Did I have a Hypo?

[derry60]

Ok, where do I start? My husband and I went out to the pub two days ago for the evening with the intentions of going for a meal after. I had not eaten that day at all. We were sitting in the pub just chatting. We had been there for 2 hours, I had not even finished my second glass of wine. (They were large glasses pub measures) I got up to go to the toilet and I felt as if I was really drunk. Got back to my seat and felt really Woozy, anyway upon leaving just before the entrance of the door to leave..I went down flat on my face. It felt as if my knee gave way,as I do have arthritis in my knees, but I felt as if I had lost complete control because of feeling drunk. I cannot even remember getting into the cab with my husband or getting out to enter my home. This happened to me once before the feeling drunk and falling after just one glass of wine a few months ago, but I did not connect it to a Hypo as I was diagnosed as Pre-diabetic and read that even Pre-diabetics can suffer a sugar drop. I remember feeling sick in the pub and hot. I was only on my second glass had a quarter of wine still left, so 1 and three-quarters of wine over 2 hours is not a lot. Apart from one time, wine never effects me like that. I have now got a lovely black eye and bruised head. I look like a Panda lol. Wondering did I have a Hypo? I did not check by BG because I felt not well

 

[Emile_the_rat]

If you «blacked out» you did not have a hypo. Easy as that.

Only type 1 diabetics, or diabetics on insulin can get a severe hypo that lead to unconsciousness.

Yes, having a mild hypo can feel a little bit like being drunk, but when it gets worse you will start to shake, get spasm, and that is right before you black out or get unconscious.

To be honest it does sound more like you aren’t very tolerant to alcohol since alcohol were present in both of this experiences.

Also pre-diabetics does not experience hypos, at least not the way patients with RH or diabetics on insulin does. You can get a rapid drop, but nothing severe.

 

[kokhongw]

Also pre-diabetics does not experience hypos, at least not the way patients with RH or diabetics on insulin does. You can get a rapid drop, but nothing severe.

I would disagree with that...it is during the prediabetes phase that the pancreas is still very able to produce huge amount of insulin in an attempt to overcome insulin resistance...Hence it is during the prediabetes phase that RH is most prominent.

However whether that was the cause the incident is inconclusive as glucose levels were not taken.

 

[Deleted Account]

It is not possible to know whether you had a hypo.
The only way of knowing whether you had a hypo is with a BG check.
If feeling "not well" was a reason for not testing, everyone with type 1 or treating their diabetes with BG lowering drugs such as insulin would have severe problems. We have to know when we are having a hypo so we can treat it with fast acting glucose as soon as possible.

The symptoms for hypos varies from person to person. Typically, before getting to the stage of passing out (which has only happened once), I would feel shaky, unable to focus, any other medical conditions (e.g. old sports injury) would be exaggerated, I may feel hot (or cold).
It can feel a little bit like being drunk but I usually catch it before that stage.

As alcohol can stop your liver releasing glucose, a hypo is more likely during or after drinking.

As you have had these symptoms a couple of times, I would encourage you to keep your BG meter with you at all times and prick our finger whenever you start to feel "off". Also cary something like a packet of Dextrose, just in case, so you can treat yourself if it is a hypo.

And talk to your doctor about your experience. It is easy to blame everything on diabetes but it may be unrelated (which you would know if you took a BG reading) and should be checked out.

 

[Emile_the_rat]

I would disagree with that...it is during the prediabetes phase that the pancreas is still very able to produce huge amount of insulin in an attempt to overcome insulin resistance...Hence it is during the prediabetes phase that RH is most prominent.

However whether that was the cause the incident is inconclusive as glucose levels were not taken.

I had pre-diabetes long before diagnosed with RH, but because og severe hyperglycemia I am now on insulin. And the hypo you experience with pre-diabetes or RH can not be compared with the severity of getting a hypo when on insulin.

You simply can’t pass out from a hypo when not on insulin. You can get a normal to moderat hypo, but not as severe.

Why? Because, when the body releases the hormone insulin, it will also send signals to the livet, so the body can release glucagon to prevent severe hypo if the body produced too much insulin.

In type 1 diabetic the hormone glucagon does not work, because there isn’t any insulin coming from the beta cells, this is the reason diabetics on insulin can get severe hypos.

It is not possible to get to the point were you pass out without being on insulin. And if you do pass out from a hypo it would be lethal if you do not get medical help within a few minuts. Only way to recover from a severe hypo with black out is to take an injection of glucagon, if not you will go into coma.

