I'm thinking of shelving the still shiny new glucometer, it seems pointless, is it?

[HereSince1628]

In 3 1/2 weeks since my presumptive diabetes diagnosis I lost 10 pounds and had my daytime BG readings averaging 106. I thought I was doing great. I actually felt like I had the BG wildcat more or less trained to stay in the corner of its cage during the day.

Then a stress test cut short because of a t-wave that looked like my grandson's scribbled crayon drawings...so they put me on metoprolol although it seems to usually counter indicated for diabetics (anyone know anything about that?), and my BG has rocketed way way up. Being a presumptive diabetic, and having been successful at controling the BG with diet and exercise, I've got no meds for the diabetes and now I can't walk the BG down, because I'm not supposed to do lengthy walking.

The BG is up, way up, generally higher than it was when they said I was running an A1C near 8. After several days with zero simple carbs and nothing with a glycemic index over 2, I can't get it back under 180 let alone near the 130 4-hour post-eating target.

I can and will stay on the low carb diet, but measuring BG while on this drug seems pretty pointless.

[Warpy]

1. Keep measuring it and writing it down

because unless your body adapts to the drug or you get it changed, you'll need to go on a drug to help you metabolize the carbos that are in everything you eat, even meat.

Heart disease will kill you rather quickly, though, so don't just decide to go off the beta blocker. Talk to the cardiologist about your increased blood glucose readings on it and see if there is another drug you could go on that wouldn't have that effect on you. Beta blockers are well known to raise blood sugar.

It could also be that you're not reacting to the drug, that your disease is simply progressing. It tends to do that. Other things that can raise blood glucose are extreme stress, injury and infection.

You've got two disease processes that need close watching and likely both of them will need medication. Your docs are your best friends now.

However, good show sticking to the low glycemic diet. It's tough to get used to in the beginning but it's been proven to be a life saver over time.

[sandnsea]

2. Call your doctor

And tell them about your bg reaction. Maybe there's a different med you can go on. Also, you may be reacting to some food differently than others. Make sure you haven't introduced something new to your diet that is giving you fits, no matter what the glycemic index is.

Will you be able to exercise at some point in the future? Maybe you should just take medication for a month or so until you get your heart problems under control, and then go back on the exercise regime to control the blood glucose.

[HereSince1628]

3. When I posted on the weekend, I had tried, with no success to reach my doc

Right off the top...Thanks for your concern.


As I have a major personality disorder that has been and could be every bit as serious as a heart attack.

Monday I had called cardio and left the message, but I didn't get a call back until late afternoon. Meanwhile I had quit taking BG and I quit taking the med. In the end the Cardiologist's office accepted that.

On Tuesday morning my psychologist called me and gave me an after hours number that will alert her so I don't end up hung out dealing with events that lead me to 'bad behavior.'

So, I'm off the med, actually off all meds, and taking it physically easy. Hopefully mentally easy, as well, until the roto-rooter team gets a crack at my coronary artery.

[eShirl]

4. might you have an infection of some kind?

edit: oops, didn't see the date on this until after i posted...

[HereSince1628]

5. Thanks for your response...

Diabetes is entirely new to me, managing blood glucose seems a lot like trying to herd cats.

So I appreciate the comments of folks who have experience with it. I didn't know that infection could mess with it, too. I'm beginning to wonder what doesn't?