Questions about blood sugar

Ok, this is about DH's blood sugar. Here's some background for you. His family has a history of diabetes, but his mom has low blood sugar instead of high. DH has always gotten shaky if he goes too long without eating. Usually, he has to have something during the day, either crackers, peanut butter bread, something substantial, every 2 hours or else he gets "the shakes". That has been the norm for years, but he's been having spells for that last few months where it's more than the shakes...he gets lightheaded, sweaty, heart palpitations, tightness in his chest...all of which suggest anxiety attack or heart attack. We've been in the emergency room twice in the last two weeks because of this, and both times everything was fine with his heart (ekg and enzyme levels), but his sugar was over 200. They figured it was anxiety since the symptoms fit with low sugar and not high, and put him on Zanex (which knocks him out) The last time in the ER, they told him to stop taking the Zanex and take Adavan (lorazapam?) instead. (He's actually been taking lorazapam as needed for 6 years since his dad passed away)

He did the 2 hr glucose test a few months ago and it stayed above 200 when it should have dropped more than that. So, we're guessing he is borderline diabetic, but now we're not sure. We've cut out a lot of sugar and soda, started eating more protein and less carbs, and now he's bottoming out constantly. He got a blood testing machine, and has been checking his blood sugar and it's all over the place. For example, this morning, he took his sugar before he ate anything and it was 119, which is high I think for an empty stomach. He was hungry and ate a peanut butter sandwich and 10 minutes later he got shaky and when he checked his sugar it was down to 51. He drank a glass of pepsi and ate a egg sandwich and it went back up to 147.

So, does he have low blood sugar or high blood sugar? Can you have both at the same time? And why did eating make it drop so much? I know low blood sugar can give you the symptoms of being lightheaded, sweating, dizzy, but can high blood sugar?

He has an appointment with his PCP tomorrow, and hopefully they can get him in to see an endocrenogist (?) but there is only one in town and it's impossible to schedule an appointment with her since her office is only open 3 days a week, so it may be a bit of a wait.

Any thoughts or advice? Sorry this post is so long and disjointed, but I really am confused.....

It sounds to me like he is more than borderline diabetic. He seriously needs to see an endocrinologist and a dietician.

If you can't get into see the endocrinologist in your city, can he be referred to another one in a nearby city?

Yeah, he can be referred out of town, but the closest one is 1 hr drive. But if we have to, we will. I'm hoping he can get in to see the one in town because she is good and is the endo for everyone else in the family. MIL, SIL and I all go to her for thyroid issues, and she also helps MIL with her low blood sugar. Maybe we'll have a "in" because of that?? Hey, wonder if she offers family discounts! lol

Since you already go to her and your family goes to her, I would call and talk to her to see if she can squeeze him in. Or do you have to be referred by another doctor because of you insurance. I know that some insurance companies require this.

Insurance requires a referral or we pay out of pocket. Since he will be a new patient he may get in faster, but I had to reschedule my annual appointment last month (couldn't get approved time off from work) and the next opening for me isn't until September. The initial visit with a doctor's referral may get him in quicker though.

Has he ever had his a1c tested (readings averaged over 3 months)? That might give you a better idea. It was a urine test where my doctor diagnosed me diabetic, then he did an a1c to verify. Also, yes its possible to be both high and low, my sis can go from 250 to 50 in a few hours. I didn't have the sweating, shaky, etc. symptoms when mine was high, I was more fuzzy headed, sluggish, etc. Being hungry is a sign of low blood sugar, and if he was low to begin with I'm not sure 10 minutes was enough time for it to go back up. I haven't had an issue with going low since the doctor put me on metformin, but when I did have the lows I usually over reacted and ate everything in sight so that it went up high.

I hope you're successful getting your DH to the endoctrinologist soon and that he can get it all sorted out

You might want to read up on "autoimmune diabetes." It is difficult to diagnose and control, but the more you both know about it the better you can manage it.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

It sounds to me like he is more than borderline diabetic. He seriously needs to see an endocrinologist and a dietician.

If you can't get into see the endocrinologist in your city, can he be referred to another one in a nearby city?

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I agree. I'm one myself, and a 200 glucose reading is quite high. He should get medical advice ASAP, and get the blood sugar under control.

I've noticed that hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and diabetes often go side-by-side in families, my own included. My brother, who is hypoglycemic, once said that his dr. said that it could turn into diabetes, which I've never heard before or since, so I don't know if it's true.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

He did have an A1C test done last week, but that was a blood test, not a urine test. The results haven't come back yet that we know of.

Autoimmune diabetes....well, DH has Crohn's which is an autoimmune disease. Maybe they are related? Although his Crohn's is under control, but there are certain things he can't eat (or can't eat a lot of) like broccoli and corn, his two favorites. He is also trying to get his cholesterol down. His "good" cholesterol is good, but his "bad" cholesterol is high. I just wish I knew what to feed him. You know, what would be good for him, not affect his sugar, work with his Crohn's and not increase his cholesterol. Chicken only goes so far......

I'm sorry if I sound like I'm crazy, but after 2 ER visits and seeing him pasty white and grabbing on to me to walk, I'm scared. I want to know what is going on.