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What Causes Chest Discomfort And Dizziness When Suffering From Diabetes?
Question: I had insulinoma when I was a teenager. I am 69 now. I have been considered a borderline diabetic over the years. I ws on methfforim for a whil, in a small dose. If I tried to take a bigger dose I felt my blood sugar dropping. My dr. would not do a Glucose tolerance test. In the last month something is going on. I feel like I am riding a rolarcoster.
Sorry I don't spell well. The Dr. gave me a glucometer and my blood sugars are going up the down in a two hr, period. It got up to 203 and then drop to 90's. The trip down is when I have chest discomfort, arm weakness, and fell faint. Light headed, weakness had reminded me of when I had the tumor. But it seems my BS does high now. I was in ER last week end for chest pain but every thing check out ok. I saw my Dr. Tues and talk about possible low BS and he gave me a memter. When I tried to talk to him about my results I got his nurse and she told me I had Hypoglcemia. Help.
Brief Answer:
Hypoglycemia
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry to note your symptoms.
Your doctor has done a practical thing ie given you a meter to check your glucose levels with, especially when you experience the complaints you have reported here.
If you live alone, I can understand it would be challenging to use the meter at that point, considering you would be feeling dizzy and weak. If you have a person near you at any point you experience those symptoms then it would be nice if that person can be trained to use the meter and test your glucose level at that moment.
So unless your symptoms are severe, wait till your glucose is checked before you eat anything in defense.
Meters are less accurate towards the lower range of normal. However they can give a fair idea of whether your glucoses are running on the lower side.
Further if there are compelling signs and symptoms of a low blood glucose below 60 mg/dl, then one can consider doing a 'Prolonged Fast test'. This is a special test typically done by Endocrinologists, and I know you said your nearest one is 200 miles away.
Glucose tolerance test is a fair idea. It is possible you have reactive hypoglycemia, which occurs in pre diabetes or early type 2 diabetes. You can fast overnight for 8 hours. It is ok to drink water and take pills though. Then a blood sample will be taken at 0 hours, and you will be requested to drink 75 grams of glucose in water over 10 minutes. Thereafter blood samples will be drawn hourly for unto 4 hours to see if your blood glucose drops.
the same test will also help us determine if you have diabetes or pre diabetes
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Iam taking my blood sugars. I looked at the rmail and I did tell you what they are running. There is no sign of Hypoglcemia. I do not understand why you would think so. My BS are going from 90's at fasting to 203 at worst. It that the BS are up and down in two hours that concern me. I wanted to know if that normal. I did the same thing inmthe 80's but never knew what caused it. It seems the fast drop cause all the sign and symptoms. Weakness, chest discomfort etc. The longer the fast it seems the higher my BS goes. I was told at on time i wasn't a Diabetic but was over sensitive to sugar. Most of my trouble has been in the am. I really get in need of food in the afternoom. Today I was weak and light headed. My BS was 88 so I not sure what it was about. Could something else be affecting my BS. Mybe Thyroid? I tried to tell my PA about the BS but he still was talking about low blood sugar. He is a very busy man and sometimes he does not listen well.
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
I noted your blood glucoses in the first email, but what we need to know is are these trends occurring right after eating or do you glucoses drop spontaneously?
Furthermore, what you are experiencing has been described in medical literature. The rapid fall of blood glucoses from higher range towards lower range of normal can mimic low glucose reactions ie hypoglycemia even though it is really not true hypoglycemia.
That is why an oral Glucose Tolerance test (OGTT)or a Mixed Meal test will help ascertain the diagnosis. The OGTT is fairly simple to do, while the Mixed meal has a protocol that is best followed by Endocrinologists. That being said, it essentially entails hourly venous blood glucose checks after a typical meal that tends to cause these reactions.
Now if your symptoms are predominantly happening in the fasting state, then you need to undergo a Prolonged Fast test, which is best performed by an Endocrine center. I understand this is a logistical challenge for you.
Once a diagnosis has been arrived at, appropriate treatment measures can be initiated to make you feel better
Note: For more information on hormonal imbalance symptoms or unmanaged diabetes with other comorbid conditions, get back to us & Consult with an Endocrinologist. Click here to book an appointment.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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