Have I had a Hypo?

[Tash1804]

Hi. I have type 2 diabetes and take metformin and Glyclazide. This medication normally controls my condition very well, however this morning I forgot to take my tablets then went to the gym. After about 15 mins of fairly intense exercise I began to feel unwell with symptoms of heavy sweating, nausea, lightheadedness and I thought I was going to pass out. Luckily my trainer was on hand to give me a sugary drink and after about 15 mins I started to fell better. I have never experienced this before and guess it was a hypo brought on by not taking my medication then having a bout of exercise. I should also mention that my breakfast only consisted of a couple of slices of white toast. I have probably answered my own question and learnt my lesson but any comments would be appreciated . Thanks

 

[anna29]

Whoops...
Yes missed meds and not enough food eaten prior to excercise probably contributed to your 'hypo' ...
Even if you were to have taken your meds and still not eaten enough to cover your active excercise, you can find
it can possibly cause an hypo too.
Its all about finding the right balance of food eaten to cover active excercise class/lifestyle and what 'works' for you.
I have learnt this to be the case with myself - I used to take gliclazide and 'not' eat enough to cover the meds
finding myself going hypo later...
It's a lesson learned and you soon remember to risk calculate "prior" to an active excercise class.
Try taking a banana, or chopped up appple to keep your bs level topped up.
Test your BS level prior to start class and after class.
Plus take along for emergency sugar needed - a packet of jelly babies/dextros tablets. Small fruit juice/lucozade.
Hope this helps?
Anna.

 

[Tash1804]

Thanks Anna

It's good advice and I certainly won't make the mistake again. Perhaps I haven't taken diabetes seriously enough but guess I'm not alone in this respect.

Thanks again

Ray

 

[Grazer]

Whoops...
Yes missed meds and not enough food eaten prior to excercise probably contributed to your 'hypo' ...

Don't quite understand this Anna. Tash is on gliclazide which prompts the Pancreas to produce more insulin and lower blood sugar levels. So if Tash HAD taken his Glic, any hypo would have been worse surely? Forgetting to take his glic before exercising heavily probably helped prevent it being worse. In fact, if Tash can get hypos after exercise having had 2 slices of white toast, it does suggest that maybe the right diet and exercise could help him reduce the amount of glic he takes and give his Pancreas a rest.

 

[Tash1804]

Grazer

Thanks for responding. Before the Glic I was on Metformin alone and this wasn't controlling the diabetes enough. Since going on Glic things have been more stable UNTIL my Hypo! I have been going to the gym regularly for about 6 weeks and this hasn't happened before hence my assumption that it was down to missing my medication and having a poor breakfast. It's back to the gym today so a good breakfast is a given as is taking my meds - wish me luck!

Ray

 

[Grazer]

OK Ray, enjoy the gym! As I said, a poor breakfast followed by the Gym could cause a hypo if you are taking Glic, but NOT taking the Glic won't cause it. If you continue to get low blood sugar episodes it could mean that your Gym work is paying off and you could reduce the Glic. Keep an eye on it and taslk to the Doc if neccesary. Lots of people have gone on to Glic then been able to come off once BGs have stabilised as a result of better diet and exercise