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A rhyme to remember the key blood sugar values

H

Hampton2016

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I am a Type 2 diabetic on insulin.

I wrote this rhyme to help me remember the vital numbers for blood sugar (mmol/l).

A rhyme to remember the key blood sugar numbers:
Now, four is the floor:
Below’s a hypo;
But keep above five
When you want to drive.
From three to thirty
Will keep you alive.
Unlucky thirteen
Is no place to go –
So keep yourself healthy
By staying below -
As over fourteen
Is a hyper, you know.

Maybe it would benefit other diabetics as well.
 
Hi @Hampton2016 ,

Welcome to the forum. What took you so long to post? :)

I can see where you're coming from with the latter half of your poem. Nice idea...

Over 14, & what above shown
keep an eye for ketones?
 
If you really need to drive
You must keep it over five ,
The range for a perfect heaven
Is between 4 and 7 ( apparently),
When you , wander over 10
It’s the start of the lions den
Very thirsty you’ll become
When you reach 21 ( bit like life really )
Perfect numbers can take time
Even with a little rhyme
It really sent me round the bend
But I got there in the end
 
Sorry, is it just me???? Can't make head nor tail of those figures, 'from three to thirty will keep you alive'?, is the first bit the UK figures and the last half the USA ones???

Also, and sorry to be pedantic the 'over 5 to drive' is only when you have had a hypo whilst driving and have had to eat food and then wait for it to rise above 5'. Otherwise you can (start your) drive when it's over 4 but you are advised to eat a snack.
 
KK123 said:
Also, and sorry to be pedantic the 'over 5 to drive' is only when you have had a hypo whilst driving and have had to eat food and then wait for it to rise above 5'. Otherwise you can (start your) drive when it's over 4 but you are advised to eat a snack.
Click to expand...

You'll be surprised how many DSNs fail the "Theory" part of the test on that one... ;)
 
I think the number for driving is probably more of a guide as is the rhyme I guess, Personally I wouldn’t drive with a blood sugar below 5 I can feel hypo at 4 ish . Just like I don’t keep my bloods between 4 - 7
 
Jaylee said:
You'll be surprised how many DSNs fail the "Theory" part of the test on that one... ;)
Click to expand...

Ha, ha, I agree. The only reason I know this really is because part of my emergency worker job involves driving and I am often in the 4s and would hardly ever be able to drive if you had to be over 5. From an extra safety perspective mind, as Ushthetaff says, I always do eat something carby if I am in the 4's as I don't want it dropping lower and like a bit of a buffer.
 
KK123 said:
Ha, ha, I agree. The only reason I know this really is because part of my emergency worker job involves driving and I am often in the 4s and would hardly ever be able to drive if you had to be over 5. From an extra safety perspective mind, as Ushthetaff says, I always do eat something carby if I am in the 4's as I don't want it dropping lower and like a bit of a buffer.
Click to expand...

I have an at a glance CGM readout on my A pillar? (my phone on a magnetic cradle.)
I've jumped in on a stressful drive in the early 5 & seen a liver dump push me up nearly 3mmol.
 
KK123 said:
Sorry, is it just me???? Can't make head nor tail of those figures, 'from three to thirty will keep you alive'?, is the first bit the UK figures and the last half the USA ones???
Click to expand...
I assume thirty is a typo and should read thirteen, as the next few lines mention thirteen then fourteen?
 
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