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AIBU?

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Original poster

Anyone know much about blood sugars?

42 replies

FrenchBullFrog · 03/08/2023 14:00

I ate breakfast this morning at 7am (a bowl of Shreddies with a teaspoon of sugar) and a coffee.

Got to work 45 minutes later and felt so drowsy, lethargic, going dizzy, couldn’t think straight so I tested my blood glucose - 5.4mmols

I’ve really struggled all day, I just can’t think properly, I feel so so tired. Shouldn’t my blood glucose have been higher than that after a sugary breakfast?

AIBU to think I might be diabetic? Can’t get a blood test done until next month so until then … was this a normal level or should I be worried? My grandmother (on both sides actually) is diabetic. I’m 42.

OP posts:
Neverseenbefore · 03/08/2023 14:02

Do you normally test your blood glucose? Why?

TheCosyRain · 03/08/2023 14:03

I could be wrong, but I would have thought you’d have a higher reading than that.

JoWawa · 03/08/2023 14:04

If you think you might be diabetic you need to get a bllod test done as soon as possible. Our son died from type 1 diabetes. It is not a trivial condition. I hate to say this but if your GP can't do a test for a month you might need to ring 111 and find out how to get a faster test.

Snowpaw · 03/08/2023 14:04

I don't have any idea about the numbers, but a breakfast like that is not going to keep you full for very long. It's simple, processed carbohydrates and sugar which will lead to a quick hit of energy then a crash.

Ditch the sugar and eat whole, unprocessed foods that take a long time to digest. E.g. A couple of hardboiled eggs and some fruit. Or porridge with nuts and fruit.

LonelyFlans · 03/08/2023 14:04

If you had diabetes, with no medication, your blood sugar would be high.

5.4 is probably a good indicator that your pancreas is doing its job and releasing the right amount of insulin you need after eating sugar/carbs.

Original poster
FrenchBullFrog · 03/08/2023 14:05

JoWawa · 03/08/2023 14:04

If you think you might be diabetic you need to get a bllod test done as soon as possible. Our son died from type 1 diabetes. It is not a trivial condition. I hate to say this but if your GP can't do a test for a month you might need to ring 111 and find out how to get a faster test.

I’m so sorry to read about your son. I’ll ring the surgery again and try to get in sooner

OP posts:
Original poster
FrenchBullFrog · 03/08/2023 14:05

Neverseenbefore · 03/08/2023 14:02

Do you normally test your blood glucose? Why?

No not normally, I did this morning as I felt so ridiculously tired and weird

OP posts:
Bubbles254 · 03/08/2023 14:06

5.4 is a pretty low reading 45 min after a sugary breakfast. I think over 7.6 is considered a spike. Having said that most peoples peak at around 1hr 15min post eating so maybe test again at this point.

I would go by how you are feeling. Try switching to a savoury breakfast and see if the symptoms subside.

PossiblyNotOne · 03/08/2023 14:06

5.4 is a normal reading, if you were type 1 your sugars would be high. I don’t know about type 2.

I have a type 1 DC. When he was diagnosed his sugars were in the 20s.

Sigmama · 03/08/2023 14:08

How did you test your blood?

EricInk · 03/08/2023 14:08

Are you 'dumping'?
As in you had a sugary breakfast (shreddies have added sugar anyway) + sugar which would send your blood glucose soaring then you get that horrible feeling when your insulin is released, your sugars are stored and then your blood sugar goes much lower. I think I've read somewhere your insulin sensitivity is more efficient in the morning. I always feel terrible eating sweet things in the morning I make sure I have complex carbs and protein

Irridescantshimmmer · 03/08/2023 14:08

You are not likely to be diabetic because high blood glucose, such as 17.0 mmol with excessive thirst and rapid weightloss are the symptoms of diabetes.

As you were feeling faint and dizzy you may need to carb up.

I have been T1D most of my life.

user1471530109 · 03/08/2023 14:08

You are not diabetic.

Your readings would be high. 5.4 is a normal reading.

If you're worried about being hypoglycemic (kind of the opposite of diabetic but what your implying) then if you're testing your bs anyway, so it when waking (fasting) and 2 hrs after food. I fully expect you'll find your reading to be about 5.4 mmol/l again.

I'm a type 1 diabetic.

Neverseenbefore · 03/08/2023 14:09

FrenchBullFrog · 03/08/2023 14:05

No not normally, I did this morning as I felt so ridiculously tired and weird

Show quote history

No, I mean it would never occur to me to ever test my blood glucose myself. Did you just go out and buy a kit? Do you have one at home? It just sounds a very odd thing to do by yourself.

