Re: Andy - blood sugar

[Guest guest]

Andy,

for me, diabetes began with first having only low blood sugar. This started

about 3 months after the acute panc attacks returned in Jul 02. My mom

recognized the symptoms because she is a diabetic. I got really shaky,

cold, clammy, dizzy, and sometimes nauseated. Checked my blood sugar and it

was about 52 or so. This went on for several weeks. As long as I ate every

two hours while I was awake, things were pretty much okay. If I went more

than two hours without eating, my blood sugar would drop to the 50's. After

several weeks, I began having episodes of my blood sugar going high and then

dropping low. First the highest high was only around 150, but as time went

on the highest high blood sugar would go higher and higher. It's never been

terrible. I think the highest it's ever been (that I know of) is 324. Not

dangerous, but the highs and lows were enough to have the endocrinologist

tell me that I definitely have type 2 diabetes when I saw him for the first

time in January 03 (3 months after the blood sugar problems began and six

months after the acute panc returned). The consensus is still out on

whether the diabetes is from the acute panc attacks (my GI insists I don't

have CP, but three different surgeons say I do - so who knows). It could

just be that I have diabetes because I inherited it from my mom. My mom has

never been overweight and is very active. She was diagnosed with type 2

diabetes about 17 years ago when she was around 50. I'm only 42, but still

I guess diabetes could just be in the genes and have nothing to do with the

acute panc attacks returning. The strange thing is that I had lost 100 lbs

and was no longer overweight prior to having any problems with my blood

sugar. I thought it was odd that my blood sugar problems began with my

blood sugar initially just going low and that it wasn't until several weeks

later that I began having problems with it going high. However, after my

diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, I met with a dietician and she told me that

diabetes very often begins with just low blood sugar at first. Since you

have access to a blood sugar monitor, I would recommend you check your blood

sugar a few times a day and keep a log. Also, following a diabetic diet is

probably a very healthy way for just about anyone to eat.

W