Continuous Hypo’s

[Kerrym1101]

Hi guys, I’ve just joined the forum but have always followed the Facebook page.

So for the last 24-36 hours I have had continuous Hypos with my bloods going as low as 1.9. I went to the hospital yesterday after advice from my GP and they done their usual and sent me home. These are the worst hypos I have ever experienced and no matter what I do my levels will not go up and when then do it’s not by much (I’m still below 3.0) when I’m having one my full body is shaking I’m sweating, agitated and through a couple of them my eyes are rolling and I’m out for about 15-20 seconds. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[xfieldok]

Can you tell us what type of diabetes you have, are you on medication and what sort of things are you eating. What are you doing to try to stop the hypos?

 

[Kerrym1101]

Can you tell us what type of diabetes you have, are you on medication and what sort of things are you eating. What are you doing to try to stop the hypos?

Sorry I thought next to my name it said that I was type 1 so didn’t think to include it. I have both Humalog and levemir. Anything I have tried to eat I have brought back up. When trying to treat the hypos I am having something fast acting, glucose sweets, coke, sometimes a spoonful of honey. I’ve never had them this severe so usually a few drinks of coke and a couple of digestive biscuits and I’ve been fine.

 

[xfieldok]

Do you think you might have some sort of bug. My first thought might be that if you are bringing up your food, you still have insulin on board and that is causing your hypo?

 

[ert]

Welcome. Do you have a diabetes nurse who you can phone urgently?
I'd treat all hypos below 3.5 mmol/l with 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates equivalent to 100-120 ml Lucozade, 150-200ml cola or fruit juice, 5 glucose tablets. Retest after 10-15 minutes. Repeat the treatment if your blood sugars haven't normalised. Try reducing your basal insulin by 10-20%.
When recently travelling to a very hot climate, I cut back my basal insulin by 20% every day until I stopped hypoing. I ended up on 20% of my normal dose for the duration of my trip until returning home. It took a month to return to my usual amount.

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Kerrym1101 Welcome to the forum

So how long have you been diagnosed ? Are you feeling unwell aside from the hypos ? Do you have quick acting insulin on board when your going low ? How are you monitoring your levels so meter/Libre ?

How are you getting on now ?

In general aside from anything else if you go hypo then it's more than likely to be followed by a second, this is because the liver releases glucose during the hypo event and will need to replenish stocks later on, that's why always proceed with caution after your first hypo, there's lots of other reasons why you could be in this position but with very little information to go on at this stage it's just guesswork, but hoping your having a better evening now.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Do you often have hypos or was this an unusual event?

 

[Kerrym1101]

Hi. Do you often have hypos or was this an unusual event?

I have them now and again but not anywhere near as bad as these one. To a point where I can’t stand or I’m passing out.

 

[Kerrym1101]

Hello @Kerrym1101 Welcome to the forum

So how long have you been diagnosed ? Are you feeling unwell aside forum the hypos ? Do you have quick acting insulin on board when your going low ? How are you monitoring your levels so meter/Libre ?

How are you getting on now ?

In general aside from anything else if you go hypo then it's more than likely to be followed by a second, this is because the liver releases glucose during the hypo event and will need to replenish stocks later on, that's why always proceed with caution after your first hypo, there's lots of other reasons why you could be in this position but with very little information to go on at this stage it's just guesswork, but hoping your having a better evening now.

Hey Juicyj, I’ve been diagnosed for 13 years. I was 16 when I was diagnosed. I had been feeling fine previous to these, now I am just totally drained can barely function at times. My body is just knackered. I do have quick acting when going low, the problem is I’m staying low. There is no rise in my levels whatsoever. I use a meter. Still feeling terrible, I usually know when I’m going to have one but not with these. Thanks xx

 

[Resurgam]

I have no experiences of insulin or type one, but I do think that you should be consulting with your team - those hypos seem very serious and should be addressed by the professionals.

 

[mentat]

Insulin sensitivities can change suddenly and for no apparent reason.

There was a time in my life when my insulin needs would HALVE overnight. Hypo, hypo hypo, hypo hypo hypo, and the only thing that stopped them was slashing my insulin. I learned to cut it down fast, man. Better high than low, and once the lows were eliminated it was a matter of gradually bringing the highs down and figuring out my body's new idea of normal.

This sometimes happened to me twice a month. (And sometimes in the opposite direction.)

It's very rare, but I'm living proof that it happens, and doctors typically have no clue how to deal with it.

 

[teasytux]

Hello Kerrym,

I'm sorry to hear about your continuous hypos.. You must be feeling so rotten from them all I'm type 1, 46 years being & had my share of darn hypos.. Still do!

• Are you on an insulin pump or using a pen to give yourself insulin?
• Which insulin do you take, eg Novorapid, Humalog, Fiasp etc..
• Do the hypos occur when you've still got a given insulin dose active?
• Have you tried the emergency glucose injection.. In an orange box.. I used to keep one in my fridge but not sure if still available on prescription.
• Is there anything happening in your life that's making you low, eg hormones, stress, being very active before hypo, diet or insulin dose changes?

It's amazing how somethings in our lives throw our blood sugars out! Maybe write a list on paper, to help you see what's going on before, during & after these hypos, what you do to raise sugar level & bearing in mind my above questions? You may spot a trend that will help you to stop the hypos continuing. Try a small glass of lucozade, taking slow sips.. That's always my go to when I'm not feeling well.

I know it's not easy Kerry, my 46 yrs experiences & I still get times I'm asking myself, why is this happening to me & can't explain things.. Diabetes oddities!

I would definitely also speak with your diabetes specialist nurse about these hypos with an emergency appt. You can try to drop your Insulin dose by a couple of units & run a tad above your normal bm's. When the hypos stop & you feel better, you can return to your usual insulin dose.

I hope I've been of some help to you. You will stop them, I'm sure.... All the best with Kerrym.

Best wishes, tux

 

[Kerrym1101]

I have no experiences of insulin or type one, but I do think that you should be consulting with your team - those hypos seem very serious and should be addressed by the professionals.

I have been to the hospital, I’ve always been consultant lead too and unfortunately for me he is on annual leave until tomorrow.

 

[Daibell]

I have them now and again but not anywhere near as bad as these one. To a point where I can’t stand or I’m passing out.

Thanks. I assume you have checked your Basal balance do your cab-counting as best you can? Some posters do have fairly unstable BS and it's not easy to resolve that other than a pump and possibly as someone has suggested running you BS a bit higher