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Hypo Info?

Patch

Patch

Well-Known Member
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2,981
Location
Bristol
Type of diabetes
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Insulin
I've recently read somewhere that as well as experiencing hypo symptoms at <4mmol/L, some people also experience pretty severe hypo symptoms with any significant drop in BG (ie - BG remains above 4mmol/L, but the person still experiences hypo symptoms).

This indicates that BG level at which hypos appear is relative (drop from a V. high BG to a normal/high BG, for example - 14mmol/l to 7mmol/L) AND absolute (below 4mmol/L).

Can anyone give me more info? Seems to me like it's the relative drop in BG that causes the hypo, and not the level that it drops to? I suppose this would also be dependant on how long the BG had been at a given level BEFORE the drop?
 
This sounds familiar but did not think it was a hypo at the time.

About 4 weeks ago I had a fasting Bg of 6.9 and post breaky bg of 8.6 so went for a walk, 2 hours later walking in the snow I felt really cold, shivery and couldn't concentrate on the conversation with friends. Did a bg and it was 4.4, had a chocolatey cereal bar and felt better in about 10 minutes. I assumed the post breaky reading had been wrong but was this a hypo??
 
Getting symptoms which indicate a 'hypo' (less than 4 mmol/l) does not always mean that you are experiencing a hypo. Only your meter will tell you if it is a genuine hypo or not. Warning signs can begin prior to this level......that is NOT a hypo just an indicator that you are near a hypo level.

If the level is much higher than 4 it is what is termed a 'false hypo' where because the body has been used to running at high level for some time when the Bg level drops a little lower the body thinks that something is wrong so starts to warn that it is dropping low, from it's 'normal' high level.

That is when you will get the warning signs of a hypo, the symptoms. Your meter will tell you that in fact it is NOT a hypo. The level could be 7, 8 10 etc. A real hypo is as defined....less than 4 mmol/l. The level it drops to would denote how severe it was and the treatment options.

There is a difference between having the symptoms and actually having a hypo......don't get the two confused as some people seem to do. I even saw one person who thinks a hypo begins only at much lower levels.......not very well informed is he. A positive danger if he drives at all !
 
Those that have been running higher than normal blood glucose for months or even years can get false hypo's much higher than 4mmol/l when control is suddenly tightened up, this is why the advice given to these people is to gradually reduce their bg over a period of weeks or even months.

Nigel
 
Thanks Cuglia and Noblehead I now understand :D

It's great what you learn from here, so much more than from the HCPs. :)
 
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