I Had A Hypo Last Night!

[AmandaAnne]

Hello all,

Well I have diabetes 2, treated with Metformin at 2000mgs per day.

Last week I had a sudden spike, right up to 23.6, before food.

I have since managed to get it back under control, or, so I thought!

I have just started a weight reduction diet too.

Last night I was feeling wobbly, decided it was time for bed, went into the bathroom to clean my teeth and suddenly it felt just like I was floating away to somewhere else! I had to grab my basin to steady myself, feeling really rough, I tested, my device starting sounding the alarm very loudly, and when I looked, I was petrified to see that I was only at 2.3!

To cut a long story short, rang the 111 number, as I just didn't know what to do, having never had a hypo in 8 years of being diabetic, they got me to drink a cup of tea with a desert spoonful of sugar in it, then a paramedic arrived. She testes me and I was back up to 7.4 due to the sugary tea.

The paramedic thinks that it's my weight reducing diet that's triggered this, she said I probably hadn't eating enough carbs to keep my levels stabilised, she got me to eat some toast too.

Yesterday I had eaten, low fat yoghurt with a few cherries which was breakfast/lunch, in the evening I had a bowl of chicken soup with 2 small slices of wholemeal toast, which was buttered, later I ate some mixed berries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

I would be ever so grateful if people could let me know their feelings on why, or how, this happened last night, as I really just don't understand it, what did I do wrong?

 

[mo1905]

Hi Amanda, sounds scary ! A 2.3 is very low and to be honest, not sure why this happened as Metformin is not a drug that lowers BG levels. Hopefully it was a one-off and won't happen again. If it does, a good hypo treatment would be regular Coke, Lucozade, Dextrose tablets or similar.

 

[Brunneria]

@Scandichic had a similar incident recently, complete with paramedic intervention.

She found it was because, with a low carb diet, she was on too high a dose of metformin.

I think it is a nonsense to eat more carbs to balance medication, when the simplest long term answer is to reduce the unnecessary medication!

But, as an on-the-spot solution you did exactly the right thing. Perhaps as a long term solution you may find reducing medication helps, plus eating slower release foods (proteins and fats with increased fibre) to avoid future hypos.

 

[ally1]

hope you are ok now

 

[Scandichic]

Hello all,

Well I have diabetes 2, treated with Metformin at 2000mgs per day.

Last week I had a sudden spike, right up to 23.6, before food.

I have since managed to get it back under control, or, so I thought!

I have just started a weight reduction diet too.

Last night I was feeling wobbly, decided it was time for bed, went into the bathroom to clean my teeth and suddenly it felt just like I was floating away to somewhere else! I had to grab my basin to steady myself, feeling really rough, I tested, my device starting sounding the alarm very loudly, and when I looked, I was petrified to see that I was only at 2.3!

To cut a long story short, rang the 111 number, as I just didn't know what to do, having never had a hypo in 8 years of being diabetic, they got me to drink a cup of tea with a desert spoonful of sugar in it, then a paramedic arrived. She testes me and I was back up to 7.4 due to the sugary tea.

The paramedic thinks that it's my weight reducing diet that's triggered this, she said I probably hadn't eating enough carbs to keep my levels stabilised, she got me to eat some toast too.

Yesterday I had eaten, low fat yoghurt with a few cherries which was breakfast/lunch, in the evening I had a bowl of chicken soup with 2 small slices of wholemeal toast, which was buttered, later I ate some mixed berries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

I would be ever so grateful if people could let me know their feelings on why, or how, this happened last night, as I really just don't understand it, what did I do wrong?

Sorry but your paramedic sounds rubbish. Same deal for me. If you talk to doc or chemist and get them to reduce your metformin. It wasn't till I had a hypo that something got done. The hospital wanted to stop my met, my doc didn't. Got a fab chemist and he reduced my met from 3 tablets to one per day. I think you should speak to doc and look at reducing the met. The doc will probably not want you to eat low carb. Mine didn't but then I found one in the same practise who thinks m doing the right thing. Good luck!

