First hypo today

[silverbirch]

Have been diabetic since May 2013. First diagnosed as Type 2 back then, but 2 weeks ago was re-diagnosed as Type 1. My biggest fear was having a hypo and what to do when it happened. How would I know, and would I die. Well today it happened and believe it or not it made me laugh. Why, because I got off of the bus after going out shopping on my own for the first time. I have often seen people trying to walk when they are drunk - they put one foot in front of the other but somehow the leg goes out to the side instead of in front of them Well that's what happened and it made me laugh. I couldn't walk straight. Fortunately there was a fire hydrant stand which I used as a seat .I sat for a minute trying to get my sea legs. I managed to make it back home, although I did walk past my house a little and had to walk back. What do I do now, I know I'll make myself a cup of tea, by this time I was craving food. I took a blood glucose reading 3.4. OMG I'm having a hypo, better have some sugar, so grabbed one of the grandkids sweets and waited. Hooray first hypo in the bag and I survived.

 

[June_C]

Well done, you managed your first hypo, but PLEASE always carry jelly babies or glucose tablets with you whenever you go out. If you can manage to fit some biscuits into your handbag as well that would be good. A quick glucose shot (babies or glucose) needs to be followed up with some carbs to stabilise your bg. I'm perhaps a bit OTT, but I have jelly babies or glucose tabs in every room in the house, plus the car and handbags.

 

[silverbirch]

Hi June, thanks for your reply. No you're not OTT, I got the same info from my diabetic nurse today. She asked me to update her by email today on my progress. When I emailed her about the hypo she telephoned me. She gave me the same advice. I didn't realise it was a hypo at the time, and was surprised by how quickly it came on. I have learnt from the experience today.

 

[June_C]

Hypos can come on very quickly without any prior notice, so it's vital to have glucose/jelly babies stashed away all over the place just in case and carry them with you all the time. I sometimes feel a bit like a squirrel, hiding his nuts everywhere - no offence meant...........

 

[Juicyj]

Hi June, thanks for your reply. No you're not OTT, I got the same info from my diabetic nurse today. She asked me to update her by email today on my progress. When I emailed her about the hypo she telephoned me. She gave me the same advice. I didn't realise it was a hypo at the time, and was surprised by how quickly it came on. I have learnt from the experience today.

Glad your ok and it's now made you realise the importance of carrying glucose/sugar.

Do you know what brought your hypo on ? It's good to learn why as this helps educate you, usually it's too much insulin or too much exercise, still it's important to know why

 

[dancer]

I got a couple of small round plastic containers from Lakeland to carry biscuits in my handbag. When I was on MDI, I used to take sweets and follow up with a biscuit. The container stops biscuits breaking up in my rather overcrowded bag.

 

[silverbirch]

Glad your ok and it's now made you realise the importance of carrying glucose/sugar.

Do you know what brought your hypo on ? It's good to learn why as this helps educate you, usually it's too much insulin or too much exercise, still it's important to know why

Too much exercise, I think. I went out straight after lunch, took the bus, then walked around the shops for 2 hours and then had to run for the bus on the way home. Probably should have eaten a little extra at lunch, although I didn't know I was going to run for the bus, and even more surprising didn't know I could run, let alone to catch a bus. Will know next time. lol

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @silverbirch ,

Though I wouldn't advocate a cavalier aproach to hypoglycaemicia.

Coming at the the hypo subject personally. I take them when they happen in my stride. "Keep calm & treat."
Hypos come in different forms to many people. For instance after work yesterday I walked into a shop & forgot why. Then a white flickering mist in my eyeline like the aurora Borialis... "Hello. Too low." I always carry loads of stuff in a natty black back pack. Especially when working in the middle of nowhere...
I'm glad you were able to hold it together & sort it out.!

One question. How far was the walk to your house before you treated the hypo.
(Actually, I'm going somewhere with this regarding your symptom with the legs & the meter reading of "3.4.")

 

[silverbirch]

Hi @silverbirch ,

Though I wouldn't advocate a cavalier aproach to hypoglycaemicia.

Coming at the the hypo subject personally. I take them when they happen in my stride. "Keep calm & treat."
Hypos come in different forms to many people. For instance after work yesterday I walked into a shop & forgot why. Then a white flickering mist in my eyeline like the aurora Borialis... "Hello. Too low." I always carry loads of stuff in a natty black back pack. Especially when working in the middle of nowhere...
I'm glad you were able to hold it together & sort it out.!

One question. How far was the walk to your house before you treated the hypo.
(Actually, I'm going somewhere with this regarding your symptom with the legs & the meter reading of "3.4.")

Jaylee, I didn't mean my post to come across as being cavalier to hypos. My intention was to show that my fear of a hypo was unfounded. I had not experienced a hypo before and didn't know what to expect. The walk from the bus-stop was 2 minutes. I guess I made it home through sheer ignorance of what was happening to me. I thought I was feeling "odd" because I was hot and sticky from the bus journey. On reflection I was fortunate that I made it home safely, it could have been a far more serious outcome. I have learnt from the experience and now know what to expect and to treat with glucose.

