I had back surgery in Feb.2011, my back got infected and I had to go to the ER. Where they told me my blood sugar was over 500. I'm home now after a longest at stay at The hospital. I now have 2 different kinds of insulin pens and my normal sugar is 280. How is this ok and will it change when my back heals? Also how do I explain this to my children. Ahhhhhhhhh i don't think.its truly hit me yet that this is happening. I'm only 28 and I think ppl will think bad of.me for having this.
Newbie and nervous to tell people
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onlymep
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welcome April 
that's not a nice experience for you having a long hospital stay and finding out you need insulin. Have you been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes? With diabetes, when we're unwell our BGLs (blood glucose level) are generally higher than normal as the body is stressed. So your fasting BGL is 280? How often are you testing? I'm thinking that once you're over your infection and you have your diet and meds sorted you should get better BGL readings. It takes a lot of patience, plus there is a lot to learn. You will continuously learn and make adjustments as you go. Make sure you have a good medical team supporting you. It's really up to you when you tell people you have diabetes. I understand it's a bit overwhelming for you right now, all of us have been at that point (some people on this forum are still new to diabetes too). Although when you're ready, at some point you're going to have to share with others that you have diabetes. People around you regularly should know. Your immediate family should be the first to know of course as it's important that they work with you to help you get some control. They also need to be aware of the symptoms and signs to look out for, especially considering you are on insulin. There isn't a cure for diabetes, although it is able to be managed... don't let diabetes control you. Keeping up a positive attitude helps. You'll find that there is lots of support, knowledge, experience here... you've made a good move to share with us. Keep us posted on how you're doing.
that's not a nice experience for you having a long hospital stay and finding out you need insulin. Have you been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes? With diabetes, when we're unwell our BGLs (blood glucose level) are generally higher than normal as the body is stressed. So your fasting BGL is 280? How often are you testing? I'm thinking that once you're over your infection and you have your diet and meds sorted you should get better BGL readings. It takes a lot of patience, plus there is a lot to learn. You will continuously learn and make adjustments as you go. Make sure you have a good medical team supporting you. It's really up to you when you tell people you have diabetes. I understand it's a bit overwhelming for you right now, all of us have been at that point (some people on this forum are still new to diabetes too). Although when you're ready, at some point you're going to have to share with others that you have diabetes. People around you regularly should know. Your immediate family should be the first to know of course as it's important that they work with you to help you get some control. They also need to be aware of the symptoms and signs to look out for, especially considering you are on insulin. There isn't a cure for diabetes, although it is able to be managed... don't let diabetes control you. Keeping up a positive attitude helps. You'll find that there is lots of support, knowledge, experience here... you've made a good move to share with us. Keep us posted on how you're doing.
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We are comrade at arms ) Same thughts as I had. But I told my children and grandchildren and working companions about mynew situation, and instructed them how to react if I should fall into hypo(?)glucemia - too low sugar. We have had exercises, and they know pretty well what to do. Welcome aboard, here are lots of followers who can aid you in a better way than I can. Have a happy future. )
) Same thughts as I had. But I told my children and grandchildren and working companions about mynew situation, and instructed them how to react if I should fall into hypo(?)glucemia - too low sugar. We have had exercises, and they know pretty well what to do. Welcome aboard, here are lots of followers who can aid you in a better way than I can. Have a happy future. )Any kind of inflammation or infection will send bgs soaring. So I would imagine as your back heals bgs should come down. Also some medicaions may cause bgs to spike. You probably won't know until the healing occurs. A normal, non diabetic bg is 70-95, so eventually that is where you want to be for fasting. For after meals you don't want to spike too much ovr 120-140. But as I said this may take awhile until the healing has taken place. As far as telling others, I do it on a need to know basis. If you have often hypos the people around you need to know what to do if you can't help yourself. If your children are very young I am not sure they need to know right now. As they grow older involve them in your care. Tell them how and why you test and why you have to eat certain foods. A good resource I found is BLOOD SUGAR 101 Blood Sugar 101 She explains everything and how to best manage it for the best outcome.
At lunch my blood sugar was 422. Then I took my insulin and ate some lunch. Within 15 I'm down to 310. It's such a rollercoaster. I'm having trouble eating my 75 mg for each meal. I'm not hungry. I don't understand, if I don't eat enough my bs goes really high. I wanted to tell everyone thank you for your comments, I really need your support right now.
