Vaping effect on Diabetes...

[ShariR]

I still think it is what you are eating and when or maybe what you are drinking to keep yourself hydrated. The amount that the eliquid would raise your blood sugar would be significantly less than the huge number swing you reported here. I could be wrong, but I have not read here about that big of a swing in morning blood sugars. Over 5 months my A1C went down from 6.4 to 6.1 and I find myself not craving the carbs as much. Have you put on any weight in the last 6 months and if you have, how much. My dropping 20 pounds greatly reduced my numbers.

 

[jecchile]

I don't even have to test my glucose level to know that sweetened flavors are messing with me, I can feel it! So I don't go there.

At 6'3" 200# I'm not obese by any means. But still, I live to eat, not eat to live, so I'm my own worse enemy

I know what you mean, I love to eat also and misbehave at times but I have a lot of respect for this illness as it can do a lot of damage, so I do measure myself. I also can tell how my sugar is by how I feel - low and high. Very sleepy on high and get the shakes when low.
I´m hoping that my tests come out good this time... last time my kidney protein was high and my A1c was 7.9... I like to have it below 7.

 

[jecchile]

I still think it is what you are eating and when or maybe what you are drinking to keep yourself hydrated. The amount that the eliquid would raise your blood sugar would be significantly less than the huge number swing you reported here. I could be wrong, but I have not read here about that big of a swing in morning blood sugars. Over 5 months my A1C went down from 6.4 to 6.1 and I find myself not craving the carbs as much. Have you put on any weight in the last 6 months and if you have, how much. My dropping 20 pounds greatly reduced my numbers.

No, I have not lost much - perhaps a couple of pounds since my last checkup... don´t drink alcohol nor sodas, mainly water and tea or coffee but not much...

I did experiment, taking notes about my food intake, etc... and the only thing that I can point my finger at is the sweet vape... now I am vaping Tobacco flavor with 0 Nicotine and I am doing fine - soon I´ll be an EX-SMOKER of everything.

 

[Enoch777]

A small tidbit of information relating to VG and Diabetics:

"The risk of being allergic to vegetable glycerin is very low. The only patient population which may experience problems with metabolism of Glycerol would be diabetics owing to the anabolic hepatic pathway which can convert free Glycerol to glucose(but this would still not be an issue at the levels used in vaping)."

I was going to post this yesterday but forgot where I had read it. As far as how flavorings effect it, I haven't the slightest clue. VG is normally metabolized into water/carbon dioxide, unless you have said "anabolic hepatic pathway," at which case the additional glucose is quite minimal.

 

[Jellyfish]

I've been an insulin dependent diabetic for over fifty years so compared to me you guys and girls are all diabetic rookies. That does not mean much at all...but it does mean that I have more experience living with diabetes than most of you. I keep reading and hearing about what a terrible/horrible disease that diabetes is...but to me at least it is the opposite. There are just so many other 'things' that I'd rather not have wrong with me. That may not have been true years ago, but I certainly feel that way now with all of the technology that exists to help us manage ourselves.

For most of us, we can lead relatively healthy lives IF we keep our blood glucose levels at or near normal levels over the long term. That is the beauty of the HbA1c test...it measures how well you've controlled your blood sugar over a three month or so period (I forget the actual time frame). I don't get worked up over a single high blood glucose reading but I do get concerned about a developing pattern or an elevated HbA1c reading. And for the past twelve years or so (since I've been using an insulin pump) I've maintained an HbA1c of 6.0 (+/-). I find this relatively easy to do by balancing my insulin requirements against the carbohydrates that I intake...and I pretty much eat like a non-diabetic. In many ways I feel have a distinct advantage over diabetics that take intervalled injections, take oral medications or manage their disease by diet alone. For this group, regimen is extremely important since immediate corrections are not always possible or desirable. In my case, I would simply refuse to correct a slightly elevated blood sugar reading by taking a half unit of insulin. But now I press one button on my insulin pump to deliver a half unit of insulin and my blood sugar drops around 30 points!

