• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Hypo

S

susansteven

Member
Hi
I have be3n on insulin for 3 months as a type 2.
I have had 3 hypos so far, all when I have been out walking. Today was the worst experience...my glucose figure was 7.9 before breakfast, I took 18 units of insulin and had porridge at 8.30am, at 10.30 I went for a walk, I usually feel dizzy and walking to the side when my sugers are going down, then my head started to pound like a heart beat, I was sweating, then I lost all energy in my legs i could hardly walk, I felt really poorly, I forgot my monitor but I had jelly babies with me, I had 5 but still had no energy, I took another 10 and gradually I could start to walk again, this was a 20 min experience, I was really scared, more so because the person I was with said it was all in my head and continued to walk on....I no longer feel safe if I am not going to be supported. Sorry to say this but I just need some support right now.
Has anyone else had a hypo like this?
 
susansteven said:
Hi
I have be3n on insulin for 3 months as a type 2.
I have had 3 hypos so far, all when I have been out walking. Today was the worst experience...my glucose figure was 7.9 before breakfast, I took 18 units of insulin and had porridge at 8.30am, at 10.30 I went for a walk, I usually feel dizzy and walking to the side when my sugers are going down, then my head started to pound like a heart beat, I was sweating, then I lost all energy in my legs i could hardly walk, I felt really poorly, I forgot my monitor but I had jelly babies with me, I had 5 but still had no energy, I took another 10 and gradually I could start to walk again, this was a 20 min experience, I was really scared, more so because the person I was with said it was all in my head and continued to walk on....I no longer feel safe if I am not going to be supported. Sorry to say this but I just need some support right now.
Has anyone else had a hypo like this?
Click to expand...
If insulin is part of the treatment, then very many diabetics will at some stage have experienced something very similar. Even if you feel anxious because you think you have over-compensated, it was the best thing to do in the circumstances. I'm not impressed by the irresponsibility of your companion!
The 20 minute wait is usual. I found fruit juice in particular operated faster than anything. I am not in a position to give advice on treatment as that is solely for your diabetes team. I hope, especialy with modern technology, that you will soon gain confidence and independence. Good luck!
 
susansteven said:
I forgot my monitor but I had jelly babies with me... I was really scared, more so because the person I was with said it was all in my head and continued to walk on...
Click to expand...
Since your on insulin always take your blood glucose meter with you and fast acting carbs. As you have found generally people don't understand what you go through with a hypo ... and don't know what to do to help you if needed :(
 
susansteven said:
I was really scared, more so because the person I was with said it was all in my head and continued to walk on....I no longer feel safe if I am not going to be supported. Sorry to say this but I just need some support right now.
Has anyone else had a hypo like this?
Click to expand...
Yes, I've had hypos like this.
I have no problems with mild hypos, it's treat and get on doing whatever it was what I was doing, but the nastier ones have the side effect that I feel all doom and gloom, and it's very hard to tell myself that this is the hypo talking and not really how I feel.

If it would happen when I didn't have my meter on me it would be that much more scary: for me, the doom and gloom feeling (and other hypo symptoms) linger a bit after my meter tells me I'm in the safe zone again.
With my meter telling me I'm rising, it's much easier to override the panicky feelings, knowing things will be much better in just a couple of minutes.

The person you were with could use some education: a hypo is a medical emergency, and dangerous if not immediately treated.
 
Hi @susansteven

After 53 years of T1 I have had a lot of hypos, some ambulance inducing. So I too am shocked by the "friend" who abandoned you. (I have had my life saved by friends who have supported me when I was too hypo to make sensible decisions about treatment.)

