Hypo when drug free

[Andydragon]

Hi there

So, I have found now I am stabilised I have had times when my bloods test < 4. So technically hypos. This Generally is after exercise but I have no symptoms at all. I have been on 1000mg metformin for a month or so and now none. So not sure I should even be getting that low?

Recently I had 2.7 which I double tested. I did feel a bit weak on that one but not as much as I expected

I used to have symptoms when I was around 5 so false hypos but now I am averaging 5 it goes lower. But what does this mean? Do non diabetics drop so low? What is the impact on them? All a bit confusing

 

[ert]

You should get a glycogen response from your liver when your blood sugars go below 3.9. I don't as I'm on insulin. Hypos start below 3.5 mmol/l, classified on the DAFNE course. I find sometimes if I don't get large enough of a blood drop onto my testing stip it will underread. I see incorrect values of 1.7, 1.9 etc which I can repeat if I still can't get enough blood squeezed from my finger. For me, below 3.5 I sweat profusely, shake, slur my words and feel terrible so know when the readings aren't correct.
Also, some of the glucose meters are more accurate than others. My Freestyle Lite Meter is accurate to plus or minus 0.5 mmol/l which is one of the best on the market. Some meters are less accurate outside the normal blood glucose range.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Do non diabetics drop so low? What is the impact on them?

I know a diabetes specialist (non-diabetic) who regularly has BG of 3.5.
No issues with that and they should know.

Looking at Freestyle Libre results on my phone.
My BG (2000 mg Metformin a day) regularly drops below 4.5 in the early hours sometimes during the day.
I have no symptoms.
My App settings have the bottom of normal range at 4.5 and I go below that many days.
I get the occasional bit of red, which I am assuming is below 4.
Nothing recently at or near 3.

 

[Goonergal]

If you’re on no medication it’s fine - you should find that your liver kicks in and puts them back up fairly quickly.

The lowest finger prick I’ve recorded is 2.9. Only real symptom was intense hunger - and that’s how I found it as I stopped to pick up something to eat and tested before tucking in. Tested on a finger on the other hand - 3.2, so pretty confident it was right.

Dropping into the 3s is fairly common for me, especially when fasting.

 

[Andydragon]

If you’re on no medication it’s fine - you should find that your liver kicks in and puts them back up fairly quickly.

The lowest finger prick I’ve recorded is 2.9. Only real symptom was intense hunger - and that’s how I found it as I stopped to pick up something to eat and tested before tucking in. Tested on a finger on the other hand - 3.2, so pretty confident it was right.

Dropping into the 3s is fairly common for me, especially when fasting.

Thanks for that input, dropping to 3.5 to 4 has become increasingly common now, especially after a full day of work or doing some exercise and I expected to feel really rotten but don’t and that is explaining a lot to me

getting a reading of 2.5 and 2.7 (The repeated test) did worry me slightly but I’m all good

Getting used to my ‘new normal’ is taking some getting used to.

 

[Resurgam]

Perhaps as Metformin prevents the liver releasing glucose, the tablets are the reason for it, and as the effect subsides your liver will be able to correct the low levels?

 

[Andydragon]

Perhaps as Metformin prevents the liver releasing glucose, the tablets are the reason for it, and as the effect subsides your liver will be able to correct the low levels?

Interesting insight
Shall keep an eye over the upcoming weeks and see what happens

 

[Lamont D]

Hi Andy.

Hypoglycaemia as a condition is episodic and will happen at any time you run out of glucose, because of the exercise, especially if the exercise is heavy, the liver should respond, but if you still have high circulating insulin, the liver dump may be offset by the insulin. It also depends on how much of the insulin resistance you have.
That is why certain athletes carb up before performing.

Because I have reactive hypoglycaemia, I can't over exercise as it will cause the reaction of a liver dump, which will trigger the hypos. So I have to tailor my exercise to maintain stability in my blood levels..

Keep safe

 

[ert]

I have been on a clinical trial recently for Nexus RX glucometers (as well as the Novovax Covid trial.) They took 15 different glucose monitors and tested my blood sugars from a single finger prick. The results ranged from plus or minus 1.5 mmol/l. So the accuracy of the meters is significant. You could (will) have been in the normal range (unless you experienced significant hypo symptoms.)

As someone who has been on insulin for over a year now, I can say I never experienced hypoglycemia (blood sugars less than 3.5) before taking insulin, no matter what the meter said before insulin and I was motoring my blood sugars every day due to being diagnosed as type 1 two years before I excepted I needed insulin. Hypos are debilitating and terrifying. I didn't hypo for the first two months on insulin. My nurse said it was because I still had the glycogen response from my liver initially. I could dose too much insulin, without any effect. I lost that response two months afterwards.

 

[lucylocket61]

I get below 3's sometimes. My GP has a theory that my liver is slow to respond and so I can go lower than expected. I used to faint, until it happened in the surgery and my GP worked out what could be happening. Now I am aware of when I am going low, rest for a while, and my liver eventually kicks in. I am type 2, diet controlled only.