'going lower' trend worries

Hey Xyzzy!

If I have a mild/moderate hypo I eat a jelly baby and get on with the meeting I'm in (or whatever I'm doing at the time), so for me, 'eat a jelly baby and get on with life' is absolutely accurate :lol: I think work would have something to say about it if I made a big fuss and went to lie down to recover - it's really not necessary for me when all I've done is dipped under 4 for a brief while.

Anyway, I'll shut up now :silent:

Smidge

desidiabulum said:

Thanks grazer and xyzzy for clarifying -- you are my favourite posters, really you are! I just detected an edge creeping into discussion of hypos that seemed a bit out of character...

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Yes desidiabulum there was an edge but it was there because I felt misinformation was being provided to newly diagnosed people ....

This is really straightforward.

1) If you are a non diabetic you run a risk of having "low blood sugars"

2) If you are a T2 who takes no meds or just takes Metformin then you run no additional risks to those in 1)

3) If you are any other type of diabetic then pay attention to potential hypo risks however you feel is best and be safe.

Simple ....

Lucy you could never offend -- I was just trying to restore the balance, which I felt had been nudged a bit astray, and felt I shouldn't always be leaving it to Phoenix, who always anticipates what I want to say only puts it much better. And I do like your Klanger!
Smidge -- I can understand that your experience may be more typical-- good for you. If I'm a bit of a freak I can live with that :lol:
Xyzzy -- you're right as usual, but my very slight concern is that what this forum shows is that everyone’s blood sugar works differently, and I worry about suggesting that the very small number of people on metformin who feel that they have had a hypo just have vivid imaginations. There may be other things going on. Why can’t we just say that except in very unusual cases metformin normally shouldn’t cause hypos?

desidiabulum said:

Xyzzy -- you're right as usual, but my very slight concern is that what this forum shows is that everyone’s blood sugar works differently, and I worry about suggesting that the very small number of people on metformin who feel that they have had a hypo just have vivid imaginations. There may be other things going on. Why can’t we just say that except in very unusual cases metformin normally shouldn’t cause hypos?

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I did exactly that by pointing out in the UKPDS study results Phoenix posted it shows for Metformin there was a 17 in 1000 chance of a "hypo" event level 1 to 4 but only a 3 in 1000 chance of it being one wherever a "jellie baby" or more was needed i.e. a level 2 to 4 event.

My argument is that at those rates similar things would be happening to the non diabetic population. For example someone who forgot to eat then exercised would have a similar chance of a "hypo" event. I even pointed out in one post I'd had an event and even fainted but that didn't mean it was as life threatening as an insulin induced hypo. It would be classified as a level 2 event even though I fainted and like yourself I felt bad for the rest of the day. It's a matter of putting all these risks and potential effects into proportion and not unnecessarily worrying newly diagnosed diabetics. They have enough to contend with.

Apologies again for getting a bit cross

Grazer said:

Lucy beat me to the gun! I was typing this when she posted. I( think the T1 hypo issue is well worth a discussion obviously, but lucy, the op, did ask a question of the newly diagnosed which then mutated into "can T2's on diet only/metformin have hypos", and has now mutated again. I'm a bit concerned that some involved in the original thread, particularly the new T2s, might not spot that most of the recent threads discussing hypos are from T1s, and might start thinking "so I can get them, i must test before I drive on diet only" etc when we've just got rid of all that. So maybe a separate thread for REAL hypos for insulin dependants , acceptable levels etc might help? Not trying to be difficult, and I know threads do develop, but this one could get confusing in my view.

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I think it is already confusing. I don't think the confusion is about type 1's and type 2's but that some type 2's are on medication than can cause hypo's..and no, I am not getting into the whole "can they/can't they hypo" debate, I am talking about meds that are known to be associated with hypos.

Diverting slightly, I have found it quite shocking just how many people think that only type 1's take insulin, on another forum I actually had some one tell me that i was mistaken and that my daughter couldn't possibly be type 2 "as they don't get insulin".
In fact I seem to remember seeing a post here (a long time ago admittedly) from a type 2 on insulin who thought they were type 1 because they needed the jabs.