This did not happen when OP blacked out, therefore I know she did not have a hypo, and was just feeling «drunk».

 

[Resurgam]

I have seen fit young men pass out after drinking on an empty stomach - it can be quite spectacular, and I soon learned to check that my own particular entourage got food before a gig to prevent it happening when I was on stage.

 

[derry60]

I would disagree with that...it is during the prediabetes phase that the pancreas is still very able to produce huge amount of insulin in an attempt to overcome insulin resistance...Hence it is during the prediabetes phase that RH is most prominent.

However whether that was the cause the incident is inconclusive as glucose levels were not taken.

Sorry I should have been more clear. The first time that it happened my BG levels were 3.3, but the second time a couple of days ago, I did not take my BG levels. I am usually around 5.5 to 5.7

 

[derry60]

If you «blacked out» you did not have a hypo. Easy as that.

Only type 1 diabetics, or diabetics on insulin can get a severe hypo that lead to unconsciousness.

Yes, having a mild hypo can feel a little bit like being drunk, but when it gets worse you will start to shake, get spasm, and that is right before you black out or get unconscious.

To be honest it does sound more like you aren’t very tolerant to alcohol since alcohol were present in both of this experiences.

Also pre-diabetics does not experience hypos, at least not the way patients with RH or diabetics on insulin does. You can get a rapid drop, but nothing severe.

No I didn't black out as such, but there are gaps that I can not remember like getting into the cab with my husband and arriving home. No I can usually drink red wine with no problems whatsoever, that is why I was shocked feeling the way that I did under two glasses of wine, during 2 hours. So I even drank the wine slowly

 

[derry60]

It is not possible to know whether you had a hypo.
The only way of knowing whether you had a hypo is with a BG check.
If feeling "not well" was a reason for not testing, everyone with type 1 or treating their diabetes with BG lowering drugs such as insulin would have severe problems. We have to know when we are having a hypo so we can treat it with fast acting glucose as soon as possible.

The symptoms for hypos varies from person to person. Typically, before getting to the stage of passing out (which has only happened once), I would feel shaky, unable to focus, any other medical conditions (e.g. old sports injury) would be exaggerated, I may feel hot (or cold).
It can feel a little bit like being drunk but I usually catch it before that stage.

As alcohol can stop your liver releasing glucose, a hypo is more likely during or after drinking.

As you have had these symptoms a couple of times, I would encourage you to keep your BG meter with you at all times and prick our finger whenever you start to feel "off". Also cary something like a packet of Dextrose, just in case, so you can treat yourself if it is a hypo.

And talk to your doctor about your experience. It is easy to blame everything on diabetes but it may be unrelated (which you would know if you took a BG reading) and should be checked out.

I did not really relate it to a Hypo..but was wondering why I felt the way that I did on just under 2 glasses of wine during 2 hours. The first time it happened I had not long been diagnosed with Pre-diabetes, but did take a BG test and it was low,but did not think much of it, being new to all of this. I will take your advice though.

 

[derry60]

Hmmm Been reading on the Web and apparently a person with Pre-Diabetes and a non-person with Diabetes can suffer Hypos for all sorts of reasons. One that jumped out at me was drinking booze with no food in the tummy having Prediabetes, even a moderate amount..Oops won't do that again. I may of had a mild Hypo, but even non-diabetics apparently can get moderate Hypos just doing exercise on an empty tummy.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I thought it was common knowledge that no-one should drink on an empty stomach - especially a very empty stomach after a long fasting period. The reason being you can get a sugar crash. Even my dad told me that, and made sure I lined my stomach before going out of an evening - and that was back in the 60s in my student days. He wasn't diabetic, I wasn't diabetic, and as far as I know he had no experience of diabetes. It was just common knowledge.

 

[Guzzler]

I had pre-diabetes long before diagnosed with RH, but because og severe hyperglycemia I am now on insulin. And the hypo you experience with pre-diabetes or RH can not be compared with the severity of getting a hypo when on insulin.

You simply can’t pass out from a hypo when not on insulin. You can get a normal to moderat hypo, but not as severe.

Why? Because, when the body releases the hormone insulin, it will also send signals to the livet, so the body can release glucagon to prevent severe hypo if the body produced too much insulin.

