A Question

[Grammabear]

I would like to ask a question of those with Type 2.  If or when your blood glucose goes out of your range, how do you encourage it to get back into range?  For the last week or so, my glucose has been so far out of range and it seems that no amount of insulin will allow it to go back into range.  I don't feel sick but my glucose is either high or low. 

[walkerwally1]

Grammabear, since as a type-2 we do make insulin, just not enough to cover everything, all I have to do is control what I eat.  Higher blood glucose for me is directly related to what I eat.

[Grammabear]

Wally - Does your blood glucose ever rise just from stress or other external influence?  Not trying to be intrusive, just want to understand.

[bigskygal]

Grammabear, as Wally said we non-insulin dependent T-2s only have controlling our food intake to get our numbers in range. I do feel though that sometimes stress can raise my # despite what I do food wise.

[skb]

Grammabear,

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are completely different diseases and need to be looked at and understood differently. The common denominator is erratic and fluctuating BG levels.

As Wally said, as T2s we do make some insulin which is one part of our problem, and we also suffer from varying degrees & types of IR (Insulin Resistance) which is the other part of the problem. Therefore each one of us has a different set of conditions and reacts a little differently to things.

Very early in my diabetes journey I learnt and understood that for T2s, BG is a rapidly fluctuating parameter and affected by a number of factors, even external. Stress can be a major external contributor, because if alters our hormonal balance and mixture at the time. Sleep or Weather or other maladies can be another, however each one of us reacts a bit differently to each factor.

Personally, I have found that Diet and Exercise are the 2 things that can help me effectively control and manage my numbers. So much so, that when I find myself at a higher BG level, I can go out for a brisk 20 minute walk and rapidly bring down my numbers. Not only that, the slide continues for some period of time and the exercise also helps in many other areas.

As a Type 1 though your condition is completely different, some of the above is applicable and affects you as well.   

[walkerwally1]

I think the main thing to remember is that everyone is different and how you react to different factors may not be the same for someone else.  That is why I believe the "eat to your meter" advice is so important.  The only way you know what your reaction to something is to test.  I don't see any significant change in my blood glucose from other than what I eat.  I have not noticed any difference from exercise at all yet SKB does.  I think you just have to find out what affects you.