I think for the purposes of clarification, it would be helpful if when posting we pointed out who the thread is aimed at, just so there is no confusion.

Hey Guys!

No offence taken or meant

I am just very passionate about insulin users being scared into maintaining higher BGs than necessary or safe by misinformation and the fear of dying from hypos.

Smidge

I have type 2 diabetes, i'm trying to stop medication with diet, exercise and losing weight.
At the beginning i was taking insulin + medication (Galvus MED, Diamicron MR )
Now i'm taking Glucophage. In theory i should take it three times per day, usually 1-2 times.
I avoid Glucophage when i'm planing exercise or if my measurements before i eat something are bellow 5.
Since i have several measurements bellow 3.5 especially after exercise, i want to know how dangerous is that, in comparison with someone with no diabetes.
I know that the main reason for hypoglycemia is the medication and that in someone with no diabetes the pangreas will stop insuline and raise the sugar levels to normal.

Seadimis said:

I have type 2 diabetes, i'm trying to stop medication with diet, exercise and losing weight.
At the beginning i was taking insulin + medication (Galvus MED, Diamicron MR )
Now i'm taking Glucophage. In theory i should take it three times per day, usually 1-2 times.
I avoid Glucophage when i'm planing exercise or if my measurements before i eat something are bellow 5.
Since i have several measurements bellow 3.5 especially after exercise, i want to know how dangerous is that, in comparison with someone with no diabetes.
I know that the main reason for hypoglycemia is the medication and that in someone with no diabetes the pangreas will stop insuline and raise the sugar levels to normal.

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Do I understand it correctly - you are just on Metformin (glucophage) now? If so, I wouldn't worry about 3.5 after exercise. I've measured 3.2 after exercise frequently. Your Pancreas should adjust the same as a non-diabetic unless you have some other medical complaint? Providing you feel ok of course. If not, just have a bite to eat. If I over exercise, I'll have an apple. These levels are common amongst non-diabetics doing prolonged exercise. Golfers often drag a banana around with them, tennis players similar. I have a bacon sarni after golf!
Not sure why you don't take your metformin if you're below 5 before a meal. The metformin won't drag you lower, it will just stop you going quite so high as you otherwise would AFTER eating.

Grazer said:

Seadimis said:

I have type 2 diabetes, i'm trying to stop medication with diet, exercise and losing weight.
At the beginning i was taking insulin + medication (Galvus MED, Diamicron MR )
Now i'm taking Glucophage. In theory i should take it three times per day, usually 1-2 times.
I avoid Glucophage when i'm planing exercise or if my measurements before i eat something are bellow 5.
Since i have several measurements bellow 3.5 especially after exercise, i want to know how dangerous is that, in comparison with someone with no diabetes.
I know that the main reason for hypoglycemia is the medication and that in someone with no diabetes the pangreas will stop insuline and raise the sugar levels to normal.

Click to expand...

Do I understand it correctly - you are just on Metformin (glucophage) now? If so, I wouldn't worry about 3.5 after exercise. I've measured 3.2 after exercise frequently. Your Pancreas should adjust the same as a non-diabetic unless you have some other medical complaint? Providing you feel ok of course. If not, just have a bite to eat. If I over exercise, I'll have an apple. These levels are common amongst non-diabetics doing prolonged exercise. Golfers often drag a banana around with them, tennis players similar. I have a bacon sarni after golf!
Not sure why you don't take your metformin if you're below 5 before a meal. The metformin won't drag you lower, it will just stop you going quite so high as you otherwise would AFTER eating.

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Thank you for your replay, about the glucophage i have been inform
that metformin may cause hypoglycemia under certain circumstances. This includes not eating enough food or missing meals, exercising too much and not eating enough to cover the exercise. I'm trying to see how it can be with minimal medication.
I 'm faraway from my doctor and i have to communicate with him to help me on that mater.