In type 1 diabetic the hormone glucagon does not work, because there isn’t any insulin coming from the beta cells, this is the reason diabetics on insulin can get severe hypos.

It is not possible to get to the point were you pass out without being on insulin. And if you do pass out from a hypo it would be lethal if you do not get medical help within a few minuts. Only way to recover from a severe hypo with black out is to take an injection of glucagon, if not you will go into coma.

This did not happen when OP blacked out, therefore I know she did not have a hypo, and was just feeling «drunk».

This is by no means an argument against your comment but comes from a need for a little more detail.
I know very little about Type 1 Diabetes but have heard/read nothing on the glucagon response, could you say a little on the mechanism whereby in the absence of insulin the glucagon response is faulty in T1, thanks.

 

[derry60]

I thought it was common knowledge that no-one should drink on an empty stomach - especially a very empty stomach after a long fasting period. The reason being you can get a sugar crash. Even my dad told me that, and made sure I lined my stomach before going out of an evening - and that was back in the 60s in my student days. He wasn't diabetic, I wasn't diabetic, and as far as I know he had no experience of diabetes. It was just common knowledge.

To be honest, I was only going to have 2 drinks, but I did not even have that. Even on an empty tummy, I did not think that this would happen. It was an off the cuff decision to go out, and I did not think that under 2 glasses of wine I would have this reaction. Still, I have learned my lesson. I guess even at my age we do stupid things.

 

[Boo1979]

I thought it was common knowledge that no-one should drink on an empty stomach - especially a very empty stomach after a long fasting period. The reason being you can get a sugar crash. Even my dad told me that, and made sure I lined my stomach before going out of an evening - and that was back in the 60s in my student days. He wasn't diabetic, I wasn't diabetic, and as far as I know he had no experience of diabetes. It was just common knowledge.

When I was a student we would often drink on an empty stomach with the sole intention of making sure we got very drunk very quickly!
Im now in my 60s and have maybe a bottle of wine or champagne every year, - I now only need to have a small amount to be rather sozzled rather quickly

 

[Lamont D]

I have no links, but because I am non diabetic, it has been assumed and often quoted that I cannot possibly have hypos.
I can!
I have also read, that Hypoglycaemia is a symptom of diabetes.
It's not, it is a response to quick high glucose levels, because of a secondary insulin response.
You can also be unconscious, disoriented, dizzy and have mental, brain impairment from constant blood fluctuations high then lower, but not necessarily into hypo levels.
I know, I have done it in front of my GP and had hypos in front of my endocrinologist, and of course my eOGTTs.
I have read that the livers response to a hypo will be different for all types of endocrine conditions, the glucagon, glycogen and glucose derived can be impaired as other hormones have an effect on the response. Insulin delivered can also be impaired.
There are too many microbes, bacteria in our gut biotic that can alter the triggers for hormonal response. To be definitive about what will happen is a bit too exact.
As to the first post.

Ok, where do I start? My husband and I went out to the pub two days ago for the evening with the intentions of going for a meal after. I had not eaten that day at all. We were sitting in the pub just chatting. We had been there for 2 hours, I had not even finished my second glass of wine. (They were large glasses pub measures) I got up to go to the toilet and I felt as if I was really drunk. Got back to my seat and felt really Woozy, anyway upon leaving just before the entrance of the door to leave..I went down flat on my face. It felt as if my knee gave way,as I do have arthritis in my knees, but I felt as if I had lost complete control because of feeling drunk. I cannot even remember getting into the cab with my husband or getting out to enter my home. This happened to me once before the feeling drunk and falling after just one glass of wine a few months ago, but I did not connect it to a Hypo as I was diagnosed as Pre-diabetic and read that even Pre-diabetics can suffer a sugar drop. I remember feeling sick in the pub and hot. I was only on my second glass had a quarter of wine still left, so 1 and three-quarters of wine over 2 hours is not a lot. Apart from one time, wine never effects me like that. I have now got a lovely black eye and bruised head. I look like a Panda lol. Wondering did I have a Hypo? I did not check by BG because I felt not well

Don't drink on an empty stomach!
As a prediabetic, fasting may not be a good idea, even though you are trying to find what will stop going T2.
I'm interested in your fasting levels. Your Hba1c levels.
If you are unaware of having episodes of low levels, because of other symptoms attributed to the prediabetic diagnosis.
I will have a look at your posts, and do talk to your GP, it really could be anything.

