Very low blood sugar reading

[KK123]

I have had one reading in my 8 weeks of testing at 1.6 ; I looked at my wife and both of us agreed there was no way it could be correct as I was walking/talking and feeling fine! I am sure that there are occasional dodgy readings, BUT if I was unsure I would have re-tested. I too have the emergency bag with so much sugar in I could get an elephant out of a Hypo! It never leaves my side/vehicle as neither does my meter. Finally do you have a Glucogon pen? I find it great as a security blanket but hope NEVER to use it!

Staying strong in my book means being prepared for all possibilities and staying healthy!

Finally with that reading in the UK remember DVLA don't want you driving (must be over 5) so you MUST re-test yourself before driving or they might have an excuse to remove/restrict your licence

I'm just trying to imagine an elephant having a hypo!

 

[Colin Crowhurst]

perhaps I should have said I am a registered comedian; one look at me and everyone laughs!

 

[Derbysocks]

You should have glucose tablets with you at all time in case this happens, as your dn should have told you.

 

[Patrick66]

You should have glucose tablets with you at all time in case this happens, as your dn should have told you.

Well they didn’t. In fact they’ve told me very little. It’s not uncommon.

 

[HSSS]

Totally agree I've noticed this with my ASD son - he likes a very strict timetable for meals - on a couple of occasions when he's gone past even by an hour he has all the symptoms of hypo - a drink of juice and a biscuit sorts it. Also after a meltdown it can present as well. Don't test him though to be honest as he has a needle phobia and trying to stick a sharp in him would make the situation 100 times worse

Mine has hypo symptoms but has allowed tests. Not once, so far, has he been anywhere near hypo in readings. He decides he should have food and if he hasn’t he reacts accordingly, regardless of the actual readings. Food or drink negates the symptoms. A false hypo in essence. Oddly he can go for extended periods without food. It all depends on when he thinks he should have eaten, not when he has eaten.

 

[Bluetit1802]

My diabetic nurse says anything under 3.0 is to be concerned at. 3.3 was, in her words, a bit lower than she would like.

As you are on Gliclazide, under 5 is not advisable for the simple reason in 10 minutes time you could be under 4. You need to re-test after 10 or 15 minutes to make sure you are not still dropping in addition to having some glucose.

 

[lucylocket61]

Well they didn’t. In fact they’ve told me very little. It’s not uncommon.

Patrick, can you just confirm you are on Gliclazide please, as its not listed in your profile and I am getting confused.

Oh and about the clothes, my son sells his outgrown clothes on eBay, and uses the money to go towards buying new ones, as he feels the same way as you about used things.

 

[Patrick66]

As you are on Gliclazide, under 5 is not advisable for the simple reason in 10 minutes time you could be under 4. You need to re-test after 10 or 15 minutes to make sure you are not still dropping in addition to having some glucose.

I’m not on Gliclazide.

 

[Patrick66]

Patrick, can you just confirm you are on Gliclazide please, as its not listed in your profile and I am getting confused.

Oh and about the clothes, my son sells his outgrown clothes on eBay, and uses the money to go towards buying new ones, as he feels the same way as you about used things.

I am not on Gliclazide.

 

[micksmixxx]

Its not about not caring.

I want to care but find the struggle real. I ate that cupcake this morning and honestly, it didn't make me feel like I wanted to go back to sugar. In fact I felt weak and pathetic for resorting to it.
I just have so much going on and nothing gets resolved and food just becomes a chore and sometimes an inconvenience.
I don't feel hypo, well, not noticeably according to the obvious symptoms, just a little light headed and tired...but then I had a bad night.
My partner drives me to work. I can but don't drive.
I am just very bad at looking after myself.

