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Help...pretty sure I've had my first hypo

RosieLKH

RosieLKH

Well-Known Member
Messages
735
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I was sitting watching Big Brother and started feeling very weird. My heart was thumping really hard and I started to sweat, so I thought I'd just check my BS - which was 3.5 - totally unheard of for me. 3 weeks ago I wasn't even seeing single figures.

I've had an odd day eating-wise. I skipped breakfast - I know, I know - but it happened. I had lunch at midday, then I went to my parents and had my dinner earlier than I normally would, about 5 pm instead of my usual 7:30. I had some salami, cheese and pumpkin seeds around 9pm, and took Metformin and Gliclazide.

When I came over all odd and tested my BS I then had a teaspoon of marmalade. I had started to feel decidedly shakey by that time. I'm now slowly eating a pitta bread with butter, but my BS has only gone up to 3.7.

What should I do now? I'm on my own in the house and I don't want to go to bed feeling like this. My heart isn't thumping any more and I'm not sweating, but I still feel slightly trembly and my stomach is making massive noises.

Should I test again? If so when? Or should I eat some more?
 
Hi Rosie

Sorry to hear that. Yes it does sound like a hypo.

Be safe and have something carby before bed, with little or no insulin. Your liver will be hoovering up glucose all night to replenish what it lost. This will cause a blood sugar fall unless you have carbs. Normally they say eat a good meal but as it's bed time have a hearty, carby snack.
 
Probably something like 2 pita breads would be fine. You're T2 and not on insulin, is that right? So the hypo is from the gliclazide. Sounds like your BG has come down a lot in just a few weeks. You might want to get Dr advice on maybe reducing the gliclazide now. If hypos recur before you can get to a Dr maybe reduce the gliclazide on your own initiative if you feel comfortable doing that.

I'm T1 so it would be good to get another T2s opinion.
 
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I wish I had bread for toast now! That's what happens when you chuck out the carbs from the cupboard. I'll need to keep a safety stash.

I'm gradually feeling a lot better. A bit of a headache's kicking in, but I've been reading stuff about hypos online and I think I might actually be getting these while I'm asleep. I am seeing the DN on Thursday, so I'll mention it then.

Deary me. And there I was thinking I was taking control. It looks like I'm jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!
 
Rosie you are doing brilliantly. Dare I say it, this hypo is a symptom of your success. With luck it will mean you can reduce or even eliminate gliclazide and have excellent blood sugars without hypos. You really are doing well.
xxx
 
RosieLKH said:
I wish I had bread for toast now! That's what happens when you chuck out the carbs from the cupboard. I'll need to keep a safety stash.

I'm gradually feeling a lot better. A bit of a headache's kicking in, but I've been reading stuff about hypos online and I think I might actually be getting these while I'm asleep. I am seeing the DN on Thursday, so I'll mention it then.

Deary me. And there I was thinking I was taking control. It looks like I'm jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!
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Absolutely not frying pan to fire.

Was it not mentioned that when levels improved, meds might need to be adjusted? It sounds like your improvement may mean you need that now, or soon at least.

I hope you manage some sleep, but in your shoes, I might take my kit upstairs, so that I could test if I woke in a few hours; just for the comfort factor.
 
Thanks Spiker. It's very reassuring to have someone online at this time in the evening. It was pretty scary really.

It's such a steep learning curve, and one I should have been on a good few years ago. The more I'm finding out about it the more I think I've probably had some problems since I was a child. Just things like constantly getting thrush since I was 10 and the problems with weight.

Anyway, I feel calmer now. I'm going to look for something else carby to snack on, but there's not much in the house unless I cook up some pasta. Maybe an orange would do.
 
AndBreathe said:
Absolutely not frying pan to fire.

Was it not mentioned that when levels improved, meds might need to be adjusted? It sounds like your improvement may mean you need that now, or soon at least.

I hope you manage some sleep, but in your shoes, I might take my kit upstairs, so that I could test if I woke in a few hours; just for the comfort factor.
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Well, I spoke to the DN just before I started changing my diet etc, and she'd just upped my Gliclazide by an extra tablet to 3 a day. She said she doubted I would get my BS into single figures, so would never have to worry about a hypo. I am seeing her on Thursday, and to be honest was going to see about less Gliclazide as the DN also said I'd struggle to lose weight while on it.

My average BS over the last week was 7.2 this morning (ha, is now 6.9!).

At least I now know what this feels like and I also know I need to do something to stop it happening during the nights.
 
A little bowl of pasta is not a bad idea. Please do have your meter and some glucose tablets handy at your bedside. Err on the side of caution and don't be worried if you are a bit high in the morning.

