A question I had about Type 2 Diabetes - please read

[zoke]

Hello.

My mother is in her 40s, and she has diabetes. Looking at these forums I noticed there are 4 types, I'm not sure which type she has. My mother says keeping a high sugar level is not dangerous, and it can be taken care of using medicines. My grand mother, on the other hand, disagrees - and says it is better to keep it low (but she is obsessed with it, she keeps it so low it is dangerous).

I sometimes see my mother eating ice cream and chocolate - things with a lot of sugar - and she says it is fine to eat it every now and then. I know that sugar level can get really high after eating chocolate or a cup full of icecream (not "sugar free").

The two questions I had: Is it better to keep the sugar level high or low? and should I be more concerned about my mother's situation?

Thanks

[zoke]

Edit won't work.. she has Type 2

[spike]

Hello.

My mother is in her 40s, and she has diabetes. Looking at these forums I noticed there are 4 types, I'm not sure which type she has. My mother says keeping a high sugar level is not dangerous, and it can be taken care of using medicines. My grand mother, on the other hand, disagrees - and says it is better to keep it low (but she is obsessed with it, she keeps it so low it is dangerous).

I sometimes see my mother eating ice cream and chocolate - things with a lot of sugar - and she says it is fine to eat it every now and then. I know that sugar level can get really high after eating chocolate or a cup full of icecream (not "sugar free").

The two questions I had: Is it better to keep the sugar level high or low? and should I be more concerned about my mother's situation?

Thanks

In a nutshell, it's better to keep it lower (not "LOW", as in hypoglycemic). Long term hypergycemia leads to all sorts of complications. Someone in their 40's has a long life ahead of themselves, if they watch their bg's. Letting bg's rise to an unsafe level can result in a trip to the ER, if it progresses to DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition). Persistent high bg's not rising to the level of DKA present the guaranteed spectre of serious complications and those can take years to develop. The bottom line: she needs to keep her bg's as close to a target level, which should be discussed with her doctor. the doctor should be an endo if she is a T1. I've heard T2's don't always go to endos, but I don't know if that's wise or not, as I'm a T1 and only know what to do from my experience, for T1's.

You are correct that keeping it too low can be dangerous. One can suffer mental impairment and even death from od'ing on insulin. A severe hypo can result in loss of consciousness or coma, injuries from falling, crashing of vehicles...you get the point.

"Low" is a relative term. A "good" low would be one that allows one to function coherently and safely, like 80. A "bad" low, such as 35 would require immediate attention. Getting close to zero would be life threatening. I got there once due to a mistake I made in injecting insulin (I hit a vein). never forgot that and never repeated my mistake.

I hope your mom can find a happy medium in maintaining her bg's. She needs to use a meter often if her bg's are volatile.

[butterflykisses]

Hello.

.
The two questions I had: Is it better to keep the sugar level high or low? and should I be more concerned about my mother's situation?

Thanks
You should be concerned about BOTH of them. Too high glucose levels cause damage to your body and a sign that the body is not getting the fuel it needs to function properly. Type 2 rarely get DKA, which is a combination of high glucose and ketones from burning fat that cause the blood to become too acidic. There is another condition, Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome, high glucose and thickened blood, caused by dehydration. When blood glucose is high and not being metabolized the body tries to rid it by expelling it through unrination. That constant urination can cause dehydration if fluids are not being replaced. Most who end up in this state are undiagnosed or sick elderly, but it can happen to anyone neglecting themselves or sick. The main problem is that when glucose is high it's causing damage to the nerves, blood vessels, etc.
Low glucose that gets too low can leave someone unconscious, cause brain damage and with no help, even death.

[4519]

What has been said is correct. I would add that "high and low" are relative to what you believe them to be.

What does your mother consider high and what does your grandmother consider low. One or both might be talking the same thing - though I doubt it. Lower numbers are the desiered target - higher numbers cause complicatons. Until you know what the reference is talking about you cannot really know who is wrong.

Your mother eating habits are suspect. Type 2 diabetics cannot just eat anything even once in a while. You don't get good credit for doing good that allows for those times when you want to eat just anything. Most of us do exceed our range every so often, it happens. I don't believe that we should schedule a 'out of range' meal just to please our desires. Exceeding it happens, like i said and we shouldn't beat ourselves up over it. Just limit those times as much as we can.

Talk to both and see where they are controlling and you will see the problems for yourself.

[Lex4153]

It's very important to keep a good diet, regardless if you are T1 or T2. However, nothing is wrong with breaking the rules here and there, and in moderation. We can't completely deny ourselves because if we do, we'll just break down and eat worse than if we had let ourselves have a little treat. I think it's okay if your mother wants to have something sweet here and there, but it depends what she considers "here and there". If it's once a day, then that's no good. Every other day, still no good. I'd say to try to have a treat once a week and keep it very small. I try to keep my treats for special occasions, such as when I went camping and ate smores. Or for a good friend's birthday. Or for Thanksgiving, etc etc.

Lows tend to have destructive results right away, such as going into a coma, if the blood sugars go too low and aren't brought back up. There have been some studies on long term effects of low blood sugars and they show that there may be some brain impairment associated. Highs have the short-term effect of thirst and frequent urination which are not life threatening. (Only for type 1's, typically, DKA.) Highs are more dangerous for long-term.

[SOCKS]

Well we need to know if the gramma is on meds/insulin or not. If not, low is the way to go. Your body won't let you go too low if your not on meds or insulin.

As far as your mom goes, send me a PM and I'll give you some info on the REAL diet that should be followed by type 2's.

[Peter Lee]

There's no doubt about it, an average high sugar level is dangerous. Apart from the long term effects on blood circulation which can lead to limb amputation, if your mother is at all overweight then she is risking a heart attack. This is because the excess sugar in her arteries helps to stick any cholesterol in her blood stream, to the artery wall thereby narrowing it.

The advice (more like an instruction) given to me by my diabetes consultant, when I was in your mother's situation was to keep the blood sugar level at between 5 and 6 mmol/l (90 - 108 mg/dl).

[sweetie46]

I have been trying to watch what I eat. their are some days I eat thing I shouldn't but I keep it at a limit. We are in a finacal bind. I have been trying to go without my pilss for a while. Well, now my sugar up I am having trouble getting it back down. I have pills and I started taking them again. It just doesn't work. I make strong green tea. I don't have the money to go to the doctor yet. The lower it has got is 295mg/dl.

[spike]

I have been trying to watch what I eat. their are some days I eat thing I shouldn't but I keep it at a limit. We are in a finacal bind. I have been trying to go without my pilss for a while. Well, now my sugar up I am having trouble getting it back down. I have pills and I started taking them again. It just doesn't work. I make strong green tea. I don't have the money to go to the doctor yet. The lower it has got is 295mg/dl.

Can't the doctor prescribe you meds without charging you for an office visit? You might call and ask...

[4519]

sweetie46= Boy, I do understand the can't afford meds situation. Right now I have health insurance but it is going away soon, most likely. My doctor told me when that happens they will work with me all they can to keep down the costs.

Are you exercising all that you can? I have figured what I will have to do when I cannot afford meds and exercise is one of the free things that works. If you find your glucose level rising after exercising then you may have to do at a different time of day.

Cut your carbs back as far as you can, at least until you get your numbers down closer to an acceptable range. It might take the meds a while to kick in again too. There are off shore sources of meds that are a lot cheaper(well, Mexico). i can send you a site address if you are interested to compare there prices. They want a prescription but don't insist on them. I know people that use them and they say that they get good meds from them.