New Diagnosis - Safe Rate for Dropping BG?

lainesho · #1 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 10:43 AM

My boyfriend was recently diagnosed w/Type2. We suspect he'd been undiagnosed for at least a year or two when he visited the ER with a BG of 563 a few weeks ago. He was given 3L of lactated ringers which brought it down into the 300s, and was prescribed Metformin twice a day.

He radically changed his diet and has been really watching his sugar and carb intake. (He's actually underweight so obesity isn't a factor.) When he started daily BG measurments 3 weeks ago, his 1st morning reading was at 270. Now he's down about 100 points. But, he's experiencing a lot of numbness and tingling in his extremities (hands/feet). This started last week after we took a short walk and he said his whole legs went numb (along with other classic hypo symptoms). Now he feels it off and on most of the time, but he's afraid to eat sugar because he doesn't want his BG rate to go up.

Is his BG dropping too quickly for his body to keep up with? I can't really find any definitive info on how quickly a person's BG should drop (probably because it depends on each individual), but I'd appreciate some feedback on your experiences so I can share it with him.

Thanks!

BrianSCohen · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 02:32 PM

lainesho,

Welcome to the forums. I am sure all of this is scary. If your boyfriend has been having high blood sugars for a while, he will feel like he has low blood sugar as his blood sugar drops down to normal. His body has just gotten used to high blood sugars. The feelings of jittery, clammy feelings are typical of a low blood sugar or hypoglycemic feeling. He will have to just push through this, it won't last long. It is very important that your boyfriend get his blood sugars down, coming down quickly will not harm him, it just may take a few days to feel normal.

The numbness and tingling is a little more troublesome. High blood sugars cause complications, one which messing with your nerves. If he had high blood sugar for a long time, he might have these sorts of complications, but it is unlikely.

He is really do the right thing watching his carbs. Diet and exercise can do wonders. You encouragement is also very helpful.

Let us know how it all goes.

princesslinda · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 03:27 PM

Hi Laine, welcome! Brian gave you excellent information.

I'd like to suggest a book that will be helpful for him (and you).."The First Year, Type II Diabetes," by Gretchen Becker. She's diabetic herself and the book is full of great information.

Sounds like he's taking things seriously and already seeing improvement in his blood sugar.

He might enjoy the forum as well. I know its made me feel much less alone....as no one can truly understand diabetes better than someone dealing with it daily.

Glad you found the forums. He's lucky to have you in his corner.

kgm0612 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008, 09:09 AM

Hi & Welcome to the forum.

If your boyfriend hasn't already done so, he should make an appointment with his Primary doctor so that he/she is aware of his diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Karen

d_k_moon · #5 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lainesho

My boyfriend was recently diagnosed w/Type2. We suspect he'd been undiagnosed for at least a year or two when he visited the ER with a BG of 563 a few weeks ago. He was given 3L of lactated ringers which brought it down into the 300s, and was prescribed Metformin twice a day.

He radically changed his diet and has been really watching his sugar and carb intake. (He's actually underweight so obesity isn't a factor.) When he started daily BG measurments 3 weeks ago, his 1st morning reading was at 270. Now he's down about 100 points. But, he's experiencing a lot of numbness and tingling in his extremities (hands/feet). This started last week after we took a short walk and he said his whole legs went numb (along with other classic hypo symptoms). Now he feels it off and on most of the time, but he's afraid to eat sugar because he doesn't want his BG rate to go up.

Is his BG dropping too quickly for his body to keep up with? I can't really find any definitive info on how quickly a person's BG should drop (probably because it depends on each individual), but I'd appreciate some feedback on your experiences so I can share it with him.

Thanks!

Well, I'm a recently diagnosed T2 as well. I was admitted to the hospital for a heart attack, and my blood sugar was 47.4 mmol/l or around 853 mg/dl. My initial A1C was 12.5, so it's obvious that I have had diabetes for longer than I would like to admit.

I had very few symptoms, but one of the odd things that happened in the hospital was that once my blood sugar was under control, my vision went to ****. It's steadily improved over the last month, and is probably at about 95% of where it was prior to going into the hospital.

Also, I noticed a bit of tingling in two toes on my left foot. Over the last month it's slowly decreasing. My doctor thinks it's my body adjusting to my new lower blood sugar.

davef · #6 (**permalink**) 09-22-2008, 10:11 AM

lainesho,

Welcome to the forums, you have had great advice already. I would 2nd Linda's suggestion of the Becker book, I certainly found it to be very helpful. The idea of your boyfriend joining the forums is also great, I know it was and is a great comfort having this place and the people here in my corner.

I would think that the tingling he is getting or the feeling of going hypo is just his body adjusting to his more normal levels after running high. I remember experiencing the feeling of being low when I first started getting my numbers down around 90-100. He is doing great and deserves a pat in the back!

Visit and post often,