Post by Glenn (KC)New to diabetes. Which is worse. High BP or low BP?
How much worse is the one you choose?
Can pills cause over low BP?
How about insulin? Can you over dose?
Like maybe a little high, extra shot?
How low can you get? Via numbers
How about getting high? How high?
I don't want to stop eating. Pills cover it?
Glenn
Hello Glenn,
Both high and low BG (blood glucose) are bad for your body. When I was
diagnosed many years ago below 70 was low and above 140 an hour after a
meal was too high. Above roughly 200 was dangerous. Now they've (ADA
American Diabetes Association) relaxed that a bit to allow slighly higher
numbers for a while after meals. The goal should be to keep your BG
steady and around 70-120 or so most of the time. If you are located other
than the USA you may se number like 6.5 - 14. Just take the above values
and divide by 18 to get those numbers.
Low BG, often written Bg, is dangerous because your body doesn't have
enough energy in the blood supply that your cells need. Thinking and
coordination may be affected. It is important to get a quick acting snack
to counter a low blood sugar. Start small and try to get to where you
feel good again or your testing shows a good value. Low BG is a short
term problem. If you get much lower than 70, and the value is different
for each person and may vary over time, you may temporarily lose your eye
sight or other senses. Certainly thinking will become difficult. Treat
this immediately with a fast acting food like a small amount of sugar.
Otherwise you may pass out. The condition is easily treatable by the EMTs
if someone calls 9-1-1 for you when you can't eat and are down. I've
heard that there is some possible issues with the heart or other organs
when you get low. In other words, there is a chance of a heart attack or
other problem when you are low.
High BG, especially over 200 for any amount of time is dangerous to your
long term health. People with diabetes can lose their sight or other
senses, have digestive trouble, and so on. This is generally a condition
that will get worse over time. Think of your blood flowing through your
viens. At about 200 the sugar in your blood starts to crystalize. The
crystals nick the walls of your blood vessels and may cause leakage or
other damage that might not be repairable if left untreated. It generally
takes many years to have appreciable damage that you notice it, but for
some people it can happen fairly quickly.
Both low and high blood sugars should be treated to avoid the symptoms. A
rabidly changing Bg, for me, can cause headaches. I've also heard people
describe mood swings.
I can't talk about pills, as I've not used them. If you were diagnosed as
a Type II then you still likely have enough insulin in your system to
partially cover you needs. A Type I generally has no insulin created by
the pancreus (sp?) and thus needs an external insulin supply. You can
overdose (go low for an extended period of time) due to too much insulin
in your system.
When high a small amount of insulin can bring you back down. The amount
needed varies from person to person and may not be very predictable each
time you eat the smae thing. There are so many variables to consider.
Type II is more common (90% or so) and preferable. It can be controlled
by pills, diet, and exercise. Type I is less common (10% or so) and
requires insulin, perhaps a couple types. It is best to control your urge
to eat things that cause your blood sugar to rise. Find better
alternatives, like vegtables to fries, for healthier choices. Generally a
low carbohydrate (sugar content) is better for you.
There are many types of sugars - fast acting and slower acting.
You don't need to stop eating. Just choose different foods that your body
can tolerate. If you like soda or sweet tea, candy bars, cake, or
whatever, choose something else. There are diet alternatives but they too
can have problems. The taste isn't a perfect match and the high you get
won't be there - that is a good thing you will get used to. Certainly
limit the amount of bad foods. The choices are yours. What is important
to you? That cake each day or having your sight for the rest of your
life?
Good luck to you on your journey with diabetes! Make good choices.
David