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Hello April and:welcome: to the forum! I am really sorry that you had to find out about your diabetes at this time in your life. Well, we have alot to do and we will be asking you a lot of questions, this is so we can try and help you the best we can. You've already gotten some good advice. I have a few questions. What kind of medication are you on for your back? What kind of insulin pens are you using? How much do you take of each kind? Are you Type 1 or Type 2? You are on insulin and you can only get down to 280 with insulin? FIRST OF ALL, do not feel guilty because you have diabetes. I don't go around and tell everyone that I have diabetes, but that is because some people just don't need to know. Since you are on insulin, your family needs to know in the event you become low while using insulin. If your children are older, then it is time to let them know that Mom can get sick and make up a plan, just incase. What kind of diet are you following? Do you have a glucose meter at home? If your children are old enough, teach them to take your blood sugar at home, it will make them feel important and it will help you as well. Has anyone suggested that you get some diabetes self management lessons?
I think I have asked you enough questions for now. I want you to know that you can ask anything on here, we will try to help you the best that we can, there are no stupid questions. You have entered into our diabetes family and you will get much support on here, lean on us. tell us when you need to vent, tell us when you are sad and happy! If I am reading this correctly, you are eating 75 grams of carb at a meal, is that right? What kinds of Insulin are you on and are you a type 1 or type 2 diabetic? Eating carbs will cause your bg to rise. Many of us can only handle 15-30 per meal, even with the use of insulin. Seeing a Diabetic Educator may help you match your insulin use to your carbs at each meal. Can you tell us what you are eating?
Thank you so much. Type 1 they are saying but since i have an infection in my back they are waiting to see how i react after its gone. Has anyone had blood taken from an artery? They did that 8 times! Im on antibotics, novolog (7 units plus i have a scale to add more) and at night lantus plus novolog. I have a meter and the hospital had someone talk to me but i want an educator. Im very confused!! At the hospital i had an insulin drip and still my numbers where in the 200s. I have never been in the normal range and the highest was over 500s. My doctor made this scale for my bloodsugar numbers and it goes up to 400 for home care. I have a lot of problems with the food intake. I dont eat enough and then my number shoots up high? why is that? shouldnt go down if i didnt eat? Im scared to eat also... Im so glad i found forum. It makes me feel so much better to know i can talk to someone who feels and is going thru the same thing i am. Im a shamed because when i thought of diabetes i thought of overweight ppl who didnt care about what they where doing and now i am. ===== My questions, should i take my pen and meter everywhere i go? should i get a medical necklace? will this ever go away or will i have to do this til the day i die? How do you eat at fastfood or when your out?Hello April and:welcome: to the forum! I am really sorry that you had to find out about your diabetes at this time in your life. Well, we have alot to do and we will be asking you a lot of questions, this is so we can try and help you the best we can. You've already gotten some good advice. I have a few questions. What kind of medication are you on for your back? What kind of insulin pens are you using? How much do you take of each kind? Are you Type 1 or Type 2? You are on insulin and you can only get down to 280 with insulin? FIRST OF ALL, do not feel guilty because you have diabetes. I don't go around and tell everyone that I have diabetes, but that is because some people just don't need to know. Since you are on insulin, your family needs to know in the event you become low while using insulin. If your children are older, then it is time to let them know that Mom can get sick and make up a plan, just incase. What kind of diet are you following? Do you have a glucose meter at home? If your children are old enough, teach them to take your blood sugar at home, it will make them feel important and it will help you as well. Has anyone suggested that you get some diabetes self management lessons?
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onlymep
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hi April
Yes, I've had blood taken from main artery before... it hurts a bit doesn't it. My entire arm was aching for a couple of days afterwards. If you're not eating enough, you probably are not giving your body enough fuel to turn into energy. So then what happens is your body goes into flight/alert mode and tells your liver to dump glucose into your blood stream to keep you alive. The problem with this is the liver usually dumps more glucose than what we need. Because you are on insulin you really need to be careful to fuel your body correctly (but really this applies to absolutely everyone). You would benefit by eating more regularly. Make your meals small and not large. I've given some details about metabolism on another post here yesterday and what liver dumping is (refer Niki's post). You need to carry a diabetic kit with you at all times which includes everything you need to test your BGLs, and inject your insulin. Make sure you also carry a quick acting carb (pure sugar such as lollies, cool drink, fruit juice boxes, glucose tablets, etc.) and a long acting (or low GI) carb such as a museli bar, apple, wholegrain crackers, etc. You need to carry both carbs as if you happen to experience a hypo you will need to treat it quickly. First you have to take a quick acting carb, then if you are not eating a meal within 15 minutes you need to eat a low acting carb food to keep your energy level up. I know it sounds like a pain having to carry all this stuff with you... but it's necessary to keep your diabetes in check and controlled. It's a good idea to carry diabetes identification on you... whether that's a piece of jewellery or a card in your purse. I don't currently have the medi-alert jewellery... but I always carry a card that says I'm a member of a national diabetes services scheme here. There is no cure for diabetes... but it can be managed, that part is up to you. Hopefully your BGLs will show a big improvement for you. Please don't stress about them right now as you're still recovering from your infection... they will be high and not normal. Once you're back on your feet and feeling well you should hopefully have better BGL readings. I guess you have lots of questions right now... that's normal too as there is so much to know. We're all here for you... so keep us posted and ask anything you want.
