Is there anything other than insulin that can cause your blood glucose levels to be erratic?
370822
If you are not diabetic, and you don't faint in the streets from too low blood glucose, then your problem -- whatever it is -- would not seem to be immediately life threatening. And the erratic changes are not likely due to insulin. Here's why. \n\n=======\nbackground\n\nMetabolic control in the human body is fairly simple in principle. Just involved and interconnected, and only partially understood even now. \n\nYou absorb glucose from food in the intestines (after breaking down complex carbohydrates so it's possible to absorb them) and it goes into the blood. From there it can be absorbed by body cells and insulin is required for about 2/3 of them to do the absorption. Only two types of cells storage significant amounts of glucose internally (liver cells and muscle cells). As the glucose is used as fuel within cells, they either convert internal stores back to glucose, or absorb more from the blood. Glucose absorption is controlled in the 2/3 of the total by insulin, which is required for those cells to absorb glucose. When the beta cells (which are the only source of insulin) see high blood glucose, they release insulin. In non-diabetics, this causes those 2/3 of cells to absorb glucose, the blood level to drop, and the release of insulin to cease. \n\nWhen glucose levels are low, and so insulin levels are as well, liver cells (but not muscle cells) to release stored insulin into the blood. The result is that blood glucose is kept at a more or less constant level, save just after meals when it rises somewhat. \n\nNote that insulin, and exercise, are the only control for reducing glucose levels. There are several situations in which glucose levels are raised by opposing hormones. All of the stress hormones (adrenalin, for instance) cause the liver to output stored glucose and so to raise blood glucose levels. Another hormone, glucagon, also causes the liver to output stored glucose to the blood, and it's sometimes carried by those whose glucose levels are characteristically too low. Infections also usually cause glucose levels to rise. \n\nSo, \n\nfood and any of several signals to the liver cause blood glucose to rise. \n\ninsulin and exercise cause blood glucose to go down; glucose is strongly conserved and is never lost in normal circumstances. \n\nBlood glucose levels vary somewhat in the normal usual course of things. The fluctuations you note in your case, if abnormal, are most likely due to one of these controls.
78543
It seems to me that you have very mild diabetes if your fasting blood glucose is around 130. You are barely on the scale to be diagnosed... but, you can definitely control your diabetes with your diet. \nFirst of all, avoid eating sweets, or at least avoid eating sweets in excess. Some sweets are allowed, but within the bounds of moderation. \nSecondly, watch your carboyhydrate intake. Foods like potatoes and pasta and breads are loaded with carbs and will raise your blood sugar really quickly. Do some research on carb counting and see if that might help. \nAlso, avoid soft drinks. If you have to drink a soft drink, drink diet. \nThere are lots of great resources out there online about diabetic meal planning, carb counting, and diabetes in general, so check those out. Consult with your physician / healthcare team and a dietician to work out an individualized meal plan for you.
18798
Different types of carbohydrates are known to affect blood sugar levels differently due to the speed of absorption into the body. You could do a study on how they differ, and if fats slow down this process.
771477
this could be a first sign of diabetes\n\na heathly diet, good exercise, and if necessary some mediacation can help to control blood sugar
946054
if you have already undergone a fasting blood sugar laboratory exam and your results were over 120,then you're a borderline diabetic.but if it's over 140++ then i think your blood tests don't lie and that would be too much sugar in your bloodstream and if not's not diabetes-caused,it's also possible but something is definitely not normal in your system.\n\nhope this helps.
