hypo awareness

[the_anticarb]

I often don't realise I'm having a hypo until I'm quite low - mid 2s, or on occasion high 1's. But I always stay conscious, enough to be able to treat the hypo myself. So have I got impaired hypo awareness?
Sometimes it takes me a little longer to come back up to normal, and can feel a bit yukky for a while, but apart from that there is little difference to when i used to feel hypos coming on in the mid to high 3's.
Should I be concerned?

 

[CarbsRok]

I often don't realise I'm having a hypo until I'm quite low - mid 2s, or on occasion high 1's. But I always stay conscious, enough to be able to treat the hypo myself. So have I got impaired hypo awareness?
Sometimes it takes me a little longer to come back up to normal, and can feel a bit yukky for a while, but apart from that there is little difference to when i used to feel hypos coming on in the mid to high 3's.
Should I be concerned?

Yes you have impaired hypo awareness so need to address the situation because if you drive DVLA will be down on you like a ton of bricks.
The normal method to raise awareness is to run your blood sugars higher for awhile. Others do find that using a different insulin can also help.

 

[noblehead]

Should I be concerned?

Yes if you drive and of course for your own safety. As Carbs says the usual advice is to run bg higher for a while until the awareness comes back, this could present difficulties for you with your retinopathy so a change in insulin might be a better alternative.

 

[the_anticarb]

I often don't realise I'm having a hypo until I'm quite low - mid 2s, or on occasion high 1's. But I always stay conscious, enough to be able to treat the hypo myself. So have I got impaired hypo awareness?
Sometimes it takes me a little longer to come back up to normal, and can feel a bit yukky for a while, but apart from that there is little difference to when i used to feel hypos coming on in the mid to high 3's.
Should I be concerned?

Yes you have impaired hypo awareness so need to address the situation because if you drive DVLA will be down on you like a ton of bricks.
The normal method to raise awareness is to run your blood sugars higher for awhile. Others do find that using a different insulin can also help.

You're right Carbsrok. Please don't tell me off for this - but a few weeks back I dropped to 1.8 whilst driving on the m-way, (was stuck in traffic so could test) although I always keep sweets in the car I couldn't find them in my panic (they had dropped out of the side of the door to under the seat) and I had a few hairy moments where I managed to get off the m-way and sort myself out. Luckily I found the sweets or I'd have been up the creek . I know I know it's bad. I am testing more now - and making sure I not only have sugar in the car but know where it is. It shook me up a bit to be honest, don't want to be in that situation again. Can't afford to run high due to my complications, but am trying to get my dose sorted with the DSN as she thinks I'm over basaled.

 

[Robinredbreast]

I often don't realise I'm having a hypo until I'm quite low - mid 2s, or on occasion high 1's. But I always stay conscious, enough to be able to treat the hypo myself. So have I got impaired hypo awareness?
Sometimes it takes me a little longer to come back up to normal, and can feel a bit yukky for a while, but apart from that there is little difference to when i used to feel hypos coming on in the mid to high 3's.
Should I be concerned?

Hi anticarb Yes that happened to me. My doctor had to refer me to the hospital DSN and she said I must stay in a stable 6 to 12 range so I can get my hypo awarness back in the 3's. Well, it worked, a couple of weeks ago I felt'different' and when I tested I was in the 3's. I have been told, firmly but nicely, not to have any hypos but sometimes they just happen, dont they?

Hypos over a period of time can cause memory problems, I have it memory loss, I say I have the memory of a goldfish :? Please take care and hopefully you will back on track soon. With best wishes RRB

 

[the_anticarb]

How can they tell you not to have any hypos? It's not like you're doing it on purpose to be naughty! That's like saying 'don't be a diabetic!'

 

[iHs]

Hi

There's a saying in life and that is that we learn from the mistakes that we make. :wink:

Where driving a car is concerned never take bg levels for granted. Always make sure that you have a supply of easy to eat sweets that dont need unwrapping and keep them within easy reach while you are behind the wheel. If you test before you drive and make sure that you are not any lower than 7mmol you can keep that bg level maintained by eating a sweet every so often. Far better to arrive at your destination safe and sound than to risk going low and then need to pull over to the kerb and be on a busy main road with parked cars everywhere.


Regarding your basal..... have you tried using Levemir twice daily as that is so much gentler on bg than Lantus?

 

[CarbsRok]

I often don't realise I'm having a hypo until I'm quite low - mid 2s, or on occasion high 1's. But I always stay conscious, enough to be able to treat the hypo myself. So have I got impaired hypo awareness?
Sometimes it takes me a little longer to come back up to normal, and can feel a bit yukky for a while, but apart from that there is little difference to when i used to feel hypos coming on in the mid to high 3's.
Should I be concerned?

Yes you have impaired hypo awareness so need to address the situation because if you drive DVLA will be down on you like a ton of bricks.
The normal method to raise awareness is to run your blood sugars higher for awhile. Others do find that using a different insulin can also help.

You're right Carbsrok. Please don't tell me off for this - but a few weeks back I dropped to 1.8 whilst driving on the m-way, (was stuck in traffic so could test) although I always keep sweets in the car I couldn't find them in my panic (they had dropped out of the side of the door to under the seat) and I had a few hairy moments where I managed to get off the m-way and sort myself out. Luckily I found the sweets or I'd have been up the creek . I know I know it's bad. I am testing more now - and making sure I not only have sugar in the car but know where it is. It shook me up a bit to be honest, don't want to be in that situation again. Can't afford to run high due to my complications, but am trying to get my dose sorted with the DSN as she thinks I'm over basaled.

Lol I'm not going to tell you off.
May I make a suggestion in the interest of safety?
Perhaps for yours and other road users it might be better to stop driving until you have sorted yourself out? It would be awful for you and anyone else involved in an accident due to you not knowing how low you are?

 

[the_anticarb]

Well as I will not be able to drive for four weeks post vitrectomy (Friday) that is the perfect opportunity! Will need to be sorted after then, as I'm starting a new job soon which will involve a fair amount of driving around to see clients. In an ideal world I perhaps would not have chosen this job, with the hypos and retinopathy, but I needed to get out of my old job as it was making me miserable, and this one is perfect in every other way. I'm hoping that if the vitrectomy goes well, and I can get the hypos sorted, I'll be ok. If not I guess I'll have to start looking for a desk job. Thanks

 

[iHs]

Get a pump - you ring two of the bells already - retinopathy and anxiety regarding hypos

 

[the_anticarb]

Don't you have to have a high hba1c to get the pump? I've heard they don't give it to you if you're under 7.5

 

[iHs]

No..... the NICE guidelines changed a while ago to include hypos and anxiety through worrying about them. Have a look at the INPUT me website, the NIce guidelines are on it - TA151 (I think)

My hba1C was 6.5 when I got my pump.

 

[Pneu]

Anticarb.. I have recently got pump funding based on a quality of life argument.. as iHs suggests its worth pursuing even if it will take a while to achieve.