when to check levels

[nawchem]

A long time ago I took the test where you intake some sugar and they check your blood sugar afterwards. My results came out 181, 180 and 124 for each hour. My fasting test then and every test since then has been about 80.

I thought that atkins would be a good way to eat but after I try for a few days I get heart palpitations, especially in the middle of the night. After I eat the palpitations go away within an hour. If I eat around 50 carbs per day instead of 20 I feel fine. Do you think this sounds like a blood sugar problem?

I wanted to test my blood sugar at home and see if my blood sugar levels are off so I could give the info to my dr at my physical next week. He will have the results from a test that tells you average blood sugar for 60 days. When should I test and what is high and low?

thanks! nancy

[wsgts]

Probably worth it to check the HBA1C levels. To be in non-diabetic ranges you will be between I think 4.8 (can't remember exactly the low number) and 6.4. They consider me a diabetic even though my HBA1C stays around 5.5 or so (my doctor's is 5.0 as a non-diabetic). Unless you are up in the above 6.5 range, you risk of having diabetic complications is pretty low (from what I have been told).

It's probably not worth testing individual readings during the day. One time I filled out 4 times a day for two weeks for my doctor, and he didn't even look at the log. They want test they can independently verify like the HBA1C, so they know for sure you aren't trying to dupe them (which happens a lot especially with diabetics).

Heart palpitations are not a normal thing. Not to say they are serious, because my mother has the same thing and was told they are not serious, and she is awoken many nights by palpitations. Mom is 64 and a bit overweight (like 160 and 130 is ideal). Best let you doctor figure out why you are having heart palpitations.

Good luck to you,
wsgts

[nawchem]

thank you for all the good info. I won't bother checking my blood then-kind of a relief.