So I’ve been a type 2 diabetic since November 2007…
In January 2010, I went through chronic depression, which I was treated with medication, however, my stress level was constantly at it’s peak. In February 2010, I quit my job due to the chronic depression. I started noticing that I was slowly losing weight. I figured it was the depression. In March 2010, I was still losing weight without trying. I was taking my medicine, and following a proper diet to keep my sugars level. In April 2010, I started to feel constantly thirsty, in which I was urinating A LOT too. I figured I was urinating a lot because I was drinking a lot of fluids due to being excessively thirsty. I found out my hemoglobin A1C was 11%, at which point I felt like a failure in trying to control my blood sugar. I also found out that I’ve lost 20 pounds since February! I soon found out that depression and stress can do this to diabetics, which I experienced in January. It all started to make since to me now.
I’ve decided to write this blog to post my blood sugars everyday for everyone to see. I’m also going to talk about how I feel for the day. Please if you have any advice to share with me, please do so. I would love to hear from you.
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May 09, 2010: Happy Mother’s Day! Feeling very tired today. 290 (after lunch); 329 (after supper)
May 10, 2010: 344 (fasting); went to ER…no infections, no ketones, nor am I DKA, which is good. BS 440 upon arriving to ER, and 166 upon discharge. Novolog now prescribed to me with sliding scale. 6:30pm - I have a huge headache now. Thinking it’s because of the dramatic decline in me BG today. But I don’t know. 7:00pm - BG 333 (after supper), oh boy here we go again.
May 11, 2010: 321 (fasting), had 2 charlie horses last night in my left calve, and woke up to a huge headache. 356 (after breakfast), 370 (after lunch), 447 (after supper) WTF!!!
May 12, 2010: 317 (fasting), 482 (after breakfast), NOVOLOG RECEIVED, 2:09pm - 345, 10u given per sliding scale//4:21pm - 165//7:30pm - 315, 5u given per SS//11:49pm - 123//12:48am - 235, 3u given per SS
May 13, 2010: 304 (fasting), 5u given per SS//1:00pm - 213, 3u given per SS//6:00pm - 421, 10u given per SS//10:15pm - 102, Has the shakes bad//1:32am - 373, 10u given per SS
May 14, 2010: 256 (fasting), 4u given per SS//1pm - 320 5u given//4:34pm - 226, 3u given
May 15, 2010: 277 (fasting), 4u given//11:19am - 224, 3u given//10:41pm - 195, 2u given//worked all day today from 6am - 10pm…I come home exhausted!!!
May 16, 2010: 187 (fasting), 2u given//3:47pm - 184, 2u given//7:55pm - 253, 4u given//12:32am - 234, 3u given//woke up with a sharp headache
May 17, 2010: 317(fasting), 5u given, haven’t had a charlie horse in almost a week//1:18pm - 166, 2u given//5:34pm - 202, 3u given//12:57am - 139, 1u given//Doctor changed my morning insulin from the sliding scale of NovoLog to 12u of NovoLog.
May 18, 2010: 133(fasting), 12u given per new doctor order. 12u every morning. Woke up this morning very nauseous//1:41pm - 227, 3u given//6:16pm - 170, 2u given//Doctor no longer wants me on 12u of NovoLog in the morning, but to go back to the sliding scale in the morning//10:02pm - 176, 2u given
May 19, 2010: 219(fasting), 3u given//11:48am - 272, 4u given//5:44pm - 174, 2u given//12:04am - 208, 3u given
May 20, 2010: 170(fasting), 2u given//1:16pm - 248, 3u given//5:28pm - 138, 1u given//11:53pm - 171, 2u given
May 21, 2010: 334(fasting), 5u given//2:19pm - 318, 5u given//5:41pm - 167, 2u given//12:29am - 240, 3u given
May 22, 2010: 153(fasting), 1u given//6:53pm - 257, 4u given//11:34pm - 136, 1u given
Hi Laura. I’m type 1 and have been for 35 yrs. So I’m not sure what you could do, definitely talk to your Dr. But as far as depression goes I like to think about the good things in my life. And I have to remind myself that it could be worse. I sure hope you manage to get those numbers down. Good luck !
Part of your depression may be caused by the hyperglycemia. If you can get your numbers down you will feel better. Are you taking Insulin?
No, doctor hasn’t given me insulin yet.
Laura,
Please talk to your doctor about insulin to bring your numbers under control. No wonder you’re tired:( High BG really wears us out.
Laura – the weight loss combined with these high numbers, leg cramps, and exteme fatigue continue to make me think that you may be heading towards DKA. Please get to the doctor as soon as possible.
All this stuff that is happening to you, this is diabetes. Even your depression, that may well all be part of your being sick. As I understand it, your HbA1c was 11% and your doctor upped your metformin and gave you Amaryl. In my opinion that will fall far short of getting your blood sugar under control. I don’t think your doctor has given you proper care. You have lost weight, your body is urgently trying to get rid of poisonous levels of blood sugar and ketones, and your blood sugar is dangerously high. I would urge you to just walk right down the ER or urgent care and demand treatment. You will likely be immediately given insulin and hydrated properly. Don’t call your doctor back, I think he has failed you.
Going to the ER is the “safe” and “prudent” thing to do. Nobody will ever criticize you for seeking proper medical care under these circumstances, instead you will be praised for having the “smarts” to do the right thing. So please march right down there and report back to let us know you are ok.
So proud!!!
Glad your numbers are coming down! Starting on a long-acting insulin (like Levemir or Lantus) may reduce the spikes.
You should also ask your doctor for a c-peptide test (to test the amount of insulin your body is producing) and a GAD antibody test (to see if you have antibodies associated with type 1). For insurance purposes, it can be important to have the correct diagnosis of which type of diabetes you have.
I’m glad things are starting to get better. Don’t get frustrated. Your blood sugar has been very high and it will take a bit to work it down to the normal range. And rememnber, you will feel like you are having a terrible hypo when your blood sugar is 100 mg/dl. But you’ve been high for so long you’ve gotten used to it.
I do hope you have made some progress finding an endo. If you need some suggestions, I’ll look up some in your area. Kristin gives you good advice, but it is probably best to work with a specialist, an endo.