If you don't have glucose tablets put some fruit juice handy by the bed or if all else fails a cup with sugar in it and a spoon.

This is just a precaution as I'm sure you will be fine if you have some pittas or pasta now.
 
Thanks again. I will follow all this advice and take stuff up to bed with me. I feel calm enough to go upstairs now. Night all, and thanks again.
 
I use to suffer from hypos regularly, until recently, I always had digestive biscuits on my bedside cabinet and a diet drink. Don't take lucozade or anything too sugary as that will take you hyper. This is a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels and after15 minutes you should test again, to see how you are doing.. You should take it easy and probably reduce your meds.
Hope you feel better!
 
Too late to help you last night, Rosie, but I'll pipe up for the future... From my own, type 2 non insulin dependent viewpoint.

I've found that rebound carbing is instinctive (you feel awful with a hypo, and want to stuff your face).

But if I do that, I will have spiky jangly BG for days after.

My best response, that makes me feel the best, the soonest, is to eat just enough carbs to bring the BG up to 'comfortable', then eat a proper, low carb meal which will drip feed BG rather than spike it. I do this even if I did stuff with carbs, because when the high carb glucose is used up, you risk dropping again too quickly unless you have the slow release food already working.

Hope that made sense.

Can you have a good solid fry up for brekkie? It will really help!
 
Sounds like your meds need reducing. GlicliZide is known for causing hypos. My chemist is fab. He reduced mine and let the doc know. I had a hypo on metformin so met cut from 3 to 1. Due to weight loss and tight control of bs. A hypo is any reading under 4. This website has more details. Take care and hope you feel better.
 
Yes, thanks. I feel fine today. I had a small bowl of muesli at about 1 a.m., figuring that would be slow release. I have been waking up with massive headaches recently, but none of that this morning, so I do feel I need to reduce the evening meds and try and some slow release carby snack at bedtime. That's nothing to do with the hypo of yesterday evening, but having it made me recognise what has been happening when I'm mostly half asleep at night. It hadn't really registered before.

Am eating bacon and egg now, so back on track!
 
Wouldn't it be wise to change one thing at a time? If you reduce meds and introduce a carby snack, that's a double attack, and it may be trickier to clearly interpret the results of your actions. I'm sure you will receive more robust advice from others with more experience, but that's just my preference for a systematic approach kicking in.

I'm glad you're felling better today.
 
AndBreathe said:
Wouldn't it be wise to change one thing at a time? If you reduce meds and introduce a carby snack, that's a double attack, and it may be trickier to clearly interpret the results of your actions. I'm sure you will receive more robust advice from others with more experience, but that's just my preference for a systematic approach kicking in.

I'm glad you're felling better today.
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Good point. My preference would be to take the Gliclazide down at least by one tablet (I take 3 a day). I am seeing the DN tomorrow morning, so will see what she thinks, but I suspect she will say carby snack. That would seem a bit counter intuitive to me.
 
RosieLKH said:
Good point. My preference would be to take the Gliclazide down at least by one tablet (I take 3 a day). I am seeing the DN tomorrow morning, so will see what she thinks, but I suspect she will say carby snack. That would seem a bit counter intuitive to me.
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I've been fortunate to be able to remain meds-free managing my diabetes, but it seems bonkers to me to eat up to the meds, rather than reduce the meds to tackle the underlying improvement. How will anybody ever really reduce their numbers/meds if all they do is eat more to minimise the harming impacts of over-medicating? That's a rhetorical question, obviously, and I accept over-medicating my not be the kindest term to use.
 
Don't forget as a T2 you will be producing some of your own insulin and some days your body will produce more than others so you will have good days and bad.
But on the plus side your levels have come down which is great. Well done you. :)
 
Hi, Have been reading your blogs. I do not understand regards hypo, there are times when I feel shakey and need to have something, as said I normally have some carbs. I test myself and found that my bg is really low after eating it goes up . So is that a hypo?, Sorry Ij ust thought that I must need some to eat when this happens.

The other evening it was very high, my fault, eating things I should not.................... had an urge to have something nice. when I tested my bg was well high. I always though that was hypo, took another test after drinking water and it started to drop.

Am I on the wrong track.?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, have I got mixed up with hypos ? I take diamicron 60mg gliclazide.
Sorry feel such a fool, I always though a hypo was when you blood sugar is over the top not when you feel if you do not have something to eat you will pass out or fade away. I always carry something in my handbag to eat, normally something sweet.
You info would be great, and then maybe I can get this right after all this time. Many thanks Anne T2
 
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