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Help! Fasting and Low sugar

TrueBlueSUFC

TrueBlueSUFC

Member
Messages
13
Hello, right I’m a new member but I have a question (sorry if this has been asked before)

I have my diabetes under very good control sometimes too well... let me give you some background

I fast and eat one meal a day in the evening, of a morning I go for a few mile walk and do some weight training every day.

I am not on any medication or insulin (I use to be on metformin and insulin but worked hard and now not on any medication)

I use the freestyle Libre sensors which where a game changer for me as they keep an eye on my levels all the time, as good as that is it will show me and an alarm will go off when I go below 4 in my readings. This happened the other day when at one point I dropped to 3.2 I had a few sweets and it went back up to normal levels, so my questions are....

Can the liver run out of stored glucose to top my body up?
Did I panic too quickly did I not give my liver a chance?
Is a hypo possible with my current situation?

please bare in mind I am on no medication so essentially I am relying on my body to top up my sugar levels and in theory I am a non diabetic at the low end of the scale and my body should be acting like any normal persons should.

Any advice would be superb and feel free to ask me any questions I will be happy to give more info

Scott
 
xfieldok said:
Did you follow up the low libre reading with a finger prick?
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It’s funny you say that because I did and there was a small discrepancy (I will have to check how much), here is my log of readings, I literally had a hot bath and went downstairs and it was like the levels fell off a cliff IMG_5167.jpgIMG_5168.jpg
 
xfieldok said:
Libre is notorious for being inaccurate under 4.

I always prick before reaching for the jelly babies.
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Ahhh ok, thanks for that info! I will make sure I do a finger prick as back up then.

Have you any insight as to my question of should I be getting hypos as a diet controlled
Type 2?
 
First thing when I wake, libre always says I am between 3.2 and 3.6. A fingerprick nearly always says I am 4 point something.
 
xfieldok said:
First thing when I wake, libre always says I am between 3.2 and 3.6. A fingerprick nearly always says I am 4 point something.
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Wow! If you went by the Libre sensor you are technically having a hypo every morning.

I’m sure I was told ages ago that the reason you prick your fingers is because it’s more accurate or not up to date or something like that?
 
Fingerprick is an instant snapshot of NOW. Libre lags around 20 minutes behind. I find it great, but you have to know it's little foibles.
 
TrueBlueSUFC said:
Ahhh ok, thanks for that info! I will make sure I do a finger prick as back up then.

Have you any insight as to my question of should I be getting hypos as a diet controlled
Type 2?
Click to expand...
My Libres almost always read lower than a finger prick by 0.8 to 2.0 mmol/l. To my thinking there is no hypo unless it's confirmed with a finger prick (or I have clear symptoms).

Apart from that, non diabetics get readings in the higher 3's, it's normal. The reason for hypo being below 4 is safety in people on insulin or hypo-inducing medication like gliclazide, it gives us some extra space.
As a diet controlled T2 with healthy numbers, seeing a 3.6 on your meter is not a hypo.
 
Im assuming you are type 2 because of your description of no longer being on insulin (please consider filling in your profile to save us making assumptions)

A reading in the high 3’s isn’t unheard of for non diabetics or type 2 not on any medication and very well controlled. I understand if a person is using hypoglycaemia medication anything under 4 is a concern but as you are not doing so I don’t think these readings (after confirm with a fingerprick) should be worrying you unless you feel unwell with them. Rather than reach for glucose why not see what happens and if your liver kicks in. You can make glucose from protein even if you don’t eat a lot of it or have depleted stores. Hot baths often send readings haywire one way or other.
 
HSSS said:
Im assuming you are type 2 because of your description of no longer being on insulin (please consider filling in your profile to save us making assumptions)

A reading in the high 3’s isn’t unheard of for non diabetics or type 2 not on any medication and very well controlled. I understand if a person is using hypoglycaemia medication anything under 4 is a concern but as you are not doing so I don’t think these readings (after confirm with a fingerprick) should be worrying you unless you feel unwell with them. Rather than reach for glucose why not see what happens and if your liver kicks in. You can make glucose from protein even if you don’t eat a lot of it or have depleted stores. Hot baths often send readings haywire one way or other.
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Thanks, I spent so much of my time with diabetes with readings of like 15 to 20 since I have taken it seriously being low down is all new to me
 
TrueBlueSUFC said:
Thanks, I spent so much of my time with diabetes with readings of like 15 to 20 since I have taken it seriously being low down is all new to me
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Kind of my point. In a non diabetic or one with great control 4’s are normal. 3.something without medication isn’t unusual. (Though I realise if you’ve lived in fear/caution of hypos for a long time it might not feel like it). I wish I could get there too.

Well done indeed by the way coming from years of highs to gaining good control.
 
HSSS said:
Kind of my point. In a non diabetic or one with great control 4’s are normal. 3.something without medication isn’t unusual. (Though I realise if you’ve lived in fear/caution of hypos for a long time it might not feel like it). I wish I could get there too.

Well done indeed by the way coming from years of highs to gaining good control.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I have only joined the forum this afternoon and already everybody has been full of good advice and support!
 
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