How often do you hypo? Non-diabetic.

[Erica-Rose]

Hi, newbie learning. How often do people experience hypos (below 3.5 mmol/L)? About to try the low carb/low sugar diet, but only getting hypo about once a month - so need inspiration to take the leap!

 

[KennyA]

Hi, newbie learning. How often do people experience hypos (below 3.5 mmol/L)? About to try the low carb/low sugar diet, but only getting hypo about once a month - so need inspiration to take the leap!

Hi and welcome. You don't have diabetes, is that right? I'm not sure what you mean when you say "only getting hypo about once a month". A hypoglycaemic episode is nothing to aim for.

If you are non-diabetic trying low carb for weight loss then you are unlikely to experience a genuine hypo at all. Your liver should be capable of adding enough glucose to prevent that. Soem people do have "false hypos" where blood sugar falls from a high level to a less high level. It never goes properly low, but the body sometimes reacts to the fall even though there's plenty of glucose available.

Normally T2 people experience hypos only if they are on some sort of glucose-lowering medication (eg insulin), and/or blood glucose gets lowered by some other factor - eg alcohol. T1 is a completely different story and not for me to tell.

 

[Erica-Rose]

Thank you. Not for weight loss. My hypo last was 1.1mmol/L. It's rare but happens.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi again, @Erica-Rose,
Good question.
My aim as a RH er, is to not go hypo at all if possible.
Because I'm trying to keep my BG levels continually in or just above normal levels, that stops the risk of triggering the reaction. And not triggering the high spikes, I don't get the overshoot of insulin that causes the hypo.
In other words, a low carb diet, no spike, no hyper BG levels, no overshoot, no hypo!
And it works, for me!

Hi, newbie learning. How often do people experience hypos (below 3.5 mmol/L)? About to try the low carb/low sugar diet, but only getting hypo about once a month - so need inspiration to take the leap!

If you have RH you need a low carb diet, tailored to your lifestyle, your tastes, affordibility, circumstances, where you live and availability of good fresh food. Stay away from any produced food as they will all have ingredients that will be not good for you.

Let us know how you are getting on.
Keep asking!

 

[EllieM]

There are a number of possible reasons for a non diabetic to get a hyoglycemic episode, not just reactive hypoglycemia.

If my blood sugar went down to 1.1 I would be unconscious. @Erica-Rose have you talked to your doctor about this? If I were you I would seek a referral to an endocrinologist who can do the tests that are needed to work out why this is happening.

 

[Erica-Rose]

Hi, thanks all! Yes, I went to my GP, he did basic iron levels plus HbA1c* (*was fine), then gave me a monitor. I monitored blood glucose for a few days - was lowER (3.8/3.9), but not bad - so he said 'all fine'. My personal cheap monitor I brought didn't record my last TWO typos, both below 1.1mmol/L (just said 'low', then DIDN'T record it that low).

I didn't have a monitor to record before this, but I did have dreadful symptoms yes (night hypos x2), but I don't have the 'evidence' he requires to refer on (but I told him). Very+ frustrating. So basically, I can wait until it happens again (), or try to deal with it myself.

 

[Erica-Rose]

(I checked several times when 'low' reading, plus have cross-checked the monitor, so not faulty or imaging it!)

 

[Deleted member 527103]

Some meters report false lows when they do not have enough blood to test.

 

[Lamont D]

The standard first test for hypoglycaemia, is an extended oral glucose tolerance test.
Usually a two hours test is for T2 or diabetes during pregnancy.
An extended test, will show you a pre test reading in normal levels, as per your hba1c and fasting levels.
If you test every half hour, you will see the spike, and the subsequent drop after the two hours mark and you may see it drop further down if you do suffer from hypoglycaemia like I do!
Usually the drink is 75g of a glucose solution. But if like me, a carb laden meal will give you the same reaction!
As RH is a carb intolerant condition!
Or if you have been referred to an endocrinologist, he/she should offer a test to determine whether you do go hypo for some reason.

Hi, thanks all! Yes, I went to my GP, he did basic iron levels plus HbA1c* (*was fine), then gave me a monitor. I monitored blood glucose for a few days - was lowER (3.8/3.9), but not bad - so he said 'all fine'. My personal cheap monitor I brought didn't record my last TWO typos, both below 1.1mmol/L (just said 'low', then DIDN'T record it that low).

I didn't have a monitor to record before this, but I did have dreadful symptoms yes (night hypos x2), but I don't have the 'evidence' he requires to refer on (but I told him). Very+ frustrating. So basically, I can wait until it happens again (), or try to deal with it myself.

This is why you need a food diary, this will give your doctor, information, what is happening to you.
And the information you place in it should be enough for further referral.

My best wishes
Keep asking!