Type 1 Hypos and hunger?

Alex_B said:

I’ve been having a lot of hypos and I’ve noticed that I’m never hungry I never have had that symptom of hunger. I don’t know if this is normal and forgot to ask at my appointment. When I go into a hypoglycaemic episode I don’t want to eat, I just want to go to sleep and tend to push food away, my mum has just started giving me sugary drinks through a straw when I am hypo. We’ve resulted in using the hypo kit because I won’t eat to bring my sugars up. Is this normal? Should I speak to my DSNs about this?

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We're all different @Alex_B , I sometimes feel like I'm forcing myself to eat for a hypo which can be unpleasant. But hey, no harm in discussing issues with your diabetes specialist if you're worried about something.

Hi @Alex_B, I don't think there's such a thing as a normal hypo symptom, we're all different and will have different symptoms, they might even change from hypo to hypo. Sometimes I get hungry when I'm hypo, other times I feel sick and have to force myself to have something. I don't think you need to worry about not wanting to eat when hypo, sugary drinks are fine to use for hypo treatments and will absorb quicker than food anyway.
I would speak to your DSN about why you're having so many hypos and you could mention not wanting to eat to see if they have any tips to help.
When you say you used the hypo kit, do you mean a glucagon kit? I've never used a glucagon kit but I would be cautious of using it if you are conscious and physically able to treat your hypo with food or drink

Hi @Alex_B . I think you certainly do need to talk to your DSN. It sounds like your insulin-carb balance is a bit off if you are having frequent hypos, and you may need to adjust the ratios. I don't know how frequently you test your blood glucose, but if you can do it often enough you can see hypos approaching and take action before before they hit too hard.

I never like eating when I'm hypo. Which has its downsides: harder to get yourself to treat a hypo (I'm living alone, so if I don't do it nobody does), but also its upsides: very easy to not overtreat my hypo's and shoot way high.

I’m the complete opposite, I eat anything & everything when I’m low. Even food that I usually completely hate I’ll eat when I’m hypo. From what I can gather everyone’s different so I wouldn’t worry too much but definitely speak to your DSN.

One of the symptoms of RH is hunger and craving when my blood levels are not in normal levels.
It is a signal from your brain telling you to produce more glucose because of the threat of hypos. Your body will crave more, if you are having continuous hypos.
Before diagnosis I could and would eat a lot of rubbish trying to feel full. I didn't know why! All my life I have had a healthy appetite!!!

You do need to see you dsn. To get to grips with the hypos.

Keep safe.

Lamont D said:

One of the symptoms of RH is hunger and craving when my blood levels are not in normal levels.
It is a signal from your brain telling you to produce more glucose because of the threat of hypos. Your body will crave more, if you are having continuous hypos.
Before diagnosis I could and would eat a lot of rubbish trying to feel full. I didn't know why! All my life I have had a healthy appetite!!!

You do need to see you dsn. To get to grips with the hypos.

Keep safe.

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Problem is the OP isnt feeling hungry at all & doesn’t want to eat. So maybe isn’t get them signals?

Alex_B said:

I’ve been having a lot of hypos and I’ve noticed that I’m never hungry I never have had that symptom of hunger. I don’t know if this is normal and forgot to ask at my appointment. When I go into a hypoglycaemic episode I don’t want to eat, I just want to go to sleep and tend to push food away, my mum has just started giving me sugary drinks through a straw when I am hypo. We’ve resulted in using the hypo kit because I won’t eat to bring my sugars up. Is this normal? Should I speak to my DSNs about this?

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Back in my gliclazide days, a hypo made me combative. I'd not be hungry at all, and I'd flat-out refuse to eat, and be arguementative about it. So here's to knowing that about yourself. Have the person helping you remind you of this being a typical thing for you when you hypo, and maybe drink something instead of eating. Brings blood sugars up faster anyway. Hot chocolate in the winter, cool o.j. in the summer maybe... Know yourself, and know who you are when you hypo. It kinda helps snap you out of the mindset.

Alex_B said:

I’ve been having a lot of hypos and I’ve noticed that I’m never hungry I never have had that symptom of hunger. I don’t know if this is normal and forgot to ask at my appointment. When I go into a hypoglycaemic episode I don’t want to eat, I just want to go to sleep and tend to push food away, my mum has just started giving me sugary drinks through a straw when I am hypo. We’ve resulted in using the hypo kit because I won’t eat to bring my sugars up. Is this normal? Should I speak to my DSNs about this?

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Hi Alex.

I sometimes do not crave food when low/hypo. (Though I can eat.)
I have noticed the correlation with basal lows, as opposed to when fast acting insulin is on board?
However, waking in the night whilst low i can be ravenous. Wide awake & up for it. Takes a while to get back to sleep. (If at all.) But a morning low? (After a night's sleep. I can be a little slower off the mark grabbing something.
I normally don't do breakfast when my BGs are straight. Hypo wise, my primary survival function is to treat it.

Certainly worth speaking with your HCP regarding your issue.

Hunger definitely a symptom for me when having a hypo , but we are all different , I guess if we asked 100 people for a symptom of a hypo there would be a few common ones I guess but also quite a few not common ones , that’s just diabetes I guess. The main thing is get rid of the hypo how you do it is again individual to the individual, but have to agree with others sugary drinks seem to be quickest. Also try and find out the reason for your hypos , as stated by others ratios etc , plenty of blood testing will help , and maybe adjustment of insulin but deffo worth chatting to DSN to get to bottom of it.