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Celiacs, Infections, Crazy Blood Sugar

Jortyle

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Jortyle Newbie
Jortyle
Posted

Hello Everyone,

I was diagnosed Celiac in Oct 11, since then I have been very strict on the gluten-free diet. It really took almost 6 months to start to feel considerable better (so don't feel bad if you are just starting). The downside is... I have been on again off again sick since starting the gluten-free. I suffered a massive infection about 3 weeks ago that really knocked me on my but. After two rounds of antibiotics I began to feel a bit better, but last weekend I got the dry mouth and frequent urination thing going on. I went to Target picked up a Glucose tester and my BS was 240... (29 Yr Male, 6'2" 165 pounds). Needless to say I was very concerned, I drove to the ER, and they placed me on an IV (and basically made me feel stupid for coming in). It has been several days an my BS has been hovering in the 160-200 range.

Now this is where it gets interesting... This same thing happened to me 2 years ago, following an illness my BS shot up to 400. I was diagnosed a Type 1 diabetic... However, after 2 weeks my Blood sugar returned to totally normal ranges. A1C = 4.9... I was sent to three internists, and 2 endos and after 6 months, all concluded NO diabetes. 3 subsequent A1Cs all reflected 4.8-5.1.

Given my history, my PCM is not concerned. Says a crappy immune system, and Celiacs are to blame, but does not suspect Diabetes as type 1 or LADA doesn't behave this way.

Has anyone else had crazy blood sugar with celiacs/illness? The endo told me last time that some folks have diabetic-like reactions to illness which is not diabetes.

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Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

You aren't taking, or have not taken, prednisone, have you ?

Have you had your thyroid function tested, and also tested for thyroid antibodies (for auto immune thyroid disease) ?

Jortyle Newbie
Jortyle
Posted
  • Author

You aren't taking, or have not taken, prednisone, have you ?

Have you had your thyroid function tested, and also tested for thyroid antibodies (for auto immune thyroid disease) ?

They tested my Thyroid the first time around said everything "checked out" but I don't think they tested for Thyroid antibodies... My body temperature tends to be low, not sure if that is tied to the BS stuff.

MoMof2Boyz Enthusiast
MoMof2Boyz
Posted

They tested my Thyroid the first time around said everything "checked out" but I don't think they tested for Thyroid antibodies... My body temperature tends to be low, not sure if that is tied to the BS stuff.

oops, I don't mean to keep quoting when I post a reply, but its' been awhile since I"ve been to this site and I don't remember how to post a reply without quoting the last post. Anyway, you can have low body temps with thyroid problems and also adrenals too. If you haven't already, I"d get a saliva cortisol test. Also, you need your thyroid test results and check the numbers...your thyroid levels could be low, but still in range and that might be why doc says it's fine.

Skylark Collaborator
Skylark
Posted

Any chance you're vitamin D deficient?

pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

I have weird blood sugar issues which are still not confirmed or diagnosed.

I get hypoglycemic after eating sugary stuff a few weeks (or a big binge for a few days). I can eat a slice of cake - just once per week; 3 slices for 3 days sends me hyper which flips quickly to hypo - and it takes weeks of a careful diet to snap out of it.

Funny thing, though - my bs only goes BARELY prediabetic and never dips below 60. It's the swings that make me sick. I pass fasting glucose tests.

I really noticed blood sugar weirdness after I was treated with steroids for DH. It got better gluten-free, but I've learned it will come back with a binge. I just had testing done for cortisol, etc. and am waiting on results. We know something is up, just not specifically WHAT.

I've seen several mentions of hypoglycemia here associated with Hashimotos and Celiac. Don't think I've seen the same about temporary hyperglycemia.

Btw the a1c can be a poor measurement of blood sugar if you have any blood disorders like Thalassemia. Thyroid disease can throw it off, as well as anemia. I assume you also had other diabetes testing to confirm you aren't diabetic.

Jortyle Newbie
Jortyle
Posted
  • Author

Just by way of follow-up after a week of bizarre high blood sugar readings (160-230) my levels appear to be normalizing kind of... 2 hours post breakfast reading = 62... 2 hour post lunch = 75... I am trying to understand what the trigger may have been to send my BS so high, antibiotics, fertilizing my yard, glutening...? My PCM was very glad he didn't prescribe insulin for this episode (or any other medication for that matter), as it would have probably sent me into a coma once my body decided to start processing glucose.

Thanks for the insight, maybe there is someone out there with this bizarre blood sugar issue...

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pricklypear1971 Community Regular
pricklypear1971
Posted

Have you considered that maybe you're hypoglycemic?? 62 is getting down there....

I've found my body doesn't like to swing more than 15 points. I've read that diabetics with wide sugar ranges have more difficulties - perhaps this applies to non diabetics too?

At least you recognize a pattern and your doctors aren't screaming at you about diabetes.

I'd wonder about your adrenal system... Every time I researched about what happens with me (idiopathic hypoglycemia to date) material kept pointing me to adrenals.

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

I had slightly high BS for a while, but it dropped back to normal after I quit eating white rice. Mine never went as high as yours though. At least that I know about anyway. I believe blood sugar can flucuate due to food reactions, but that is just my opinion, I don't have anything to back that up.

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