Hypo

[dms100781]

Hi All

We are new parents to type 1 diabetes our Little girl is 8 and she has been diagnosed a week and a half. She has never had a hypo before she has always been high. We noticed she was getting more upset about little things before diagnosis and just put it down to her age. We have just had another round of her getting way to upset over things and getting in a state. I checked her blood and it is 4.7 could this be a sign of a hypo coming. It is so hard to know what is her condition or a kid being a kid.

Any advice would be great thanks.

Dave

 

[catapillar]

4.7 is not hypo. A hypo is anything under 4. But if she has been used to being high (pre diagnosis she was probably over 20 for a few weeks) then her body might be giving her hypo symptoms at normal numbers because it wrongly panics at these normal numbers and thinks they are too low. It wouldn't hurt to treat a hypo at 4.7, it's at the lower end of normal and you don't really want it going much lower so a 10g carb snack without a bolus (like a digestive biscuit or an oat cake) might be a good idea. Have you explained hypos to your daughter? Does she understand what the symptoms are? 8 might be a little young to be expecting her to pick up on her own hypos and if you notice a change in behaviour it's a good idea to test blood sugar to check for a hypo. It seems like this is a false hypo.

 

[dms100781]

Thanks for that I will give her something and see if it comes up a little.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Also be aware that if less than 5.0 and two-three hours after a bolus and eating then keep an eye out and initially you may wish to give a small snack..to just stave off going lower whilst levels are coming down during the day..

The peak time for bolus insulin for food to work is 2-3 hours afterwards. Have you been told to test 2-3 hours after injection & food?

I personally have had a small snack if at levels of 5.0 2-3 hours after eating as I know my levels will continue to drop lower...

It will be a tough time to recognise hypo's as parents because children do naturally behave upset at times anyway...
Its tough for parents.. but wishing you all well.xx

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @dms100781 ,

I hope all is well with your daughter.
The issue with lows detected (even at 4.7.) is you never know if it will take a further down turn or sit happily where it is?
Your daughter being newly diagnosed may also have the "honeymoon" to also contend with..?

The state of mind during a low is a little like walking into a room & forgetting why? So a normal routine like the bustling of family life in that moment may seem like astrophysics.. Especially to an 8 year old.

I was diagnosed at that precise age & was taught to pick up on the lows.. Which stood me in good stead.
Back in my day. It was "if you feel funny?" I managed to define what the HCPs actually meant at the time. There are the "text book" symptoms, then there are how a low effects us individually..

I'm in the camp that feels the sooner the hypo awair, the better.

Regards,

J>

 

[phdiabetic]

Hi All

We are new parents to type 1 diabetes our Little girl is 8 and she has been diagnosed a week and a half. She has never had a hypo before she has always been high. We noticed she was getting more upset about little things before diagnosis and just put it down to her age. We have just had another round of her getting way to upset over things and getting in a state. I checked her blood and it is 4.7 could this be a sign of a hypo coming. It is so hard to know what is her condition or a kid being a kid.

Any advice would be great thanks.

Dave

I usually have a little snack in the 4's (depends on the trend but try maybe 10g carbs). If you don't have a snack, and are worried about later hypos, then check her blood sugar 15min later to see what has happened.

 

[dms100781]

Thanks for all the advice we are just so new to it all and everything is worrying us. She has had a couple of Hypos today at around 3.2 just before dinner and tea so looks like we might need to up Carb ratios for breakfast and dinner. Will see what happens tomorrow. We have tried to get out of her how she has been feeling when she was hypo but all she says is she feels sick, or more sick she says she feels sick all the time.

Thanks

 

[donnellysdogs]

Thanks for all the advice we are just so new to it all and everything is worrying us. She has had a couple of Hypos today at around 3.2 just before dinner and tea so looks like we might need to up Carb ratios for breakfast and dinner. Will see what happens tomorrow. We have tried to get out of her how she has been feeling when she was hypo but all she says is she feels sick, or more sick she says she feels sick all the time.

Thanks

If hypo before meals... (does daughter eat in betwween meals?)... then dont assume its needing to up the carb ratios... if 5 clear hours between bolus with meals... and going low its more than likely to be the background insulin.

I know it may be difficult to get 5 clear hours between having meals, so this is why I'm just questioning it.

Are you checking 2 hours after a meal? That is imoortant too for making decisions.