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Hello, I Recently Bought A Glucose Meter To Check My

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Posted on Tue, 16 Jun 2020
Question: Hello,
I recently bought a glucose meter to check my blood sugar. I just don't feel right. When I wake up in the morning, it is in the 30's or the meter just reads "LOW." Even after I eat, it's low. A little while later I can be normal, then it spikes later or goes way down. I am all over the place and I just don't feel right. Could I be getting migraines because of sugar levels? Is it normal to be low, high, normal without any consistency?
I just need advice. I have brown and red spots on my shins, and I don't know if this is because of sugar?
Sorry, just a little worried. I am tired ALL of the time no matter what. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you, XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
Hello,
I recently bought a glucose meter to check my blood sugar. I just don't feel right. When I wake up in the morning, it is in the 30's or the meter just reads "LOW." Even after I eat, it's low. A little while later I can be normal, then it spikes later or goes way down. I am all over the place and I just don't feel right. Could I be getting migraines because of sugar levels? Is it normal to be low, high, normal without any consistency?
I just need advice. I have brown and red spots on my shins, and I don't know if this is because of sugar?
Sorry, just a little worried. I am tired ALL of the time no matter what. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Glucometer technique and settings

Detailed Answer:
Dear MS XXXXXXX

Good day and thanks for posting this question.
From the medical history provided, i gather that you do not have diabetes, but just monitorig your glucose levels. Is that correct ?

Noted the fluctuations in the glucose levels. This is possible in people with diabetes who are on medications. in people without diabetes, which type of fluctuation usually does not happen.

when you see your blood glucose levels in the 30s or "LOW" do you feel any giddiness or tiredness?
what is the maximum highest level of glucose you have recorded?

it is true that low glucose levels can cause headache and even Trigger migraine attracks.

Another important factor is a technique of monitoring and recording the blood glucose levels.
technical errors can lead to such fluctuations in Glucose level.

may I recommend you to discuss this issue with your general practitioner or a diabetes nurse in your locality. they will be able to physically check issues related to glucometer

People with established long-standing uncontrolled diabetes,may develop brown or red spots in leg/shin areas.

Have you had any recent blood works? Please provide a copy if you have any .

kind regards
Binu







Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Glucometer technique and settings

Detailed Answer:
Dear MS XXXXXXX

Good day and thanks for posting this question.
From the medical history provided, i gather that you do not have diabetes, but just monitorig your glucose levels. Is that correct ?

Noted the fluctuations in the glucose levels. This is possible in people with diabetes who are on medications. in people without diabetes, which type of fluctuation usually does not happen.

when you see your blood glucose levels in the 30s or "LOW" do you feel any giddiness or tiredness?
what is the maximum highest level of glucose you have recorded?

it is true that low glucose levels can cause headache and even Trigger migraine attracks.

Another important factor is a technique of monitoring and recording the blood glucose levels.
technical errors can lead to such fluctuations in Glucose level.

may I recommend you to discuss this issue with your general practitioner or a diabetes nurse in your locality. they will be able to physically check issues related to glucometer

People with established long-standing uncontrolled diabetes,may develop brown or red spots in leg/shin areas.

Have you had any recent blood works? Please provide a copy if you have any .

kind regards
Binu







Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (15 hours later)
I don't know if I have diabetes. I think I was checked once years ago, but nothing was noted. I just now my blood sugar goes high, then it's 34, then it reads low, etc. I am so up and down. I don't feel right. I am ALWAYS tired!!! Do you have any recommendations as to when I should check my blood with the meter? Once a day, twice? I am not sure. I bought a glucose meter because I suffer from god forsaken headaches on the left side of my head. I don't have a tumor, aneurysm, etc. I have a fatty lesion that was noted and an enlarged left temporal artery but not arteritis. I don't mean to play doctor. I just want to know what is wrong. I am so up and down with the blood sugar since I have been testing it, that I just need an answer.
Can you also explain what the brown and red spots on my shins should look like? I know some might be age spots but I never know the difference. I am covered with these spots.
I am just looking for answers, doctor. I am SO TIRED of being SICK and TIRED!!
Thank you so much, XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
I don't know if I have diabetes. I think I was checked once years ago, but nothing was noted. I just now my blood sugar goes high, then it's 34, then it reads low, etc. I am so up and down. I don't feel right. I am ALWAYS tired!!! Do you have any recommendations as to when I should check my blood with the meter? Once a day, twice? I am not sure. I bought a glucose meter because I suffer from god forsaken headaches on the left side of my head. I don't have a tumor, aneurysm, etc. I have a fatty lesion that was noted and an enlarged left temporal artery but not arteritis. I don't mean to play doctor. I just want to know what is wrong. I am so up and down with the blood sugar since I have been testing it, that I just need an answer.
Can you also explain what the brown and red spots on my shins should look like? I know some might be age spots but I never know the difference. I am covered with these spots.
I am just looking for answers, doctor. I am SO TIRED of being SICK and TIRED!!
Thank you so much, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
please send me a photograph