820607
G'day Mark m,\n\nThank you for your question.\n\nI would advise the relevant doctor that you have diabetes and they should be able to advise you whether it does or not.\n\nIn most cases, I would believe not but it would depend on the medication.\n\nRegards
98391
Diabetes is not caused by high sugar.  A person is diagnosed diabetic when you have abnormally high levels in your blood because your body can't metabolize the sugar (glucose)you do have effectively.  When you eat your body breaks down the food, and glucose is absorbed into your cells by something called insulin.  If your body is not producing enough insulin or if the insulin you have is ineffective the glucose stays in your blood stream and your cells starve.  To compensate your body breaksdown fat.  There are two types of diabetics.  Type 1 where the pancreas is not making any insulin.  Most children and young adults get this type. It said to be cause by a virus that kill insulin producing cells in the pancreas called the islet cells.  These patients must take insulin shots because if they take it in a pill the stomach would absorb the insulin and it wouldn't work.  Type 2 is where you have insulin in your body but you are either not making enough or your body isn't using it effectively.  These people can take oral diabetic medication because it is not insulin.  It helps the pancreas to produce more insulin or help the insulin get the glucose in the cell.  Diet and exercise help because your not adding glucose that your body doesn't need and helps you burn off excess and sometimes will force the the glucose into the cell.  Complications from diabetes include blindness, kidney disease, slow healing wounds and loss of feeling to extremities (also called neuropathy).  Symptoms include increased thirst, increased hunger (remember your cells are starving) and increased urination. You can also lose weight because the body is breaking down fat for energy. This mostly happens in Type 1.   I hope this helps.  Remember you can't cause diabetes by eating too much candy but if you are diabetic you can be adding to the problem if you do.  Only a blood test and your doctor can diagnosis diabetes.
1040161
For years doctors told me you do not get diabetes from eating a lot of sweet stuff (sugar) but I no longer believe that. I used to use 3 tsp. of sugar in every cup of hot beverage. I now find that doing that put a lot of stress on the pancreas.\n\nI cut way down on sugar, my diabetes is under control-recently my dr. took me off of diabetic medication and I have lost 22 lbs!\nOthers who have stopped certain brands of diabetic oral medication have also experienced weight loss. Brochures that come with your prescription will often mention weight gain as side-effects and it is true! Ask your doctor, if you go on medication, if there is one that will not have that side effect. I got up to 188 lbs! My weight continues to decline!\n\nI scarffed down sweets much of my life-please try and wean yourself off of it-the price to your health is not worth it! Diabetes is now in eptidomic porportions in this country and we have to make choices that,in the end, effect us a life-time. marlyne B
516375
Well i Had to take a GT Test when i was pregnant I had to fast the night before go in to the blood lab have a sample taken then i drank a glucose drink and waited an hour had another blood sample taken waited another hour then another blood sample not very fun but that's life turns out i had gestational diabetes and as a result had my baby prematurely( Baby is fine,just stated walking) The tests show how your body copes with glucose in your bloodstream. If its too high then your body may be having trouble producing insulin
266055
Check with your doctor to do a blood glucose test. Often the finger prick tests aren't very reliable.
1043329
There has been research going on for many many years in this field....best place to start with any info is your own doctor...you say your glucose isnt stabilized...if thats the case then you should be under a doctors care for it....all hospitals have counselors and information needed for diabetes and its treatment.Many of the teaching hospitals is where alot of the research is happening.
1054852
A blood sugar imbalance is either hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic.  That means your blood glucose level is either above or below the normal level.  The normal level is about 80-120.  A high blood glucose level may be indicative of diabetes.\n\nSee a doctor.
571209
No, your blood sugar is low.  Go have some juice. \n\nCheers!
723727
It occurs when a diabetic person's blood sugar gets very high-generally over 350-400.  It is a medical emergency.  You can avoid it by frequent testing of your blood sugar & treating your blood sugar appropriately.
439402
Steroids are certainly known to raise blood sugar level in diabetics. However, the absorption of the steroids into the blood stream with a nasal spray is lower than that with oral steroids. So whether it will raise your Blood sugar level(BSL) will depend upon the dose and frequency of usage of the nasacort spray. It would be best to monitor your BSL with a home glucometer, if u have one, and see if it is indeed causing that- in which case the dose of your medicines/insulin may need to be adjusted. Else it would be best to ask your doc regarding the same.
30861
Could be a whole laundry list of reasons why this might be happening from your blood sugar being too low, not following a balanced diet, to something more serious.  Best bet would be making an appointment with a Health care professional that can properly answer this question for you.
843603
Sounds like  a blood-sugar problem