 

[Scandichic]

Hi Amanda, sounds scary ! A 2.3 is very low and to be honest, not sure why this happened as Metformin is not a drug that lowers BG levels. Hopefully it was a one-off and won't happen again. If it does, a good hypo treatment would be regular Coke, Lucozade, Dextrose tablets or similar.

A tsp of honey works very quickly too if you're at home and have some in the house!

 

[RosieLKH]

The same thing happened to me recently. I couldn't believe how scary it was. It was late at night and I was on my own in the house. I never even thought of ringing 111, so well done you for doing that. I know for me it was because I'd had my last meal of the day a lot earlier than I normally would, and as, like you, I'm trying to lose weight, I was keeping carbs and cals low.

It made me realise that this had happened before to me, but during the night while I was asleep and was woken by palpitations and feeling rough, but being half asleep never put two and two together.

I talked to my diabetic nurse about it and then reduced my Gliclazide by one tablet (I had been put up to 3), but I kept my Metformin the same. I don't know how either drug works exactly, but it is probably a good idea to discuss what happened with your DN or GP, tell them you're dieting and see if they think just taking the meds down a tad will help.

It shook me up, and I now have just a little something later in the evening to keep my BS up through the night.

Hope you sort it out and keep yourself hypo free.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hello all,

Well I have diabetes 2, treated with Metformin at 2000mgs per day.

Last week I had a sudden spike, right up to 23.6, before food.

I have since managed to get it back under control, or, so I thought!

I have just started a weight reduction diet too.

Last night I was feeling wobbly, decided it was time for bed, went into the bathroom to clean my teeth and suddenly it felt just like I was floating away to somewhere else! I had to grab my basin to steady myself, feeling really rough, I tested, my device starting sounding the alarm very loudly, and when I looked, I was petrified to see that I was only at 2.3!

To cut a long story short, rang the 111 number, as I just didn't know what to do, having never had a hypo in 8 years of being diabetic, they got me to drink a cup of tea with a desert spoonful of sugar in it, then a paramedic arrived. She testes me and I was back up to 7.4 due to the sugary tea.

The paramedic thinks that it's my weight reducing diet that's triggered this, she said I probably hadn't eating enough carbs to keep my levels stabilised, she got me to eat some toast too.

Yesterday I had eaten, low fat yoghurt with a few cherries which was breakfast/lunch, in the evening I had a bowl of chicken soup with 2 small slices of wholemeal toast, which was buttered, later I ate some mixed berries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

I would be ever so grateful if people could let me know their feelings on why, or how, this happened last night, as I really just don't understand it, what did I do wrong?

Hi AA,

Good suggestions from others and I would like to add that you might find it better to eat three meals a day. Looking at your food intake, there wasn't a lot there, no veggies and not much protein.
Hope you are feeling better today.

 

[AndBreathe]

@AmandaAnne - The other have given their views on treating your hypo, so I'll bow to their greater knowledge and experience there. 2.3 is indeed a scarily low figure.

However, looking at what you had eaten during the day, I reckon that's only 500-600 calories, which doesn't seem a lot to maintain your stated body weight. (I agree the Newcastle Diet is around that number of calories.). Perhaps you need to rethink how and when you are taking in your nourishment? I'm also curious about the sudden 23.6 preprandial reading. Do you retest these extremes of high/low?

Please don't think I think they're wrong, but a hand wash and retest always makes sense, if the reading is way off expectations.

In your shoes, I would up my testing for a few days, to see what's really happening to your blood scores throughout the day, then if you can't see any patterns or potential causes you can address by sense and logic, see the doc or nurse to discuss it further.

I can't see on any of your information how long you have been diagnosed, or of the medication you are currently on is where you started, or if you have progressed to there? Your other medical problems could also be impacting; and I can appreciate you don't necessarily want to tell everyone everything, but if you have thyroid or other endocrine/hormone related issues, they could be muddying the waters.

Sorry for war and peace, but my enquiring mind always starts with more questions than answers.

