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Hypo awareness!

Had hypo last night but didn't feel it until I was 2.5mmol. I was wondering why I couldn't sleep and then noticed slight trembling. I decided to test myself but it wasn't until I had glucose that my 'symptoms' kicked in. This has happened a few times now to me. Was just wondering if anyone else has this?
 
hya rach,
ive started getting like this,e.g night before last i just started feeling a little odd and honestly didnt think id be hypo,checked blood was 2.1 had 3 glucotabs and steadily grew worse,checked again and was 1.6 so no youre not on your own :D amanda
 
Hi everyone, i know i just joined and i'm not diabetic myself but i wanted to offer a bit of info from my experiences.

My girlfriend (who is 19) is Type 1 diabetic (and has had it for nearly 6 years) and so is her little sister, who is nearly 10(who's had it for nearly 2 years). My girlfriends hypo detection is good, as she normaly catches them around 3-3.5 now, as she used to have problems with keeping her levels straight (they were up and down alot, often around 12-16, and quite a few in the 20's), but ever since she started to get them under control she detects hypo's alot better. Whereas her little sister (who's levels are really up and down lately, getting alot of them in the 20's) can have sugars at 2.0-2.5 and feels nothing, but then can feel like she's having a hypo at 8.0 sometimes (which at the diabetic clinic they said to try and get them under control, to start trying to keep them under/around 10, and once thats working we can work on it from there). So i think hypo detection comes partly from what your body is used to your levels being, and partly just from who you are.

Not exactly helpful i know, just thought an extra opinion might help.
 
I think how you feel at hypo also depends on what bg you've dropped from and the context ie if you are moving about, sitting down etc.

Eg just after diagnosis I would feel hypo coming down to 8, most likely due to running higher for weeks prior to diagnosis. However, the other day I was in low 3's but didnt realise, I think because I had been sitting still watching TV and only felt something when I got up to go take bg pre dinner. Sometimes I get vague feelings which I didnt always test (because on lots of occasions, same feelings have yielded ok or higher bg) but now I just test the minute I feel something funny.

When in was in hospital the weekend of dx I was on actrapid drip and with hourly bg being taken. On one occasion nurse came to take it, I sat up to offer my hand and felt very strange. Nurse thought I had just sat up too quickly but then ran out the ward lke the proverbial bat out of hell and returned with hypostop and then put a glucose drip in.On checking chart the next day my bg had been 0.5. I dread to think what would have happened if it hadnt been the 'on the hour' time to test. Explain that to my family if something had gone wrong.
As I was so shocked re dx, exhausted etc etc, I didnt feel any different until I sat up and given it was the early hours of the morning, if i had become unconscious it would have just looked like I was sleeping.
Doesnt bear thinking about.
 
lilibet said:
I think how you feel at hypo also depends on what bg you've dropped from and the context ie if you are moving about, sitting down etc.

Eg just after diagnosis I would feel hypo coming down to 8, most likely due to running higher for weeks prior to diagnosis. However, the other day I was in low 3's but didnt realise, I think because I had been sitting still watching TV and only felt something when I got up to go take bg pre dinner. Sometimes I get vague feelings which I didnt always test (because on lots of occasions, same feelings have yielded ok or higher bg) but now I just test the minute I feel something funny.

When in was in hospital the weekend of dx I was on actrapid drip and with hourly bg being taken. On one occasion nurse came to take it, I sat up to offer my hand and felt very strange. Nurse thought I had just sat up too quickly but then ran out the ward lke the proverbial bat out of hell and returned with hypostop and then put a glucose drip in.On checking chart the next day my bg had been 0.5. I dread to think what would have happened if it hadnt been the 'on the hour' time to test. Explain that to my family if something had gone wrong.
As I was so shocked re dx, exhausted etc etc, I didnt feel any different until I sat up and given it was the early hours of the morning, if i had become unconscious it would have just looked like I was sleeping.
Doesnt bear thinking about.
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Eeeek - very scary :!: :shock:
 
totsy said:
hya rach,
ive started getting like this,e.g night before last i just started feeling a little odd and honestly didnt think id be hypo,checked blood was 2.1 had 3 glucotabs and steadily grew worse,checked again and was 1.6 so no youre not on your own :D amanda
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Glad to know I'm not alone in a way. It's very bizarre - must just be a sudden decline in BG that happens very quickly. It's not nice though :|
 
As far as I know, provided you don't go low enough to have an accident, seizures, or a coma, there are no long term neurological effects. Even in kids who sometimes did have adverse events from hypos there was no cognitive deficit after 18 years. ( I read this today and it was either on the Bernie forum or the Diabetes Support UK forum or this forum).

You can see that I've got a bit of a memory deficit problem and I've not even got diabetes!

