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Am I weird?

NaijaChick

NaijaChick

Well-Known Member
Messages
219
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all

So some back ground. I’ve been T2D since 2015 and was admitted to the A&E in Dec with BG of 17. I have since then been monitoring and I’m experiencing two issues that just seem unusual.
The first is that if my blood glucose drops below 6, I become shaky and feel very weird. I had a hypo once of 4.something and it’s almost the same but not as bad. I normally find something “bad” to eat to boast it and once it’s over 6 then I’m fine.
The second thing is puns and needles in my feet when my BG is over 8. I know that it maybe nerve issues but I thought that 8 would be too low to activate it.

So I’m wondering am I the only one to be experiencing these symptoms at such low diabetic readings. I would have expected hypo symptoms at anything under 4 and nerve pain angling in the double digits.

Please let me know that I’m. It alone.

NC
 
Sometimes it can be a rapid drop in BG that causes a hypo rather than a low measurement. I would also try to get hold of another meter in case yours is faulty. Most meters are supposed to be calibrated when starting a new box of test strips as well.(check instruction manual). It could even be a box of faulty test strips.

For the numbness (also caled paresthesia) hypothyroidism and B12 deficiency are common in diabetes
 
You are having false hypos. Your body has been so used to running high it incorrectly thinks normal levels of 5 or 6 are too low and gives you hypo symptoms.

Neuropathy symptoms are "activated" at a certain level. You either have neuropathy or you don't and, if you do keeping blood sugar in control can improve the symptoms.
 
Wow I have never thought of it like this. Will the hypo symptoms improve. Neuropathy is activated at such a low level. Mind boggling
 
You may be having what is called false hypo's when the body is used to higher levels and protests at normal levels. How you deal with them depends on your medications. I do get this when I'm in the high 3's and low 4's but I'm not on meds so I know my liver will boost my levels to the high 4's.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/Diabetes-and-Hypoglycaemia.html
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

A number of prediabetics develop neuropathy so blood sugars do not have to be very high to cause damage.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrendo.2011.113
The tingles could be other things like vitamin deficiencies or the body repairing itself from higher levels so worth mentioning to your doctor or nurse.
 
It is a very individual thing. They think I was diabetic for 8 to 10 years before diagnosis as I was symptomless. I have struggled to get my levels normal but recently I have managed levels in the mid 5s but I have never had any symptoms . I do have fuzzy/tingly legs sometimes now after all these years but never any other signs. Once your control is good hopefully your hypo symptoms will disappear.
 
I agree these are false hypos because your body thinks your levels should be higher. Try to ignore them, and try not to compensate with food. Compensating with food will only send your levels higher, and that isn't wise - because your body needs to get used to lower levels. It won't take very long. As your diabetes medication is Metformin you are highly unlikely to have a proper hypo. Your liver will look after you. (Some people do have hypos on Metformin, but it is rare) A hypo is under 4.
 
NaijaChick said:
Wow I have never thought of it like this. Will the hypo symptoms improve. Neuropathy is activated at such a low level. Mind boggling
Click to expand...

There is some evidence that by keeping blood glucose low and steady, that neuropathy can heal. It takes a while, and doesn't always happen, but some people experience an improvement.

There is a video (sorry, don't have the link to hand) on youtube, where Dr Bernstein (a T1 who has kept his blood glucose very steady for around 40 years) talks about this. I found it very inspiring, especially when I was getting stabbing pain in the soles of my feet following a period of unstable blood glucose. In my case, returning to good control saw the stabbing pain cease within a few days. I find it a great motivating to know that the pain is likely to return if I let my blood glucose stray out of target for too long!
 
I could honestly cry. I want to thank you all for taking the time out to answer my questions. It seems that small cans of lucozade that I was drinking during these times were not necessary. I kept buying meters thinking the were wrong but it makes sense now. Thank you all
 
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