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Hypo's not possible if not on medication?

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dan1jess2

Well-Known Member
Messages
98
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Evening all, just a question which has been puzzling me, I've heard people say if your not on medication for diabetes so just controlled by diet and exercise you can't have a hypo? Is this true? So when my numbers go to about 4ish I start to feel a little weird like I should eat something, if I didn't eat would i have a hypo or would my body kick in and release whatever I needed to not have a hypo? Also whats better to eat or just have a few glocuse tablets? Are they good to have or best avoided? Thanks xx
 
It is highly unlikely you would hypo in your situation. Normal non diabetics don't hypo, so no reason why an un-medicated type 2 should. Your liver should kick in when you start to go lower than your body likes to be. (we all have different levels of being low) but 4ish isn't low. It is normal. If you do feel a bit weird a cup of tea should sort you out, but the feeling weird may simply be your body reacting to a fast drop from higher to lower levels rather than a more gentle drop. I wouldn't worry, and certainly wouldn't eat anything or take glucose tablets. As I said, a nice cup of tea should do the trick.
 
Hi not doing anything unusual just had breakfast at 6.45 got myself ready for work and kids ready for school dropped them off and at work about 9.30 they are at around 4? X
 
dan1jess2 said:
Hi not doing anything unusual just had breakfast at 6.45 got myself ready for work and kids ready for school dropped them off and at work about 9.30 they are at around 4? X
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Sounds fine to me.. if you feel a bit hungry though I would eat something but not something sugary maybe a few nuts or some cheese.. I aim for low 4's but usually only get them after couple of days fasting. Consider yourself lucky! hehe
If you are not normally that low it can feel a bit odd to start with but your body will acclimatise.
 
dan1jess2 said:
Evening all, just a question which has been puzzling me, I've heard people say if your not on medication for diabetes so just controlled by diet and exercise you can't have a hypo? Is this true? So when my numbers go to about 4ish I start to feel a little weird like I should eat something, if I didn't eat would i have a hypo or would my body kick in and release whatever I needed to not have a hypo? Also whats better to eat or just have a few glocuse tablets? Are they good to have or best avoided? Thanks xx
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Hi
I don't think 4ish is a problem for a type2. You say you feel a little weird like you should eat something; what's weird about that and why not eat something? As a T2D I recommend you do not take glucose - perhaps a few nuts?
 
It sounds like what you are experiencing is a 'false' hypo.

4 is not a dangerous level to be at when you are trying to lower your blood glucose levels to normal levels as a type 2 unless you are on certain medications.

It can be very uncomfortable but it is not life threatening as your liver will dump some glucose into the blood.

Getting into the 4's shows you are doing really well. Your body is not used to this normal level and may not feel like celebrating though.
 
Some of us may get hypo like symptoms in the lower 4s because we may have developed insulin resistance in our brain and it has impaired glucose uptake. So when glucose levels are lower and there isn't enough ketones, some parts of our brain may not be fueled adequately.

The usual approach is to have something light to raise the glucose level a little eg a few pieces of dark chocolate. Alternative some virgin coconut oil may help as well.
 
The above posts are very interesting and I have learned something here, thankyou
 
There are definitely people that can (and do) hypo when not on meds. But they are comparatively rare, and there will be an underlying health reason why they do.

The difference is that unless someone is on blood glucose lowering medication (like insulin) the person's own body sorts the low blood glucose out. No need for treatment. In fact, hunger is the signal used to prevent or treat hypos in most people who find themselves reaching for a snack. And if that fails, the body just releases a bit of its glucose store from the liver, and the blood glucose normalises.
 
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