AskNadia: Having High & Low Blood Sugars After Giving Birth

November 1, 2021By

Dear Nadia:

I’m having a lot of lows and highs that I can’t control. I just had a baby a little over 6 weeks ago and am wondering if that could bereason.

Maribeth

Dear Maribeth:

The blood sugar fluctuations you are experiencing aren’t at all uncommon.

Many new mothers experience blood glucose fluctuations. Your hormones could be all over the place, you’ve just finished the hardest work a human can do—give birth—and you’re probably incredibly busy caring for your newborn. These events can stand in the way of you reestablishing manageable or acceptable blood sugar levels.

I would check in with your healthcare professional. If you cannot find the time to schedule a visit, set up a video call to go over fluctuating blood sugars. Since they have your pre pregnancy and pregnancy blood sugar history, the post pregnancy numbers you share with your medical team will help them help you strategize maintaining target blood sugar levels. They are sure to have some helpful tips for postpartum Type 1 and Type 2  mothers experiencing fluctuatong postpartum blood sugars. 

Possible Reasons for Fluctuating Blood Sugars?

The stress of being a new mother can cause the release of cortisol, a hormone that can raise your blood sugar.

Are you  breastfeeding your infant? Women with diabetes can experience lows after breastfeeding. Keep your glucose meter, insulin and glucose tabs within arms reach in case you need to test and treat yourself . Test and monitor your blood sugar frequently.

The stress of having a newborn coupled with sleep deprivation can affect your ability to treat a high or low. Healthcare professionals usually recommend that you nap when your baby is sleeping or when someone can watch over your infant while you recharge.  Review your blood sugar log to look for patterns that will help in anticipating a high or low blood sugar before or after sleeping, eating and or breastfeeding.

Discuss moderate exercise with your healthcare professional. It can help restore balance to your numbers. Even a short walk with your baby can help bring them down.

The main thing to keep in mind is that with time your blood sugar numbers should start returning to your normal range, the one you had before pregnancy and childbirth. You have achieved this before. Remind yourself with the care of your healthcare professional team, you will get there.

If you don’t already have one, get a continuous glucose monitor. Seeing your trending blood sugars on the CGM will help you adjust your glucose and insulin depending on which direction it’s heading.

Get peer support. A great organization that I love is  Diabetes Sisters. You can join a local pod near you or start your own  support group which they refer to as pods.

I hope this helps you feel better.

Nadia

Source:

ADA

Disclaimer:

Nadia’s feedback on your question is in no way intended to initiate or replace your healthcare professional’s therapy or advice. Please check in with your medical team to discuss your diabetes management concerns.

AskNadia and receive her unique perspective on your question.

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About Nadia:

AskNadia (ranked #1 by Google), named “Best Diabetes Blog for 2017 by Healthline and with 24 nominations, Nadia Al-Samarrie’s efforts have made her stand out as a pioneer and leading patient advocate in the diabetes community.

Nadia was not only born into a family with diabetes but also married into one. She was propelled at a young age into “caretaker mode,” and with her knowledge of the scarcity of resources, support, and understanding for people with diabetes, co-founded Diabetes Interview, now Diabetes Health magazine.

Under her reign- Diabetes Health magazine was named one of the top 10 magazines to follow in the world for 2018 by Feedspot Blog Reader

Nadia has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and other major cable networks. Her publications, medical supply business, and website have been cited, recognized and published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, Ann Landers advice column, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, Entrepreneur magazine, Houston News, Phili.com, Brand Week, Drug Topics, and many other media outlets.

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New tool to dissect ‘undruggable’ proteins through the sugars they depend on

March 13, 2021By

Researchers have developed a new tool to study ‘undruggable’ proteins through the sugars they depend on. Almost 85 percent of proteins, including those associated with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, inflammation, and certain cancers, are beyond the reach of current drugs. Now, with a new pencil/eraser tool, researchers can start to study how sugar molecules affect these proteins, insights that could lead to new treatments for the ‘undruggable.’
Latest Science News — ScienceDaily

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AskNadia: Why High Altitudes Can Shoot Up Your Blood Sugars

November 19, 2020By

Dear Nadia:

Why do my BG’s run high when I hike in higher altitudes?

RU

Dear RU:

When you exercise in elevations at sea level, chances are you have a good idea of how your blood sugar will respond.

Hyperglycemia

Exercising in high altitudes such as hiking generally, reduces your oxygen intake and stresses your body. Stress releases cortisol, the stress hormone, causing blood sugars to go up. Additionally, research demonstartes that carbohydrate metabolism may be comprised at higher altitudes causing insulin resistance.

