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What Does High Fluctuation In Blood Sugar Levels Indicate?

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Posted on Tue, 26 May 2015
Question: Hello Doctor,
I have been diagnosed with diabetes type 2 in May, 2014. I am taking
1. Half Tablet twice a day >> Anclazide-M (Gliclazide 80mg + Metformin Hydrochloride 500mg)
2. One tablet before lunch in a day >> Istavel 25mg (Sitagliptin Phosphate)

My HbA1c in Oct 2014 >> 8.2, in Feb 2015 >> 6.2 & recently in May 2015 >> 6.8
My Sugar levels during the day are as below:
9 a.m. Before Breakfast >> 90-105
11 a.m. after Breakfast >> 170+
2 p.m before lunch >> 70-80
4 p.m. after lunch >> 200+
8 p.m. before dinner >> 70-80
10 p.m. After dinner >> 220+
I am afraid of to much low before & high after lunch & dinner because there is a big gap between lower and upper level.
Please Advise accordingly..

Regards..
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Dose adjustment of medicine may be helpful.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
After going through your question it is obvious that there is good reduction in HbA1c level after diagnosis (8.2 to 6.2), though there is recent rise in HbA1c level (6.2 to 6.8).
In your case there is definite scope for further reduction in HbA1c level.

First I want to discuss about your concern regarding low and high blood sugar levels-
- From your blood sugar chart it is clear that you had low blood sugar levels mainly before lunch and before dinner (value ranging between 70 - 80)
- I want to know- Are there any symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) at the time of low sugar values like sweating, palpitation, restlessness, headache, dizziness, unusual hunger, disorientation, loss of consciousness in more serious cases?
- If there are no symptoms of hypoglycemia I would not be so concerned about those low readings. Only issue is you should know about hypoglycemia (symptoms of hypoglycemia, what need to be done during episodes of hypoglycemia) you can discuss it with your doctor.
- Your high blood sugar readings are mainly after lunch and after dinner, these high readings can be tackled with dose adjustment of different medicines that you are taking.

Now I want to discuss about your medicine-
You are on three different types of medicines that have different mechanism of action-
1) Metformin (your daily dose is 500mg)
2) Gliclazide (your daily dose is 80mg)
3) Sitagliptin (your daily dose is 25mg)

- Out of these three medicines Metformin and sitagliptin when used alone or in combination with each other rarely cause hypoglycemia.
- Sitagliptin mainly control after meal blood sugar levels (after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner)
- Gliclazide usually has longer duration of action and control before meal blood sugar levels along with some effect on post meal sugar levels.
- Gliclazide may cause hypoglycemia (when used alone or in combination with other medicines) with over dose (as in initial phase of treatment of diabetes where dose adjustment of medicine requires some time), missed meals.

If similar scenario would have present in my patient, I would have increased the doses of metformin and sitagliptin to maximal acceptable dose (depending upon patient's age, kidney and heart status) and would have reduced the dose of Gliclazide or would have stopped Gliclazide depending on blood sugar levels.

However I will advise you to consult your treating doctor for better dose adjustment that are suitable to you depending on your kidney and heart status and for further evaluation if needed.

Hope this may have clarified your queries.
If you have any further question I will be happy to help.

Regards,
Dr. Abhay Mali
Diabetologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (11 hours later)
Hello Doctor,
Thanks for replying my query in detail.
I am very much happy because first time i came to know the actual action of different medicines i am taking. Generally patient doesn't know the effect of medicines in details.

I really appreciate your answer.

Sir, my KFT, Urine, Blood and other tests are normal.
Regarding symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) at the time of low sugar, I feel nothing like that you are asking. I came to know about low blood sugar (70-80) only by my gluco meter readings.

Please also let me know the mechanism of action of Metformin alone.

Sir, Please also clarify, as i already told you that my sugar level at 2 pm before lunch is 80, after lunch at 4 p.m. >> 200 but again at 6 p.m. it drops to 80
Now, my doctor is saying that if i take more dose to lower sugar level of 4 p.m. then it will also further lower my levels of 80 at 6 p.m.

Please Doctor, advise me in this scenario, what to do >>

One more thing Sir, in future if i want to discuss more on my health with you, is it possible my query will forwarded to you only..

Regards & Thanks
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Maximizing the doses of metformin and sitagliptin may be helpful.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Thanks for your appreciation.