Unfortunately if your blood sugar goes low enough your brain is being starved of fuel, and confusion (and hence inability to treat) can arise. Luckily most people have good hypo awareness so can scoff down glucose (or equivalent) before they get too confused to do so. Carrying some form of sugar with you at all times is in my opinion essential for insulin users. I have had periods of poor hypo awareness (hence the ambulance calls) but not recently, probably because I know wear a cgm which warns me before my blood sugar gets too low (eg at 4.4). You could try asking your clinic whether you could have one because you are worried about hypos? (They aren't yet mandatory for T2 insulin users in the UK, unfortunately).

Yes, hypos can be scary. No, they don't have to stop you from living your life but I would recommend educating your friends/family so they know what to do should you have one. (My husband waits for 15 minutes on a walk, while my bg goes up).

As @Antje77 said, a hypo can be a medical emergency.

Lots of virtual hugs.
 
@susansteven so sorry you had this experience. Not at all pleasant.
Can I suggest you get yourself some sort of bag/container that you keep all diabetic stuff in stocked up and ready to go at the drop of a hat. I long ago put all daily diabetes stuff in a pink childrens lunch bag. It goes downstairs at the start of the day to sit in the same place in the kitchen, and back up to my bedside at night. It can be grabbed to go in my small backpack as I leave the house. And even sits at the side of the pool when I swim. All staff know whose it is.
 
Thank you everyone for your support, I suppose I became complacent as I usually carry my kit everywhere, but as it was a dog walk I thought I was fine. I think I know why different, I usually walk straight after breakfast yesterday I couldn't go until half ten, so time difference from eating and taking insulin.

Not sure how to educate, as the person has to want to listen rather than thinking its all in my head
 
susansteven said:
Thank you everyone for your support, I suppose I became complacent as I usually carry my kit everywhere, but as it was a dog walk I thought I was fine. I think I know why different, I usually walk straight after breakfast yesterday I couldn't go until half ten, so time difference from eating and taking insulin.

Not sure how to educate, as the person has to want to listen rather than thinking its all in my head
Click to expand...
Tell them that if you slip into a coma right in front of them, not to worry as it's all in your head anyway. Sheesh... I am so sorry they're so unsupportive.

Always have your kit with you, but you've already figured that out. As for educating others, well... If they so thoroughly don't care, that basically means they don't quite care about whether you live or die. Is this someone you need in your life? I know, it's rigorous.... But I really wanted to kick them for putting you down and gaslighting, when you were in dire need of help. I'm SO sorry you went through that!

Big hugs, and I hope the next time you need assistance, it's quickly and lovingly given!
Jo
 
If you know you're going to do some exercise, it would be worth reducing your bolus dose for the meal immediately beforehand. Exactly how much is very much dependant on you and what exercise you're doing though, so some experimentation required I'm afraid.

Personally I'd knock off between 1/3 and 1/2 of the dose if I'm not going for long (hour or two), or I'd skip the dose completely if I'll be out for a while. YMMV.
 
susansteven said:
Hi thank you for your comment but I am only on long lasting insulin, once before breakfast and once before evening meal
Click to expand...
Ah, apologies, I did think it was quite a lot of insulin for a bolus. FWIW I also reduce my basal (long lasting) insulin if I'm going to be doing lots of exercise, though working out quite how much to reduce it by and which doses (I also inject my basal insulin twice a day) is an ongoing experiment.
 
Hi again I have a further question, since I had my hypo on Tuesday I have not felt well at all.
Today I had porridge for breakfast, I felt a bit shaky at 11am and had a carb snack, I started to feel shaky and bad headache about 11.45am, I took bloods at 12 and they were 4.6......has anyone else had hypo symptoms at this level?

Many thanks
 
There are a few things that may be happening
- when we have one hypo, we seem to be more likely to hypo again within the next 24 to 48 hours
- if our blood sugar levels fall fast, we can get hypo symptoms at higher levels
- if you are not used to lower levels, it could be a false hypo
- our meters are not 100% accurate. You may be 15% lower than it says. Or you may have had something on your hands.
- or it may have been something else. Sometimes it is easy to blame everything on diabetes.
 
Back
Top