 

[2131tom]

If it helps, a week after I began the Newcastle diet in mid-May I suddenly had a fit of the 'wobbles' after I'd foolishly failed to eat anything for quite a few hours, finding I couldn't walk without staggering from one side to the other. I did a test (and re-test) and found I was reading 3.9, which is the lowest I'd ever been, by far. I guzzled a couple of chocolate biscuits which brought me back up OK.

I appreciate that was nothing like a scary as your experience, nor was the level anywhere near as low, but I've not had the same problem since, even though I'm still on the weight reduction diet. My BG levels have all gone down significantly over the period but they're now much more consistent and there's far less fluctuation. I regularly get levels in the low 4's, without feeling any ill effects, even though (again, foolishly) I sometimes don't eat when I should.

That makes me wonder if what I'd experienced, albeit mainly in response to my not having eaten) was more a reaction to my suddenly drastically reducing my calories, rather than something I'd have to come to expect on a regular basis.

 

[annelise]

AmandaAnne

"They" tell us that as a T2 you will not get a hypy (too low glucose) because the liver will kick in and provide glucose.

But as a T2 I have experienced several hypos (i.e. when I find myself on the floor without knowing why) – and on other occasions.
I now always carry glucose tablets in my purse – have also placed them around my house in strategical and easily accesible places.

My personal rules now are:
- to never leave my house without proper hydration or bringing water with me
- to always bring glucose tablets with me
- to always take my phone with me

I had a recent experience when taking a walk where I must have gone very low – didn't follow the above rules – so felt quite helpless. But a kind lady who took me under her arms to a commodity store so that I could buy a 'sugary' drink …

annelise

 

[AmandaAnne]

Many thanks to all for your helpful advice, it's much appreciated and I will take it on board.

@AndBreathe thank you. It's okay I don't mind any questions so no worries there.

I've been diabetic for 8 years, have only ever been on Metformin at 2000mgs per day, that was from the off.

I've been lucky that in the most of those 8 years I've had no problems at all, my HBA1C results have always been quite stable and well withing the "good" range. However, during this past couple of years things have started to change. My HBA1C results seem to be going up by 2 counts every time I'm tested, which is every 6 Months, but my doctor, the diabetic doctor at our surgery says he's not too worried right now as I'm still within the "allowed" levels.

Last week, for no apparent reason, I started feeling really unwell, was sweating, felt sick, my eyes started blurring and I felt week and shaky. I have to say that I don't normally test, but I just thought that I would check and was horrified to see that my level was 23.6. I immediately rang the diabetic nurse for advise, she spoke with the doctor and rang me back, the doctor said that he didn't want to just rush in with more medication without having a look at my HBA1C so that he could see the overall picture. So I'm having that blood test tomorrow.

I obviously wanted to get my diabetes back under control quickly, and bearing in mind that I weighed 17st 5 1/4 lbs, I thought it probably had a lot to do with my weight so I decided to start on a weight reducing diet too.

I have weighed myself today, and I have already lost 5 1/4 in this past week. Maybe that's too much to loose in a week??

My machine is working fine, it's actually brand new too, and I did test and re test with the same results.

The other conditions that I have are Pernicious Anemia, (apparently caused by the Metformin!) and I have to have a B12 shot every 3 Months for that, I'm up to date with my shots and apparently my B12 levels are now good.

I have complex migraines too, that cause me to go numb and tingly and off balance, but I'm not on any medication for that as I don't feel that I need it.

I have a restricted and leaking aortic valve, my heart is having a little struggle because of this, but nothing that needs treatment yet, the aortic valve will have to be replaced at some point as symptoms become worse, but, touch wood, all is ok right now.

I also suffer from depression and anxiety, not connected to the diabetes as I've had it for most of my adult life.

I guess I really need some advice re my diet as I'm just stabbing around in the dark right now trying to get it right.

I do think the paramedic was right though, in that I probably just hadn't had enough to eat yesterday and that's what caused it.

