[BIGDAVES7]

Today is my birthday to this site and I sure am eager to ask many questions and answer as many as I can. I will only give you answers that I'm knowledgeable to.

Just a little about myself. Been in the Carnival business since I was 12 yrs old. Now, 57and my wife (Caryn) have just sold all of our equipment and retired from the road due to poor health problems on my part. For the last 10 yrs we've booked our equipment with Nascar/Nhra/Irl racing events around the US.
I just started using insulin this Jan of this year. My diabetes is out of control at this time, and I feel horrible. Everyday is different, however the pain in my feet and ankles gets worst by the day it seems. I take 25 units of insulin in the eveningsand still take pills in the am. I understand 25 units isn't a lot compared to others, however, I take 2550mgs of metformin, and 20mgs of glipizide every am. Some days my bloodsugar is in the 200's some days high 100's, howver yesterday for the first time I couldn't concentrate, legs sweating, dizzy, dis-oriented. Took a test to find that I was at 8. After eating about 4 sugar cookies, small can of pineapple juice, and a half hour later, I moved up to 48. Drank 2 cokes and 2 hawaiian punch's to find my blood sugar two hours later at 78.
Went to bed, 11pm, woke up at 7am took my test to find it at 175. What is happening here?
In a case of bottoming out to a level of 8, can anyone tell me a quicker way to get my sugars elevated?
Oh, by the way, I am 6'3, 380lbs, and seriously out of shape. Have been active all my life, and have worked extremely hard until about 5-6 yrs ago.
Help!

[Mich]

Hi Dave. Welcome to the group.

You didn't mention how long you have had diabetes or what your past history is with insulin and pills, but I'm betting you were diagnosed a type 2.

It is scary when it all begins to go sideways at once and you feel terrible. You can feel good again. Although your weight is working against you, your past history of (very interesting!) working hard is in your favor.

Insulin will take care of business, especially in combination with your other meds, but since I am a type 1, I will defer to some of our very knowledgable type 2's on this board. I've also heard them mention a few good reference books.

Again, welcome. You'll feel better soon.

Mich

[bkburns]

Welcome to the forum. There are some smart people here who can help you far more than I.

The best way to get your bg up quickly is glucose pills. You can get them over the counter at walmart or any drugstore. Alternately, hard candy (peppermints, butterscotch, etc) works well. Milk and orange juice work as well.

Is your BG normally high in the mornings?

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by BIGDAVES7

yesterday for the first time I couldn't concentrate, legs sweating, dizzy, dis-oriented. Took a test to find that I was at 8. After eating about 4 sugar cookies, small can of pineapple juice, and a half hour later, I moved up to 48. Drank 2 cokes and 2 hawaiian punch's to find my blood sugar two hours later at 78.

Went to bed, 11pm, woke up at 7am took my test to find it at 175. What is happening here?

In a case of bottoming out to a level of 8, can anyone tell me a quicker way to get my sugars elevated?

Welcome.

I'd take the Hawaiian Punch first, then the cokes, then the juice, then the cookies. Sugary juices like HP are what I take. They're the sweetest.

When you bottom out like that, your liver kicks in and tries to save you by releasing a bunch of sugar and hormones that make you insulin resistant. My sugars would be twice that for a good 12 hours or more. Very tough to control. It also makes you feel like ****! A hypo-hangover.

Are you working with your doctor? I'd see an endocrinologist. I think it's time to go on a full insulin regimen along with training from a diabetic educator and of course support from here. Are you active? Walk 30 minutes a day. Diet? That's really a biggie. Many here do low-carb diets and have really shed the weight big time.

[princesslinda]

Hi Big Dave, welcome and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I think you'll find that the forum may be one of the best birthday gifts you've ever received....complete with an entire new "forum family" at your disposal.

Sounds like you're having a rough time right now. Are you seeing an endocrinologist, or is your family doctor managingy our diabetes? With all the swings in highs and lows you are having, if you aren't seeing an endo, get your regular doc to refer you.