Now, back to the original topic. I have not experienced any difference in my blood sugar levels since I started vaping over a year ago. My ejuice is entirely a 'sweet' menu of fruit and candy flavors at around 15-18 mg/ml nic level. Since I've stopped smoking and started vaping, the only change I've experienced has been a drop in my blood pressure.

Now, does that mean that's true for everybody? I doubt it because everybody is different and I try not to think in absolutes. On the other hand, I do strongly believe in the scientific method and the glucometer enables us diabetics to see the 'cause and effect' of what we do. With this singular device, which was not available for the first two decades of my diabetic life, we can determine how our actions affect our glucose levels and plan accordingly. So if you think that vaping is causing a change in your blood sugar levels, then check them. It's easy to do and is relatively painless. BUT, consider all of the factors that may be causing these spikes and have a baseline to compare against.

Lastly, if there are any insulin dependent diabetics that stumble across this post and are considering the use of an insulin pump, feel free to PM me with any questions. I probably waited about five years after my endocrinologist first suggested it to me and in retrospect I could kick myself in the rear for not doing it sooner. It's a real game/life changer.

Good luck and good health to all of my fellow diabetics!

 

[jecchile]

I've been an insulin dependent diabetic for over fifty years so compared to me you guys and girls are all diabetic rookies. That does not mean much at all...but it does mean that I have more experience living with diabetes than most of you. I keep reading and hearing about what a terrible/horrible disease that diabetes is...but to me at least it is the opposite. There are just so many other 'things' that I'd rather not have wrong with me. That may not have been true years ago, but I certainly feel that way now with all of the technology that exists to help us manage ourselves.

For most of us, we can lead relatively healthy lives IF we keep our blood glucose levels at or near normal levels over the long term. That is the beauty of the HbA1c test...it measures how well you've controlled your blood sugar over a three month or so period (I forget the actual time frame). I don't get worked up over a single high blood glucose reading but I do get concerned about a developing pattern or an elevated HbA1c reading. And for the past twelve years or so (since I've been using an insulin pump) I've maintained an HbA1c of 6.0 (+/-). I find this relatively easy to do by balancing my insulin requirements against the carbohydrates that I intake...and I pretty much eat like a non-diabetic. In many ways I feel have a distinct advantage over diabetics that take intervalled injections, take oral medications or manage their disease by diet alone. For this group, regimen is extremely important since immediate corrections are not always possible or desirable. In my case, I would simply refuse to correct a slightly elevated blood sugar reading by taking a half unit of insulin. But now I press one button on my insulin pump to deliver a half unit of insulin and my blood sugar drops around 30 points!

Now, back to the original topic. I have not experienced any difference in my blood sugar levels since I started vaping over a year ago. My ejuice is entirely a 'sweet' menu of fruit and candy flavors at around 15-18 mg/ml nic level. Since I've stopped smoking and started vaping, the only change I've experienced has been a drop in my blood pressure.

Now, does that mean that's true for everybody? I doubt it because everybody is different and I try not to think in absolutes. On the other hand, I do strongly believe in the scientific method and the glucometer enables us diabetics to see the 'cause and effect' of what we do. With this singular device, which was not available for the first two decades of my diabetic life, we can determine how our actions affect our glucose levels and plan accordingly. So if you think that vaping is causing a change in your blood sugar levels, then check them. It's easy to do and is relatively painless. BUT, consider all of the factors that may be causing these spikes and have a baseline to compare against.

Lastly, if there are any insulin dependent diabetics that stumble across this post and are considering the use of an insulin pump, feel free to PM me with any questions. I probably waited about five years after my endocrinologist first suggested it to me and in retrospect I could kick myself in the rear for not doing it sooner. It's a real game/life changer.

Good luck and good health to all of my fellow diabetics!

Thanks for the information... I have a friend who uses the pump and seems to be much, much better that to have to take shots. If I ever do go on Insuline, I will probably opt for that method of delivery.