Detailed Answer:
could you please send me a photograph of the red spots on your Shin.
I will also appreciate if you could send me a photograph of the blood glucose readings. if that is difficult please write down the blood glucose levels at different times of the day and send a snapshot of that.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
please send me a photograph

Detailed Answer:
could you please send me a photograph of the red spots on your Shin.
I will also appreciate if you could send me a photograph of the blood glucose readings. if that is difficult please write down the blood glucose levels at different times of the day and send a snapshot of that.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (20 hours later)
Hello,
Here a some pictures of my right and left shins. I hope they are easy enough to see.
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Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
Hello,
Here a some pictures of my right and left shins. I hope they are easy enough to see.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Hyperpigmented macules

Detailed Answer:
Good day Ms XXXXXXX

thank you for sending the photos.These are hypopigmented macules.

Although they are seen in people with diabetes,(diabetic dermopathy), these skin pigmentations are also seen in many other conditions. many a times they are non specific and non significant.

I have not received a copy of the blood glucose readings.it is very important for me to see those numbers. you had mentioned about blood glucose levels going very low upto 34 mg/dl. did you have any symptoms of low glucose like palpitations, extreme tiredness ,sweating when the glucose level was low ? what was the maximum recorded blood glucose level ever?

may I request yourself to stop worrying excessively. anxiety will only make things worse.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Hyperpigmented macules

Detailed Answer:
Good day Ms XXXXXXX

thank you for sending the photos.These are hypopigmented macules.

Although they are seen in people with diabetes,(diabetic dermopathy), these skin pigmentations are also seen in many other conditions. many a times they are non specific and non significant.

I have not received a copy of the blood glucose readings.it is very important for me to see those numbers. you had mentioned about blood glucose levels going very low upto 34 mg/dl. did you have any symptoms of low glucose like palpitations, extreme tiredness ,sweating when the glucose level was low ? what was the maximum recorded blood glucose level ever?

may I request yourself to stop worrying excessively. anxiety will only make things worse.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (13 hours later)
Thank you for getting back to me. However, if you have had headaches every single day for 5 1/2 years I have every right to worry. No medicine or anything takes the pain away. Ever since my failed cervical spine surgery, i developed headaches 6 months later and they. have never stopped. I am looking for answers that no one can tell me what is causing them, nor any medicine will take it away. I have lidocaine patches that I put on my head to help me, yet it pulls my hair out all of the time.

My blood sugar is always up and down. My fasting glucose has been 103 -111. I had a blood sugar of 127 on the 24th at 8:49pm and 118 at 8:56 pm on the 23rd. I took it again today and it was 99 and 98. Sometimes it reads "LOW" and other times it's high. I am sick of feeling this way and no one has an answer as to what is causing my headaches. I research all of the time.
default
Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
Thank you for getting back to me. However, if you have had headaches every single day for 5 1/2 years I have every right to worry. No medicine or anything takes the pain away. Ever since my failed cervical spine surgery, i developed headaches 6 months later and they. have never stopped. I am looking for answers that no one can tell me what is causing them, nor any medicine will take it away. I have lidocaine patches that I put on my head to help me, yet it pulls my hair out all of the time.

My blood sugar is always up and down. My fasting glucose has been 103 -111. I had a blood sugar of 127 on the 24th at 8:49pm and 118 at 8:56 pm on the 23rd. I took it again today and it was 99 and 98. Sometimes it reads "LOW" and other times it's high. I am sick of feeling this way and no one has an answer as to what is causing my headaches. I research all of the time.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (21 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Impaired Fasting glycose

Detailed Answer:
you only have impaired fasting glucose and not full diabetes. other than the fasting glucose, all other post mealù readings are perfectly within normal range.

it is very unlikely that your symptoms and the shin spots are caused by glucose levels.. you will have to check HbA1c.
May i also request you to check Vitamin b12 and TSH(thyroid screening).


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Impaired Fasting glycose

Detailed Answer:
you only have impaired fasting glucose and not full diabetes. other than the fasting glucose, all other post mealù readings are perfectly within normal range.

it is very unlikely that your symptoms and the shin spots are caused by glucose levels.. you will have to check HbA1c.
May i also request you to check Vitamin b12 and TSH(thyroid screening).

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 1439 Questions

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Hello, I Recently Bought A Glucose Meter To Check My

Hello, I recently bought a glucose meter to check my blood sugar. I just don't feel right. When I wake up in the morning, it is in the 30's or the meter just reads "LOW." Even after I eat, it's low. A little while later I can be normal, then it spikes later or goes way down. I am all over the place and I just don't feel right. Could I be getting migraines because of sugar levels? Is it normal to be low, high, normal without any consistency? I just need advice. I have brown and red spots on my shins, and I don't know if this is because of sugar? Sorry, just a little worried. I am tired ALL of the time no matter what. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you, XXXXXXX