Dysautonomia and Diabetes

[Mark P.]

My brother has type 2 diabetes. His average blood sugar level is 14.4 for the past couple of months. Let alone exercise, his heart rate goes sky high after a bit work out. It is happening for the past 3 or 4 days. Walking doesn't affect the situation but whenever he is climbing staircases the condition becomes worse. Sometimes he can't even breathe easily after climbing just two stories. His blood pressure is fluctuating between 130/85 and 140/90.

Should I go for diagnosis of dysautonomia immediately? He is already in a lot of trouble. I don't want to see him suffer one more condition.

[DADofPotsSon]

Mark P.

I have very mild dysautonomia and type II diabetes, my Dad, Grandmother and Son #2 all have severe dysautonomia, and Dad had type II diabetes as well.   Though with us our Blood Pressure is on the low side, but HR is on the high side, and Yes, it does cause grief with exercise.  Your brothers BS level at 14.4 is on the high side,  He can reduce it without exercise by diet and medication very effectively, though exercise is the prefered and recommended method.  The type II in our family is heredity type (grandpa) as is the dysautonomia H-EDS (grandma).  I do use a combination of medication, diet, and light exercise to keep my Blood Sugar levels in a very good range.  My Dad did the same

[Mark P.]

Thanks DADofPotsSon for sharing your experience. The problem with my brother is he will take a ton of medications but always unwilling to give up overeating. The type II in our family is also heredity type (from Grandpa). My granddad had some other issues, but we are not sure if he had neuro muscular diseases or not. But today I am surely going to show your reply to my brother. If it awakens some sense into him to exercise a bit and control his diet.

[yogini]

Dysautonomia symptoms occur simply by changing posture from lying down or sitting to standing.  IF your brother's symptoms aren't triggered just by standing or walking then it seems unlikely to me he has dysautnomia.

[Mark P.]

Thanks yogini for for your reassuring insight. I have been studying a bit about dysautnomia.  Yesterday I took him to have a gym membership. Now, I have to monitor regularly about his progress. Sometimes his actions make me forget who is the elder between us.