Low BG levels and Hypos.

[leather_ferret]

Hi Folks

Can anyone explain why the Blood glucose level at which I get that unmistakable sudden rush of hypo symptoms is so very variable?

This morning, feeling fine & dandy, tested 3.5
Twenty minutes later started feeling onset of hypo symptoms at 3.3 & topped up with glucose and had something to eat.

Half an hour ago, I got the cold sweats shakes collywobbles and all the rest and far worse than this morning's - BGL 5.7 !
(as with all 'dodgy results', repeat tested on the spare meter - exactly the same)

This wide variability seems almost par for the course and I have even had them starting at just over 6.

Any idea, please, why there is such variability and what body mechanisms are going on here ??

'Wobbly' Dave

 

[noblehead]

This morning, feeling fine & dandy, tested 3.5
Twenty minutes later started feeling onset of hypo symptoms at 3.3 & topped up with glucose and had something to eat

Dave, you may have felt fine at 3.5 but you were certainly in hypo territory at this level. You should have had some fast acting glucose straight away to stop your bg falling further, as you can see it did continue to fall hence the 3.3 reading twenty minutes later.

As for feeling hypo at 5.7, perhaps this could be a false hypo; sometimes when blood glucose levels have been running high for a period of time, it is often said that people begin to feel hypo at higher levels than expected (hypo's are 4 or below) so having a bg reading of 5 or 6 can produce similar symptoms. Over time when bg's begin to level out and stable control is resumed, these symptoms should lessen and hopefully the only time this should occur is when you are falling below 4.

I couldn't see in your profile what your recent hba1c or control has been, so do excuse what I have written should you already have good control, but the above is what normally happens when diabetes control has been erratic over a period of time. Just remember Dave, in future remember to treat with fast acting glucose should you be below 4 again.

Nigel

 

[leather_ferret]

Hi Nigel,

thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

been on insulin fo about three months now and yesterday I wanted to sort of see where the lower boundary was. I was sat there glucose in hand waiting I assure you.

My normal range on the insulin is between 4.5 and 8 but I do get surprises as I have next to no pancreas left so both the insulin and the glucagon supplies are stuffed making control difficult. Add this the fact that I cannot tolerate fats and can only manage a little protein so I have to live with 90% of my diet being carbs. As you can imagine, that does not exactly help matters. When have acute pancreatitis attacks I live on water alone for up to a week and, so far, the liver has kicked in and dumped sugar but if I do get a low there will be no choice at all, but straight to hossie for a drip.

Test test test and be prepared is all I can do at times ...er, and hope

thanks again

Dave