Is it normal for blood sugar to vary so much?

[CelalDari]

Actually fed up of the fluctuating blood sugars. Is this a normal occurrence for T1 diabetics? I was diagnosed over a month ago (I’m 18). I’m using a Freestyle libre and although my HbA1c on diagnosis was 134 and now the libre estimates it to be 41 I still get massive ranges. Sometimes I find that without eating my blood sugar goes high e.g. increases from 6.5 to 11.5 so I give myself 2 units just to bring it down and it doesn’t go down until like 2-3 hours after the injection where I just suddenly crash. Despite being diagnosed for T1D for a little over a month I have lost hypo awareness or so I think. I don’t really feel anything unless I’m in bed and get sweaty or I monitor my heart rate and detect and elevated pulse, today I went to 2.5 without any symptoms

 

[urbanracer]

Actually fed up of the fluctuating blood sugars. Is this a normal occurrence for T1 diabetics? I was diagnosed over a month ago (I’m 18). I’m using a Freestyle libre and although my HbA1c on diagnosis was 134 and now the libre estimates it to be 41 I still get massive ranges. Sometimes I find that without eating my blood sugar goes high e.g. increases from 6.5 to 11.5 so I give myself 2 units just to bring it down and it doesn’t go down until like 2-3 hours after the injection where I just suddenly crash. Despite being diagnosed for T1D for a little over a month I have lost hypo awareness or so I think. I don’t really feel anything unless I’m in bed and get sweaty or I monitor my heart rate and detect and elevated pulse, today I went to 2.5 without any symptoms

Hi,

So firstly, the Libre is notoriously inaccurate outside the non-diabetic normal range. So take a finger prick test when it tells you you're below 4 or heading into the teens.

As a nooby you will probably be experiencing something called the honeymoon phase. The theory is that your pancreas isn't completely dead yet and shoots out some of it's own insulin every now and then.

For most people, this lasts a few weeks, myself about 3 months. It makes glucose management quite difficult but it should get easier later.

Hang in there.

 

[BeatingTypeOne]

Actually fed up of the fluctuating blood sugars. Is this a normal occurrence for T1 diabetics? I was diagnosed over a month ago (I’m 18). I’m using a Freestyle libre and although my HbA1c on diagnosis was 134 and now the libre estimates it to be 41 I still get massive ranges. Sometimes I find that without eating my blood sugar goes high e.g. increases from 6.5 to 11.5 so I give myself 2 units just to bring it down and it doesn’t go down until like 2-3 hours after the injection where I just suddenly crash. Despite being diagnosed for T1D for a little over a month I have lost hypo awareness or so I think. I don’t really feel anything unless I’m in bed and get sweaty or I monitor my heart rate and detect and elevated pulse, today I went to 2.5 without any symptoms

If your where only diagnosed a month ago it’s possible you maybe exercising the honey moon stage, this is where you your body may still be producing a small amount of insulin, I’m no expert on the subject but it may be worth you bringing up with you consultant, or are you having any stimulant intake such as coffee ? Or caffeine based drinks ? This can raise cortisol levels which will In turn raise blood glucose levels, I suggest adding a supplement called berberine it’s really effective for blood glucose stability as well as many other benefits for a type 1, have a read up on it I’ve found it very affective, be glad to help with any other questions you have. I’ve spent the last 12 years using trial and error to find things that work and things that definitely don’t in controlling diabetes and I’d be happy to help any way I can.

 

[EllieM]

So firstly, the Libre is notoriously inaccurate outside the non-diabetic normal range. So take a finger prick test when it tells you you're below 4 or heading into the teens.

today I went to 2.5 without any symptoms

Yes the libre is not accurate for everyone and is particularly suspect at the low end …. I wouldn't trust that 2.5 unless it was accompanied by a finger prick test. You may not have been hypo at all. My recommendation would be to do some back up blood tests (remember that the libre lags 15 minutes behind your blood reading) and check whether there is a problem with your sensor or whether the libre itself is working accurately for you.

Good luck.

ps if you've actually lost hypo awareness then there are things you can try to get it back, but confirm that you've lost if first.