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Hypo

F

Fish37

Member
Messages
13
Type of diabetes
Type 1
hi

I have been a type 1 diabetic for 20 plus years, my care has usually been with my GP. Earlier this year I decided that I wanted to make sure I was on the correct dosage of insulin and that I was getting my diabetes under the best control possible etc so my GP referred me to the diabetic consultant. I had my appointment this week and within 30 minutes of meeting the consultant he determined that I has lost my hypo awareness,
 
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Sorry thread was cut short - he said that I had lost my hypo awareness as when I asked how I recognise a hypo I replied that I could not explain it in words but that I felt different to how I normally feel and that I get sweats when I am low at about 2-3. I test throughout the day and when I feel different it prompts me to take a reading, I also carry a fast acting carb with me like Gluco tabs, and I always manage to get my levels back up so how am I hypo unaware. I don't often have lows maybe 6-8 a month and never need to help of others. When I told family members what he had suggested after meeting me for less than 30 minutes they were quiet surprised as they had often witness me checking my bloods when feeling low and taking action to rectify the situation, has anyone been in this situation?
I'm thinking of getting a second opinion
 
Hi @Fish37 ,

Welcome to the forum.

Have you ever needed 3rd party assistance regarding your lows? (You've always caught & delt with them yourself.)

Tagging in @catapillar , she has experience of this..
 
If you can feel low, then you are hypo aware. I would suggest you just need to figure out how to articulate this a bit better. What actually are you hypo symptoms? Do you feel low at 4, or does it need to be 2-3 for you to get symptoms?

DVLA doesn't want people who are hypo unaware driving. Were you given any advice on this from the consultant? If you dispute the conclusion of hypo unawareness then, for licence protection purposes, it probably is worth putting that in writing to the consultant. But, as stated you need to have a think about how to articulate you hypo awareness, are you always aware of blood sugars dropping, do you always get symptoms?
 
Fish37 said:
Hi

No I've never had the help from someone else always manage myself
Click to expand...

It almost sounds like the consultant was expecting a "stock answer" to his question, then evaluated on that..?

For instance, the first thing I notice in the mid/low fours is my eyes (like a HUD.) light sensitivity, colour blindness.
Then mentally the feeling of walking into a "room" & forgetting why...
I even wake in the night.. This is still after 41 years of insulin use.. Like you, I've never needed help.

So I have no idea how your doc would interpret my description..
 
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No I'm not a very articulate person and I feel that because I didn't reel of the usual symptoms dizziness,nausea etc he has come to the opinion that I don't recognise a hypo. It's hard to say what I feel it's just that I feel different and it prompts me to test. sometimes I do notice that my vision changes slightly. As I drive I closely monitor my blood levels and when I feel different I take my blood and it shows that I'm usually looking at a 3-4 reading if I am a bit slow at sorting myself out I will get the sweats or feel suddenly feel tired or start to yawn. Usually it's activity that brings it on today I was cutting the garden and came in to test my blood and get a cup of tea and biscuits as you know you are not right, I tested my blood and it was 3.1. With regard to driving he said I should not drive if I am below 7 which is not DVLA guidelines. It's had upset me a lot as I only went there to make sure i am getting the right help and then he comes out with this.
 
Fish37 said:
No I'm not a very articulate person and I feel that because I didn't reel of the usual symptoms dizziness,nausea etc he has come to the opinion that I don't recognise a hypo. It's hard to say what I feel it's just that I feel different and it prompts me to test. sometimes I do notice that my vision changes slightly. As I drive I closely monitor my blood levels and when I feel different I take my blood and it shows that I'm usually looking at a 3-4 reading if I am a bit slow at sorting myself out I will get the sweats or feel suddenly feel tired or start to yawn. Usually it's activity that brings it on today I was cutting the garden and came in to test my blood and get a cup of tea and biscuits as you know you are not right, I tested my blood and it was 3.1. With regard to driving he said I should not drive if I am below 7 which is not DVLA guidelines. It's had upset me a lot as I only went there to make sure i am getting the right help and then he comes out with this.
Click to expand...

"Five to drive." Is indeed the DVLA guidelines. So you were misinformed. Some do use 6mmol as a "buffer zone when driving. (But that's down to personal choice.)

It doesn't sound like you were "advised" not to drive?

