This Is Why Your Blood Sugar Feels Out of Control

In this raw and vulnerable episode of 'Pardon My Pancreas,' host Matt Vande Vegte shares a real-time struggle with out-of-control blood sugar, peaking at 192 despite multiple insulin doses and no food intake. He reveals a critical insight: his continuous glucose monitor (CGM) was falsely detecting lows due to a pump error, which caused his insulin pump to withhold insulin for hours—leading to a dangerous spike during Dawn Phenomenon. Matt uses this moment to emphasize the importance of curiosity over frustration when facing unexplained blood sugar fluctuations. He reframes the emotional response by reminding listeners that while diabetes isn't their fault, it is their responsibility to manage. He introduces the '5% rule'—a conceptual framework suggesting that 95% of blood sugar issues stem from controllable factors, while 5% are truly out of one's hands, such as faulty insulin, pump malfunctions, or hormonal shifts. The episode blends personal transparency with practical wisdom, encouraging listeners to stay solution-focused, emotionally honest, and resilient in the face of systemic challenges in diabetes management.