Low blood sugar

[Triathlon Andy]

Hi, first time on here and would like to ask a question.
I've had every test going and I'm not diabetic and my blood sugars are fine but when tested but I seem to get hypos, I think they are brought on by food and sometimes because I haven't eaten in a while.
I do a lot of fitness as I like to do triathlons and as I watch other people train, I seem to bonk if I'm not careful so I take energy gels with me all the time which manages it.
I would like to go and get sorted with the doctor but I'm worried I may lose my job as a driver, so Ive been managing it for the past 20+ years.
My theory is if the doctor can't sort it out then what's the point in going to him and putting my career on the line!
Kind regards
Andy

 

[Lamont D]

Hi, @Triathlon Andy
Welcome to our forum. How do you know you are actually going hypo?
Or are you getting hypo symptoms and sugar crash, say late afternoon and after exercise?
I would say go and see your GP, so that he can start doing tests to see if you have a metabolic or hormonal imbalance. Simply because if you are having hypos it would be against the law to drive whilst having hypos.

We have a sub forum on Reactive Hypoglycaemia, have a read about an actual condition were those like me are non diabetic and if not controlled continually having hypoglycaemic episodes. Unlike you, I can fast for days and I can't exercise like you.

Keep safe

 

[ert]

As an endurance athlete, do you train your body to work in fat burning zone, by not having breakfast, only water and electrolytes, and taking your morning cycle? Back in the day, they measured our body fat with callipers to check this training was effective. Otherwise, when training it's easy to become reliant on sugar and carb loading.

 

[bulkbiker]

Simply because if you are having hypos it would be against the law to drive whilst having hypos

Is that really true?
I don't recall DVLA insisting on mandatory testing of blood sugar levels before driving unless a possibility through exogenous medication.

 

[Lamont D]

Is that really true?
I don't recall DVLA insisting on mandatory testing of blood sugar levels before driving unless a possibility through exogenous medication.

I hope i haven't upset some people but I was told that having little or no control over hypoglycaemic episodes was dangerous and irresponsible and you could be charged with recklessness in charge of a vehicle.
Similar to taking recreational drugs before driving.

If I'm wrong I apologise.

 

[bulkbiker]

I hope i haven't upset some people but I was told that having little or no control over hypoglycaemic episodes was dangerous and irresponsible and you could be charged with recklessness in charge of a vehicle.
Similar to taking recreational drugs before driving.

If I'm wrong I apologise.

Nope sorry my bad.. I was aware of the medicine induced hypoglycaemia but wasn't aware of the general hypoglycaemia regs.

I just wondered how they expect people who don't measure their blood glucose to know.
https://www.gov.uk/hypoglycaemia-and-driving

 

[Lamont D]

Nope sorry my bad.. I was aware of the medicine induced hypoglycaemia but wasn't aware of the general hypoglycaemia regs.

I just wondered how they expect people who don't measure their blood glucose to know.
https://www.gov.uk/hypoglycaemia-and-driving

No worries, even before my diagnosis, when I started all the tests, my endo asked if I drove, he could see that I was having hypos, he told me that if he was right, I wouldn't be able to.

I do think that everyone who has had hypos should test and keep testing if they feel that they are at risk of having a hypo. Especially on meds!

 

[bulkbiker]

No worries, even before my diagnosis, when I started all the tests, my endo asked if I drove, he could see that I was having hypos, he told me that if he was right, I wouldn't be able to.

I do think that everyone who has had hypos should test and keep testing if they feel that they are at risk of having a hypo. Especially on meds!

I do have to wonder though what would most members of the public think was happening if they ever did have a hypo.

 

[Jaylee]

Nope sorry my bad.. I was aware of the medicine induced hypoglycaemia but wasn't aware of the general hypoglycaemia regs.

I just wondered how they expect people who don't measure their blood glucose to know.
https://www.gov.uk/hypoglycaemia-and-driving

It would technically come under the similar banner as & using the protocol regarding someone diagnosed with epilepsy or seizures..

 

[bulkbiker]

It would technically come under the similar banner as & using the protocol regarding someone diagnosed with epilepsy or seizures..

Diagnosed though... how would anyone who had never experienced a hypo before and wasn't measuring heir blood sugar know they were having a hypo rather than just"feeling rather queer"?

 

[Jaylee]

Diagnosed though... how would anyone who had never experienced a hypo before and wasn't measuring heir blood sugar know they were having a hypo rather than just"feeling rather queer"?

Invest in the appropriate equipment to measure BGs when/if it happens again to at least rule it out..
Andy has had these incidence happen for 20 years? He's already carrying hypo treatment.

 

[Lamont D]

My experience of not having a clue what the hell was happening to me every day and my health deteriorating and my weight gain, since I was misdiagnosed in 2009 and I had no reason to question my doctors reasons for not taking much interest in investigating the reason why I was feeling really awful and having diabetes symptoms. What was happening was because I was eating porridge every morning, as recommended by my doctors and dieticians. They didn't know I was carb intolerant, they didn't know I was having rollercoaster spikes and hypos.
Even when I actually persuaded my doctor to get a referral because I was having a hypo in front of her, I asked what is a hypo?
My doctor just stood there looking at me whilst the hypo hit hard, then she stated, you cannot be having a hypo, you are type two and not on meds.
After some biscuits and a drink of tea, and a couple of other doctors from my surgery had come in to look at the oddity (me!) shake their heads and shrug their shoulders, they allowed me to go home.
It wasn't until my third appointment after my first eOGTT and all that ensued including more hypos in front of my endo and of course going into hypoglycaemia after about three and a half hours, and not going home for a long time after that, I still wasn't aware of having hypos. I just didn't know!
I have had a glucometer since 2009. I really didn't know how to use one to get the best results and until my endo suggested I keep a food diary and explained how to use it, did I get some sense about it.
After diagnosis I spent a good half hour with my endo discussing a lot of things and how hypos happened and only then did I understand what happens when your blood glucose levels drop below normal.
I lived for about twelve years unaware of hypoglycaemic episodes and it was what I call my hypo hell period. Despite the number of times I asked is this what happens to a type two? Why am I getting bigger when I'm not eating a lot? Why do I feel like this?
Why am I having sleep deprivation and vivid dreams? Why do I sweat all the time? And so on.

I really had no cause to think that something like this was going on, I didn't know, I didn't understand or have the knowledge!

Now, I can feel myself going out of normal.
Except, that the meds I'm on for my anxiety and depression have distorted how my brain is working. I keep checking and my blood levels are really good.
My recent blood panel results were good. I just have to get past this hell now because of the pandemic.

Ignorance is not bliss!

Keep safe chaps.