To be perfectly honest with you though, this is really my fault, I've not been a "good" diabetic, I was right at the beginning, but with the depression I can easily, and often do, fall off the wagon and go in the complete wrong direction! I use food as a comfort thing which makes it all much worse, cos it's naughty, unhealthy stuff that I like and eat.

Now I have to try and put things right, which I'm determined to do, it's just I have no idea really what I'm doing.

I'm just so glad that I found you all here and this site, I've found it so helpful and people so kind and supportive, I'm learning a lot but I guess I still have a long way to go yet.

Once again, many thanks to you all.

 

[Scandichic]

Many thanks to all for your helpful advice, it's much appreciated and I will take it on board.

@AndBreathe thank you. It's okay I don't mind any questions so no worries there.

I've been diabetic for 8 years, have only ever been on Metformin at 2000mgs per day, that was from the off.

I've been lucky that in the most of those 8 years I've had no problems at all, my HBA1C results have always been quite stable and well withing the "good" range. However, during this past couple of years things have started to change. My HBA1C results seem to be going up by 2 counts every time I'm tested, which is every 6 Months, but my doctor, the diabetic doctor at our surgery says he's not too worried right now as I'm still within the "allowed" levels.

Last week, for no apparent reason, I started feeling really unwell, was sweating, felt sick, my eyes started blurring and I felt week and shaky. I have to say that I don't normally test, but I just thought that I would check and was horrified to see that my level was 23.6. I immediately rang the diabetic nurse for advise, she spoke with the doctor and rang me back, the doctor said that he didn't want to just rush in with more medication without having a look at my HBA1C so that he could see the overall picture. So I'm having that blood test tomorrow.

I obviously wanted to get my diabetes back under control quickly, and bearing in mind that I weighed 17st 5 1/4 lbs, I thought it probably had a lot to do with my weight so I decided to start on a weight reducing diet too.

I have weighed myself today, and I have already lost 5 1/4 in this past week. Maybe that's too much to loose in a week??

My machine is working fine, it's actually brand new too, and I did test and re test with the same results.

The other conditions that I have are Pernicious Anemia, (apparently caused by the Metformin!) and I have to have a B12 shot every 3 Months for that, I'm up to date with my shots and apparently my B12 levels are now good.

I have complex migraines too, that cause me to go numb and tingly and off balance, but I'm not on any medication for that as I don't feel that I need it.

I have a restricted and leaking aortic valve, my heart is having a little struggle because of this, but nothing that needs treatment yet, the aortic valve will have to be replaced at some point as symptoms become worse, but, touch wood, all is ok right now.

I also suffer from depression and anxiety, not connected to the diabetes as I've had it for most of my adult life.

I guess I really need some advice re my diet as I'm just stabbing around in the dark right now trying to get it right.

I do think the paramedic was right though, in that I probably just hadn't had enough to eat yesterday and that's what caused it.

To be perfectly honest with you though, this is really my fault, I've not been a "good" diabetic, I was right at the beginning, but with the depression I can easily, and often do, fall off the wagon and go in the complete wrong direction! I use food as a comfort thing which makes it all much worse, cos it's naughty, unhealthy stuff that I like and eat.

Now I have to try and put things right, which I'm determined to do, it's just I have no idea really what I'm doing.

I'm just so glad that I found you all here and this site, I've found it so helpful and people so kind and supportive, I'm learning a lot but I guess I still have a long way to go yet.

Once again, many thanks to you all.

Hi Amanda! You really are going through the mill! I think @AndBreathe has asked some good questions. How much weight have you lost? I think I'd list a couple of stones when I had my hypo. I love food so I eat LCHF. This works for me and it means that I can have what you think of as naughty food. It has stopped me from lapsing. I have lost 2 stone 10lbs on this diet since 28th of jan this year. For more info www.dietdoctor.com

 

[AndBreathe]

@AmandaAnne . You really have got a lot on your plate.

With all your complex medical circumstances, I would be a bit nervous to give you too much guidance, except to say that I feel positive that if you could lose some weight your condition would ease a little. It's the one thing almost everyone who manages to drop a few pounds can agree on. So, it makes sense to persevere with your efforts to lose weight.

