What's the best way to bring up low blood
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mrman
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
Depends on levels, can feel low when not, always test. if using blood lowering meds not too sure of the protocol. Using insulin, if below 4, I usually have a few sips of lucozade as it has dexrose, very fast acting, followed by something longer acting around 10~15 carbs. If 4mmol ish will just have a 15~20 carb snack. Also depends when next meal is as to the snack size, longer away the meal the bigger the snack.
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Depends on levels, can feel low when not, always test. if using blood lowering meds not too sure of the protocol. Using insulin, if below 4, I usually have a few sips of lucozade as it has dexrose, very fast acting, followed by something longer acting around 10~15 carbs. If 4mmol ish will just have a 15~20 carb snack. Also depends when next meal is as to the snack size, longer away the meal the bigger the snack.
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douglas99
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
It's far better to reduce the meds, rather than to eat sugar.
Go back to your GP with your meter readings, and ask them to review your medication.
pipwizard said:
It's far better to reduce the meds, rather than to eat sugar.
Go back to your GP with your meter readings, and ask them to review your medication.
Andy12345
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
i really dont get it... what douglas said seems to me to make sense, why use meds to lower bloods only to eat sugar to raise it? sorry if im being ignorant here, and i thought having bgs permanently over 6 was causing complications? but the doc is saying stay at least at 7? confusing :think:
i really dont get it... what douglas said seems to me to make sense, why use meds to lower bloods only to eat sugar to raise it? sorry if im being ignorant here, and i thought having bgs permanently over 6 was causing complications? but the doc is saying stay at least at 7? confusing :think:
mo1905
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
I agree. Lower the meds should be 1st option rather than having to take rapid acting carbs. Keep a record of all BG readings and take to your doc.
Andy12345 said:
I agree. Lower the meds should be 1st option rather than having to take rapid acting carbs. Keep a record of all BG readings and take to your doc.
Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
Yes my gp likes me to be no lower 6.5 or in the 7' s for a type two, you need to keep things in control and not let your body go to low, because you can go hypo on metformin. Or your bg can just drop anyway and that is dangerous,T2 on meds, I have kept my last 2 hba1c test at 6.5 and 6.1 I know when I am not well and need a bit of sugar or carb , it' seems a lot of balancing with the bodies needs, nice to have a well day, but this is not always the case....it is hard to understand.....
Yes my gp likes me to be no lower 6.5 or in the 7' s for a type two, you need to keep things in control and not let your body go to low, because you can go hypo on metformin. Or your bg can just drop anyway and that is dangerous,T2 on meds, I have kept my last 2 hba1c test at 6.5 and 6.1 I know when I am not well and need a bit of sugar or carb , it' seems a lot of balancing with the bodies needs, nice to have a well day, but this is not always the case....it is hard to understand.....
mrman
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
Agree, best to lower meds if poss but wouldn't suggest that without knowing more info. If it continues to happen yes, discuss with gp/dsn with a view to lowering meds. If it is a rarity due to unplanned activity, or just one of them one off things then reducing meds could result in sustained highs.
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Agree, best to lower meds if poss but wouldn't suggest that without knowing more info. If it continues to happen yes, discuss with gp/dsn with a view to lowering meds. If it is a rarity due to unplanned activity, or just one of them one off things then reducing meds could result in sustained highs.
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douglas99
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
I'd always suggest lowering these meds if, and only if, the GP is onboard.
T2 on gliclazide means the pancreatic beta-cells are stimulated continuously. And as they're alleged suffer burn out eventually, less meds are a good thing here.
It's always a balancing act, but less bad sugars are my preferred route, rather than meds.
brett said:
I'd always suggest lowering these meds if, and only if, the GP is onboard.
T2 on gliclazide means the pancreatic beta-cells are stimulated continuously. And as they're alleged suffer burn out eventually, less meds are a good thing here.
It's always a balancing act, but less bad sugars are my preferred route, rather than meds.