Hypoglycemia

On the flip side, If you get dehydrated from hiking you will experience similar symptoms to hypoglycemia; shortness of breath, nausea, and rapid heart beats.

Blood Glucose Meters, CGM’s & Insulin Pump’s

Medical devices can vary in their accuracy at higher elevations. If one device is less accurate, it will be confusing to isolate which one is impacting your blood sugar.  Calibrate all your devices to affirm their accuracy before you start your trip. This will add anther layer of security to  assure your blood sugar readings are within the proper range for your devices.

I would also recommend testing your blood sugar before, during and after your hike to give you a baseline on how higher elevations impact your blood sugars, making your return trip less stressful and more predicable.

We are so lucky to live in a time where we have easy access to medical devices. If you have high blood pressure have a discussion with your healthcare professional about high altitudes and precautions you may need to take. Definitely take up anarm orwrist blood pressure device to test so you have a baseline as to how your blood pressure resounds to high altitudes.

If possible, bring up extra diabetes supplies just in case you have accuracy issues with one medical device.

Wishing you the best in health!

Nadia

Disclaimer:

Nadia’s feedback on your question is in no way intended to initiate or replace your healthcare professional’s therapy or advice. Please check in with your medical team to discuss your diabetes management concerns.

AskNadia and receive her unique perspective on your question. Or share your story with us.

Email Nadia

Watch Nadia’s Videos

About Nadia:

Nadia was not only born into a family with diabetes but also married into one. She was propelled at a young age into “caretaker mode,” and with her knowledge of the scarcity of resources, support, and understanding for people with diabetes, co-founded Diabetes Interview, now Diabetes Health magazine.

Nadia has received 19 nominations for her work as a diabetes advocate.
 She has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and other major cable networks. Her publications, medical supply business, and website have been cited, recognized and published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, Ann Landers advice column, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, Entrepreneur magazine, Houston News, Phili.com, Brand Week, Drug Topics, and many other media outlets.

The post AskNadia: Why High Altitudes Can Shoot Up Your Blood Sugars appeared first on Diabetes Health.

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AskNadia: How I Manage My High Blood Sugars During an Intense Workout

February 24, 2020By

I want to share a success story with you. Dave, below wrote to me to tell me how he adjusted his blood sugars when he found his usual insulin dose was not working for him. When you read this, don’t assume the same principle applies to you. Everyone’s insulin dose is determined by their healthcare professional. Dave makes a good point. He has learned to adjust his insulin dosing based on his blood sugar reading. This level of diabetes literacy comes with working with your healthcare professional.

You don’t need to have a question to write to me. Diabetes Health is a community where we share our personal stories. Don’t ever doubt your success will become someone else’s hope.

Dear Nadia:

At the age of 62 ( 47 yr Type1), I started playing pickleball 3x/week for approximately 4 hours a session. To my surprise, I have seen my glucose levels rise from 100 – 120 mg/dL range at the start of the session to well over 300. By the time I took my standard 1 unit of Humalog insulin for every 20 mg/dL increase in blood sugar above 100, I had found ten units of insulin had no impact on bringing down my glucose levels down 2-3 hours later. I had to take an additional 10 unit shot to bring my blood sugars down. For me, the only way I’ve been able to manage this activity level for 4 hours is to take an additional shot of Humalog of 8-10 units after the 1st hour of playing pickleball or when my glucose level is approaching the 180 – 200 range.
My typical day is eight units at 6 am and then eight units if eating lunch. My insulin intake has now increased to take an additional 20 units of Humalog for the same time of 6:00 am to 1:00 pm when increasing my activity level, and my intake of carbs for all of this insulin has been maybe 15 grams for breakfast.

Dave

Disclaimer:
Nadia’s feedback on your question is in no way intended to initiate or replace your healthcare professional’s therapy or advice. Please check in with your medical team to discuss your diabetes management concerns.

Write:

AskNadia and receive her unique perspective on your question as your diabetes advocate.

About Nadia:
AskNadia (ranked #1 by Google), named “Best Diabetes Blog for 2019 & 2017 by Healthline and with 24 nominations, Nadia Al-Samarrie’s efforts have made her stand out as a pioneer and leading patient advocate in the diabetes community.
Nadia was not only born into a family with diabetes but also married into one. Propelled at a young age into “caretaker mode,” and with her knowledge of the scarcity of resources, support, and understanding for people with diabetes, co-founded Diabetes Interview, now Diabetes Health magazine.