Do you actually know what your HbA1c scores have been in recent times? "Good" and "allowed", whilst potentially comforting at the time, don't actually tell you anything. That you "suddenly" develop symptoms may actually been masking a slow progression to it, whIch you haven't been aware of without testing.

That's not any form of telling off. How could it be? But I would urge you to keep on top of your numbers, so that you understand which direction your heading in, or indeed if you are holding a steady state. Somebody said, "Knowledge is power", and I believe that holds very firmly with this diabetes thing.

The great news is that you're having bloods done tomorrow, so you have a new benchmark at your fingertips. If your practise nurse, or doctor is taking your bloods, you could have the opportunity to open a dialogue about this weekend's event, because I'm sure you should be getting yourself some support, both to move forward from your hypo, but also in the next phase of your diabetes management.

Keep coming back, and joining in. There's a massive wealth of information and great people on this site, and there's almost always someone who will have encountered any scenarios you find yourself in. Good luck.

 

[AmandaAnne]

Hi Amanda! You really are going through the mill! I think @AndBreathe has asked some good questions. How much weight have you lost? I think I'd list a couple of stones when I had my hypo. I love food so I eat LCHF. This works for me and it means that I can have what you think of as naughty food. It has stopped me from lapsing. I have lost 2 stone 10lbs on this diet since 28th of jan this year. For more info www.dietdoctor.com

I've lost 5 1/4 this week which is the first week of my diet. Thank you for the link, I shall have a good read of that.

 

[AmandaAnne]

@AmandaAnne . You really have got a lot on your plate.

With all your complex medical circumstances, I would be a bit nervous to give you too much guidance, except to say that I feel positive that if you could lose some weight your condition would ease a little. It's the one thing almost everyone who manages to drop a few pounds can agree on. So, it makes sense to persevere with your efforts to lose weight.

Do you actually know what your HbA1c scores have been in recent times? "Good" mad "allowed", whilst potentially comforting at the time, don't actually tell you anything. That you "suddenly" develop symptoms may actually been masking a slow progression to it, whIch you haven't Ben aware of without testing.

That's not any form of telling off. How could it be? But I would urge you to keep on top of your numbers, so that you understand which direction your heading in, or indeed if you are holding a steady state. Somebody said, "Knowledge is power", and I believe that holds very firmly with this diabetes thing.

The great news is that you're having bloods done tomorrow, so you have a new benchmark at your fingertips. If your practise nurse, or doctor is taking your bloods, you could have the opportunity to open a dialogue about this weekend's event, because I'm sure you should be getting yourself some support, both to move forward from your hypo, but also in the next phase of your diabetes management.

Keep coming back, and joining in. There's a massive wealth of information and great people on this site, and there's almost always someone who will have encountered any scenarios you find yourself in. Good luck.

Thank you.

I can't remember at the top of my head what my last HBA1C was, I have written it down.........somewhere.........but ask me where?................no idea!......but it will be somewhere safe!!

I'm just ringing my surgery for the figure...........but, as usual, it's permanently engaged!!

Yes, I'm finding it so helpful here, lots of valuable info and very helpful people, yourself included.

 

[AmandaAnne]

Have just got through to the surgery.

My last HBA1C, which was back in April was 56.

 

[Scandichic]

Have just got through to the surgery.

My last HBA1C, which was back in April was 56.

It'll be interesting to see what the July one is. I had mine last week but have had several bouts if illness so am not looking forward to the results on Thursday!

 

[Brunneria]

How are you feeling now, @AmandaAnne ?

 

[AmandaAnne]

It'll be interesting to see what the July one is. I had mine last week but have had several bouts if illness so am not looking forward to the results on Thursday!

It will be. I don't think it's going to be good, but I don't want anymore medication, I'd rather sort it out through diet if I can.

I'm sorry that you've been suffering from illness, it really has an impact, but remember, even if the results aren't good, it's not your fault, you cant help being ill, do let us know how you get on please....fingers crossed for you.

Scandichic I have to say that I do love your little quotes in your signature.