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3.8

Rog

Rog

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Hi Folks , just got back from work and got a 3.8 twice on the ver on a fasting since lunch , been getting a good run of 4s since losing nearly 2 stone in two months and still on the metformin 500x2 per day , is 3.8 just to low?

Thx
Rog
 
Depends how you felt Rog. 3.8 is low if you're on insulin or BG lowering meds but if not, many non-diabetics would see readings as low as that without danger. I would guess that ad you done nothing, your body would have dealt with it for you.
 
Danny when you say BG lowering meds your not inc metformin?
Thx for reply
 
Rog said:
Hi Folks , just got back from work and got a 3.8 twice on the ver on a fasting since lunch , been getting a good run of 4s since losing nearly 2 stone in two months and still on the metformin 500x2 per day , is 3.8 just to low?

Thx
Rog
Click to expand...

Provided you are only taking Metformin for your diabetes, and felt fine, 3.8 is just fine.

I run low, and sometimes very low. It's just how my body works. I feel fine down to about 3 these days; although into the 2s and I can get a bit irritated. That said, at those very low numbers, it's usually before a meal, so I'm surmising I'm partly irritated because I'm so low, and partly because I'm hungry. A hungry AB is generally not a happy AB. :)

When you go low, provided you feel fine, just carry on. Some of the very lows aren't going to actually be so low, because meters are allowed a tolerance of +/-15%, so you could be a bit higher, or a bit lower.

If you feel a bit off, please try not to head straight for the biscuit barrel, the bag of jelly babies, or whatever else you might fancy. Those things are likely to boost your bloods higher, really quite fast, which can lead to a rebound low, and you can start a rollercoaster.

What I would do would be; if my meal was pretty much ready, I'd just wait and have that. If it was too far distant, I'd have a cup of tea with some milk. That's all. That would just nudge my bloods up a bit, quite quickly, and make me comfortable enough to then eat my breakfast/lunch/dinner, or whatever I was waiting for.

Please don't panic at the sight of a number. For we T2s, managing our conditions well, these numbers can happen. They won't happen to everyone; for a million reasons, but I see it as a huge positive. I see it as a sign that my body is coping well with whatever I'm feeding it on.

Sounds like you're making excellent progress.
 
Your spot on, if I hadn't known I wouldn't have bothered so much , I've just had bacon, broccoli , a couple of oatcakes, 4 cherries , and one of these big avocados with some of that real Greek yogurt , just tested again ( around an hour from 3.8) and came in at 6.2, may have over compensated for the 3.8 lol , saying all this I'm really happy how it's going at the 2 month stage. Will go for the tea next time thx.
 
As long you felt fine theres nothing to worry about. I testesd before dinner one night and it was 3.6 so I tested on the other hand, still 3.6. Dinner was 5 minutes away so I retested before I ate, 2.9 so I ate my dinner. I felt completely fine so it didnt worry me.
 
That's a good point , I tested consecutively and both came up 3.8 exactly.
 
There is a saying that for adult diabetics (either type) 4 is the floor, for non-diabetic adults then 3.5 is the lower limit.
The brain needs a blood glucose level of at least 3.5 to function correctly.
Children should never fall much below 4 for an extended period of time as it can lead to neurological damage.
 
It might be an idea to check your meter and batch of trips against some low range control test solution. Meters are not exactly precise.
 
Brewers23 said:
There is a saying that for adult diabetics (either type) 4 is the floor, for non-diabetic adults then 3.5 is the lower limit.
The brain needs a blood glucose level of at least 3.5 to function correctly.
Children should never fall much below 4 for an extended period of time as it can lead to neurological damage.
Click to expand...

Blimey, my brain must nearly half die most nights then. I have hours in the 3s over night.

But, how do these non-diabetic people ever know what they are?
 
Brewers23 said:
There is a saying that for adult diabetics (either type) 4 is the floor, for non-diabetic adults then 3.5 is the lower limit.
The brain needs a blood glucose level of at least 3.5 to function correctly.
Children should never fall much below 4 for an extended period of time as it can lead to neurological damage.
Click to expand...
Strange. I would be very happy indeed if I could go back to my normal readings of around 4, that is usually below like in 3.8 or there about. But that was when I was well. Now I'm happy to keep BG below 5 and am actually quite fine with 4.8.

By the way, my brain may not get a lot of glucose. I run on ketones mostly.
 
Brewers23 said:
There is a saying that for adult diabetics (either type) 4 is the floor, for non-diabetic adults then 3.5 is the lower limit.
The brain needs a blood glucose level of at least 3.5 to function correctly.
Children should never fall much below 4 for an extended period of time as it can lead to neurological damage.
Click to expand...

I distinctly remember a comment made "over my head" to my mum back in the 1970's during a D clinic session, which ties in with what you said about child BS floor levels.. I was quite astute as a kid & rather resented not being addressed directly by the doctors or indeed the ward sister that made that particular remark to my mother at the time.. o_O

Though the focus/emphasis by the professionals changed during the 1980's to losing "hypo awareness"... Especially when dealing with my GP & DSN.
 
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