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I don't know how your doctor figured your insulin dosage. Most doctors use basal/bolus insulin. You said 7 units plus more, I am trying to find out what your total daily dose of insulin is so I can figure out what your carb to insulin ratio would be. This way, I can figure your IC (insulin to carb) Most people on basal/bolus insulin have a much easier time with control. We need to figure that out. Your doctor probably didn't want to confuse you and decided to use something simple but it is also not very personal or accurate. Diabetes is a very odd disease and each person must find what works for them. You also have an illness/injury to figure into the mix. If your body was working properly, your glucose reading number would fall when you didn't eat enough or ate less. That is not happening so we need to find out if we can find a reason, if not then you need to contact your doctor. Don't starve yourself! Eat proteins such as meats, cheeses or eggs and eat fats such as mayo or salad dressing. Most of these will cause little to no increase to blood sugar, so eat and stay strong! If you are overweight and get diabetes is still being discussed. Don't worry, we have many members who are overweight and have diabetes and many who are average weight and have diabetes. Yes, take your meter and a little notebook in your purse or diaper bag with you at all times. Yes, you need a medical necklace or bracelet, you can order a personalized piece of jewelry at Medical Alert ID Bracelets Necklaces & Medic Jewelry for Men Women and Kids. I would just think that your diabetes could go either way, so you should get used to diabetes. If you don't have it, then will have learned so much to pass on to someone else you may meet in life who has diabetes. I don't eat out very often, when I do, I try and pick some place who serves protein. As an example, Kentucky Fried Chicken has a sandwich out called double something (sorry I can't remember the name) it has 2 pieces of chicken breasts and cheese in between....so it is a sandwich without bread. Or get a salad or take some tortilla wraps in your purses and go to Arby's and switch the bread with the tortilla wrap. I like Subway because I can get a huge salad and add my favorite meat & cheese and use blue cheese dressing, no need to worry about carbs with this meal! Don't worry about anything right now! Remember that foods is not the enemy and carbs need to be counted!
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Do you mean 75 gms of carbs? If so, that is a lot to eat at one meal, especially if your blood sugar is already high. Carbs increase your blood sugar, no not eating enough of them would make your blood sugar go low..not high. Have you met with a diabetes educator yet? Have they gone over carb counting with regards to your insulin dosing?
Keep asking questions! There is so much to learn in the beginning. It gets easier..I promise
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April, when you have eliminated the infection your blood sugar should drop a lot. many diabetics with a high like that delay eating until they lower the blood sugar as much as possible first. Drinking lots of water and following a low carb diet would help. Exercise, when possible, will help too. Are you using two kinds of insulin? Getting your basal and bolus insulins situated with the appropriate dosages will help the most.
I have been type 1 for 65 years and I am very healthy. When you are well and have good control, you can have a long, healthy life.
Richard
I have been type 1 for 65 years and I am very healthy. When you are well and have good control, you can have a long, healthy life.
Richard
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onlymep
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this is the HbA1C test (glycated hemoglobin) which measures what your average blood sugar level has been for the past 60 days (well that's what pathology results advise here). You can have diabetes without any symptoms. Although one of the symptoms they diagnose with is infections. I was diagnosed myself as a result of an infection I had. Having diabetes makes you more prone to infections because of the high sugar in your blood. Bacteria and fungus basically likes to stick around literally.... that's another reason we strive to keep our BGLs lower. We have to be careful to keep everything in check, especially our feet, eyes, teeth/gums, etc.
Is 11.5 really high or just due to infection? I truly dont know a single person that has diabetes so i have no one else to talk to about this. My bedtime bl was 128. So today its been 422 and also 103....... I feel like a train wreck
Hang in there, you will get control, you will learn how your body reacts, etc. I am type 2, My a1c was 11.5 on diagnosis and I too had no symptoms. Read others experiences, learn what works for them, you'll figure out what works for you too! Beyond all else,understand you are not alone! Visit often and absorb the support from this great forum.April513 said:
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April, I have a few more questions. Is your back healed or is it still infected? How did your doctor tell you that your high blood sugar was from an infection instead of regular diabetes? When did they tell you that this would go away? Can you tell me how many units of insulin that you took yesterday? That would be a total rapid acting and long acting insulin.
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