I'm totally confused

Hi there, I don't know if you remember me, but I've been on the boards before. I used to frequent the Ulcerative colitis forum and pop in here every now and then with questions.

I bought myself a meter a couple of years ago after deciding that my BG was a little high. My Dr. laughed at me, but this something I wanted to do for myself.

The test I had done at the lab was 103 fasting and 119 (at 2 hours) after a 75g load of glucose. The Dr. told me that's perfectly normal.

I did some reading online and found that while in Canada up to 110 is considered normal, 103 is on the high side. That's when I bought the meter.

I've tested myself at all different times. Usually fasting, then 2 hours after meals. My after meal numbers are usually around 100 or just a little over. This is after eating whole wheat spaghetti, turkey burger on a whole wheat bun, rice with meals etc, even an A&W burger and onion rings. . The highest I've ever been, and it was only 1 time is 158 at 2 hours. . That was after eating a filet 'o fish and fries at McDonalds (lots of sugar in that c**p). The odd time it's been 130ish, but rarely.

I test for a week or so every few months to see what's going on...checking for changes. For months now my fasting has been steady at 84. Two hours after meals is usually 95-110.

I just started one of my testing phases again last week, and suddenly my fasting numbers are 90-100.

I'm wondering why the sudden little increase. Mind you I checked back in my records, and found that I did have 100 fasting in Feb 08 on occasion. Unfortunately I didn't keep records from Feb 08 until last week, but when I did test, I was always 84. I suppose there could have been times in there when I wasn't keeping records that there was an increase, but I guess I'll never know if small increases were a pattern for me.

Here's the part that really confuses me though. I always do my fasting test as soon as I get up. Today I decided to test it again 1.5 hours later (still in fasting state) and it had gone from 97 up to 106. This would explain why my fasting at the lab is always higher than my home fasting test. Why does it go up after you've been up and around for a while? My fasting numbers aren't as good as I thought they were if they're going up like that before eating anything in the morning.

I'm not freaking out or anything, but this does put me closer to being considered pre-diabetic. What do you all think? Would I be considered pre-diabetic with my postprandial numbers being as good as they are?

You read stuff my Dr. Bernstein or the "What they don't tell you about diabetes" website and they say truly normal people never, ever go above 120 no matter what they eat, normal people are from 70-85 fasting and that your A1C should be 4.7 at the most.

How many more people would be considered Glucose intolerant if the medical community adopted those standards?

I guess I'm just really confused as to what normal really is. There's so much conflicting information out there. Some of it almost seems militant in it's tone. I was adopted, so I don't have any family history to go by. It can make you feel like you're flying blind when it comes to health issues at times.

If anyone can answer my question about fasting numbers going up after you've been up for a while, that would be great. It seems fasting numbers aren't very accurate if they depend on when you take them.

Hi there again.  You're back!   "Dawn Phenomenon"  is when the blood sugar starts to rise in the morning after you wake up.  One explanation is that your body sends blood sugar into the blood stream to be ready for your day's work, giving you the energy you need for activity.  This would explain why you would have a higher reading an hour after your first one even if you hadn't eaten breakfast in between the two times you test your blood sugar.  This might be a good reason not to skip breakfast!  Anyway, as far as your blood sugar readings, you're doing fine.  Since you don't know your family history, it's probably a good idea to be aware of what your blood sugar is.  At this point, you're ok.  If you see that your blood sugar is slowly rising, then cut down a little on the carbs.  For example, substitute another vegetable for a potato.  Switch to whole grain bread if you're eating plain white.  Don't eat a whole meal of pasta - make sure there's protein and fats like oil and cheese with it.  In this way, you can drag out the blood sugar rise if it's starting to get elevated. 

There are many undiagnosed diabetics and "pre"diabetics walking around and because there's an explosion of diabetes around the world, many medical organizations have lowered the parameters by which diabetes is diagnosed.  So, in general, you want to have fasting under 100.  Because of dawn phenomenon, it's important to eat breakfast (but not laden with carbs).  Most 'normals' produce enough insulin to counteract the glucose in the blood during the early morning but type 1s especially may be hit by DP because they don't produce insulin.  Type 2s may still produce some insulin but they're insulin resistant and can't metabolize the glucose efficiently.  So, there's the DP in action.  Scrambled eggs with cheese, coffee with cream.  That will help you stabilize the morning's blood sugar.

Hey there, I was told that 72-125 is where most people should be...At night I will drop down in the 40's and 50's and try to go back to sleep without eating (before I knew what I was supposed to do) and then a few hrs later is would be back up in the 100's. At first I thought this was my meter, but I have since gotten a new one and having the same numbers...its a mystery to me!

It's weird, because if you're in Canada where I am, you're not considered PD until you're above 110 fasting. I think WHO also goes by this criteria. From what I've read the U.S. is the only country that considers under 100 to be PD.

I sometimes wonder about LADA (type 1.5) because I'm not the typical type 2. I know there can be slim, fit type 2s though.

There really isn't much information on LADA online, but I figure my nos. would have deteriorated in the last 3 1/2 years if my mild blood sugar irregularities were heading toward LADA.

Anyone know the answer to that? Thanks.

Just a quick thought: do you brush your teeth after your first fasting reading but before your second? Brushing my teeth would always raise my number 40-60 points when my doctor would take my fasting number until it finally occurred to me to use sugar-free toothpaste...Toothpaste may be affecting your second reading, just not dramatically because you're not truly diabetic. Just a thought...

Stress and illness (like cold or flu) can cause your blood sugar to rise.  Other medication you take can do it too just like food.  It's possible it could be a weak battery.  How old is the meter?  I've had a couple of meters for 2 years and they're fine.  I think those batteries last a long time.  I don't know how the onset of LADA is.  Gradual or not.  It seems to me you'd be having numbers like a roller coaster ride.  So, I'd just keep an eye on it.  If you do have very erratic numbers for no discernable reason, I think a trip to the doctor would be a good idea.  Otherwise, it could be stress?

One of the best things you can do is have a log of your days recording what you eat and what your blood sugar is.  I'd also add how you feel at the moment when you test.  It might not be scientific but the readings should help when you explain what's going on to the doctor.  I went through menopause before I started testing my blood sugar so I have no idea what effects it had.  (And, oh gosh, that would have been one more thing I didn't need to worry about!) 

I'm sorry you're going through a rough time now with adrenaline in your gut.  I hope that resolves itself.  Good luck with your doctor's visit.  I hope you get some relief and some answers.  Try not to stress yourself further over the blood sugar though so you don't end up in a never ending cause - effect cycle.

Take care,