Der Patrick66, please do NOT EVER feel "weak and pathetic" for having to deal with a hypo. If you hadn't, AND if someone had found you in time, you COULD have woken up in a hospital bed. (The bad news is, if someone hadn't found you in a state of collapse, you COULD have lapsed into a coma, and POSSIBLY even have died. The good news is, this is a relatively uncommon occurrence, but it COULD have happened ... especially if those around you weren't aware of the dangers or knew how to correctly treat someone in a hypoglycaemic event.)

I am NOT trying to be flippant about what COULD have happened, but I've found myself repeatedly being admitted to hospital for just such a situation.

What I would advise is that you speak with a member of your diabetes support team ... doctor/endocrinologist, diabetes specialist nurse, certified diabetes educator ... and explain to them what you've experienced. It MAY be that a change MIGHT be recommended to the dosage of Metformin that you take, but Metformin by itself doesn't NORMALLY cause hypoglycaemia. It MAY also be that you'll receive dietary advice, explaining the importance of you eating on a more regular basis.

I appreciate that looking after yourself MAY not seem that important to you right now, sir, but doing so over the long-term is incredibly important. IF you can pluck up the courage, I'd advise you to bring up the way you feel with a member of your diabetes support team. It MAY be that they'll refer you for psychological counselling, or refer you back to your GP so that s/he can refer you for psychological counselling. Please do NOT see this as being some sort of failure. It simply means that you need some help/guidance on seeing why you feel the way that you do ... and what to do to 'correct' this.

I wish you well, sir, and truly do hope that you'll speak with someone.

Lots of Love and Light.

Mick
x x x x
x x x

P.S. Please do not feel embarrassed, offended, or alarmed, at the 'x's'. It's merely a logo, of sorts, that I've used for the past 40-odd years.

 

[lucylocket61]

I am not on Gliclazide.

Thanks for confirming that.

And thanks for this thread, I was able to have a discussion with my son today, and we now realise that his insistence on the timing of his evening meal (which I cook) is not being fussy, its to stop his brain going fuzzy or him getting shaky if a meal is delayed. He gets all his other meals and drinks himself. The more I know about how his AS affects him, the more we can all do to help him get the most out of life - right?

: )

 

[Patrick66]

Thanks for confirming that.

And thanks for this thread, I was able to have a discussion with my son today, and we now realise that his insistence on the timing of his evening meal (which I cook) is not being fussy, its to stop his brain going fuzzy or him getting shaky if a meal is delayed. He gets all his other meals and drinks himself. The more I know about how his AS affects him, the more we can all do to help him get the most out of life - right?

: )

Absolutely. We try and eat at about the same time each day. My better half’s spontaneous decisions to change her eating times are very disconcerting!.

 

[Patrick66]

Der Patrick66, please do NOT EVER feel "weak and pathetic" for having to deal with a hypo. If you hadn't, AND if someone had found you in time, you COULD have woken up in a hospital bed. (The bad news is, if someone hadn't found you in a state of collapse, you COULD have lapsed into a coma, and POSSIBLY even have died. The good news is, this is a relatively uncommon occurrence, but it COULD have happened ... especially if those around you weren't aware of the dangers or knew how to correctly treat someone in a hypoglycaemic event.)

I am NOT trying to be flippant about what COULD have happened, but I've found myself repeatedly being admitted to hospital for just such a situation.

What I would advise is that you speak with a member of your diabetes support team ... doctor/endocrinologist, diabetes specialist nurse, certified diabetes educator ... and explain to them what you've experienced. It MAY be that a change MIGHT be recommended to the dosage of Metformin that you take, but Metformin by itself doesn't NORMALLY cause hypoglycaemia. It MAY also be that you'll receive dietary advice, explaining the importance of you eating on a more regular basis.

I appreciate that looking after yourself MAY not seem that important to you right now, sir, but doing so over the long-term is incredibly important. IF you can pluck up the courage, I'd advise you to bring up the way you feel with a member of your diabetes support team. It MAY be that they'll refer you for psychological counselling, or refer you back to your GP so that s/he can refer you for psychological counselling. Please do NOT see this as being some sort of failure. It simply means that you need some help/guidance on seeing why you feel the way that you do ... and what to do to 'correct' this.