The worst things about hypos are IMO:

1. underperformance due to low bs.
2. loss of hypoglycaemic awareness.
 
Trinkwasser said:
SarahQ said:
chocoholic, can you run your blood sugars a bit higher? make sure you do not drop below 5 for a couple of weeks.
Some people have found this helps to bring the awareness back.
S.
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Agreed. Just a question as a non-insulin user, is everyone suffering from this hypo unawareness on Lantus? It seems to be a common factor, in the past I've known people who quickly regained it by going back to pork or beef insulins (IF you can persuade them to let you) does Levemir have the same problem? If not then that change may be easier to obtain.
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Right..... deeeeep breaths - I'm going to write to my clinic and ask them for animal insulin :shock: - I'm scared and nervous... but why should I put up with it anymore. I couldn't sleep the other night because I was having a hypo. Keep having hypos and anthralgic problems due to diabetes. I think the main problem though is.... I can't feel my hypos anymore :!: :!: I was 3.5mmol last night before tea and just tested as a routine before tea check but felt like my BG was 7mmol or something.... in other words totally normal. I've been like this quite regularly now where I can't feel below 4mmol and then when I get to below 3mmol there is hardly any symptoms :!: I'm scared I'll slowly lose independence and not be able to drive and have to be cared for... and I haven't even reached 30 yet :cry: If I was 60 or something I might accept it better but not when I'm 29 years old - HEEEELLLP :!: :!: I guess I've got to be brave and ask for the rapid acting animal insulin :?: :|
 
Rach97

Have you tried the Levimer that sarah suggested?

If you haven't then this what they may ask you to try first?

Hmm I see that you are going to ask for Animal quick acting insulin, just remember that this as fast as human versions of insulin... Aniamal quick acting normally take about 20-30 mins to start to work where as Human starts within 10 mins, so changing to animal will mean adjusting your injecting pattern to food intake..

I would consider (if you have tried Levimer) changing just your Lantus to a Slow acting Animal insulin and keeping your human quick acting insulin which gives a more convient method when it comes to meal times... Change the quick acting too if after this you are still not getting the hypo warnings..

Hope all goes well, don't worry if you've got your information built into a good case to why, then there is litle option to say but to say Yes...
 
Hi Jopar, yes I tried Levimir and unfortunately it really didn't suit me. I had more hypos and spasmic attacks in the street :shock: My muscles in my legs would go into spasm sometimes when I was having a hypo and I couldn't walk - it was absolute pure hell. I did also have two faulty meter at the time too which led to further complications including unconscienceness with a hypo :( I have tried Human Mixtard 30/70, Humalin I and Humalog, Novarapid with Levimir and am currently on Novarapid and Lantus Glargine. I have had problems with all these insulins. I'm told each one is considerably better than the other, yet I have no improvement whatsoever :!: :|

I might take your advice though and go for the night insulin animal type. I need to do something as I can't really complain unless I've explored every option possible. Just I'm scared in case they say no.. but as you say I believe I have a good case so it's how I present this case to the clinic. I have tendonitus and frozen shoulder which is linked to synthetic insulin, I've loss of feelings of hypos which can be linked to Lantus use... also my concentration hasn't ever been the same since Levimir and Lantus and I forget when I've taken my dosage of insulin within 5 minutes of taking it. I also get depression from time to time - although I'm remaining positive this month... who knows when it can turn again. Lack of sleep, constant hypos and general degeneration of health can affect my mood. The doctors answer is drugs - but my answer is effective action and control of my diabetes. I don't wish for millions, just for good health... as I said to my man... I would rather not have this and be poor than have diabetes complications and be a millionaire :!: However I'm rambling on a bit now... I guess I have to take action... and take action fast.. and that's the way forward.
 
Rach97

It does sound like a very sound case of demanding trying Animal insulin indeed... So don't be worried about politely digging your heels in....

I'm sure that a lot of depression symptons are directly related to how our control is going... And I have on several occasions told my GP politely what to do with there suggestion of happy piles to help me cope :roll:

When you think about it, in most things in life we have a certain ability to change something if something you are doing is getting to you or you are finding difficult to sort, you can either drop and forget it... Or put it on the back burning until a time where you feel more up to dealing with it... But with diabetes you can't you have to face it every day the best you can, you can't run from it as it runs as fast as you can, you can't hide and put it on the back burner because it will demand your attention, even if you try to bury your head in the sand it will bit you on the bum....
And I'm not sure how happy pills are going to help part from making the bite a little less painfull !