Andy12345
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
so it is dangerous in your doctors opinion to go below 6.5 on a finger prick test whilst on metformin, why? i dont know anything about other meds but unless you actually suffer hypos i was under the impression that the lower your bg the better?
so it is dangerous in your doctors opinion to go below 6.5 on a finger prick test whilst on metformin, why? i dont know anything about other meds but unless you actually suffer hypos i was under the impression that the lower your bg the better?
Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
Hi. I agree with the other posters that it is much better to reduce the Gliclazide rather than try to add carbs to compensate. There's no point in taking more meds than needed. You can get 40mg tablets for Glic which some GPs aren't aware of so you can fine tune with these. Glic lasts up to 10 hours roughly in the body if that's any help but it tails off during that time.
Hi. I agree with the other posters that it is much better to reduce the Gliclazide rather than try to add carbs to compensate. There's no point in taking more meds than needed. You can get 40mg tablets for Glic which some GPs aren't aware of so you can fine tune with these. Glic lasts up to 10 hours roughly in the body if that's any help but it tails off during that time.
mo1905
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Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
Metformin is different to Gliclazide Andy. Metformin only, those numbers are great. Gliclazide will lower BG levels though. Need to be a little more careful. Obviously I would not suggest the OP just lowers meds without consultation with doc. Just need to record levels for a few days as 2 lows are not enough reason in my opinion. Need more of a trend.Andy12345 said:
Re: What's the best way to bring up low blood
I take 80mg Gliclazide and 2000mg metformin. My latest Hba1c was 41 and Random Glucose 4.0 (I was 117 at diagnosis in Feb 13) As I have had a few readings less than 4 the DN (herself a diabetic) has suggested that I experiment myself with the gliclazide trying half a tablet instead of a full one, monitoring 2 hrs after food. I take gliclazide with my main meal, (Can be lunch or dinner) I have got to the position now that I adjust the dose ie half or full tablet to suit the amount and type of carb in my meal. This approach is working really well for me at present. I control 4 - 7 fasting and 8.5 max 2hrs after food. She also advised 3/4 haribou sweets for bringing up low bg.
I take 80mg Gliclazide and 2000mg metformin. My latest Hba1c was 41 and Random Glucose 4.0 (I was 117 at diagnosis in Feb 13) As I have had a few readings less than 4 the DN (herself a diabetic) has suggested that I experiment myself with the gliclazide trying half a tablet instead of a full one, monitoring 2 hrs after food. I take gliclazide with my main meal, (Can be lunch or dinner) I have got to the position now that I adjust the dose ie half or full tablet to suit the amount and type of carb in my meal. This approach is working really well for me at present. I control 4 - 7 fasting and 8.5 max 2hrs after food. She also advised 3/4 haribou sweets for bringing up low bg.
mrman
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Pipwizard,
As you say, you have only been on Gliclazide a couple of weeks, and it may be that your GP wants you to be cautious about your BGs until you are stabilised om the new meds, as the Glic does have a ~10 hr window of effectiveness. What I would do is:
1) Find something that you feel confortable with to boost your BGs (I loved Jelly Beans!) short term and :
2) Examine your BG pattern to find what causes your BG up/dows and try to lessen the fluctuations.
3) When you stabilise discuss tapering off your meds and slightly lowering your BGs to ~6 away from the post meal periods.
As you say, you have only been on Gliclazide a couple of weeks, and it may be that your GP wants you to be cautious about your BGs until you are stabilised om the new meds, as the Glic does have a ~10 hr window of effectiveness. What I would do is:
1) Find something that you feel confortable with to boost your BGs (I loved Jelly Beans!) short term and :
2) Examine your BG pattern to find what causes your BG up/dows and try to lessen the fluctuations.
3) When you stabilise discuss tapering off your meds and slightly lowering your BGs to ~6 away from the post meal periods.
100ml Lucozade and a 10g carbogydrate biscuit or a small banana instead of the biscuit. This way you BG rises quick and stabilises. Over treating a hypo with too much glucose is not good..