 

[lizdeluz]

Hi, glad you're ok and that you now know what a hypo can be like and that you've always got to be ready to treat one.
The same thing once happened to me.
I couldn't believe that I couldn't walk straight! I remember carefully thinking about my options. No sugar of any kind on me. No phone. Did I have enough coins for a bus ride? Should I tell a complete stranger? I did get safely home, but it was a very close shave. Taught me a lesson.
You laughed when you found your legs going all over the place. Laughing was probably the effect of the hypo as well.
Take care,

 

[Jaylee]

Jaylee, I didn't mean my post to come across as being cavalier to hypos. My intention was to show that my fear of a hypo was unfounded. I had not experienced a hypo before and didn't know what to expect. The walk from the bus-stop was 2 minutes. I guess I made it home through sheer ignorance of what was happening to me. I thought I was feeling "odd" because I was hot and sticky from the bus journey. On reflection I was fortunate that I made it home safely, it could have been a far more serious outcome. I have learnt from the experience and now know what to expect and to treat with glucose.

Gosh.. OK? I didn't find your initial post wrong in any way. My "cavalier" remark was just a "disclaimer" on my behalf.. Serious subject on a health forum, health and safety & all that.. Though I find it fascinating.

That sorted. The "hot sticky" all over torso sweats is another symptom with a slight shake too..

On the subject of the bus stop to home. Then test & treatment.. There is a "lag" of up to 20 minutes with a blood test reading.. Like a "snap shot in time" due to blood circulation of the last 15/20 minutes in time.. Your "3.4" could have been a reading on the way down. (Give or take a 15/20% accuracy margine with the meter?) by the time you treated, it may have been closer to 2.0mmol??? At a guess.from the symptoms you describe with the sweats & poor leg coordination..
I'm only surmising on nearly 39 years of experience... Lol
Been caught out like that as a kid on a bike... How I didn't get run down by a car I will never know....

 

[dancer]

Over 30 years ago, I thought I was the only Type 1 who wasn't made hypo in hospital. I heard and read about others being given insulin and finding out what a hypo felt like. I thought that would have been a good idea.

I had my first hypo two and a half years after diagnosis, when my insulin regime was changed. Luckily I was on the lookout for hypos because I suspected the junior doctor had prescribe too high a dose of both insulins.

What I didn't expect was the drowsy feeling of detachment, on waking with a hypo in the morning. I have never got used to those hypos!

 

[Jaylee]

Over 30 years ago, I thought I was the only Type 1 who wasn't made hypo in hospital. I heard and read about others being given insulin and finding out what a hypo felt like. I thought that would have been a good idea.

I had my first hypo two and a half years after diagnosis, when my insulin regime was changed. Luckily I was on the lookout for hypos because I suspected the junior doctor had prescribe too high a dose of both insulins.

What I didn't expect was the drowsy feeling of detachment, on waking with a hypo in the morning. I have never got used to those hypos!

Your not the only one.. I was sent out into the world as an 8 year old with "if you feel funny? Eat immediately.." Yep. Thanks Doc.! My "care package" at school in the mid 1970s was a Parka coat stuffed with biscuits... I never passed out though. Lol I used to wake in the night. Stumble down stairs & raid the milk.. My dad would be silently peed off when there was none for a cup of tea in the morning..

... Funny enough. These days the first thing I do during a night hypo is check there is milk for my wife's morning cuppa...

 

[silverbirch]

Apologies Jaylee, I wasn't implying you thought my post was wrong in any way. It's not easy trying to get the right amount of feeling and understanding into the written word. I re-read my post and thought it read "flippant". I value the points you made on things to be aware of when going "hypo". I didn't know about the hot sweats and that the reading could have been closer to 2.0mmol. I'm more used to dealing with Type 2 and none of this injecting and hypo pain in the backside stuff. Ha ha. Being re-diagnosed at Type 1 in the last week has been a huge learning curve. I have a long way to go and even more to learn. 39 years is a long time, I value your experience. Thanks.

 

[noblehead]

Well its out of the way now Silverbirch and you now know what symptoms to watch out for, mine was induced in the hospital so felt quite safe at the time but still remember being anxious and scared.

 

[Jaylee]

Apologies Jaylee, I wasn't implying you thought my post was wrong in any way. It's not easy trying to get the right amount of feeling and understanding into the written word. I re-read my post and thought it read "flippant". I value the points you made on things to be aware of when going "hypo". I didn't know about the hot sweats and that the reading could have been closer to 2.0mmol. I'm more used to dealing with Type 2 and none of this injecting and hypo pain in the backside stuff. Ha ha. Being re-diagnosed at Type 1 in the last week has been a huge learning curve. I have a long way to go and even more to learn. 39 years is a long time, I value your experience. Thanks.

No worries. Missunderstandings can happen.. I was more concerned you had missunderstood me & my post came across as some sort of "reprimand"..! Far from it.
On the subject of experience. Even a "lifer" like me can still find room to learn new tricks.. Adapt & survive. I have done pretty well so far..!

 

[Jaylee]

Well its out of the way now Silverbirch and you now know what symptoms to watch out for, mine was induced in the hospital so felt quite safe at the time but still remember being anxious and scared.

In fairness @silverbirch .. I would advise looking at "hypo symptom" threads for reference too.. I know we are not all the same & no doubt there is a fair bit of friendly banter on the subject & recounting of episodes.. But the information may just arm you. As well as the arsenal of carb in yer pocket!