High Glucose Levels - Need Help

[PeggyV]

Need your help. Just had my annual physical. The nurse called me to let me know results. Bad choestrol is to high again (132) but this year she said my glucose was high and I needed to be tested again in 6 months. When I questioned her she said the Dr. would call me in the morning. Can this be related to Celiacs? I am not diagnosed, but am extremely sensitive to glutten in my diet (Gluten free since 10/06) Even though not diagnose I think I do have Celiacs. (Wont go into that on this post) I have had quite a few times recently when I have accidently been gluttened. I am concerned, could this be related to my high glucose levels?

[Guest j_mommy]

Eating alot of carbs can raise your glucose level.

[georgie]

Eating too many carbs can raise Glucose. Eat meat and vegetables/ salads. Have you had your Thyroid checked? High cholesterol can be an indicator for low Thyroid. Make sure they do a full Thyroid panel ( not just TSH). Free T4, Free T3 and Antibodies are the important tests. Are you Insulin Resistant ? What was the blood test for fasting Insulin levels ? Have you had a 4 hour Glucose Tolerance Test done with Glucose and Insulin measured every hour ?

[PeggyV]

Eating too many carbs can raise Glucose. Eat meat and vegetables/ salads. Have you had your Thyroid checked? High cholesterol can be an indicator for low Thyroid. Make sure they do a full Thyroid panel ( not just TSH). Free T4, Free T3 and Antibodies are the important tests. Are you Insulin Resistant ? What was the blood test for fasting Insulin levels ? Have you had a 4 hour Glucose Tolerance Test done with Glucose and Insulin measured every hour ?

I dont eat a lot of carbs. I do eat some - potatoes mainly. I eat big salads with lots of different veggies almost every day for lunch - no dressing just balsamic vinager and some olive oil. Meat & veggies ( alot of brocolli) for dinner. Fruit and nuts for snacks. Dont drink pop, I eat about 4 hershy kisses a day. I am carefull with my diet. I exersise (not a lot, about 2.5 - 3.5 hours a week. I am not over or under weight.

No I havent checked my Thyroid. Good idea. No I dont think I am inslulin resistant. I just went in for my physical, I did fast. No I never did the 4 hour test. I guess my doctor doesnt think I need to come back and check again for 6 months! This seems like a long time to wait if something is going on.

I need to know what to ask the doctor when he calls me this morning. I will ask some of your questions, Thanks

[lmvrbaby]

My oldest son went many years physical after physical and was never diagnosed until he was almost 17. He ate like a typical teenager. Then he got sick. He was vominting everyday for about a month and we thought he had some abdonimal thing. THe doctors said it was viral and nothing could be done. After the month, my and my son was vominting he said it burned, I called the doctors again they said he had to go to the hospital. She called ahead to get some tests ordered and we found out 9pm on a Saturday night that his level was over 600.

If your levels are a little high, it could just be out of the normal range of 80 to 120. A little high could mean just about anything. They usually say drink more water and watch your carb intake as well as your sugar intake. So ask questions like that, should I drink more water, eat less carbs. From everything else you are saying you are doing everything right. 6 months is not unusually to be rechecked. The rest of my children are checked yearly. My oldest is the only one with juvenile diabetes and after 3 years (and many months after he was hospitalized) of me asking him to be tested for celiac one doctor finally did it. I wouldn't worry. You can always ask to be seen sooner if that would help you. Most doctors are accomodating.

Good luck with whatever you find out.

[ravenwoodglass]

For me there is a direct corelation between gluten and blood sugar levels. I was diagnosed diabetic when I went to my doctor after a glutening. He wanted to push meds which I refused. I started tracking my blood sugar, morning, pre and post meals and before bed. After 9 months of this and 3 AIC measures below 6 we realized it was the glutening that was raising my BS. I still eat lower carb and low sugar, well I should say natural cane sugar only. One good thing all those sticks did was to show me how much what I ate really effected blood sugar. The easiest way to bring it up was to consume high fructose corn syrup in anything. Just dropping that and going with natural sugars and no sugar in things like jams and jellies helps a great deal.

Do keep an eye on this but once you go gluten free that will likely help your sugar metabolism a great deal.

[PeggyV]

For me there is a direct corelation between gluten and blood sugar levels. I was diagnosed diabetic when I went to my doctor after a glutening. He wanted to push meds which I refused. I started tracking my blood sugar, morning, pre and post meals and before bed. After 9 months of this and 3 AIC measures below 6 we realized it was the glutening that was raising my BS. I still eat lower carb and low sugar, well I should say natural cane sugar only. One good thing all those sticks did was to show me how much what I ate really effected blood sugar. The easiest way to bring it up was to consume high fructose corn syrup in anything. Just dropping that and going with natural sugars and no sugar in things like jams and jellies helps a great deal.

Do keep an eye on this but once you go gluten free that will likely help your sugar metabolism a great deal.

That helps, I have been gluten free over a year, however over thanksgiving week I was glutened 3 days in a row.... My system is still recovering. Now I wonder if that raised my blood sugar, also I did make a cheesecake last week (gluten-free of course) and had a piece 3 days in a row. Guess I am just worrying because the last several months my feet have been bothering me in the morning, and I wondered if I had bad circulation. I will talk to my Dr. when he calls , cut back on sugar and not worry.

[ravenwoodglass]

That helps, I have been gluten free over a year, however over thanksgiving week I was glutened 3 days in a row.... My system is still recovering. Now I wonder if that raised my blood sugar, also I did make a cheesecake last week (gluten-free of course) and had a piece 3 days in a row. Guess I am just worrying because the last several months my feet have been bothering me in the morning, and I wondered if I had bad circulation. I will talk to my Dr. when he calls , cut back on sugar and not worry.