Do you check your blood sugars several times a day? Do you watch your carbs (esp. those potatoes, rice, pasta and breads)?

I know how difficult it is for an obese person to start exercising...I was quite obese at diagnosis and nearly 80 lbs later, STILL am not where I (or my doctor) wants me to be weight-wise yet. Its a daily struggle. There is no easy way to do it, you just have to get up one day and decide "Today's the day I will start to exercise." If you're not used to it, start very slowly...perhaps walk up and down your driveway or parking lot a few times...then, every couple of days, add another 5 minutes to your routine. If you have problems tolerating heat, go to walmart or the mall....anything to get you moving.

There's a great book for T2s that i'd like to recommend, "The First Year, Type II Diabetes," by Gretchen Becker. She's T2 herself and really gives some great information. Local bookstores as well as Amazon carry it.


Hope you'll post often and let us know how you're doing. Ask lots of questions...there are a lot of nice folks here to help.

[jacobsam622]

Originally Posted by BIGDAVES7

Today is my birthday to this site and I sure am eager to ask many questions and answer as many as I can. I will only give you answers that I'm knowledgeable to.

Just a little about myself. Been in the Carnival business since I was 12 yrs old. Now, 57and my wife (Caryn) have just sold all of our equipment and retired from the road due to poor health problems on my part. For the last 10 yrs we've booked our equipment with Nascar/Nhra/Irl racing events around the US.
I just started using insulin this Jan of this year. My diabetes is out of control at this time, and I feel horrible. Everyday is different, however the pain in my feet and ankles gets worst by the day it seems. I take 25 units of insulin in the eveningsand still take pills in the am. I understand 25 units isn't a lot compared to others, however, I take 2550mgs of metformin, and 20mgs of glipizide every am. Some days my bloodsugar is in the 200's some days high 100's, howver yesterday for the first time I couldn't concentrate, legs sweating, dizzy, dis-oriented. Took a test to find that I was at 8. After eating about 4 sugar cookies, small can of pineapple juice, and a half hour later, I moved up to 48. Drank 2 cokes and 2 hawaiian punch's to find my blood sugar two hours later at 78.
Went to bed, 11pm, woke up at 7am took my test to find it at 175. What is happening here?
In a case of bottoming out to a level of 8, can anyone tell me a quicker way to get my sugars elevated?
Oh, by the way, I am 6'3, 380lbs, and seriously out of shape. Have been active all my life, and have worked extremely hard until about 5-6 yrs ago.
Help!

Hi Big Dave new someone growing up who was carny. You should never go to bed with you blood sugar that low your liver will see it as a sign to start making glucose. You might want to get a hypo kit my doctor had me get one when I was first diagnosed. Its a prefilled needle made for use with extreme hypo.

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome to the forum, Big Dave! Nice people and tons of information to be found here.

If you're not already doing so, I'd start limiting your carbohydrate intake and getting in some form of exercise, like walking.

Karen

[Janlaton]

HI, Did you contact your dr's office yet about the low? If not please do so. My dr says to call her if I have anything less than 20 just to report in and so she knows what it took to come out of it and how long. THis she says is important to my long term care.

Welcome to the web. As above get some exercise, if you can't walk try a seated exercise video, there are a number out there to choose from as well as several websites. just put in seated exercises and you will get a number. I do several different videos as I have balance issues and knee arthrits.

As above watch those carbs. If you can not get to a reg dietitian there are diets on the web try Joslin center.com or the American Diabetic Assoction.org the best of course is a personalized plan for you but these are a start.

Blessings and keep a smile.

Janlaton
Type 2 40 years

[Jan B]

Hi Big Dave and WELCOME.


You can definitely get yourself under control, and you'll be so happy when you start feeling better. Good control means feeling younger and being much happier to be alive! I have never heard of anyone remaining conscious with a reading of 8. My lowest ever that I know of was 19, and I barely, barely hung on to consciousness. How scary.