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Low glucose and light headed

J

Just Graham

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Hiya everyone,
I'm nrw too the world of diabetes. My mum is diabetic, but only went on tablets for it in her mid 70s.

Since September is last year I have been having moments of being light headed, I don't feel dizzy, just a, sensation that something isn't right. I thought this long covid, as it started 2 weeks after I had it, however of late I have been correlating these episodes and they seem to happen when I haven't eaten properly. A few weeks ago I also started waking up in the middle on the night deeply thirsty and also needing the loo (this is a new thing for me). These things got me thinking about my mum and if I need to look at my glucose level. I bought a glucose meter and have been testing 3 times a day for 4 days now. My morning readings are quite varied (first thing) readings have been in mmol/L
4.1,4.2, 5 and 6. My readings in the afternoon have been between 5 and 7, other then one day when it was 4.3. I have been waiting to corolate a light headed moment with my blood glucose so I could speak to my doctor with some data to back up my thinking. Well my first light headed episode happened today, whilst I was doing some shuttle runs, I finished up my session early (I was 15 minutes in}. And my glucose level was 4.1. I had some chocolate and my evening meal pretty much straight after and felt okay after 10 or so minutes, albeit with a slight headache.

I have been reading here that a glucose level of below 4 is a hypo, and so I wonder if my 4.1 would generally be considered low enough to cause the light headed symptoms. I need more data, but at this point I'm trying to gather information on a subject I know little about, other then 4.1 seems to be near that line where symptoms I'm describing come into play.

The other thing to ask is what recommendations do people have for me to test myself in a moremeaningful way? Currently in testing first thing, then at 2pm and 5pm (this was simply around my eating times of 11am, 2pn and 5.30pm}. Should I be treating like this? Should I treatglucose levels before and after exercise? What is useful for a gp to know to door trends?

Menu thanks
Graham
 
Your bloods look perfectly normal.. are you taking any medication (for blood pressure maybe) that could be responsible for feeling off?
 
People who aren't taking insulin don't have to worry about levels below 4 mml. The problem is that if you have already injected insulin continuing to work, your level can continue to drop to a dangerous level really rapidly. A glucose level below 4 mml isn't a hypo, unless you're taking insulin. People who aren't diabetic can regularly hit levels below 4 if they are physically active. You aren't the only person to detect probably dropping glucose levels by how you feel, and compensate with a break and a biscuit. My sister, who is not diabetic, does so regularly.
 
Thanks both for replying. I'm not on any other medication, save for an underactive thyroid for which my medication has been reduced as of a month ago. Dr said the higher dose here could caused light headed ness but that was a month ago now since I been reduced.

I guess if my bloods are looking okay and I'm not diabetic then it back to figuring what can be causing it.
 
JMK1954 said:
People who aren't taking insulin don't have to worry about levels below 4 mml. The problem is that if you have already injected insulin continuing to work, your level can continue to drop to a dangerous level really rapidly. A glucose level below 4 mml isn't a hypo, unless you're taking insulin. People who aren't diabetic can regularly hit levels below 4 if they are physically active. You aren't the only person to detect probably dropping glucose levels by how you feel, and compensate with a break and a biscuit. My sister, who is not diabetic, does so regularly.
Click to expand...

This surely only applies to T1s?
And not appreciative of the different types and non diagnosis of the poster
T2s do get false hypos, and some do go below and feel okay, some don't, it all depends on the individual.
As an RH er, I would have hypoglycaemia even though I am not diabetic!
My endo described a hypo below 3.5, tho this again is what meds, insulin or intolerant, if they have insulin resistance, hyperinsulinimia or other conditions pertinent and episodic to hypoglycaemia.
The best times to test are before and two hours after a meal
 
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