I wish you well, sir, and truly do hope that you'll speak with someone.

Lots of Love and Light.

Mick
x x x x
x x x

P.S. Please do not feel embarrassed, offended, or alarmed, at the 'x's'. It's merely a logo, of sorts, that I've used for the past 40-odd years.

Ah, talking.

Been to that well on so many occasions. Nobody really listens and because there are no Autism trained counsellors around here those I sorak to don’t get me.

I will talk to my doctor..though it’s not one I’ve seen before, when I go in on the 11th for my medication review.

 

[micksmixxx]

Ah, talking.

Been to that well on so many occasions. Nobody really listens and because there are no Autism trained counsellors around here those I sorak to don’t get me.

I will talk to my doctor..though it’s not one I’ve seen before, when I go in on the 11th for my medication review.

Dear Patrick66,

I'm truly sorry that nobody seems to listen to you. That IS a failing on individuals that you attempt to speak to and NOT the NHS as a whole. It's a case of those individuals marginalising you, or not knowing enough about your medical conditions, and not being sufficiently motivated to find out more.

Hopefully, sir, when you see your doctor with regards to your medication review you will be able to put things to him/her about the distinct lack of support that you are getting. I suggest that you write down things on a piece of paper/notepad listing things like the hypo that you experienced; about people you talk to not listening to what you're saying; AND that you should ask your doctor to refer you on to 'experts' that know how to deal with your specific medical condition.

Be well, sir.

Lots of Love and Light.

Mick
x x x x
x x x

 

[Patrick66]

Dear Patrick66,

I'm truly sorry that nobody seems to listen to you. That IS a failing on individuals that you attempt to speak to and NOT the NHS as a whole. It's a case of those individuals marginalising you, or not knowing enough about your medical conditions, and not being sufficiently motivated to find out more.

Hopefully, sir, when you see your doctor with regards to your medication review you will be able to put things to him/her about the distinct lack of support that you are getting. I suggest that you write down things on a piece of paper/notepad listing things like the hypo that you experienced; about people you talk to not listening to what you're saying; AND that you should ask your doctor to refer you on to 'experts' that know how to deal with your specific medical condition.

Be well, sir.

Lots of Love and Light.

Mick
x x x x
x x x

It’s about understanding and most don’t. It’s also my inability to articulate what I need, because I don’t know.

 

[Haslam55]

I keep my BS very tightly controlled, However, at a reading of 1.7, I would be unable to focus well enough to post (lack of glucose in brain) and my priority would be hypo recovery. Are you sure you filled the strip properly. I suspect meter error I always resort to Lucozade, backed up by slower acting carb usually a banana. No guilt there. Be prepared for rebound high, due to body response to low BS and not the cupcake.

 

[Patrick66]

It’s been two days.

I am fine.

This morning I was 5.1. And that’s after the shocking news that my stepson and daughter in law have been in a very serious car accident overnight.

 

[Patrick66]

I keep my BS very tightly controlled, However, at a reading of 1.7, I would be unable to focus well enough to post (lack of glucose in brain) and my priority would be hypo recovery. Are you sure you filled the strip properly. I suspect meter error I always resort to Lucozade, backed up by slower acting carb usually a banana. No guilt there. Be prepared for rebound high, due to body response to low BS and not the cupcake.

Thank you but I am fine.

It was a bit of @ struggle to fill the strip- my blood is very reluctant at times..but it’s 5.1 this morning.

 

[Bluetit1802]

I am not on Gliclazide.

Ooops. I am sorry. My mistake, I do apologise.

 

[Patrick66]

Ooops. I am sorry. My mistake, I do apologise.

No worries.

Tried it once, several years ago, had a horrible experience with it. A short lived experiment shall we say ?