Blood glucose dropping too fast

[rickydoo]

Hello, newly diagnosed type 2 here! I’m having trouble reducing my calorie intake as much as I’d like to, throughout the day since I have to keep eating to keep my blood glucose from dropping so much. My endocrinologist said it was dropping a normal amount for someone on metformin, but I guess my question is, what do I do to keep it a bit on the higher side for longer, without eating so frequently? I feel like I eat a meal, it goes up to 7.2mmol then 2 hours later it’s at 5mmol and I have to eat carbs to get it to a place I’m comfortable with. Hypoglycemia just terrifies me!

 

[Brunneria]

What numbers do you think are comfortable?
And what is it about them that makes you feel comfortable?

 

[EllieM]

Hi @rickydoo. As I remember from your post about night time hypoglycemia, you're only on metformin and you've already been assured that this isn't going to make you go hypo. The same applies in the day too. It's perfectly normal for non diabetics to run blood sugars of 4 (and even high 3s when they are super hungry before a meal). It's only dangerous when you are on drugs such as insulin which introduce extra insulin into your system.

Having said that, there is a condition called false hypoglycemia where some people get fake hypo symptoms at normal non hypo blood sugar levels when their blood sugar reduces after a long period of higher levels. You just have to wait that out, I'm afraid, as your body needs to get used to the new lower normal levels.

 

[KennyA]

Hello, newly diagnosed type 2 here! I’m having trouble reducing my calorie intake as much as I’d like to, throughout the day since I have to keep eating to keep my blood glucose from dropping so much. My endocrinologist said it was dropping a normal amount for someone on metformin, but I guess my question is, what do I do to keep it a bit on the higher side for longer, without eating so frequently? I feel like I eat a meal, it goes up to 7.2mmol then 2 hours later it’s at 5mmol and I have to eat carbs to get it to a place I’m comfortable with. Hypoglycemia just terrifies me!

Don't know about you, we're all different, but I am perfectly happy with fingerprick readings anywhere from 4.0 to 6.0, depending on whether I've eaten or not, for example. I don't think hypos are a significant risk for T2s like me - not like T1.

[edited to correct error]

 

[Andydragon]

Don't know about you, we're all different, but I am perfectly happy with fingerprick readings anywhere from 4.0 to 6.0, depending on whether I've eaten or not, for example. I don't think hypos are a significant risk for T2s - not like T1.

I’m afraid That’s not true for T2 on insulin and there are other drugs that can risk hypo. My father used to have hypos as a insulin controlled T2

I know the original poster is not in this case but your response was in general

 

[Andydragon]

Hello, newly diagnosed type 2 here! I’m having trouble reducing my calorie intake as much as I’d like to, throughout the day since I have to keep eating to keep my blood glucose from dropping so much. My endocrinologist said it was dropping a normal amount for someone on metformin, but I guess my question is, what do I do to keep it a bit on the higher side for longer, without eating so frequently? I feel like I eat a meal, it goes up to 7.2mmol then 2 hours later it’s at 5mmol and I have to eat carbs to get it to a place I’m comfortable with. Hypoglycemia just terrifies me!

Hi there

Your levels look really good. If it helps allay your fears as a T2 no longer on drugs I get levels lower than 5 even going as low as 3 at times and I am perfectly fine. Personally I’d be happy with lower than 5 and still very comfortable with 5.

going higher is actually not a good thing. Longer term high bloods is very damaging. Keeping your levels at 7 would be the equivalent of keeping you in pre diabetic range. It’s okay but having lower is good too

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-to-blood-sugar-level-converter.html

five two hours after food is great. Honestly it is and something many of us would be very happy with. If you could say what you are afraid of then maybe we can offer suggestions. Also lowering carbs rather than calories can be a better way to manage blood levels and also has often helped weight loss. Restricting calories too much works short term but isn’t a long term solution if it’s too low

metformin is very unlikely to cause a hypo, it’s one of the reasons it is often the first drug of choice to be given to T2 diabetics

 

[searley]

Hello, newly diagnosed type 2 here! I’m having trouble reducing my calorie intake as much as I’d like to, throughout the day since I have to keep eating to keep my blood glucose from dropping so much. My endocrinologist said it was dropping a normal amount for someone on metformin, but I guess my question is, what do I do to keep it a bit on the higher side for longer, without eating so frequently? I feel like I eat a meal, it goes up to 7.2mmol then 2 hours later it’s at 5mmol and I have to eat carbs to get it to a place I’m comfortable with. Hypoglycemia just terrifies me!

As every one else says your risk of hypo is low as you are not on a medication that lowers blood glucose.

You probably feel odd at the moment when you get a bg lower than the 7.2 this is because your body has been used to having high bg levels.. and expects that to be maintained.. but in the same way it got used to being high it will get used to normal levels again.

You just have to trust that anything from mid 3’s and above is ok.. and for a short while ignore those odd feelings until your body accepts them as normal

 

[KennyA]

I’m afraid That’s not true for T2 on insulin and there are other drugs that can risk hypo. My father used to have hypos as a insulin controlled T2

I know the original poster is not in this case but your response was in general

Absolutely right, should have said ...."T2s like me"