Question from Bournemouth, Dorset, England:

I am a 58 year old female, who suffers with fibromyalgia as well as type 2 diabetes. I was diagnosed as diabetic just over 12 months ago. I was put straight onto tablets. After a few weeks, I was taken off the tablets, because I was suffering a lot of hypoglycemic reactions. I have kept to a diet, keeping my blood sugars well controlled and slowly losing weight, as I was grossly overweight to begin with.

I am on simvastatin for high cholesterol, which is now well down to normal levels, and about three months ago I was put on perindopril tert-butylamine, 2 mg for high blood pressure. This dosage was increased two months ago to 4 mg and my blood pressure is now normal. About three weeks ago, I began having hypoglycemic reactions again. They have been as low as 2.3 mmol/L [41.4 mg/dl], but mainly between 3.2 mmol/L [57.6 mg/dl] and 3.8 mmol/L [68.4 mg/dl]. Sometimes this is happening two or three times a day. The highest reading I have had is 9.6 mmol/L [173 mg/dl] and this was after having something to counteract a low. Otherwise, my highest readings are in the high 6s or low 7s (mmol/L) [about 108 to 130 mg/dl]. My doctor cannot understand what is happening and I am very concerned, especially as I feel so poorly when they occur, shaking, exceptionally hungry, feeling faint and generally looking unwell. I have heard that fibromyalgia can cause hypoglycemia, but my doctor, says he has never heard of this. I am on other medications for my fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. I am wondering if you may be able to give me some advice, either how to keep my blood sugars more controlled or if indeed fibromyalgia can affect blood glucose levels.