Low blood sugars

[Bridie9408]

Hi I am just wondering has anyone ever had really low blood sugar readings on their sensor but had no symptoms of going low before checking it. I have had this happen quite a few times recently when the alarm went off I had no symptoms of going low so did not check straight away but when I did it was just showing Lo or no reading. I'm really worried about this could I end up in a coma without realising. I'm sorry if this sounds silly but I would appreciate some feedback about this or if anyone else has experienced the same .Thank you in advance.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi I am just wondering has anyone ever had really low blood sugar readings on their sensor but had no symptoms of going low before checking it. I have had this happen quite a few times recently when the alarm went off I had no symptoms of going low so did not check straight away but when I did it was just showing Lo or no reading. I'm really worried about this could I end up in a coma without realising. I'm sorry if this sounds silly but I would appreciate some feedback about this or if anyone else has experienced the same .Thank you in advance.

I'm only using a sensor for the second time, but for the first 24 hours it often registered as LO, (I was 6 to 7-something-or-other according to my finger pricks, so far from LO!). In the first 24 hours of application they're not reliable in the slightest. And if there is pressure on the sensor, like, if you're asleep and laying on it, it might give a hypo-alarm as well. They're called compression-lows, so they're not real ones.

Do you check the hypo reading against a finger prick? Have you been hypo, and did you feel it? Your hypo awareness could be absolutely fine, could just be the CGM having hiccups. But if you check the LO against a finger prick and you actually are in hypo territory, and you're not feeling it, it's time to improve your sensitivity some by improving your over-all blood glucose levels. (If you get hypo's often, true ones, you stop feeling them. So it is rather important to know whether it's a mechanical error or a physical issue.)

Hope that helps,
Jo

 

[Melgar]

Hi there @Bridie9408 , looking at your past posts it looks like you are T1. It may be helpful if you add that you are T1 in your profile. That way you are more likely to get replies from T1 members, not that @JoKalsbeek 's advice was not good, but fellow T1's may give you more advice based on their experience.

 

[Bridie9408]

Hi I would like to apologise to everyone for not making it clear that I am type 1 diabetic. Thank you to everyone who read or replied to my recent post.

 

[EllieM]

Hi I am just wondering has anyone ever had really low blood sugar readings on their sensor but had no symptoms of going low before checking it. I have had this happen quite a few times recently when the alarm went off I had no symptoms of going low so did not check straight away but when I did it was just showing Lo or no reading. I'm really worried about this could I end up in a coma without realising. I'm sorry if this sounds silly but I would appreciate some feedback about this or if anyone else has experienced the same .Thank you in advance.

I second the suggestion that you check the LOs with a fingerprick.

I have had lost/reduced hypo awareness in the past after I had too many hypos, and I regained awareness after I ran my bgs a bit higher for a few weeks. (The recomendation from my consultant was to attempt to keep my bgs above 6, but I stress that was my individual case and your consultant might say something different to you). Now I have a pump which has dramatically reduced my number of hypos and I am in a much better place generally.

 

[searley]

Hi I am just wondering has anyone ever had really low blood sugar readings on their sensor but had no symptoms of going low before checking it. I have had this happen quite a few times recently when the alarm went off I had no symptoms of going low so did not check straight away but when I did it was just showing Lo or no reading. I'm really worried about this could I end up in a coma without realising. I'm sorry if this sounds silly but I would appreciate some feedback about this or if anyone else has experienced the same .Thank you in advance.

If you are using a libre or dexcom you MUST confirm with a BG before treating you can get false lows . Excessive pressure on the sensor can cause a false low as can dehydration and a faulty sensor

 

[Marikev]

Hei, I am using Libre 3+ and generally rely on its readings. Fit the new one about 24 hours before the old one is due to expire. Can feel my blood sugar levels changing, but not always sure if they are going up or down.
A couple of weeks ago my sensor was about 10:days in and started showing very low readings, below 3. did finger sticks which were around 7… so after 3 readings that were out of synch with the finger sticks, I ripped off the sensor and started up a new one. Usually if the sensor is reading low, ie below 3.9 I will take a jelly baby or two, or whatever is to hand, then check with a finger stick.
Have had compression lows when asleep or when sitting and leaning on the sensor. These compression lows seem to show up as quite sudden drops, which don’t fit with insulin dosing or activity.
I did once have a low alarm go off and seriously thought it was a high warning. had just eaten some lunch. Was surprised to see the sensor showing 2.4.. had and never have been since that low. I realised then that I had forgotten to take into account a 20 minute stint of snow shovelling that morning, which I hadn’t factored into my insulin/carb/ activity calculations! Promptly sat myself down and took some jelly babies. Then got myself indoors to do a proper finger sticks and take some more carbs! I was fine!