Blood Sugar Levels - Hashimotos

[Jefner]

I am wondering whether I should monitor my blood sugar levels as it seems to play a big part in this damn disease. I had a scary thing happen earlier and I thought I was gonna pass out. I don't get up until lunchtime and can't eat for at least an hour after, shoving food down me when I am nauseous with anxiety isn't easy. Today was a little different and has happened before, I went all dizzy, shaky etc and thought I was gonna drop to the floor. Seems, after reading up, symptoms are generally the same for hypoglycemia as anxiety but hypo/hyper/reactive seem common. Would it be prudent to buy an Instant Blood Glucose and monitor my levels? Does anyone else do it?

Because I am a mixed bag of so many things it's so difficult trying to find the root cause of this anxiety but blood sugar levels could well play a part

By the way feeling a little better off that Mercury Pharma T3 but still not right by any means.

[grumpyold]

Hi Jefner, I have Hashi's too and I monitor my blood sugar levels. I bought the Betachek 50 because it's such a handy little device with the testing strips as part of the device, not separate.

Much to my horror I found out that I was type 2 , 6 years ago. (My profile says it all, if you are interested.)

[Jefner in reply to grumpyold]

did you discover that you are diabetes yourself by buying the piece of kit. I have contacted my Dr urgently but she's not in today so waiting for a call from another Dr. Problem is with me I am a complex case and a lot of the symptoms are also from anxiety but so strikingly close to hypoglycemia. If I bought one do you have to test at certain times or anytime. Of course I don't know how it all works

[grumpyold in reply to Jefner]

Hiya. It was a routine annual blood test which got it diagnosed. My Hba1c was 60 and anything above 48 is rated as diabetic. 42 to 48 is pre-diabetic. The Hba1c shows an average over 2 to 3 months whereas the monitor tells you exact glucose reading time of testing.

The monitor would alert you to high blood sugar levels. I generally test first thing in the morning and 2 hours after meals.

You can test whenever you like with the monitor.

As you are quite concerned, initially I would ask doctor to do the Hba1c for you. Hope this helps.



[Jefner in reply to grumpyold]

my GP wants to see me around 6 tonight. A friend is driving me. Hope I can get there cus panicky right now

[grumpyold in reply to Jefner]

Great you can be seen so quickly. Not long to wait, keep calm. Good luck.

[Jefner in reply to grumpyold]

just got home, I made it!. She has booked me in for a full blood panel including the hba1c test for Monday. She checked my blood pressure standing and sitting, heart and lungs and quick blood test to check levels which were normal and measured I think it was 4.

I don't get the episodes all the time but I usually shove a mouthful of cold meat in my mouth or a bit of cheese. I tried to preserve my poor mental health by going to bed around 3-4am and not waking until around 1pm so I don't have to tolerate 8hrs of building works noise but it seems I have just created another problem maybe? I just wished I knew the root cause of this damn anxiety then I could function better.

[Miffie]

If you are experiencing hypoglycaemic episodes then you need to see your GP asap. I am diabetic and have had a number of these. Luckily I have only been alone once when it happened otherwise my husband/ daughter/ friends have been on hand to get me the necessary to recover.

Bizarrely the symptoms of hyperglycaemia for me are similar to hypo but much less debilitating and I can cope easily. Fortunately keeping diabetes under control avoids these episodes. Once diagnosed with diabetes you will be issued a blood glucose meter if required as well as strips. If you are lucky you may even get a handy arm monitor with constant results on your phone.

Take care

[Jefner in reply to Miffie]

how would my Dr test me

[Macarthy in reply to Jefner]

You'll have a blood test to check your HbA1c levels. Basically tests how much glucose has stuck to your blood cells in the past 3 months. That will give your doctor a snapshot of how your body responds to its own insulin/shifting glucose out of your bloodstream into your cells and muscles.

I'm diabetes 2 (and have just gone from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid, got a new GP, she's now trying to rein me in, I'm wired - you couldn't make it up 🤣) and I have blood tests via the hospital every 3 months, plus I use (of my own choice) a mini glucose monitor and strips to keep a check on my postprandial readings (for me, 2-3 hours after a meal).

Best to get an HbA1C check via your surgery. Good luck and hope you feel better!

[Jefner in reply to Macarthy]

i am so scared right now. Waiting on a call from the surgery so no idea what is gonna happen as they will have to visit me to take bloods because of my agoraphobia. How do I keep things on an even keel until then. If I get another episode and pass out I live alone with no friends

[Jefner in reply to Macarthy]

my GP wants to see me around 6 tonight. A friend is driving me. Hope I can get there cus panicky right now

[Jefner in reply to Macarthy]

just got home. She has booked me in for a full blood panel including the hba1c test for Monday. She checked my blood pressure standing and sitting, heart and lungs and quick blood test to check levels which were normal and measured I think it was 4.

I don't get the episodes all the time but I usually shove a mouthful of cold meat in my mouth or a bit of cheese. I tried to preserve my poor mental health by going to bed around 3-4am and not waking until around 1pm so I don't have to tolerate 8hrs of building works noise but it seems I have just created another problem maybe?

[Miffie in reply to Jefner]

The GP will arrange for you to have an HBA1c blood test.

This gives a picture of how your levels have been in the past three months.

When you have these episodes what do you do? What makes you feel better?

UPDATE

I have now realised you had updated us before I posted my comment re testing by GP. I hope all went well and you find the cause of these upsetting episodes.

Please keep us updated.

[Jefner in reply to Miffie]

just got home. She has booked me in for a full blood panel including the hba1c test for Monday. She checked my blood pressure standing and sitting, heart and lungs and quick blood test to check levels which were normal and measured I think it was 4.

I don't get the episodes all the time but I usually shove a mouthful of cold meat in my mouth or a bit of cheese. I tried to preserve my poor mental health by going to bed around 3-4am and not waking until around 1pm so I don't have to tolerate 8hrs of building works noise but it seems I have just created another problem maybe?

[Miffie in reply to Jefner]

The good news is that if cold meat and or cheese help it’s probably not hypoglycaemia. That needs sugar in the form of fruit juice/ jelly babies or similar to immediately raise levels followed by slow release carbs to maintain.

Good the GP is on the ball. The sitting/ standing blood pressure thing can be a nuisance I know but even being aware and taking time to move can really help. Good luck with tests, keep us updated. Take care.

[Jefner in reply to Miffie]

yes it was so good of her to fit me in so late, poor staff waiting on me so they could go home. I researched about keeping sugar levels even some time back and it was recommended to have protein which keeps things stable longer, but it didn't help at all the other day when I felt so bad.

[Tiggerdumbo]

Hi Jefner, I am hashi and I am pre diabetic, level is 42, picked up on a routine blood test too!

Its a minefield unfortunately, good luck