Guidance needed - low BG readings

[CotswoldsBloke]

Hi

I was diagnosed T2 in early January (HBA1C of 88). I’ve been low carbing since then (30-50g) a day, cut down portion size and have been taking a brisk walk for an hour a day). It’s been going well, I’ve felt good and have dropped nearly 4 st in that time (I’m a big guy with plenty still to go). I’m on 2000mg of metformin and take drugs for Hypothyroidism.

2-3 weeks ago, I noticed myself becoming sleepy in the early afternoon. This doesn’t happen everyday and normally lasts about an hour. It feels a bit like a sugar crash from the days of big carby lunches, except I’m not earring those carbs and it can happen before or after I’ve eaten. I do take my walk at lunchtime, so it’s always after that.

I got Libre 2 yesterday. My first reading was 4.7 but it dropped to 3.6 before I ate, then rose to 4.9 2 hours after my meal (ate at 7, tested at 9). During the night it dipped to 3 before my waking measurement of 5.

I’m still very new to all of this. Those low readings and the sleepyness have me a bit worried. I will talk to the DN about it, but this is the lady that told me to eat carbs etc., so any guidance, similar experiences etc. will help me understand more and be very welcomed.

Cheers
Nick

 

[Ronancastled]

Did you check those reading against finger pricks just to rule out a calibration error.
I'm interested in this as I suffer the same sleepiness, often after lunch, when I test I'm in the 4s so I know it's not BS or a crash.

I've a theory that our poor pancreas has recovered beta cell function but as our insulin sensitivity is not there yet we are over producing insulin. A fasting insulin test would confirm this, anyway, it's only a theory.

 

[CotswoldsBloke]

Did you check those reading against finger pricks just to rule out a calibration error.
I'm interested in this as I suffer the same sleepiness, often after lunch, when I test I'm in the 4s so I know it's not BS or a crash.

I've a theory that our poor pancreas has recovered beta cell function but as our insulin sensitivity is not there yet we are over producing insulin. A fasting insulin test would confirm this, anyway, it's only a theory.

I have a finger prick testing kit arriving today, so I will start to compare those to get some further data.

Interesting theory. I’m ignorant of many aspects of diabetes right now but am trying to read as much as I can to understand it more.

Thanks for replying.

 

[Ronancastled]

Interesting theory. I’m ignorant of many aspects of diabetes right now but am trying to read as much as I can to understand it more.

Read here, a group of T2 patients were followed up 2 years after they achieved remsiion.
The removal of the fat allowed their insulin levels to return to normal after 12 months.
https://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/68/Supplement_1/66-OR

Going low carb & losing the weight may have given your beta cells a chance to recover.
It's known that the earlier this intervention is made the better.

 

[EllieM]

Interesting theory. I’m ignorant of many aspects of diabetes right now but am trying to read as much as I can to understand it more.

The libre is renowned for under reading at night if you lie on it.

When you get a blood testing meter, bear in mind that there can be a lag between a finger prick reading and the libre. For a libre 1 you need to wait 10 to 15 minutes after finger pricking to compare, not sure about the libre 2.

Good luck.

 

[KK123]

I got Libre 2 yesterday. My first reading was 4.7 but it dropped to 3.6 before I ate, then rose to 4.9 2 hours after my meal (ate at 7, tested at 9). During the night it dipped to 3 before my waking measurement of 5.

Hi, as Ellie says above, the libre is not always entirely accurate I find, ESPECIALLY when my levels are in the lower 4s. I often get readings in the 3s on the libre and when I check against a finger prick test (bearing in mind the 15 minute lag), it is actually in the low 4s around 95% of the time, not the 3s. Also the libre (like glucometers) has a 10/15% accuracy variant so if for example, you did a finger prick test with your readings, both the 4.7 and the 3.6 would be deemed to be within the accuracy levels. x

 

[Wanderer89]

Hi, as Ellie says above, the libre is not always entirely accurate I find, ESPECIALLY when my levels are in the lower 4s. I often get readings in the 3s on the libre and when I check against a finger prick test (bearing in mind the 15 minute lag), it is actually in the low 4s around 95% of the time, not the 3s. Also the libre (like glucometers) has a 10/15% accuracy variant so if for example, you did a finger prick test with your readings, both the 4.7 and the 3.6 would be deemed to be within the accuracy levels. x

iv learnt this. Can throw you off track if your not careful with it. That’s why it’s handy to use both when your getting to the low numbers.

 

[MrsA2]

I followed the advice on here to not activate the libre until it had been on 24-48 hours. I starter ir after 36 hours, but then had very low readings the next 2 nights. The following 10 nights have all been fine. Therefore I think the libre can't be trusted for at least 4 days after putting it on.