took a reading then and it was 4.7 mmol/L. 84.6 mg/dl.
Are these readings low and am I overdoing the dieting.
I am still getting to grips with the readings and I don't quite understand what is too low and what is too high.
I see the Doc next month for my first diabetic clinic. Nancy

[pjams]

Hello Nancy,
Welcome aboard! You can get a lot of info here. Just give yourself some time and read a lot (here) to learn what the numbers mean. The numbers that you mention are not low, but normal, but your body may not be used to being so low. It will gradually adjust. Keep up the walking! Good luck.
JayP

[Raisin]

Welcome to the site. My body reacted similarly to yours with my first low (shakes, dizziness, sweating) and I was in the 70s. My endo does not want me below 70. In fact, he wants readings above 79, but below 150.

Anyway, I cannot speak a lot about type 2 information, but I will say that your readings from the glucose meter can be off by +/- 20%. That is not to say that you should not rely on the reading to determine appropriate action, but you could have been in the 60s even though the reading stated 72. Given that you had just eaten breakfast, I would have thought your glucose levels should have risen, but maybe your exercise was enough to counter the carbs. I would suggest you do the same routine for the next few days (eat the same and exercise the same and do it at the same time of day) to see if the results are the same. If the results are the same, you will need to eat additional carbs for breakfast to bring your glucose levels up. On mornings where your glucose levels are in the 100-130s range, it appears that you may be able to eat porridge and exercise which will keep your glucose level.

As time progresses, you may find that you loose the sensations you felt today when you are in the 70s. You may also find that some days you feel bad when you are in the 70 while other days, you feel fine.

The next few months will be monitoring and tracking results. Each person is different and therefore, you will need to determine how your body reacts to varies food items, exercise routiines, emotional changes, time of day you eat, etc. It may seem over whelming at first, but you get used to it and you become more comfortable as you gain knowledge about your body.

[princesslinda]

Hi Nasda:
Sounds like your blood sugars are responding appropriately to all your hard work. I feel shaky when I get under 70.

Since you are newly diagnosed, your blood sugars probably have been quite high and your body is used to operating at higher levels, so more normal levels feel quite low to you. This should change as you stay at normal levels longer. I also would suggest that you eat some type of protein (cheese, nuts, tsp of peanut butter) if you feel really shaky and that should take care of that "jittery" feeling. You don't want to have something sugary as this would just send your levels soaring. If you're in the low 80's and are getting ready to exercise or walk the dogs, I'd have a high protein snack beforehand, just to keep you from possibly going low or feeling low until your body adjusts.

Hang in there, sounds like you are doing well. Things will get easier for you as time passes and your body adjusts. Keep up the good work!

[gobbly2100]

I would maybe consider trying to run in the 5's rather than 4's I mean if you test normal people they are pretty much always in the 5 range and you will feel better for sure.

I find in the 4's I can start getting signs of a low coming on.