 

[Brunneria]

If you «blacked out» you did not have a hypo. Easy as that.

Only type 1 diabetics, or diabetics on insulin can get a severe hypo that lead to unconsciousness.

Yes, having a mild hypo can feel a little bit like being drunk, but when it gets worse you will start to shake, get spasm, and that is right before you black out or get unconscious.

To be honest it does sound more like you aren’t very tolerant to alcohol since alcohol were present in both of this experiences.

Also pre-diabetics does not experience hypos, at least not the way patients with RH or diabetics on insulin does. You can get a rapid drop, but nothing severe.

Emile, you are making statements that simply are not true.

None of us know whether @derry60 had a hypo or not, because she did not test at the time.

Whether she had a hypo, or not, you should not be making absolute statements without enough information.
And you are 100% wrong that only T1s on insulin will pass out from hypos.
Severe blackout hypos can be caused by insulinomas, RH, medications other than insulin, and health conditions other than diabetes. So your statement is simply wrong.
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypoglycemia#prevention

Please stop making absolute statements that give out incorrect information that may mislead members.

 

[himtoo]

@Emile_the_rat
walking in anothers shoes sometimes helps

 

[derry60]

I have no links, but because I am non diabetic, it has been assumed and often quoted that I cannot possibly have hypos.
I can!
I have also read, that Hypoglycaemia is a symptom of diabetes.
It's not, it is a response to quick high glucose levels, because of a secondary insulin response.
You can also be unconscious, disoriented, dizzy and have mental, brain impairment from constant blood fluctuations high then lower, but not necessarily into hypo levels.
I know, I have done it in front of my GP and had hypos in front of my endocrinologist, and of course my eOGTTs.
I have read that the livers response to a hypo will be different for all types of endocrine conditions, the glucagon, glycogen and glucose derived can be impaired as other hormones have an effect on the response. Insulin delivered can also be impaired.
There are too many microbes, bacteria in our gut biotic that can alter the triggers for hormonal response. To be definitive about what will happen is a bit too exact.
As to the first post.


Don't drink on an empty stomach!
As a prediabetic, fasting may not be a good idea, even though you are trying to find what will stop going T2.
I'm interested in your fasting levels. Your Hba1c levels.
If you are unaware of having episodes of low levels, because of other symptoms attributed to the prediabetic diagnosis.
I will have a look at your posts, and do talk to your GP, it really could be anything.

My fasting levels are anything between 5.4 to 6.1...They used to be around 5.8 to 6.2 2 hours after eating they are around 5.6. or 5.8 I have never had this episode before only once before which involved 1 large glass of wine, I am putting it down to drinking on an empty tummy, even though just under 2 glasses of wine

 

[derry60]

Emile, you are making statements that simply are not true.

None of us know whether @derry60 had a hypo or not, because she did not test at the time.

Whether she had a hypo, or not, you should not be making absolute statements without enough information.
And you are 100% wrong that only T1s on insulin will pass out from hypos.
Severe blackout hypos can be caused by insulinomas, RH, medications other than insulin, and health conditions other than diabetes. So your statement is simply wrong.
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypoglycemia#prevention

Please stop making absolute statements that give out incorrect information that may mislead members.

I am on heart medications Brunneria. What worried me was the fact this has only ever happened once before, on 1 large glass of wine, yet again empty tummy, but to be honest I had only not long been diagnosed with Pre-diabetes but had a meter I did test then and my level was 3.2 or 3 so quite low. It felt the same as back then. This was over a year ago. I knew nothing about BGL's back then. I did not relate to not eating anything, but today I sat thinking about it all and traced my tracks and connected to back then. I remember the other night feeling Dizzy and hot, also felt sick. It came on all of a sudden. I remember saying to hubby that I did not feel too good, kind of drunk and wondered why on under 2 glasses of wine which I drank over 2 hours, so I did pace the wine. I did not black out because I asked hubby, but some part of the night from leaving the pub and getting home I could not remember, still can't. I do remember when being home having some berries as I had not eaten, oh and an apple. After I felt much better. I will never drink on an empty tummy again that's for sure. I only ever have 2 glasses, so it was a shock to feel so drunk and dizzy.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Only type 1 diabetics, or diabetics on insulin can get a severe hypo that lead to unconsciousness.

I am not T1 or on insulin yet I have experienced this on more than one occasion my blood sugars have been as low as 2.2 and lower diabetes tends not to follow our preconception or rules.