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Hypo? Weird readings

13lizanne

13lizanne

Expert
Messages
8,262
Location
Central Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
The Gym, + unkindness and rudeness
After a fbg of 6.5 this morning I decided not to test until pre lunch which was 3.1! Did a retest on a different finger which was 3.2 I feel perfectly OK. Had 1 slice of Irish white bread toasted with a cheese slice for breakfast at 6.30am then housework and a 40 min brisk walk, have been stressed and not slept well last night ( usually sleep like a log) Just eaten a bacon roll for lunch since my bloods were so low thought that I could use the carbs. Sorry for the very long post but I'm baffled, can anyone explain?
 
13lizanne said:
After a fbg of 6.5 this morning I decided not to test until pre lunch which was 3.1! Did a retest on a different finger which was 3.2 I feel perfectly OK. Had 1 slice of Irish white bread toasted with a cheese slice for breakfast at 6.30am then housework and a 40 min brisk walk, have been stressed and not slept well last night ( usually sleep like a log) Just eaten a bacon roll for lunch since my bloods were so low thought that I could use the carbs. Sorry for the very long post but I'm baffled, can anyone explain?
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If your profile is correct, and you don't take any medication, I could speculate your body is beginning to function quite well. Many people find housework is a great form of exercise for the bloods. For housework, on principal, I could never be thus persuaded!

I often run in the 3s for very long periods, and before meals am these days often in the numbers you saw today, and sometimes in the 2s. When I get into the 2s I usually feel hungry, but then it usually is a permeable eating, so quite naturally so.

Provided you aren't taking meds, or meds likely to induce a hypo, then I say you need not be at all concerned by low numbers, provided you feel fine. I never carb load after seeing low numbers, I just go on as normal. If I am feeling particularly hungry or getting tetchy, then I just have a cup of tea, with some milk, which just brings me back up a tiny bit, and I stay ready for my next meal. But, those are just my tactics.

Personally, I see carb loading in the face of a low number (subject to T2, not on any strong meds), carb loading in the face of a low number is playing a bit of Russian Roulette. You get nice and healthy low, you force it back up(by carb loading), and then the body is I forced to produce lots of insulin to deal with the high, which can in turn leave you feeling hungry and at risk of decarbonise loading, without the low numbers. That cycle can repeat itself.

Keep an eye on things, but don't be alarmed by low numbers. Mint is my informed belief that non-diabetics also often have these numbers, but have no idea. Why would they; they don't test as we do.

When I fitrst saw my own low numbers I had a mini flap, but then started celebrating because to me, it was great progress.
 
Oh and just one more thing. Personally, I never refer to being in the 3s, or lower, as a hypo, for myself. I could perhaps be persuaded if I'm mid-2s or lower and feeling ropey.

But, that's just me. I could be just healthy, or some would say I'm in denial. I'll stick with healthy, thanks. :)
 
Its strange how these random lower numbers happen. It doesn't happen often to me but very occasionally I get low numbers like you have this morning but rather than eat bread I'll eat cherry tomatoes, strawberries or defrosted frozen cherries. I eat a few then re-test after an hour then maybe eat a few more if necessary. test again and repeat until I get to where I want to be. Last time it happened to me was on Christmas Day.
 
And, yes, stress very much affects BG. From personal experience it can go both up AND down.
 
Thank you, I do always like to know "why" I have been completely meds free since November and my pre meal readings are normally 4s My panic was because my fbg today had been much higher than of late and so the ultra low reading pre lunch didn't make sense to me. You explained it beautifully, thank you, and I am duly chastised :) regarding carb loading but oh! that bacon roll was wonderful. @AndBreathe
 
Chook said:
And, yes, stress very much affects BG. From personal experience it can go both up AND down.
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That's helpful thanks @Chook and I know I shouldn't eat bread the low numbers just gave me an excuse! Comfort eating Im afraid, thanks for answering though :)
 
13lizanne said:
After a fbg of 6.5 this morning I decided not to test until pre lunch which was 3.1! Did a retest on a different finger which was 3.2 I feel perfectly OK. Had 1 slice of Irish white bread toasted with a cheese slice for breakfast at 6.30am then housework and a 40 min brisk walk, have been stressed and not slept well last night ( usually sleep like a log) Just eaten a bacon roll for lunch since my bloods were so low thought that I could use the carbs. Sorry for the very long post but I'm baffled, can anyone explain?
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As someone who was poorly with those numbers, the overwhelming need to overload on the carbs is built in to our brains because that has become the standard practice of getting your bloods higher. As andbreathe has already said, the best way just to up your bloods is something small just to give it a bump. I've no doubt that I have been warned before about giving this form of advice, but if you can live with no hypo symptoms at those levels why not? I live within normal levels all the time.
Always eat a small meal about fifteen minutes after, preferably low carb

Was you about to eat anyway?.
 