I did experiment with the sweet juice and my Glucose meter confirmed that, at least for me, it causes an up trend in my readings. The juice that caused this was Vanilla/Caramel with medium level of Nicotine... at least that was what the bottle read. I will finish my investigation next week as I have a meeting with my doctor for my 4 months checkup... will ask him specifically if inhaling this kind of mixture would be absorbed in such a quantity as to cause an elevated Glucose reading.
These past few days I have been smoking Tobacco flavor with 0 Nicotine and my numbers have been normal - this morning I was 81.
Stay well and take care.

 

[Jellyfish]

I did experiment with the sweet juice and my Glucose meter confirmed that, at least for me, it causes an up trend in my readings. The juice that caused this was Vanilla/Caramel with medium level of Nicotine... at least that was what the bottle read. I will finish my investigation next week as I have a meeting with my doctor for my 4 months checkup... will ask him specifically if inhaling this kind of mixture would be absorbed in such a quantity as to cause an elevated Glucose reading.
These past few days I have been smoking Tobacco flavor with 0 Nicotine and my numbers have been normal - this morning I was 81.
Stay well and take care.

First, if your doc gives you a straight answer to your question please post the information. I'd be a little surprised if he does, but I like surprises.

But now, it seems to me like the answer to your question is only partially answered. Are your Vanilla/Caramel and Tobacco flavors the same bases (VG/PG)? Can you vape your Tobacco flavor in a juice that has the same nicotine content as your Vanilla/Caramel?

I'm just trying to see if you can pinpoint what exactly it is that is causing your higher blood sugar readings.

 

[fiddleshe]

I am a brittle insulin dependent diabetic, probably late onset type 1. Anyways, I look at your numbers and I salivate. My last A1c was 9.9. Lately my average is around 300. I am trying to figure out how to come up with the money I need for a pump. Long story. Since I have started vaping in the last week, I haven't really noticed any difference. I have been mostly using menthol 24 mg and pina colada 16 mg which is sweet.

When I first read your post, my first thought was the culprit could be the VG. The increase in your blood sugar while to you may be alarming is not really all that much in the big scheme of things. It is only around 50 points. What I have found though with my diabetes is that sometimes an increase especially one that small can really come from many things and sometimes I just never figure out why. You mentioned you drink a lot of tea and coffee. Caffeine is also another contributor to increased blood sugar. I know my morning coffee increases mine. I try to limit it by not adding creamer even non dairy creamer (it still has some form of sugar in it) and no sugar. I don't know, diabetes is a weird disease sometimes.

If staying away from sweet juices works for you then so be it.

Good luck.

 

[xpackaday]

I keep my a1c between 5.8 and 6.7. As mentioned in this post. If I put on 20 lbs, I'm on the high side and my mornings nun are 20-30 points higher.

Also, I have found that the strips can very by as much as 20 points and the age of an un-open tube will very the readings even when there 6-9 months left on the expiration date. One time I started to see a 20 point jump with out any changes in my life, diet or weight. I got out the test solution and found I had different test readings between different tubes. My older tubes were the higher readings. I then test with my blood and had the same type of results between the 3-4 tubes of strips I had a 20 point swing.

 

[ShariR]

That is really interesting. How different things affect different people. Sweet vapes do not spike my blood sugar. I am very, very happy that you are having good success with the tobaccos and that you are soon to be smoke free. It is a wonderful thing. Good for you!

No, I have not lost much - perhaps a couple of pounds since my last checkup... don´t drink alcohol nor sodas, mainly water and tea or coffee but not much...

I did experiment, taking notes about my food intake, etc... and the only thing that I can point my finger at is the sweet vape... now I am vaping Tobacco flavor with 0 Nicotine and I am doing fine - soon I´ll be an EX-SMOKER of everything.

 

[fiddleshe]

I am a research geek by nature. This whole thread sparked my interest.

Warning! Could be very boring! Ignore if you want.

I once had an anatomy and physiology professor tell me digestion starts at the mouth with the release of amylase. I also remembered that you didn't have to swallow to actually get digestive enzymes started. So it made me wonder what else could happen especially in relationship to glucose metabolism.

