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Danger of Low Glucose level

S

scotland10

Member
Messages
19
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Glad to say I'm making good progress thanks to Louise's Low Carb Plan. When I started ( 2 weeks ago ) my weight was 11st.13 lbs I'm glad to say , I'm now 11 st. 4 lbs . Basically I've mixed up my low carbs with vegetables during each meal ,walked 2 miles on alternate days , reduced the alcohol to 1 1/2 glasses of wine per day . I've supplemented all these actions by having 1 pint of water progressively through the day .
My problem now is during the walks my glucose levels are sometimes getting too low. Can anyone advise me the best alternatives to glucose or lucozade when this happens ?
My insulin dosages have been reduced from 12 x 3 mg Humalog to 8 x 3 daily ( The Lantus is still the same @ 12mg x 1 ).
Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated .
 
I hope you don't mind me asking - if you are a reasonable weight and require insulin how have you been classified as T2 with insulin?

Just trying to get my head around the difference between your current condition and T1.

Is it merely due to age on diagnosis, or have you progressed slowly over a number of years and ended up needing insulin?

Just trying to expand my understanding.
 
scotland10 said:
Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated .
Click to expand...

Unless your confident at adjusting your own insulin then have a chat with your diabetes team, most insulin dependent people will find that exercise (such as walking postprandial) means a reduction in their bolus doses.
 
@scotland10 - I also can hypo during increased activity such as shopping, etc. I agree you would need to discuss this further with your doctor. As for alternatives to glucose to treat a low? If you're having a low that is what you need. But I'm guessing you are asking about how to avoid lows.

@LittleGreyCat - type 2's can wind up on insulin due to insulin deficiency.. I don't think there would be a set period of time when this happens as we're all different. For me I estimate I needed to be on insulin 2008 but I wasn't placed on it until 2010 when the diagnostic tests were redone and the c-peptide result showed I hardly produce insulin. I managed quite well for 10 years without insulin... 2 years not well at all, then placed on insulin beginning of 2010... so just over 6 years ago.
 
LittleGreyCat said:
I hope you don't mind me asking - if you are a reasonable weight and require insulin how have you been classified as T2 with insulin?

Just trying to get my head around the difference between your current condition and T1.

Is it merely due to age on diagnosis, or have you progressed slowly over a number of years and ended up needing insulin?

Just trying to expand my understanding.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply. As a result of having a triple bypass followed by having a defibrillator fitted I was taken of Metformin & Glicazide due to the conflict with some of the heart medication . I am now on insulin since 2008 i.e; classed as T2 insulin controlled.
Before I started insulin I weighed 10 st 4 lbs .Once I started insulin I jumped to 12st 13 lbs . (Now 11st 5lbs ). As I'm 72 yrs old I was told this was an average weight for my age group . I feel it's the midrift which is obstructing the pancreas - any suggetions
LittleGreyCat said:
I hope you don't mind me asking - if you are a reasonable weight and require insulin how have you been classified as T2 with insulin?

Just trying to get my head around the difference between your current condition and T1.

Is it merely due to age on diagnosis, or have you progressed slowly over a number of years and ended up needing insulin?

Just trying to expand my understanding.
Click to expand...
 
scotland10 said:
Thanks for your reply. As a result of having a triple bypass followed by having a defibrillator fitted I was taken of Metformin & Glicazide due to the conflict with some of the heart medication . I am now on insulin since 2008 i.e; classed as T2 insulin controlled.
Before I started insulin I weighed 10 st 4 lbs .Once I started insulin I jumped to 12st 13 lbs . (Now 11st 5lbs ). As I'm 72 yrs old I was told this was an average weight for my age group . I feel it's the midrift which is obstructing the pancreas - any suggetions
Click to expand...

I have a problem with my middle as well as I have a lot of bloating and the weight I've gained has gone straight to my stomach.

It's hard when you have other medical conditions to cater for... but I guess just reassessing your diet and seeing if you can get any success with that.

I have a hard time with diet personally but that's just because I'm trying to please the health stuff. If I eat the wrong thing I'm in pain a lot of the time from making the wrong choice. I don't know what your diet is like.... do you have any issues with diet as well?

I hope you find something that works though. :)
 
Scotland, I think you do need to have a chat with whomever supports you with your diabetes.

If you're regularly having to eat to feed the insulin you're taking, then something needs to change. I'm not a fan of eating more to feed meds. Personally, I would rather try to adjust the meds to suit my current lifestyle.

It does sound, though, like you have a fairly complicated medical story, so please don't start changing meds without support.

If you're just going low occasionally, then it might be simpler to treat in the simplest, mosy convenient way you can.

If you are looking to reduce your midriff, then the reduced carbing you are doing could be useful for that, over time. Some folks (but certainly not everyone) do find it's trickier to lose weight when using insulin, but many have shown it can be done. I must say, my insulin resistance (and my blood scores) got much better as I really trimmed up.
 
@scotland10

It looks to me as if your diet and exercise regime are working wonders! Congratulations!

If it is the exercise combined with the diet that triggers lows, then I would definitely discuss reducing your meds with your diabetic team. Awesome!

As a short term solution, how about a slow release snack, like nuts, before you exercise. That could easily prevent the blood glucose dip at all. Then if you get your meds reduced, you could just drop the snack again.
 
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