Also make sure they do an A1C on you, this is a 3 month measure of your average blood sugar. It can be helpful in telling whether your high because of illness, any can raise your sugar, or because you are prediabetic. One piece of cheesecake a day even for three days shouldn't be out of order unless you also feasted on lots of other high carb sugary stuff. Cheesecake would be one of the better 'treats' as it at least is giving you some protein with your sugar. As long as your not lactose intolerant.

You mentioned your feet bothering you, are you taking your sublingual B12 every day?

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I've read that cinnamon helps metabolism of sugar, and have seen cinnamon capsules at the health food store. Does anybody know if this helps for sure? (I suppose it couldn't hurt, right?)

[elye]

Yes, I heard some time ago that cinnamon helps regulate blood sugars, and I make a point of having some each day. Chromium picolinate, also...500 mg a day is recommended for blood sugar issues. I maintain tight control of my bs (I'm type one), and like others on here, it goes up suddenly when I'm glutened.

Peggy, you may want to invest in a home glucose monitor. They are under $50.00, and a wise investment that you may use forever. They are easy to use, and you can check your own blood sugars whenever you're unsure.

[silk]

I've read that cinnamon helps metabolism of sugar, and have seen cinnamon capsules at the health food store. Does anybody know if this helps for sure? (I suppose it couldn't hurt, right?)

I am a type 1 diabetic and I have been taking cinnamon capsules for about 5 months now because I had also heard that it helps to regulate BS levels. I have to say that I honestly have not seen any difference because of it. Of course, I had also started to push whole grains, wheat, etc. at the same time and that is when my stomach problems really kicked into gear. Realize now that it was the gluten that was causing many of my problems but since my diabetes has been really pretty well controlled for the past 5 years or more (A1C's all under 6), I can't say that the cinnamon has really had a positive effect on the BS. Have tried the chromium picolinate in the past as well and didn't really see any difference. The biggest benefit to controlling bs is diet and exercise.

Since I have been off of the gluten, I have had to lower my insulin intake considerably which is great but it makes me wonder. If I had known as a child that I could not tolerate gluten (had the stomach problems as a child too), and had removed the gluten from my diet right away, would I have developed the diabetes? And I also wonder if I remain off of the gluten, if it is possible that I will reach a point when I will no longer be insulin dependent?

[MyMississippi]

Does anyone else in your family have diabetes?? Parent, grandparent ??? Type 2 diabetes is often hereditary. You might be in the "prediabetic" phase, if your Fasting glucose is running over 100, but below 120.

Keep your carbs down and you might be able to forestall ever getting full blown diabetes. THe book, The Atkins Diabetes Revolution is worth reading.

[ravenwoodglass]

I've read that cinnamon helps metabolism of sugar, and have seen cinnamon capsules at the health food store. Does anybody know if this helps for sure? (I suppose it couldn't hurt, right?)

It seems to help me. I don't use capsules though, I like cinnamon so I just make sure I get a the equivelent of 1 tsp (the recommended amount) over the course of a day. If I have had a meal with a lot of high glycemic index foods I try to end it with a 1/2 cup of applesauce, organic and unsweetened, with a good spoon of cinnamon mixed in. Personally I stay away from it in pill form, I don't want anything added to it and I am not someone who thinks that if a teaspoon is good 10 times as much must be better. I also used to cook in a 'international' themed restaurant and found out how good it is in tomato based beef or pork stews. Cinnamon experimentation may help and post prandial checks of your BS are one of the best ways to learn how to keep your BS in check.

[PeggyV]

Also make sure they do an A1C on you, this is a 3 month measure of your average blood sugar. It can be helpful in telling whether your high because of illness, any can raise your sugar, or because you are prediabetic. One piece of cheesecake a day even for three days shouldn't be out of order unless you also feasted on lots of other high carb sugary stuff. Cheesecake would be one of the better 'treats' as it at least is giving you some protein with your sugar. As long as your not lactose intolerant.

You mentioned your feet bothering you, are you taking your sublingual B12 every day?

No I havent been doing my B12 like I should. I will go down to the store tomorrow and get some. I need to be more careful about it.

I am getting the A1C on tuesday. I just want to be sure. My diet is very low in carbs. I am sure it is nothing but it bothers me. Guess I have gotten sort of perinoid about my health.

[PeggyV]

Yes, I heard some time ago that cinnamon helps regulate blood sugars, and I make a point of having some each day. Chromium picolinate, also...500 mg a day is recommended for blood sugar issues. I maintain tight control of my bs (I'm type one), and like others on here, it goes up suddenly when I'm glutened.

Peggy, you may want to invest in a home glucose monitor. They are under $50.00, and a wise investment that you may use forever. They are easy to use, and you can check your own blood sugars whenever you're unsure.

I didnt know that they were that inexpensive. Thanks

[PeggyV]

Does anyone else in your family have diabetes?? Parent, grandparent ??? Type 2 diabetes is often hereditary. You might be in the "prediabetic" phase, if your Fasting glucose is running over 100, but below 120.

Keep your carbs down and you might be able to forestall ever getting full blown diabetes. THe book, The Atkins Diabetes Revolution is worth reading.

Paternal Grandfather was diebetic. Died 40 years ago. We dont know what type. I would defininatly cut back on carbs. Also the suggestion to get a glucose meter sounds good. I didnt realize it might be possible to stop from getting it.

[neesee]

It doesn't sound like your dr is too awfully concerned at this point. However, dropping a few lbs as well as cutting back on refined carbs and sugar will do a whole lot to drop your blood sugar back to normal. Walking is also excellent for blood sugar control.

neesee