Highs followed by lows

[RyJames]

So after almost a week using the libre 2. My average is 5.8mmol - which seems to be reasonable.

I have however over the last week experienced some fast and drastic declines following a spike.

For example after dinner last night I hit 9.2 and then I was down to 7.3 around an hour later followed approximately 15 minutes later with a really low reading (triggered the warning) that I was down to 3.6. After doing nothing this rose again to the low 5’s in about 20 mins where it remained.

Is this erratic behaviour normal?

Thanks in advance as always

 

[Lamont D]

So after almost a week using the libre 2. My average is 5.8mmol - which seems to be reasonable.

I have however over the last week experienced some fast and drastic declines following a spike.

For example after dinner last night I hit 9.2 and then I was down to 7.3 around an hour later followed approximately 15 minutes later with a really low reading (triggered the warning) that I was down to 3.6. After doing nothing this rose again to the low 5’s in about 20 mins where it remained.

Is this erratic behaviour normal?

Thanks in advance as always

No, it's not but..........
It can happen and be normal.
It is only a single time.
some cgm have readings that trigger the alarm because of compression to the unit.

If you get another low reading alarm, use a finger prick test to confirm.
Although, the medical practitioners advise that under 4mmols is a hypo, the majority of diabetics and my endo advised that under 3.5mmols is a hypo.
There are those who can under those levels and not have any symptoms, or unhealthy because of it.

Sorry to confuse you further. However if you keep testing and notice episodes of hypos continuously, that is not normal. As I found out.

 

[RyJames]

No, it's not but..........
It can happen and be normal.
It is only a single time.
some cgm have readings that trigger the alarm because of compression to the unit.

If you get another low reading alarm, use a finger prick test to confirm.
Although, the medical practitioners advise that under 4mmols is a hypo, the majority of diabetics and my endo advised that under 3.5mmols is a hypo.
There are those who can under those levels and not have any symptoms, or unhealthy because of it.

Sorry to confuse you further. However if you keep testing and notice episodes of hypos continuously, that is not normal. As I found out.

Thanks - I’ve had about 3 or 4 episodes which appear to be under 3.5mmol.

Here’s one of the ones from yesterday which as you can see shows a rapid decline.

What could this indicate if not the common scenario for most type 2’s.

Thanks

 

[Rokaab]

Thanks - I’ve had about 3 or 4 episodes which appear to be under 3.5mmol.

Here’s one of the ones from yesterday which as you can see shows a rapid decline.

You really need to properly check with a blood test meter when it shows lows like that, they are known to be inaccurate at low levels, and I believe in their instructions/leaflet they do say you should confirm with a proper blood test if they show under 5 as it may well not be as low as it shows

 

[Lamont D]

Could you please, show the graph for one of those days showing the spike and low?

For a T2, those figures would show that it is probably not a hypo, as most hypoglycaemia would be under 3mmols. But as I said before it is dependent upon the individual. Do you feel symptoms?

I agree with @Rokaab, a finger prick test would give you a back up reading.

Sorry about the questions but have you got a fasting level, one that is about half an hour after you get out of bed before you eat, if you do?

FYI. T2s should not have hypos unless they are on blood glucose reducing medication, metformin is not!

 

[RyJames]

Could you please, show the graph for one of those days showing the spike and low?

For a T2, those figures would show that it is probably not a hypo, as most hypoglycaemia would be under 3mmols. But as I said before it is dependent upon the individual. Do you feel symptoms?

I agree with @Rokaab, a finger prick test would give you a back up reading.

Sorry about the questions but have you got a fasting level, one that is about half an hour after you get out of bed before you eat, if you do?

FYI. T2s should not have hypos unless they are on blood glucose reducing medication, metformin is not!

Thanks for the reply - my morning fasting levels are usually in the region of 5-5.5.

I don’t feel any symptoms.

I actually take 10mg of Dapagliflizon alongside (apparently this is beneficial to my high blood pressure and non alcoholic fatty liver) alongside the diabetes.

Thanks

 

[Lamont D]

Thanks for the reply - my morning fasting levels are usually in the region of 5-5.5.

I don’t feel any symptoms.

I actually take 10mg of Dapagliflizon alongside (apparently this is beneficial to my high blood pressure and non alcoholic fatty liver) alongside the diabetes.

Thanks

Dapaglififizon is a slgt2 inhibitor. Which means it helps reducing your blood glucose levels and because you are posting good results of a fasting level that is normal, it is only the spikes I would be worried about.
I would speak to your GP about the dosage of the drug or come of it altogether and use diet only.
which would be great!

Could I help you by trying to give you some dietary advice.
If you do come off the meds, you should not eat normally as a lot of advice is out there. Reducing your carbs, sugar intale, replacing with protein and natural saturated fat, will help with reducing those spikes.
It is those high spikes consistently that gets the diabetes levels of the hba1c test.
Dietdoctor.com is a great resource, as is our low carb forum.

Best wishes.

 

[RyJames]

Dapaglififizon is a slgt2 inhibitor. Which means it helps reducing your blood glucose levels and because you are posting good results of a fasting level that is normal, it is only the spikes I would be worried about.
I would speak to your GP about the dosage of the drug or come of it altogether and use diet only.
which would be great!

Could I help you by trying to give you some dietary advice.
If you do come off the meds, you should not eat normally as a lot of advice is out there. Reducing your carbs, sugar intale, replacing with protein and natural saturated fat, will help with reducing those spikes.
It is those high spikes consistently that gets the diabetes levels of the hba1c test.
Dietdoctor.com is a great resource, as is our low carb forum.

Best wishes.

Amazing thanks for the advice - what is a reasonable level for a spike to peak at (should they occur) after 2 hours I’m always back within the ‘normal’ ranges.

Thanks

 

[Lamont D]

Amazing thanks for the advice - what is a reasonable level for a spike to peak at (should they occur) after 2 hours I’m always back within the ‘normal’ ranges.

Thanks

being back in normal range after two hours is excellent, well done.
If you test pre meal and two hours after first bite, your ok if your bg levels are no more than 2mmols higher than your pre meal test. If it is higher, then there will be too much carb in something in that meal. That is why a good diary is so useful, a tool to use to log everything that you eat, do, exercise, drugs, everything! Timings, And for everything, I mean portion sizes, carb count, pre meal tests, two and other hourly tests as you get into it.
you will get the hang of it.
From normal levels anything above 8mmols(ish) is too high for a spike, but that is my opinion.
The best BG levels would be to maintain in or around normal levels for the first three hours after eating., The reason is in my experience, that it is healthy in the long run not to have spikes and because your body in sleep repairs itself. It gains a healthier balance during the day, which again helps the sleep rhythm.

Long answer but knowledge is power to your future health. Your GP will help with the meds, but dietary information, that is why this site exists. They follow the textbooks which mainly think T1, T2 are the same.
They are not.
I know cos I have been on here for ten years after my diagnosis because I was taking notice of my doctor and dsns. And what they were advising me to eat was killing me.
Healthy food is not healthy for T2!

Keep asking.

Best wishes.