False hypos

Gina698 · Jul 21, 2023

Hi

ive had diabetes for a few years and now use a libre freestyle as I’m unable to do the standard finger prick test due to disability from birth. This is great and I’m learning so much, and as this happens I’m trying to make adjustments to my diet. I take glyclazide, metformin and alogliptin.

My question is how much do I listen to my body and how much should I ‘listen’ to the libre monitor? Several times at night, amd once or twice in the day I’ve experienced trembling, hunger, clumsiness, sweating and generally feel spaced out, all symptoms I associated with a hypo or going towards a hypo. In the past would have had something to eat. (I can wake in the middle of the night with these ’symptoms’), However when I scan, my number is a little high, ie 7-8.

Yesterday this happened severely when I was volunteering at a charity shop. I wasnt able to scan at the time, so just sat down for a few minutes and was a little better when I started again, but still felt spaced out. I scanned about an hour or so later having apprehensively driven home, and saw no hypo had been had. My head cleared after food at lunchtime. The same when I wake and scan at night. i have scanned at night feeling fine and it’s been around 4, but I have stayed put and scanned again 30 mins later and it’s been up to over 7 again. When I did have something to eat before retesting, it was over 13. According to the scanner, I have had 1 low blood sugar event, but was unaware as I was sleeping and woke up feeling fine.

Any suggestions? I need to lose weight so don’t want to eat unnecessarily.

Thanks.

Lamont D · Jul 21, 2023

Hi @Gina698,

I think it's the meds. But as always it might not be.
As your are on Gliczide, that is a blood glucose reducing drug, that helps with keeping it down.
The alogliptin, helps with your first phase insulin response. It gives you more insulin with your meal which could be because of insulin resistance.
The metformin will help a very little.

After a period of time, your body is adapting to what else you have changed in your diet, which will also help with blood glucose levels.
However, because of this, you could be experiencing a bit of a rollercoaster ride of spikes and drop, this will give you the symptoms that you are getting. What feels like a hypo, but is known as a false hypo.

You need to tell your doctor and get either your dosage of your meds reduced or stopped. I would suspect the Glicizide.

To ask, what are you having for breakfast before your charity work?

Hope you are feeling better today.

Best wishes.

Gina698 · Jul 21, 2023

Lamont D said:
Hi @Gina698,

I think it's the meds. But as always it might not be.
As your are on Gliczide, that is a blood glucose reducing drug, that helps with keeping it down.
The alogliptin, helps with your first phase insulin response. It gives you more insulin with your meal which could be because of insulin resistance.
The metformin will help a very little.

After a period of time, your body is adapting to what else you have changed in your diet, which will also help with blood glucose levels.
However, because of this, you could be experiencing a bit of a rollercoaster ride of spikes and drop, this will give you the symptoms that you are getting. What feels like a hypo, but is known as a false hypo.

You need to tell your doctor and get either your dosage of your meds reduced or stopped. I would suspect the Glicizide.

To ask, what are you having for breakfast before your charity work?

Hope you are feeling better today.

Best wishes.

Thank you. I did wonder about the meds. I’m due a hba1c and tried to book one, but have to wait a few weeks to get an appointment.

I felt fine after I had eaten lunch and fine today. Was very hungry when I woke in the night, but numbers were fine so tried to ignore resulting in poor sleep. Generally I’m trying to reduce carbs, so had protein powder mixed with Greek style yogurt, seeds and blueberries for breakfast, my usual, then cold meat, raw carrots and peanut butter for lunch. maybe ive reduced carbs too much considering the medication??!

its so hard trying to balance everything!

Lamont D · Jul 21, 2023

Gina698 said:
Thank you. I did wonder about the meds. I’m due a hba1c and tried to book one, but have to wait a few weeks to get an appointment.

I felt fine after I had eaten lunch and fine today. Was very hungry when I woke in the night, but numbers were fine so tried to ignore resulting in poor sleep. Generally I’m trying to reduce carbs, so had protein powder mixed with Greek style yogurt, seeds and blueberries for breakfast, my usual, then cold meat, raw carrots and peanut butter for lunch. maybe ive reduced carbs too much considering the medication??!

its so hard trying to balance everything!

Oh, yes it is @Gina698 !
One of things I've learned is to find a dietary balance, designed by you, for you! Your tastes are so different from mine, your favourites, your treats, and so on about your lifestyle.
So you need to experiment and record your results in a food diary. Pre meal and two hours after. This will help you and your doctor discover what is the best way to control your blood glucose levels.
Learning how your body tolerates carbs and sugars is on the way to get control and improve your health.
It's not easy and there is a lot of temptation out there!
Take it easy on yourself, it will take time!
Keep asking, keep safe.
Best wishes.

Angela64 · Jul 23, 2023

Gina698 said:
Hi

ive had diabetes for a few years and now use a libre freestyle as I’m unable to do the standard finger prick test due to disability from birth. This is great and I’m learning so much, and as this happens I’m trying to make adjustments to my diet. I take glyclazide, metformin and alogliptin.

My question is how much do I listen to my body and how much should I ‘listen’ to the libre monitor? Several times at night, amd once or twice in the day I’ve experienced trembling, hunger, clumsiness, sweating and generally feel spaced out, all symptoms I associated with a hypo or going towards a hypo. In the past would have had something to eat. (I can wake in the middle of the night with these ’symptoms’), However when I scan, my number is a little high, ie 7-8.

Yesterday this happened severely when I was volunteering at a charity shop. I wasnt able to scan at the time, so just sat down for a few minutes and was a little better when I started again, but still felt spaced out. I scanned about an hour or so later having apprehensively driven home, and saw no hypo had been had. My head cleared after food at lunchtime. The same when I wake and scan at night. i have scanned at night feeling fine and it’s been around 4, but I have stayed put and scanned again 30 mins later and it’s been up to over 7 again. When I did have something to eat before retesting, it was over 13. According to the scanner, I have had 1 low blood sugar event, but was unaware as I was sleeping and woke up feeling fine.

Any suggestions? I need to lose weight so don’t want to eat unnecessarily.

Thanks.

I’ve only ever been on one diabetic medication at one time but would definitely suspect medication interactions. I went on a biabetes course with an NHS nurse specialist and he didn’t like me on Gliclazide and wanted me off. Nurse put me on Metformin but that gave digestive issues so now on Empagliflozin.
Recently heard on here doing low car with Empagliflozin might cause ketoacidosis ‍

Go see your medical practitioner

Jaylee · Jul 23, 2023

Hi @Gina698 ,

The low BG event on your graph whilst asleep may have been a “compression low?” The sensor can get pushed on whilst asleep on the sensor side.(possibly below the interstitial fluid layer?) giving a temporary errant reading.
I’ve actually had some scatty results wearing a tight base layer top doing timber work cutting with a hand saw if my sensor happens to be on my “sawing arm..?” Literally ricocheting for the duration of the activity…

Hopeful34 · Jul 23, 2023

Gina698 said:
I scanned about an hour or so later having apprehensively driven home, and saw no hypo had been had.

You should have scanned before you got behind the wheel of a car if there was any possibility you'd had a hypo.

Resurgam · Jul 23, 2023

You might - possibly - have been dehydrated.
If it happens again try taking a drink of water and see if the symptoms reduce.
With your glucose levels actually being a bit high, your kidneys might be working to get rid of it, calling for extra water to protect themselves from damage.

False hypos

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False hypos

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