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1.8mmol hypo?

P

pinewood

Well-Known Member
Messages
792
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
So I am in between Dexcom sensors at the moment (pulled my last one off yesterday and don't want to put my new one on until tomorrow as I have lots of sports and swimming this weekend) .... so relying on finger pricks today.

I just tested after dinner and had a reading of 1.8mmol! Tested a second time to check and again it said 1.8mmol.

I've never seen my numbers that low.

Weirdly, I feel relatively normal. I do have a bit of a hypo feeling but nothing too bad.

Is it "normal" to still be functioning normally at 1.8mmol? Kind of worrying my hypo awareness is clearly so bad.

Needless to say I am now sat on the sofa and have downed a glucojuice!

Goes to show how valuable my Dexcom is, as I no doubt would have got a rapid fall / low alarm and treated more quickly.
 
catapillar said:
For me personally, yes it's perfectly normal to be functioning normally under 2. But then I am completely hypo unaware.
Click to expand...
Guess I'm losing my awareness too. Is that normal after only 2 years of diagnosis?

I assume that, other than not controlling my levels so tightly, there's nothing to do to bring it back?

I guess it varies from person-to-person but is there a generally accepted figure where it's literally "critical" and you'll likely pass out/go into a coma/whatever else happens when you're that low? I'm assuming it's not as simple as "zero".
 
pinewood said:
Guess I'm losing my awareness too. Is that normal after only 2 years of diagnosis?

I assume that, other than not controlling my levels so tightly, there's nothing to do to bring it back?

I guess it varies from person-to-person but is there a generally accepted figure where it's literally "critical" and you'll likely pass out/go into a coma/whatever else happens when you're that low? I'm assuming it's not as simple as "zero".
Click to expand...

Well I lost my hypo awareness about 3 years in. And my consultant is rather concerned about that. So no, it's not normal.

You just need to stay over 4. Don't let your body think being hypo is normal, then it will react to being hypo with hypo symptoms. Obviously it's not something I've managed, but it is possible to restore awareness. Tight control can include not going under 4.

Obviously no hypo awareness means no driving licence and has resulted in some pretty nasty night hypos for me, where I just don't wake up. And it is thought that time under 2 does brain damage and you get cognitive impairment from hypos. So it's worth including staying up as well as staying down in the tight control. Set your low limit on dexcom at 4.5 so you have a chance to do something about it before you go under 4.

Edit: just seen your last paragraph. I think the answer is no, there isn't a generally accepted figure where it's critical and you will pass out. Realistically, practically and functionally (especially if you are concerned to maintain hypo awareness) you are best off treating 4 as that figure. I do function fine under 1. But the only functioning i do when I get a LO reading is to treat it, I'm guessing if I decided to ignore it and go for a run it probably wouldn't take long until I passed out. I have passed out hypo and woken up again, the waking up again come when you get a liver dump. Because I have no hypo awareness it takes longer for my liver to get the message it needs to dump glucose and my body's not as primed to respond to the glucose - I don't have stress hormones pushing me up because my body isn't stressed by a hypos.
 
Last edited:
No it isn't. I've had it for 33 years and still have awareness. I have had 3 periods of it though. The first one was being switched to human insulin in the 80s, the 2nd and 3rd were in my 1st 2 pregnances. Are you aiming for very tight control? If so try raising your level a bit to avoid hypos. Or maybe consider switching insulins? You can discuss it with your dr and IDDT are also a good source of information.
 
Anyone can have a random hypo where despite how low they are they feel fine. Repeated episodes of this are something to talk to your team about so safeguards can be put into place. The important thing is you know and can treat it.

After eating if your bolus didn't fit your meal you could have dipped very quickly regardless of your tech. Any form of GCM could still fail to catch this given their reaction times just to keep in mind.
 
catapillar said:
For me personally, yes it's perfectly normal to be functioning normally under 2. But then I am completely hypo unaware.
Click to expand...
Likewise, but sometimes I do have awareness but that can vary from just above 3 and lower. This is where regular testing helps big time

Regards

Martin
 
catapillar said:
Well I lost my hypo awareness about 3 years in. And my consultant is rather concerned about that. So no, it's not normal.

You just need to stay over 4. Don't let your body think being hypo is normal, then it will react to being hypo with hypo symptoms. Obviously it's not something I've managed, but it is possible to restore awareness. Tight control can include not going under 4.

Obviously no hypo awareness means no driving licence and has resulted in some pretty nasty night hypos for me, where I just don't wake up. And it is thought that time under 2 does brain damage and you get cognitive impairment from hypos. So it's worth including staying up as well as staying down in the tight control. Set your low limit on dexcom at 4.5 so you have a chance to do something about it before you go under 4.

Edit: just seen your last paragraph. I think the answer is no, there isn't a generally accepted figure where it's critical and you will pass out. Realistically, practically and functionally (especially if you are concerned to maintain hypo awareness) you are best off treating 4 as that figure. I do function fine under 1. But the only functioning i do when I get a LO reading is to treat it, I'm guessing if I decided to ignore it and go for a run it probably wouldn't take long until I passed out. I have passed out hypo and woken up again, the waking up again come when you get a liver dump. Because I have no hypo awareness it takes longer for my liver to get the message it needs to dump glucose and my body's not as primed to respond to the glucose - I don't have stress hormones pushing me up because my body isn't stressed by a hypos.
Click to expand...