Anyways, after doing a little research I didn't find anything right off hand of just pure taste per se (no consumption), but I did find an interesting article about the ingestion of diet soda (the artifical sweetener sucralose -Splenda) and the effects on a little known hormone that plays a role in glucose metabolism. Ingestion of Diet Soda Before a Glucose Load Augments Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Secretion Interestingly, the artificial sweetener did not play a significant role in increasing either insulin or glucose, but it did increase this one hormone, which is a glucogon like hormone. If you are wondering what the heck is glucogon, it is basically a hormone that works to raise your blood sugar, the opposite of insulin. The hormone is found in both gut and tongue tissue.

Ok now you all are wondering how this is vaping related. It may not be, but in my little racing mind it makes me wonder, what the sweet taste of some e-juices might possibly be doing to the glucogon like hormone receptors or other hormones in all of our tongues and subsequently our metabolism and weight. Mind you that all of our metabolisms are different because of genetics, diseases like diabetes etc. So there are many other variables, but I found this intriguing enough to share with the masses who are interested in this type of thing. We probably will not know until science/government stops arguing whether or not this is a healthy thing and actually starts doing some unbiased research. That's the problem when you throw morality around.

 

[andycaps31]

stay away from vg juices, as they metabolize into sugars after vaped. try to pick up some 80pg 20vg if you can. Good luck with your condition and talk to a doctor, or fellow vapors, they probably know more than the man in white

 

[ShariR]

fiddleshe, I read that article and another article that talked about Splenda and some of the other artificial sweeteners. I am going to just mention what I remember because I can't find the article right now. Anyways, in the article it talked about how the splenda type sweeteners are tricking our bodies into somehow confusing the release of insulin or the hormone that triggers hunger. It ends up by saying that using artificial sweeteners could be causing people to eat more calories through having an increased appetite.

 

[kalligator]

Eventhough the quantities of VG we are taking in are too small to make a significant difference theoretically, I've found out that keto diet sadly does not work for me anymore (weightloss). It could be many other reasons of course but my mind is fixed on the VG in juice.

 

[fiddleshe]

ShariR
Well according to the article I posted, Splenda did NOT increase insulin. They did not measure the hormone you are talking about though. I do believe I have read your article or an article of your article and I believe that's a guess on researcher's parts, because there isn't one single hormone that trigger's that. Of course, now I will have to go research that. LOL. I could make some guesses myself but I will get back to you on that one.

 

[ShariR]

I hear you on the researching articles. I did a lot of that when I first found out I was diabetic. It gets confusing. The researchers and experts seem to change their minds more than I do when deciding what pair of shoes I want to wear. I got burnt out on it. Just like the articles on what causes cancer and what is good for you to eat and what is not. Please do post what you find out. I am following this thread.

It is nice to have a diabetes discussion along with the vaping. I still have not been able to sort out if vaping does affect diabetes. My doctor was not able to give me any information on it. From the threads I have read it seems to be an individual thing on whether it affects you or not. Just like most things with diabetes.

ShariR
Well according to the article I posted, Splenda did NOT increase insulin. They did not measure the hormone you are talking about though. I do believe I have read your article or an article of your article and I believe that's a guess on researcher's parts, because there isn't one single hormone that trigger's that. Of course, now I will have to go research that. LOL. I could make some guesses myself but I will get back to you on that one.

 

[jecchile]

First, if your doc gives you a straight answer to your question please post the information. I'd be a little surprised if he does, but I like surprises.

But now, it seems to me like the answer to your question is only partially answered. Are your Vanilla/Caramel and Tobacco flavors the same bases (VG/PG)? Can you vape your Tobacco flavor in a juice that has the same nicotine content as your Vanilla/Caramel?

I'm just trying to see if you can pinpoint what exactly it is that is causing your higher blood sugar readings.