Under her reign- Diabetes Health magazine was named one of the top 10 magazines to follow in the world for 2018 by Feedspot Blog Reader

Nadia has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, and other major cable networks. Her publications, medical supply business, and website have been cited, recognized and published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Wall Street Journal, Ann Landers advice column, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, Entrepreneur magazine, Houston News, Phili.com, Brand Week, Drug Topics, and many other media outlets.

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Diabetes Health Type 1: The to Better Blood Sugars Includes Stress Managment

September 4, 2019By

By Claire Lynch

 

Fonda Bowles is super careful about what she eats. Hospitalized at age 20 for diabetic ketoacidosis during her fifth month of pregnancy, Fonda was diagnosed as Type 1. Doctors said her A1C was 8.6.

 

She knew that various relatives of hers were diabetic so Fonda wasn’t totally surprised by her diagnosis.

 

“My doctor prescribed Novolin R&N, an intermediate-acting and short-acting insulin that works well for me,” Fonda says. “Insulin pumps aren’t part of my routine because most devices are too expensive. I manage my Type 1 as best I can by checking my sugars often, maintaining a low-carbohydrate diet and seeing my doctor regularly.”

 

Now 28, Fonda notes that her A1C is much lower because she is diligent about her diet, medication and exercise plus watching her stress levels. Mealtime is family time at Fonda’s house. They usually have eggs, yogurt and maybe some toast for breakfast.

 

“Lunch is often a salad, quesadilla or sandwiches,” she explains. “We don’t eat any red meat, so dinner is either chicken or meat free. I try to only have one major carb, so no pasta and potatoes or bread. We eat a lot of green beans, squash and side salads with dinner. Fresh foods are the best foods for my growing family and for me.”

 

The mother of two young children, Fonda is a lifelong Georgia resident. She co-owns a drone services business with her husband, Codey, and also runs an online marketing business from her home.

 

In their free time the Bowles family enjoys flying their drones for fun. They also like walking along the Phenix City Riverwalk on the western bank of the Chattahoochee River. “It’s a 1.21-mile span that is so pretty,” Fonda says. “We like exploring new places – discovering old buildings, different creeks – all sorts of things!

 

“Whenever the opportunity comes up to talk about diabetes with family, friends and acquaintances I do so because maybe it will help someone. Spreading awareness about diabetes is a priority to me. We still have a ways to go to ensure that all diabetics have equal, affordable access to care.”

 

 

Diabetes Health

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Diabetes Health Type 1: The to Better Blood Sugars Includes Stress Managment

August 31, 2019By

By Claire Lynch

 

Fonda Bowles is super careful about what she eats. Hospitalized at age 20 for diabetic ketoacidosis during her fifth month of pregnancy, Fonda was diagnosed as Type 1. Doctors said her A1C was 8.6.

 

She knew that various relatives of hers were diabetic so Fonda wasn’t totally surprised by her diagnosis.

 

“My doctor prescribed Novolin R&N, an intermediate-acting and short-acting insulin that works well for me,” Fonda says. “Insulin pumps aren’t part of my routine because most devices are too expensive. I manage my Type 1 as best I can by checking my sugars often, maintaining a low-carbohydrate diet and seeing my doctor regularly.”

 

Now 28, Fonda notes that her A1C is much lower because she is diligent about her diet, medication and exercise plus watching her stress levels. Mealtime is family time at Fonda’s house. They usually have eggs, yogurt and maybe some toast for breakfast.

 

“Lunch is often a salad, quesadilla or sandwiches,” she explains. “We don’t eat any red meat, so dinner is either chicken or meat free. I try to only have one major carb, so no pasta and potatoes or bread. We eat a lot of green beans, squash and side salads with dinner. Fresh foods are the best foods for my growing family and for me.”

 

The mother of two young children, Fonda is a lifelong Georgia resident. She co-owns a drone services business with her husband, Codey, and also runs an online marketing business from her home.

 

In their free time the Bowles family enjoys flying their drones for fun. They also like walking along the Phenix City Riverwalk on the western bank of the Chattahoochee River. “It’s a 1.21-mile span that is so pretty,” Fonda says. “We like exploring new places – discovering old buildings, different creeks – all sorts of things!

 

“Whenever the opportunity comes up to talk about diabetes with family, friends and acquaintances I do so because maybe it will help someone. Spreading awareness about diabetes is a priority to me. We still have a ways to go to ensure that all diabetics have equal, affordable access to care.”

 

 

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AskNadia: Should I get A Therapy Dog Because My Great Niece’s Fluctuating Blood Sugars?

February 27, 2017By

My great niece was diagnosed three years ago with diabetes she is now 13.  She gives herself seven shots a day.  Her sugar fluctuates so much that my niece seriously wants to get her a therapy dog.  The problem is…

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