To be fair to you Fish, you have a clean history of not "passing out" & waking to a "blue flashing light."
You can also identify when your low. The box ticking on a DVLA licence renewal form is in your favour. ;)
 
Thanks for all the replies and advice it's all very confusing when the doctor says I believe you have lost hypo awareness but in the next breath says you can drive as long as you don't go below 7 seems conflicting advice
 
Fish37 said:
Thanks for all the replies and advice it's all very confusing when the doctor says I believe you have lost hypo awareness but in the next breath says you can drive as long as you don't go below 7 seems conflicting advice
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Hey! You consultant may also feel he can also drive home "safely" just on the alcohol limit of 80 milligrammes, per 100 millilitres of blood?!?

It's great you are taking the opportunity with your HCPs to tweak your diabetes managment.
Don't let one "downer" comment put you off ... :)
 
The hospitals like awareness to be in the 3-4's not 2-3's..... so this may be whu consultant deems it that you have lost awareness.

Yes, 5 to drive has been my motto since a hypo whilst driving in 2010. And that is the guidelines.

I also use "4 and on the floor" as my guideline too. Just in my brain to steer it towards dealing with levels before they go under 4.0. Ie have I got insukin on board, should I have a snack etc...
 
I do get awareness at 4 as I get a feeling, body feels different but sometimes I don't get the sweats until 3's and by this time I am in the process of taking action to get levels back up. I have a cupboard full of snacks to get me back up, a car full of Gluco tabs so I am prepared I think because I didn't get this across in the correct way he's of the opinion I've lost awareness. I've never had a fit or gone into convulsions as I'm always aware and well prepared to keep myself and others safe, just got to get it across when I see him next
 
If your awareness has dropped to 2-3 ratger than 3-4 range consuktant may just be concerned that you are less able to recognise it because tgey like to see awareness in 3-4 range.
They may just be concerned that it does impair driving abilities etc and that if you were
(Like me) driving but impaired but had pulled off the road and was treating... but person behind in car calked police and ambulance and I had hell to keep my licence.... the Consuktant day after incident ;first time of seeing him shouted at me and told me I deserved to lose licence for 1-2 years!! It was my first appt at that hospital and I was taken away by a lovely nurse who turned my life around for me with kindness and help. I never saw that consuktant ever again. I had a different consultant back me up to keep licence as I had pulled off and was helping myself and had not caused an accident....
However that person behind me knew my driving was impaired....

So take on board what consultant says as they dont really like 6-8 hypos a month either.....
 
That's why I asked to be referred to the consultant to sort out lows make sure I am in the correct medication etc . I can understand if I was someone in denial and was trying to keep my licence by lying, I could of just given the a text book answer yes I get dizziness and sweats straight away then all would of been ok and there would be no need for me to look on this forum. Now he will probably want to work with me to reset the hypo awareness which is a complete waste of time as there's nothing to reset. Everyone deals and feels differently with their diabetes what works for one person might not for another same goes for the symptoms of a hypo .
 
Fish37 said:
I do get awareness at 4 as I get a feeling, body feels different but sometimes I don't get the sweats until 3's and by this time I am in the process of taking action to get levels back up. I have a cupboard full of snacks to get me back up, a car full of Gluco tabs so I am prepared I think because I didn't get this across in the correct way he's of the opinion I've lost awareness. I've never had a fit or gone into convulsions as I'm always aware and well prepared to keep myself and others safe, just got to get it across when I see him next
Click to expand...

I get you Fish.. Your average HCP has unfortunately the "stereotypical" Steel magnolia (movie.) hypo in mind when looking for an answer to the question.. That's the cognitive reacting a little too late to the bodies extreme physical response..
I once had to treat a 3.8 in front of a DSN. "Oh," she said. "I didn't realize you were hypo?!" But I did...

In reality "getting a feeling" (or "that" feeling in the fours. ) is a good answer regardless of how lost for words you are in description?
The brain & the eyes are pretty much the first organs to wave the "white flag." If you can function to treat?

Don't ever lose touch with your individual "alarm." :)
 
Hi all went to see consultant today no change in opinion... going to see private specialist next week. I'm sure he said to me that shaking, trembling etc is not a early sign of a hypo????
 
No, shaking and trembling arent classed as early signs of hypo... early signs are wanting to eat, feeling need to test, headache and before the signs of shaking/trembling.... by the points you are describing the severity has gone beyond the point of early recognition.

I never think in my brain "you are hypo"... but I always think "you need to test or need to eat" which I dont feel at any other time.
I have no hunger ever so this is a sign although at the time it doesnt translate in my head to "you're hypo".

You may be having earlier triggers that you arent actually recognising as "I'm hypo"... you may have got used to these specific thought or brain triggers.

Getting to shaky stage isnt deemed as early hypo awareness. Eapecially if you drive.
 
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