I'm really worried about night hypos now after reading that above. Is it right that I've read I shouldn't be going to sleep unless my BS is at least 6.5?

Do you, and the rest of you, get up in the middle of the night to test blood?
I'm on finger pricking, and I'm testing anywhere from 8 to 15 times a day depending on levels. 4 weeks in and my head is battered.
 
@MrXile The number to go to bed with can vary from person to,person, depending on what their blood sugar does during the night. If in doubt, ask your DSN.

I only test my blood sugar during the night occasionally. But I have a pump so my sugars vary less. If you're anxious, you could set an alarm to test as hopefully that will reassure you that your blood sugar is stable.

Night hypos are often very sweaty so that usually wakes people - or their partners.
 
azure said:
@MrXile The number to go to bed with can vary from person to,person, depending on what their blood sugar does during the night. If in doubt, ask your DSN.

I only test my blood sugar during the night occasionally. But I have a pump so my sugars vary less. If you're anxious, you could set an alarm to test as hopefully that will reassure you that your blood sugar is stable.

Night hypos are often very sweaty so that usually wakes people - or their partners.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I've been setting alarms at 4:30 and 7am (we sleep 1am to 9-10am usually).
I've been needing to eat snacks before bed to see me above 6.5, and we are both really worried about night time hypos, you know, in case I die. Extreme. But that's what we both think...

I'm usually sweaty at times in bed anyway, so we also worry about that we'll miss the signs, I'm a migraine sufferer too, so the headache symptom is another miss we could err Miss... it's mind boggling to understand everything, but that's why I am here asking away!

So thanks everyone for everything thus far. Appreciated.

PS. Seeing the Diabetic specialist tomorrow for my first appointment, and meeting my new DSN tomorrow, as I've been dealing with an emergency diagnosis one for the past three weeks until this appointment. But I will ask tomorrow. Cheers.
 
The sweating is bedclothes drenching - seriously! It's not like normal,sweating. I would think it unlikely that anyone could mistake it for someone just being a bit hot.

Restlessness is also a sign - anything unusual basically. So thrashing about, mumbling, seeming confused, etc
 
Right, well I've had a few of those before my diagnosis, this is the reason I'm worried more so now of having one, and making sure I go to sleep above 6.5 and testing through the night at intervals. Small price to pay to still be alive come the morning.
 
For me, the quicker levels are dropping - the worst responses for hypoing...

The pump 7 years ago really turned round my awareness as it stabilised any swings...even though I've been back to MDI for two years my hypo's are so mild and awareness is brilliant... probably the best in 30+ years.
 
I've heard people talking about pumps, and at this moment in time, they worry me, again because I'm so new, I don't know enough about them. One day... I will. :-)
 
In logical order for an adult:

You need to get 1/2 unit pens....

There is a great online course
https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/

Do it asap.

Go on a dafne couse asap that teaches you how to "dose adjust for normal eating....."

A good blood meter, that allows you to enter carbs and calculates insulin for a T1 is essential. What meter are you using?
Some doctors though arent exactly always helpful with supplying strips... so get on good terms with one doctor at least!!


Gain confidence asap to be able to say to nurse. "I can see this pattern happening, I think I should do this".
The sooner you gain control the better.

Some good books to get too..


You are likely to get your own individual symptoms of hypo's.mines hunger. I never think of food unless I'm hypo. I never think of the words "I'm hypo". Just I'm hungry or I need to test..

Good excuse to find something nice (in 12-15g portions) to be able to eat as a treat!!
You will probably be instructed to have a glucojuice or 3 glucose tablet..but you will also find your own way to treat hypos....
 
MrXile said:
Right, well I've had a few of those before my diagnosis, this is the reason I'm worried more so now of having one, and making sure I go to sleep above 6.5 and testing through the night at intervals. Small price to pay to still be alive come the morning.
Click to expand...

Please do not get worried about this, it's rare for this to happen. A few things to think about:

- Get knowledgeable as much as you can take it, knowledge is power with this condition.
- Try to eat your evening meal as early as possible so if you go to bed at 11pm, try to eat before 7pm so your quick acting insulin has worn off and your BG reading before bed is within your range, say 6.5mmol/l. Ensuring you are within range and your basal insulin dose is working then you should wake at around the same range, so between 6 and 7 mmol/l, obviously if too low then have a small snack and if above say 9mmol/l think about a correction dose to keep you steady overnight.
- Your brain will alert you to a hypo when sleeping, so as mentioned sweating, vivid dreams and waking up.
- Keep BG meter and glucose next to the bed.
- If still feeling unsure then set your alarm for 3am to test, around 2-3am is when you blood glucose levels will be at their lowest, testing will give you confidence to sleep through.

As with anything confidence will develop over time, so trusting your own judgement and instincts, but getting clued up will help ;)
 
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