CurzonDax · 03/08/2023 14:10

Type 1 here (of over 30 years).

If you were diabetic (any type) (and it is untreated, as would be the case here), your blood glucose would likely be a lot more higher than 5.4 45 minutes after eating that much sugar.

It seems like your pancreas has overreacted due to the high amount of carbs/sugar you have eaten in one go. It can happen, and it just pumps out too much insulin, as it thought you needed more.

However, if you continue to have the symptoms described in your OP, you will probably what to check with your doctor anyway - it could be anything, or nothing (hopefully)!

Cheesusisgrate · 03/08/2023 14:11

Do you have any medical conditions? I don't know any non diabetic who would carry tests with them everywhere...
5.4 is normal

Heronwatcher · 03/08/2023 14:12

As above, definitely get tested. Generally though cereal is terrible for blood sugars for most people, especially diabetics. Try something with eggs, cheese or natural yoghurt. It could also be that your bloods have spiked or “crashed and burned” so gone much higher slightly before you took your reading, then crashed to a much lower level, so a low-ish reading is not necessarily always a good thing. But the real picture is only shown through a blood test.

Conqueeftador · 03/08/2023 14:12

That’s a completely normal blood glucose. If you were diabetic then your levels would be too high, not “low” post prandially (5.4 is not low, and wouldn’t generally give you the symptoms you are suffering).

Is this the first time you have felt this way? If so, I’m not sure why diabetes is the first thing you thought of. Certainly it’s probably a good idea to call 111 for advice, as those symptoms could be indicative of multiple health issues you might need reviewing, but with that glucose, I’m pretty sure it isn’t diabetes.

Sahmandhappy · 03/08/2023 14:12

5.4 is completely normal

You ideally would want to check on waking before breakfast

headcheffer · 03/08/2023 14:13

LonelyFlans · 03/08/2023 14:04

If you had diabetes, with no medication, your blood sugar would be high.

5.4 is probably a good indicator that your pancreas is doing its job and releasing the right amount of insulin you need after eating sugar/carbs.

This

Original poster
FrenchBullFrog · 03/08/2023 14:14

Neverseenbefore · 03/08/2023 14:09

No, I mean it would never occur to me to ever test my blood glucose myself. Did you just go out and buy a kit? Do you have one at home? It just sounds a very odd thing to do by yourself.

Show quote history

It’s the work place setting, lots of obs equipment

OP posts:
Original poster
FrenchBullFrog · 03/08/2023 14:15

Thanks everyone. I normally eat Greek yogurt in a morning but was just craving sugar this morning so ate the cereal. It was either that or CocoPops 😬

OP posts:
Neverseenbefore · 03/08/2023 14:18

FrenchBullFrog · 03/08/2023 14:14

It’s the work place setting, lots of obs equipment

Show quote history

What, designed for staff to test their blood sugar? What for?

EhrlicheFrau · 03/08/2023 14:20

I am not a qualified medical expert in the field of diabetes though do have some experience (which I won't go into the details of as TMI).

Your blood glucose of 5.4 mmol/L is well within an acceptable range, perhaps slightly low after a meal (as you would expect it to rise a little bit). If you were an untreated diabetic/pre-diabetic then you would actually expect it to be much, much higher than that - in simple terms, diabetes (mellitus) is a condition where insulin either isn't present and/or doesn't work properly, and as a result the glucose from your food isn't moved from the blood into the cells as it normally would be.

My first suggestion would be to try to eat a slightly more filling breakfast, which will sustain you for longer, or to have a mid morning snack if you feel you need some more 'energy' before lunch.

I honestly think it doesn't sound like diabetes at this point, however I also urge anyone with genuine concerns regarding diabetes to get it checked out. As someone has already said, poorly managed blood glucose levels can lead to a whole host of issues. The link below might help too. I will re-iterate though that I would not be worrying too much at this point. I often feel suddenly like how you describe and a quick snack/eating better earlier in the day often solves it!

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

Normal blood sugar ranges and blood sugar ranges for adults and children with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and blood sugar ranges to determine people with diabetes.

Normal blood sugar ranges and blood sugar ranges for adults and children with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and blood sugar ranges to determine diabetes.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

shivawn · 03/08/2023 14:20

5.4mmol is a completely normal reading and you shouldn't have any low blood sugar symptoms. Maybe get your bloods checked to make sure you're not low in iron or something. Or maybe you might be coming down with something?