First I want to discuss the action of Metformin:
- Metformin is the first line drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
- It decreases the insulin resistance (basic pathology of Type 2 diabetes).
- Insulin resistance means different body organs (mainly liver, fat tissues and muscle) requires extra insulin for glucose utilization that is there is resistance to action of insulin at tissue level. In the initial stages of insulin resistance pancreas can produce extra insulin to compensate the need of extra insulin by different organs but as time passes pancreas cannot produce adequate insulin and body cannot utilize glucose in blood and blood sugar start rising (that is there is development of diabetes).
- Metformin mainly act on liver with some action on muscles. And Mainly decreases before meal sugar levels with some effect on post meal blood sugar level.

If similar scenario would have present in my patient with normal kidney function and without any heart disease I would have prescribed following medicines to him.
1) Tablet containing combination of metformin with sitagliptin (500mg+50mg) two times a day 1 tablet before breakfast and 1 tablet before dinner.
2) Tablet containing metformin 850mg 1 tablet after lunch.
With regular blood sugar level monitoring.
There are very rare chance of hypoglycemia with this combination.
Though there may need for further dose adjustment or addition of different medicine in future depending on blood sugar levels and HbA1c level.

As these are prescription medicines you need to discuss it with your treating doctor or any other local diabetologist.

Healthcare magic provide provision for direct question on the name of particular doctor.

I hope this information would have clarified all of your queries.
If so, close the discussion and rate the answer.
Feel free to ask more questions in future.

Regards,
Dr. Abhay Mali
Diabetologist.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (4 hours later)
Dear Sir
please also tell me, what should be my target sugar level :

before breakfast
after breakfast
before lunch
after lunch
before dinner
after dinner
& Random BS
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Your blood sugar target should be as close to normal individual.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendation for glycemic control is -
* HbA1c <7.o%
* Premeal capillary plasma glucose level 80-130mg/dl.
* Peak post meal capillary plasma glucose level < 180mg/dl.
Though ADA also recommend that blood sugar level goal should be individualized based on duration of diabetes, age & life expectancy and associated comorbid conditions.

After knowing your duration of diabetes (~1year), medications of diabetes, previous good blood sugar control I will advise following glycemic goals for you-

* HbA1c as close to normal as possible 6-6.5%
* Premeal capillary plasma glucose level 70-110mg/dl.
* Peak post meal capillary plasma glucose level < 160mg/dl.
* Random capillary plasma glucose level < 180mg/dl.

capillary plasma glucose means blood sugar done by using glucometer.

Hope this information is useful to you.

Regards,
Dr. Abhay Mali

Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Abhay A Mali

Diabetologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 807 Questions

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What Does High Fluctuation In Blood Sugar Levels Indicate?

Brief Answer: Dose adjustment of medicine may be helpful. Detailed Answer: Hi Mr. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX After going through your question it is obvious that there is good reduction in HbA1c level after diagnosis (8.2 to 6.2), though there is recent rise in HbA1c level (6.2 to 6.8). In your case there is definite scope for further reduction in HbA1c level. First I want to discuss about your concern regarding low and high blood sugar levels- - From your blood sugar chart it is clear that you had low blood sugar levels mainly before lunch and before dinner (value ranging between 70 - 80) - I want to know- Are there any symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) at the time of low sugar values like sweating, palpitation, restlessness, headache, dizziness, unusual hunger, disorientation, loss of consciousness in more serious cases? - If there are no symptoms of hypoglycemia I would not be so concerned about those low readings. Only issue is you should know about hypoglycemia (symptoms of hypoglycemia, what need to be done during episodes of hypoglycemia) you can discuss it with your doctor. - Your high blood sugar readings are mainly after lunch and after dinner, these high readings can be tackled with dose adjustment of different medicines that you are taking. Now I want to discuss about your medicine- You are on three different types of medicines that have different mechanism of action- 1) Metformin (your daily dose is 500mg) 2) Gliclazide (your daily dose is 80mg) 3) Sitagliptin (your daily dose is 25mg) - Out of these three medicines Metformin and sitagliptin when used alone or in combination with each other rarely cause hypoglycemia. - Sitagliptin mainly control after meal blood sugar levels (after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner) - Gliclazide usually has longer duration of action and control before meal blood sugar levels along with some effect on post meal sugar levels. - Gliclazide may cause hypoglycemia (when used alone or in combination with other medicines) with over dose (as in initial phase of treatment of diabetes where dose adjustment of medicine requires some time), missed meals. If similar scenario would have present in my patient, I would have increased the doses of metformin and sitagliptin to maximal acceptable dose (depending upon patient's age, kidney and heart status) and would have reduced the dose of Gliclazide or would have stopped Gliclazide depending on blood sugar levels. However I will advise you to consult your treating doctor for better dose adjustment that are suitable to you depending on your kidney and heart status and for further evaluation if needed. Hope this may have clarified your queries. If you have any further question I will be happy to help. Regards, Dr. Abhay Mali Diabetologist