So it's no wonder why we get down and/or depressed with it all
 
No I don't take the happy pills anymore and although I'm also suffering from tendonitus and frozen shoulder I am treating this with private physio lessons as I'm still on the waiting list for NHS treatment but it can't come soon enough. I'm constantly monitoring my BG's and eating healthy food as well as exercising (when I'm not in too much pain). The thing is the loss of feeling of hypos has scared me to bits. I am in two minds whether to mention it to my clinic as I'm afraid of being stopped from driving. Are there any cases of anyone out there who has lost their hypo feelings, mentioned it to the diabetic clinic and then been stopped from driving :?: I know it would be for the best for the public but mentally I'm not ready for this at all :( To lose all independence and self reliance is a very very scary prospect and I just hope and pray for some resolution :!: I have actually written a draft letter and have mentioned it in the letter. I'm hoping they will help me explore every option including animal insulin which I have requested in the letter, to see if I improve, only then should they ban me from driving I feel but don't know. :roll: I do sometimes feel my hypos but other times it just doesn't happen, like yesterday and a few days before. Even the times in between it is just a very very mild weak feeling in my legs which is barely unnoticable - but I do notice it. I have to be very vigilant with anticipation of when a hypo might occur and why. I'm considering getting some sort of monitor which measures the heartbeat as when a hypo occurs the heart beats rapidly so if I had a device that beeped or something when my heartbeat increased this would half the problem, help me recognise when I'm having a hypo and thus I can treat myself in time without having to worry about any possible seizures, coma or brain damage. Maybe I'll ask for that too from the clinic. Alternitavely if anyone knows of such a device.. let me know :?: :!:
 
Actually I saw this device on the film the Hulk :lol: Ok I ain't gonna turn into a big green monster but my heart beat would definitely increase when low... maybe I could invent the device myself and sell it worldwide... you know grab a few investors (just kidding) :!:

I've actually fully prepared my letter to the diabetic clinic (gulp :shock: ) :!: I can call them but I feel daft talking to an answer phone and the letter explains everything better anyhow. I mentioned about how my diabetes blood glucose levels have never been in control, about my anthralgic problems such as tendonitus and frozen shoulder along with other muscle aches. Also various other issues but stressing the most important which was the loss of feelings of hypos. I have mentioned the company Wockhardt that provides animal insulin and provided a link, along with a range of animal insulins, what they do and how long they last for. I've then asked to discuss in detail either before or during my next appointment on 20th December 2008. Nervous.... yes, optimistic... yes.... reluctant to send letter... no :!: So wish me luck :!: :)
 
I think that putting your concerns in writing will help a great deal.

They can't bypass it. It is a legal document (as far as your notes go). It gives them time to think about what they think about it.

They have to agree or come up with something better to fit your needs.

Since I don't think they are going to immediately give you an insulin pump and a continous blood glucose monitoring system, there is a good chance that they will agree.

Well done.

Now, if you haven't done it yet, stick it in a letter box!
 
Hi Katherine - it hasn't been printed yet :lol: but thanks for the encouragement as I need it. It's time for me to gain control and be brave and assertive. I am 29 years old so have plenty years in me yet. Therefore I'm not giving up so easily. I have recently found an article on loss of awareness of hypos and although posted it elsewhere on the forum I felt it was more apt to post it here also.

http://medweb.bham.ac.uk/easdec/prevention/hypos.htm

They say knowledge is power so knowing the above is quite handy also.
 
Good luck Rach babe - I'm sure you're doing the right thing in putting it all in writing. If you're concerned about the legality of the letter then if you send it recorded delivery (signed for service that costs about 70p extra) then it might help?

GOOD LUCK!

J/x
 
There's me having doubts again. However I've read this again and it's helped me make the definite decision to send it (also send it recorded thanks Jem) :!: :)
 
I had something similar. My DSN said because I had a period of tight control I needed to run high for a short period and my hypo awareness should return. It did.
 
Hi aphex2k. I'm very happy this worked for you and thank you for your advice. However unfortunately, with my case is I don't know what my BG is doing from one minute to the next. I have often been above 23mmol after a meal which no explanation, and eaten practically the same food another day to find my BG a perfect 6mmol :!: My BG was 10.1mmol this morning as is often high. So my problem is getting a good HBA1C sorted and to know what my BG is doing but at the same time regaining feeling in my hypos. I have read that if my diabetes has had high BG's for a while then I reduce them I can suffer from auto neuropathy which is when the body's warning system doesn't kick in after so many hypos and a long period of high BG because it is simply exhausted. I believe the key is finding a suitable insulin which reduces my hypos (which are sometimes almost twice daily) and reducing the post prandial spikes also which stops the extremely high BG's. I hope that I find a suitable insulin that will help me control the spikes in my BG levels and hopefully eventually I can start thinking about reducing my hypos, getting my feelings back and if necessary raising the BG to do this :|
 
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