To tell you the truth, I don´t know the base of the mixtures... I buy it from a friend who has a small business starting and that is all I know... First I purchased a pipe and used a Medium Marlboro juice and I didn´t notice any difference on my glucose. I used to smoke the thing all day long... then I got a different device which is easier to carry around when out... the difference on my glucose reading came when I purchased the Vanilla/Caramel mixture that I liked - that is when the issue started... since I didn´t know any better, I was wondering what was happening as I hadn´t done anything regarding my food intake, etc. After many days of wondering, I thought maybe it was the smoking of the sweet juice... I quit that mixture and went back to a Tobacco flavor and things calmed down... now I am back to my normal readings - 80 to 95 usually. That has been my experience... maybe it doesn´t happen to everyone. That is the reason I joined this forum, to find out...

 

[jecchile]

I am a brittle insulin dependent diabetic, probably late onset type 1. Anyways, I look at your numbers and I salivate. My last A1c was 9.9. Lately my average is around 300. I am trying to figure out how to come up with the money I need for a pump. Long story. Since I have started vaping in the last week, I haven't really noticed any difference. I have been mostly using menthol 24 mg and pina colada 16 mg which is sweet.

When I first read your post, my first thought was the culprit could be the VG. The increase in your blood sugar while to you may be alarming is not really all that much in the big scheme of things. It is only around 50 points. What I have found though with my diabetes is that sometimes an increase especially one that small can really come from many things and sometimes I just never figure out why. You mentioned you drink a lot of tea and coffee. Caffeine is also another contributor to increased blood sugar. I know my morning coffee increases mine. I try to limit it by not adding creamer even non dairy creamer (it still has some form of sugar in it) and no sugar. I don't know, diabetes is a weird disease sometimes.

If staying away from sweet juices works for you then so be it.

Good luck.

Thanks... I will stay away from the sweet flavors, just in case...
Sorry that your numbers are so high and I hope you can manage to get the pump... maybe that will help to reduce your numbers.
Good luck...

 

[jecchile]

I keep my a1c between 5.8 and 6.7. As mentioned in this post. If I put on 20 lbs, I'm on the high side and my mornings nun are 20-30 points higher.

Also, I have found that the strips can very by as much as 20 points and the age of an un-open tube will very the readings even when there 6-9 months left on the expiration date. One time I started to see a 20 point jump with out any changes in my life, diet or weight. I got out the test solution and found I had different test readings between different tubes. My older tubes were the higher readings. I then test with my blood and had the same type of results between the 3-4 tubes of strips I had a 20 point swing.

Yes sir... the strips can vary some, especially if they are old or have been exposed to some humidity... I buy mine every month and a half to keep a fresh supply...

 

[jecchile]

I am a research geek by nature. This whole thread sparked my interest.

Warning! Could be very boring! Ignore if you want.

I once had an anatomy and physiology professor tell me digestion starts at the mouth with the release of amylase. I also remembered that you didn't have to swallow to actually get digestive enzymes started. So it made me wonder what else could happen especially in relationship to glucose metabolism.

Anyways, after doing a little research I didn't find anything right off hand of just pure taste per se (no consumption), but I did find an interesting article about the ingestion of diet soda (the artifical sweetener sucralose -Splenda) and the effects on a little known hormone that plays a role in glucose metabolism. Ingestion of Diet Soda Before a Glucose Load Augments Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Secretion Interestingly, the artificial sweetener did not play a significant role in increasing either insulin or glucose, but it did increase this one hormone, which is a glucogon like hormone. If you are wondering what the heck is glucogon, it is basically a hormone that works to raise your blood sugar, the opposite of insulin. The hormone is found in both gut and tongue tissue.

Ok now you all are wondering how this is vaping related. It may not be, but in my little racing mind it makes me wonder, what the sweet taste of some e-juices might possibly be doing to the glucogon like hormone receptors or other hormones in all of our tongues and subsequently our metabolism and weight. Mind you that all of our metabolisms are different because of genetics, diseases like diabetes etc. So there are many other variables, but I found this intriguing enough to share with the masses who are interested in this type of thing. We probably will not know until science/government stops arguing whether or not this is a healthy thing and actually starts doing some unbiased research. That's the problem when you throw morality around.

Very interesting... thanks. You may be onto something there...