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I'm type 2 and on tablets, but if my bloods go below 7 them I feel really ill

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Dizzydi1974

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2
Hi if my bloods go below 7 I'm shaky, dizzy and feel sick, could anyone help me out as I know they should be below 7, but if they do I feel like ****, but if they are high I feel fantastic. Should I be getting my doctor to look into this. Thanks in advance.
 
Hi,

The most likely explanation is that your body is used to running higher than 7. And since our bodies adjust to functioning in a familiar zone of blood glucose, it gets a bit wonky if you stray below that zone.

IF this is the case with you, then what you are experiencing is known as a 'false hypo'.
Basically exactly the same as a real hypo (in terms of symptoms), but without the risks that a real hypo would bring. Although I agree that it feels just like a real hypo!

The trick to bringing your bg down into your target zone, is to do it gently over several days, maybe even longer. Just nudge it down, either gradually cutting carbs, or waiting longer between meals. If you can avoid the full blown false hypo symptoms, then it is far more comfortable, and easier on your body, so the gentler the better!

After a few days of this, your body gets used to the new comfort zone, and you will feel fine at under 7 mmol/l.

Of course, if this doesn't work, or my description doesn't fit your symptoms, then a trip to the doc is a good idea.
 
@daisy1
Hello dizydi1974, welcome
I have copied this for you from the blood sugar 101 site
daisy1 will be along soon with her welcome pack for new members.

If you have had high blood sugars for a while--even only moderately high blood sugars--and start working to achieve lower blood sugar targets you may find that you feel shaky and even downright sick as you bring your blood sugars down into the normal range.
This is because over time, your body has become accustomed to those much higher blood sugars and it interprets the normal blood sugar as being dangerously low. When this happens, the body secretes fight or flight hormones in order to push the blood sugars back up to what it erroneously thinks is the safe zone.
The stress hormones associated with this counter-regulatory response can make you feel dreadful. However, if you test your blood sugar during a false hypo, you will see that it is not below the 70 mg/dl (3.8 mmol/L) level that defines the beginning of the mild hypo range. That is why it is very important to test your blood sugar when you feel hypo and to only treat a hypo when it is a true hypo, not a false one. If you are not taking insulin or an oral drug that causes increased insulin secretion like glipizide or amaryl, there is no reason to treat a hypo at all as your body will recover on its own.
The symptoms you feel during a false hypo may include a pounding pulse, shakiness, a raised blood pressure and other symptoms very similar to those of a panic attack.
After a experiencing this kind of counter-regulatory response you may feel shaky for another hour or two, because of the changes the stress hormones have made in your body. You may also become a bit more insulin resistant than usual. But after some period of time which varies from person to person, your body will get used to these new, normal blood sugars.
 
@Dizzydi1974

Hello and welcome to the forum

In addition to the very useful answers you have received already, here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask more questions and someone will answer.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
Hello and welcome.
I had the same experience when my bood glucose was going down,but I didnt have a meter then and hadnt joined the forum at that time,so I used to have dried fruit to make me feel better which was wrong and I expect put my BG up again.
When I got my meter i sorted it out,and it only took a few days and put my mind at rest.
I do think its important to eat regular meals at regular times.
All the best.
 
 
It unfortunately takes your body time to adjust to lower levels but with time it will come right. Your levels have most probably been over 7 for so long that your body thinks that this is normal.
 
WeeFergus said:
A very warm welcome to you @Dizzydi1974. The very experienced members on here will be able to help you - you've come to the right place.
Click to expand...
Hi Dizzydi1974 and welcome, I wholeheartedly agree with WeeFergus
I started exactly as you do, followed the great advice available on this forum, and in about 1.5 months I stabilised my bs around 5.5, and even though my reflex memories remind me sometimes that my FBG was around 8 not long ago, I feel better every day. Browse the topics, ask, and these wonderful people will help to the best of their experience and knowledge:-D
Moshe
 
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