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How to treat a prolonged hypo

thewestiesmum

thewestiesmum

Well-Known Member
Messages
143
Location
North Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
How do you treat a prolonged hypo where you test and find out you're hypo so you treat it then wait 15 to 20 minutes then find you're still hypo?
 
That's the way I thought you do it but my diabetic nurse is saying that at this point I should have my hypo treatment and either a snack or my meal
 
I'd suggest reading Dr Bernstein's diabetes solution - I believe he reached the conclusion that glucose tablets were most appropriate for treating hypos as they have a predictable effect on blood glucose and do not rely on digestion. (chapter 20 how to prevent and correct low blood sugar)
 
mum2westiesGill said:
That's the way I thought you do it but my diabetic nurse is saying that at this point I should have my hypo treatment and either a snack or my meal
Click to expand...

Hi there, if I had treated a hypo, checked 15/20 mins later and then found I was still under 4, then I would treat it again with another hypo treatment. You could treat the '2nd' one with food but you do not know how long that food will take to raise you, it could take up to an hour and in the meantime you may be vulnerable. You wouldn't necessarily know if you were still on the way down from the initial hypo either if the 2 x numbers were similar. The snack advice as far as I understand it, is more to stop any further hypos after you have treated and come out of a hypo properly, ie when your treatments have definitely taken you above 4. x
 
mum2westiesGill said:
That's the way I thought you do it but my diabetic nurse is saying that at this point I should have my hypo treatment and either a snack or my meal
Click to expand...
It's imperative that you get your blood sugar above 3.5 mmol/l with fast-acting glucose checking your blood sugar every 10 to 15 minutes (this may be more than one treatment). Then you can have a snack of 10 grams of carbohydrates from for example fruit, and when it's above 4 mmol/l then your meal.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-1-diabetes/hypoglycaemia-hypos/

DAFNE notes that support this:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fabcd.care%2Fsites%2Fabcd.care%2Ffiles%2Fsite_uploads%2FResources%2FSlides%2FChoudhary%2520Hypos%2520DTN%25202.pdf&clen=3652382&chunk=true
 
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ert said:
It's imperative that you get your blood sugar above 3.5 mmol/l with fast-acting glucose checking your blood sugar every 10 to 15 minutes (this may be more than one treatment). Then you can have a snack of 10 grams of carbohydrates from for example fruit, and when it's above 4 mmol/l then your meal.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-1-diabetes/hypoglycaemia-hypos/

DAFNE notes that support this:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fabcd.care%2Fsites%2Fabcd.care%2Ffiles%2Fsite_uploads%2FResources%2FSlides%2FChoudhary%2520Hypos%2520DTN%25202.pdf&clen=3652382&chunk=true
Click to expand...

Great advice. However. There can be a lag with a meter reading taking a "snapshot" of the BGs of upto 20 minutes ago?
In the scenario below.
That "3.4" could drop further tested just 10 minutes later showing 2.8?? Panicking into thinking the treatment isn't working.
When the reality is another "20 minutes back" it was but now on the climb..
It's even slower using a Libre sensor..

Though I agree it is imperative to treat. I normally give it 30 minutes before testing again. :)
 
Jaylee said:
Great advice. However. There can be a lag with a meter reading taking a "snapshot" of the BGs of upto 20 minutes ago?
In the scenario below.
That "3.4" could drop further tested just 10 minutes later showing 2.8?? Panicking into thinking the treatment isn't working.
When the reality is another "20 minutes back" it was but now on the climb..
It's even slower using a Libre sensor..

Though I agree it is imperative to treat. I normally give it 30 minutes before testing again. :)
Click to expand...
The problem with assuming that the treatment will turn blood sugars around after 30 minutes is that the reality is that they might continue to drop if you have enough insulin on board. That's why the specialists recommend treating it every 10 to 15 minutes. Hypos are dangerous. I certainly wouldn't risk it myself. (If I hadn't taken any fast-acting in the last two hours you would be a safe method.)
 
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I have had a few hypos recently due to illness, some caused by my basal needing to be temporarily reduced. Some kept returning over an hour, I had to test every 10-15 mins, otherwise it could be an ambulance call. I tried food but my nurse told me off. Juice or jelly babies she insists on. Then only when back in range she recommends slow release food.

I am sticking with jelly babies now as I seem to have a consistent rise with one and can easily work out what to do. Adding food too early also slows down absorption rate of anything quick acting, so can cause added problems.
 
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