Hi all! I’m back. My hBA1c dropped from 13.8 to 7.8 . Still got a bit to go but moving in the right direction.
This is all so new and I appreciate your patience with newby questions
So last time I posted i was freaked out about feeling sick at ‘normal’ bg levels and adjusting to new meds. I still feel a bit sick if I go under 6mmol - i’m hoping that tapers off. I take metformin, gliclazide and dapa.. something . These drug manufacturers suck at naming things.
Anyway.. I’m still dropping very fast at times and I get shaky and such, but It’s not quite as bad as the first time. What I’m wondering is I’ve never been a big breakfast eater and sometimes I’ll forget to grab a bite before heading out . Then I’ll drop fast..
what should I carry with me just in case? Like.. to eat or drink to stabilize until I get home? I have started taking my meter with me but I think I should start being more prepared, and if I buy something or go to a food joint the choices aren’t always great.
One more thing I’m confused about.. I have that morning phenomenon.. fasting highs . But I keep hearing we shouldn’t eat late. If it’s a reaction to a low at night wouldn’t it make sense to have a small snack just before bed? What am I missing here?
Congratulation @Ravenstar on your HbAc1 results. That’s great to hear. When you feel shaky, is it low blood sugars ? Do you use a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) as well as your Glucose meter? If you don’t and you just use your glucose meter, it might be worth trying out a CGM for a couple of weeks just to see what is happening with your blood sugars as these devices continuously monitor your blood sugars.
If your blood sugars are dropping really quickly, then those blood sugar drops can make you feel shaky, weird, sweaty and nauseated. I am prone to low blood sugars, I always have jelly babies to hand, but I’m careful, I only eat one, then check my blood sugars 10 - 15 mins later. I don’t want to eat too many and see my blood sugars spike and then drop again like a stone. Also, even though I wear a CGM if I go low I always check my readings with my meter to confirm a low.
Dawn phenomenon is a natural up swing in blood sugars that starts around 3 am. Diabetics and non diabetics may see raised blood sugars in the morning. It is your body preparing for daily physical activity. Generally, not eating late can help with DP, but if you are concerned about nighttime hypos then maybe speak with your Dr.
For lows carry lift/dextrose tablets alternatively jelly babies or small can coke/fresh orange juice anything that is 'fast carbs' (High sugar content)
It could be worth speaking to DSN regarding doseage advice alongside keeping a diary of foods consumed and any exercise.
Well done with the good results I use insulin (2 kinds) and have had similar things happen with shaking and dizzy. I also carry jelly babies and was told to have 4, my episodes have not been proper hypos but because my body was used to higher sugar levels and it reacts as if it was hypo. Yes ask your DN they may do phone call appointments. Do o give up it does subside once your system gets used to lower levels. Again well done on the results.
I had to laugh at you drug companies are **** at naming their products
When do you take your Gliclizide? If you are taking a dose in the morning then not eating this could be why your experiencing lows and sudden fast drops - are you actually in hypo territory when you test at these time - 3.9 or lower?
When I was on Gliclizide as it’s a hypo inducing drug I would need to eat within 20 minutes of taking it.
There’s no rule that you can’t have a snack at night if you want to, I used to have a small 10g carb snack about 2 hours before bed when I was on Gliclizide, now I’m off the meds I still have a snack but it’s around 2g carb.
If you are looking for something to stabilise your blood sugar and stop it dropping before you go into a hypo then something like a small portion of walnuts, or an individually wrapped cheese might work for you. Or I used to eat a nut bar which was low in carbs and easy to carry.
One more thing I’m confused about.. I have that morning phenomenon.. fasting highs . But I keep hearing we shouldn’t eat late. If it’s a reaction to a low at night wouldn’t it make sense to have a small snack just before bed? What am I missing here?
I’m T1 & use insulin.
But what I do know using a sensor.
Is I can have no lows in the night, wake with a respectable mmol, then during the melle prepping for work with no breakfast get a liver dump?
Could be worth trying a sensor?
You’ll be surprised how many blind spots it fills in what the meter can’t catch..
Hopefully it might immediately also belay any understandable anxiety you have with the “new normal?”
