Hypos

[Sarah69]

I have had 5 hypos last week and 2 so far this week. My blood sugar level hasnt gone below 4. Some of the times ive not been able to test as ive been out or its been too early in the morning. I spoke to my diabetic nurse this week and she said they werent hypos as my sugar level wasnt below 3. I felt sweaty, shaky, my heart was racing, i felt weak. If this isnt a hypo wat is it and wat should i do about it. Ive had to eat chocolate to make me feel better. Any ideas?

 

[cugila]

I have had 5 hypos last week and 2 so far this week. My blood sugar level hasnt gone below 4. Some of the times ive not been able to test as ive been out or its been too early in the morning. I spoke to my diabetic nurse this week and she said they werent hypos as my sugar level wasnt below 3. I felt sweaty, shaky, my heart was racing, i felt weak. If this isnt a hypo wat is it and wat should i do about it. Ive had to eat chocolate to make me feel better. Any ideas?

Frankly......your Nurse doesn't know what she is talking about ! Anything below 4 mmol/l is a hypo. No ifs, ands or buts.....a hypo. The symptoms you describe are exactly what hypo symptoms are as listed in any medical textbook or info on the web. If that was your Bg level, 3 mmol/l then it was a hypo. If your levels were at all a little higher above 4 mmol/l then it is the signal, which your body is sending out to tell you that your Bg levels are getting too low.......hypo awareness, which is a good thing.

You should always test whenever you get these feelings, whatever time or place it is. Keep your kit with you at all times.

As for treating a hypo, it is fast acting carbs such as GlucoTabs or Lucozade, Jelly Babies etc that you use. Take say 3-4 Glucotabs then test about 15 mins later, if the levels have gone up then eat a small carby snack to stabilise the levels. That's when the Choc Bar comes in useful. If they haven't risen then repeat the Glucotab process until the levels are nearer normal.......then the snack. A chocolate bar is NOT a suitable method for treating a hypo initially, you need fast acting carbs.

So, 4 mmol/l is the floor as they say, NOT 3, that is firmly in hypo territory.

Ken

 

[Sue Morton]

On sunday I started to feel shakey and light headed my hands were literally shaking and so had a packet of crisp and took my BS which was 5.3 not a usual reading for me usually 6.6 to 7.1. I have done this before and its been 4.4 or 5.0 5.3 isn't hypo but I do find if I have dropped below 6.0 I don't feel so well why is that?

Sue :?:

 

[Hobs]

I have had 5 hypos last week and 2 so far this week. My blood sugar level hasnt gone below 4. Some of the times ive not been able to test as ive been out or its been too early in the morning. I spoke to my diabetic nurse this week and she said they werent hypos as my sugar level wasnt below 3. I felt sweaty, shaky, my heart was racing, i felt weak. If this isnt a hypo wat is it and wat should i do about it. Ive had to eat chocolate to make me feel better. Any ideas?

I presume that 4 result was from a home testing meter, which means the actual result could be below 4 when taking into account it only has to be within 10% either way from a fixed reference point when accuracy is concerned.
A commercially available low cost or free meter should only be used as a guide and not taken as accurate at each test.
Personally I would consider 4.5 or less on my meter on the threshold of a hypo and do something about it, but that is just the way I am with my diabetes and should not be treated as advice.
Also remember to check your meter regularly with the control solution to make sure is is working within designed limits as a static electric discharge ( carpets etc) can knock it out of calibration.