Long term effects of hypo's

[sammyc123]

I can't seem to find any information online regarding the long term effects of keeping blood glucose levels low. If I wanted for example to keep my level at say 3.5...would my body become a custom to this level over time? Would it damage my body at all as I understand that hypers will in the long run?

Cheers

Sam


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[donnellysdogs]

The trouble is 3.5 is not going to be 3.5 with the intolerances that are allowed with blood meters.

To be honest at 3.5 I would not be feeling well-so whats the point in trying to keep yourself feeling unwell?

You would have your driving licence taken away if you are a type 1 and a driver at those levels if they were constant...

To be honest, why would anybody consider running at 3.5 which is way lower than a normal persons blood level?

Probably no research data on it, because it is too damgerous to even do research on!!!


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[noblehead]

I don't honestly think it would do you any good running at such low levels all the time, for one thing you would lose your hypo awareness and your ability to drive a motor vehicle, why would you want to aim for such low levels?

 

[Andy12345]

interesting question, i hope you get an answer


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[sammyc123]

Thanks for your responses - I actually haven't decided to try this, I was just interested because I've recently been diagnosed T1 and love to research and try to fully understand as much in life (and diabetes is now a significant part of my life) but as I said I couldn't really find anything online. However, I have had a few hypo's but I don't start to feel funny/ unwell/ shaky etc until I'm about 3.2 or below...is this normal?

Cheers

Sam


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[donnellysdogs]

Depends for hypo awareness my Consultant likes to see nothing under 3.5, but realises also, that there will be blips.
If there ate constant blips all consultants and gp's and dsn's can question your awareness and the GP's n Consultants can tell you they are norifying DVLA that you should not have your licence and tell you to stop driving and inform the dvla.....

Normal? I have an occasional very rare blip to that level now, but it is very hard to determine what is normal for hypo's. We all will vary in one way or another...


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[Spiker]

I think if you try to run 3.5 on a normal carb-heavy diet, you will be skating close to hypos all the time. Frequently having hypos will eliminate your hypo awareness, which is very dangerous.

On the other hand I am discovering from experience something I only read about, which is that on a low carb diet the actual point of hypoglycaemia moves lower, because the brain makes more use of ketones and is less dependent on glucose. My hypo symptom trigger point has moved down to about 3.0, and I am fine at 3.5. So on a low carb diet you might be able to run 3.5 without problems. I agree with DD that you would need a meter that was accurate in that range.

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[donnellysdogs]

I think if you try to run 3.5 on a normal carb-heavy diet, you will be skating close to hypos all the time. Frequently having hypos will eliminate your hypo awareness, which is very dangerous.

On the other hand I am discovering from experience something I only read about, which is that on a low carb diet the actual point of hypoglycaemia moves lower, because the brain makes more use of ketones and is less dependent on glucose. My hypo symptom trigger point has moved down to about 3.0, and I am fine at 3.5. So on a low carb diet you might be able to run 3.5 without problems. I agree with DD that you would need a meter that was accurate in that range.

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Spiker, is your consultant happy that your hypo symptom trigger is down to 3.0? Mine would not accept that at all. I had 2 consultants in 4 years and neither one of them would tolerate my keeping my driving licence with a 3.0...



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[Spiker]

Strictly speaking your driving licence is not removed for any particular level of blood sugars or of HBA1C. It is only taken away for multiple serious hypos (where you are unable to treat yourself), or for losing hypo awareness. However, running very low blood sugar certainly creates a risk that those things might happen to you. For people who need their driving licence for work or other vital reasons, it's not worth the risk.

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[Spiker]

Spiker, is your consultant happy that your hypo symptom trigger is down to 3.0? Mine would not accept that at all. I had 2 consultants in 4 years and neither one of them would tolerate my keeping my driving licence with a 3.0...



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At the moment, in ketosis, I am not actually suffering from hypoglycaemia unless my BG is below 3. So my hypo warning symptoms are working, they are kicking in ahead of my actual hypoglycaemia. It's pretty cool!

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[Spiker]

Spiker, is your consultant happy that your hypo symptom trigger is down to 3.0? Mine would not accept that at all. I had 2 consultants in 4 years and neither one of them would tolerate my keeping my driving licence with a 3.0...



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All my consultant cares about is if I have severe hypos or not, or lost awareness. I'm allowed one a year as long as it's not behind the wheel. Luckily I don't have one a year. Also I don't drive for a living and I live in a big city.

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[donnellysdogs]

I think that is quite scarey... My pump read 4.2 when I did at clinicwhen my tok my blood. I knew I needed to eat, but was determined to get my test done... My blood from vein read 2.1.....
I was right that I needed to eat at a reading on my pump remote meter of 4.2...but it proved to me that meters are indications only...

Having almost lost my licence once, I would never want anybody ever to go through what I experienced...

I just worry about people that are not so aware of their bodies,or bew to low carbing etc or new type 1's doing this and getting caught our.


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[Spiker]

I just worry about people that are not so aware of their bodies,or bew to low carbing etc or new type 1's doing this and getting caught our.

Yes I think it's a good idea that anyone newly diagnosed sticks to the basics and normal safe rules.

What I'm doing with these lower BGs and ketosis is pretty out there. Not for beginners!

 

[noblehead]

Thanks for your responses - I actually haven't decided to try this, I was just interested because I've recently been diagnosed T1 and love to research and try to fully understand as much in life (and diabetes is now a significant part of my life) but as I said I couldn't really find anything online. However, I have had a few hypo's but I don't start to feel funny/ unwell/ shaky etc until I'm about 3.2 or below...is this normal?

Hi Sam, I'm pleased you haven't decided to try it yet considering your only feeling hypo's symptoms now at 3.2mmol. A normal bg level is between 3.8-5.6mmol (?) so there's no need to aim for a figure as low as 3.5, besides it would be impossible to achieve this target permanently as factors such as stress, hormones, exercise, illness, injury, food and insulin absorption will all effect bg levels and result in fluctuations.

As a young man with the rest of your life ahead of you I would aim for more realistic levels in order to control your diabetes, if you like reading then I suggest you purchase the book Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner, it comes highly recommended on the forum and is a must for all type 1's.

If you run your bg levels slightly higher for a few weeks whilst avoiding hypo's you will find that your hypo awareness symptoms will return to normal levels, it's important that you maintain your hypo awareness as this safeguards you against coming to harm from dangerously low bg levels, if in doubt speak with your DSN or Cosultant.