Yes @nosher8355 except the original plan pre-test was to have bacon and eggs for lunch I decided to add the bread roll because I could "afford" the carbs not as a fix for a hypo :)
 
Chook said:
Its strange how these random lower numbers happen. It doesn't happen often to me but very occasionally I get low numbers like you have this morning but rather than eat bread I'll eat cherry tomatoes, strawberries or defrosted frozen cherries. I eat a few then re-test after an hour then maybe eat a few more if necessary. test again and repeat until I get to where I want to be. Last time it happened to me was on Christmas Day.
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Isn't where you want to be, nice low, non-diabetic numbers, now you're no longer taking insulin? I say that, notwithstanding my remarks about feeling OK.

Low numbers after a carb hit can also be a rebound low from a fats, sharps spike, which is another reason I personally don't carb load lows.
 
13lizanne said:
Yes @nosher8355 except the original plan pre-test was to have bacon and eggs for lunch I decided to add the bread roll because I could "afford" the carbs not as a fix for a hypo :)
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Should of stuck to the fry up and added mushrooms;)
 
13lizanne said:
Thank you, I do always like to know "why" I have been completely meds free since November and my pre meal readings are normally 4s My panic was because my fbg today had been much higher than of late and so the ultra low reading pre lunch didn't make sense to me. You explained it beautifully, thank you, and I am duly chastised :) regarding carb loading but oh! that bacon roll was wonderful. @AndBreathe
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I wasn't chastising you for anything. We each do what we feel to be for the best - especially that first time when the mini-flap grabs us tightly. I was just inviting a differing viewpoint to low numbers for otherwise healthy, un-medicated T2s.

Keep an eye on it, but I would be feeling optimistic in your shoes.
 
nosher8355 said:
As someone who was poorly with those numbers, the overwhelming need to overload on the carbs is built in to our brains because that has become the standard practice of getting your bloods higher. As andbreathe has already said, the best way just to up your bloods is something small just to give it a bump. I've no doubt that I have been warned before about giving this form of advice, but if you can live with no hypo symptoms at those levels why not? I live within normal levels all the time.
Always eat a small meal about fifteen minutes after, preferably low carb

Was you about to eat anyway?.
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With respect Nosher, I seem to recall the time I saw you have your knuckles rapped for the advice was to a T1, for whom the low numbers have different significance. I've never received a warning when I've been careful to add the T2, no heavy meds, feeling fine, statements, as I do believe they are key. I would hate to bring anyone into harms way, and I believe you also feel the same way.
 
Hi, I hope you are feeling better now and that you can now enjoy the rest of the day, take care :)
 
AndBreathe said:
With respect Nosher, I seem to recall the time I saw you have your knuckles rapped for the advice was to a T1, for whom the low numbers have different significance. I've never received a warning when I've been careful to add the T2, no heavy meds, feeling fine, statements, as I do believe they are key. I would hate to bring anyone into harms way, and I believe you also feel the same way.
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You are correct, many months ago!
But have been recently rapped about three weeks offering the low carb approach to a T2 (if I remember correctly!) Then I was moderated by a T1 moderator.
Even, mrspuddleduck came to defend me on the same thread and had a falling out with said moderator.
As I said it is ingrained in our psych about treating hypos.
Unfortunately, some of the lateral thinkers need to sometimes think outside the box.
Me and Brun had to figure out what to advise newbies because of our experience.
Unfortunately, what works for T1, invariably doesn't have the same outcome for those with weirder blood glucose disorders!
Thanks for asking and your continued support for us weirdos!
 
AndBreathe said:
Isn't where you want to be, nice low, non-diabetic numbers, now you're no longer taking insulin? I say that, notwithstanding my remarks about feeling OK.

Low numbers after a carb hit can also be a rebound low from a fats, sharps spike, which is another reason I personally don't carb load lows.
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Yes, I want nice low numbers but I also don't want to be worried by numbers that are so much lower than they normally are. I don't consider eating cherry tomatoes and testing until I got up to about 4.5 to be carb loading. I call it being sensible on Christmas Day when I don't want to have a hypo and end up feeling awful the rest of the day (and, in the process, ruin everyone else's day) by ignoring a test result that is so unusually low for me.

Remember: everyone is different.
 
Chook said:
Yes, I want nice low numbers but I also don't want to be worried by numbers that are so much lower than they normally are. I don't consider eating cherry tomatoes and testing until I got up to about 4.5 to be carb loading. I call it being sensible on Christmas Day when I don't want to have a hypo and end up feeling awful the rest of the day (and, in the process, ruin everyone else's day) by ignoring a test result that is so unusually low for me.

Remember: everyone is different.
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I think you have found your answer to your tastes and understanding.
It all depends where on the scale of things you believe you are happy with.
If you are happy in the fours or fives then so be it.
The recommended treatment for a hypo is something that is overloaded with carbs or glucose, sugar. To get your bloods up quickly.
But that causes problems in itself unless your condition predisposes that you must because of insulin resistance.
However, if somebody like yourself is in normal for much of the time and spiking with quick glucose can rebound, as @AndBreathe has alluded to.
What you can do is try both methods and see the results.
My glucose fix for a hospital derived hypo, had my stay in hospital extended by four hours because my bloods were bouncing up and down all over the place until I took the initiative to slowly bring my bloods up from a hypo, while everyone around me in the ward, thought I was mad (and weird!)
It was a lesson well learned!
After all, it's your health!
 
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