Low Glucose Events - LibreLink

[LouG]

Hello all, I'm new to all this I got a text from my GP last week saying that I'm prediabetic (showed up on a route blood test) I am still in shocked to be honest my BMI 23, I walk everyday aways hit my +10,000 steps and I eat super healthy.

Anyhoo I ordered the free trail LibreLink – in the last 7 days I have had 8 low glucose events – sensor glucose reading is lower then 3.9 mmol/L for longer than 15 minutes.

The only time I have noticed my mmol/L going above 6 (15% over the past 7 days) is when I eat fruit or ryvita - it's all very strange to me

Anyone know if this is normal ?

Many thanks

 

[Lamont D]

Hello all, I'm new to all this I got a text from my GP last week saying that I'm prediabetic (showed up on a route blood test) I am still in shocked to be honest my BMI 23, I walk everyday aways hit my +10,000 steps and I eat super healthy.

Anyhoo I ordered the free trail LibreLink – in the last 7 days I have had 8 low glucose events – sensor glucose reading is lower then 3.9 mmol/L for longer than 15 minutes.

The only time I have noticed my mmol/L going above 6 (15% over the past 7 days) is when I eat fruit or ryvita - it's all very strange to me

Anyone know if this is normal ?

Many thanks

Hi, @LouG
Any form of hypoglycaemia is not normal.
But and I am assured by everything I have read, that infrequent lows below normal are normal and natural.
It is the frequency of hypoglycaemia that is not normal.
And the reason behind it.
Many 'normal ' non diabetics have colloquially referred as sugar crashes.

Are you on any meds?
Any other conditions?
Know of any allergies or intolerance?

With CGM's, it is usual for many to verify the lows with a finger prick test from a glucometer.
And CGM's are known to have 'compression lows' particularly through a sleep period.

I recommend keeping an eye on how it happens, when it happens, and any symptoms that are unusual for you.

Best wishes.

 

[LouG]

Hi, @LouG
Any form of hypoglycaemia is not normal.
But and I am assured by everything I have read, that infrequent lows below normal are normal and natural.
It is the frequency of hypoglycaemia that is not normal.
And the reason behind it.
Many 'normal ' non diabetics have colloquially referred as sugar crashes.

Are you on any meds?
Any other conditions?
Know of any allergies or intolerance?

With CGM's, it is usual for many to verify the lows with a finger prick test from a glucometer.
And CGM's are known to have 'compression lows' particularly through a sleep period.

I recommend keeping an eye on how it happens, when it happens, and any symptoms that are unusual for you.

Best wishes.

Hi @Lamont D
Thank you for your reply and the information
I have Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (a rare condition where the heart’s structure becomes weak) which has led to heart failure which is why I do everything I can to keep myself as healthy as possible.
I am on lots of meds for this:
Apixaban, Ramipril, Bisoprolol & Dapagliflozin and Levothyroxine for my under active thyroid.
No allergies or intolerance
I have now had 10 events since the 24th Oct - 6 between the hours of midnight & 6am & 4 between 3pm & midnight - no symptons that I have noticed

I will order myself a glucometer to check

Thanks

 

[Lamont D]

Hi @Lamont D
Thank you for your reply and the information
I have Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (a rare condition where the heart’s structure becomes weak) which has led to heart failure which is why I do everything I can to keep myself as healthy as possible.
I am on lots of meds for this:
Apixaban, Ramipril, Bisoprolol & Dapagliflozin and Levothyroxine for my under active thyroid.
No allergies or intolerance
I have now had 10 events since the 24th Oct - 6 between the hours of midnight & 6am & 4 between 3pm & midnight - no symptons that I have noticed

I will order myself a glucometer to check

Thanks

I notice you are on dapagliflozin, which is a diabetic drug, this may be pushing you blood glucose levels down to low levels.
You mention a series of lows, are any of them below 3mmols?
What is a typical low?
Yeah, I'm of an age now, I do have to be careful with my health.
Best wishes.

 

[LouG]

I notice you are on dapagliflozin, which is a diabetic drug, this may be pushing you blood glucose levels down to low levels.
You mention a series of lows, are any of them below 3mmols?
What is a typical low?
Yeah, I'm of an age now, I do have to be careful with my health.
Best wishes.

Thanks I did wonder about the dapagliflozon, but it's helping my heart so think it's a tricky situation I'm trying to keep hold of my own heart for as long as possible.
I haven’t seen any below 3 mmol/L – the lowest is 3.1 mmol/L normal low is 3.4 mmol/L
I am due to see my Cardiologist next month so I will check with them.
Thanks

 

[Lamont D]

Thanks I did wonder about the dapagliflozon, but it's helping my heart so think it's a tricky situation I'm trying to keep hold of my own heart for as long as possible.
I haven’t seen any below 3 mmol/L – the lowest is 3.1 mmol/L normal low is 3.4 mmol/L
I am due to see my Cardiologist next month so I will check with them.
Thanks

I do think it is the diabetic meds causing this but obviously I'm guessing.
I would definitely speak to your doctors, show them the graphs.
Let us know how you get on.
Best wishes.

 

[LouG]

I do think it is the diabetic meds causing this but obviously I'm guessing.
I would definitely speak to your doctors, show them the graphs.
Let us know how you get on.
Best wishes.

Thanks & will do

 

[Lakeslover]

If some of the lows are when you are sleeping it is possible you could be lying on the sensor. That will give a false low. The only way to be certain if that is the case is to test with a meter when you get the low alarm.

 

[RachelG.]

Hi, I am similar to you, bmi around 23, very active and eat whole foods, now 40 and diagnosed with type 2. Also got a cgm and also getting sub 4 readings (although not sub 3). Verified a couple of them with finger pricking. Dr says it’s nothing to worry about as I have no hypo symptoms and it happens in diabetes as your system isn’t good at getting things under control efficiently.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi, I am similar to you, bmi around 23, very active and eat whole foods, now 40 and diagnosed with type 2. Also got a cgm and also getting sub 4 readings (although not sub 3). Verified a couple of them with finger pricking. Dr says it’s nothing to worry about as I have no hypo symptoms and it happens in diabetes as your system isn’t good at getting things under control efficiently.

You would like to bear in mind, if you do get constant hypo levels under 3.5mmols, there must be a reason.
Wether meds or the reason you are T2, or other issues, or maybe a direct result of an allergic or intolerance to something in your diet.
And there are conditions known as hypoglycaemia that are non diabetic, that can be disguised or have the similar symptoms as T2.
Most GP's wouldn't know or understand these conditions.
As I experienced.
Best wishes.

 

[RachelG.]

You would like to bear in mind, if you do get constant hypo levels under 3.5mmols, there must be a reason.
Wether meds or the reason you are T2, or other issues, or maybe a direct result of an allergic or intolerance to something in your diet.
And there are conditions known as hypoglycaemia that are non diabetic, that can be disguised or have the similar symptoms as T2.
Most GP's wouldn't know or understand these conditions.
As I experienced.
Best wishes.

Hmm okay, I had 2 hba1c readings above 48mmol/L which is why I got the t2 diagnosis. Not on any relevant meds (just fluoxetine and heavy duty iron for my chronically low ferritin) so assume any hypos are t2 related. I do take your point that my gp doesn't seem that curious or knowledgeable though, if I could see someone more specialist I would.

 

[Lamont D]

Hmm okay, I had 2 hba1c readings above 48mmol/L which is why I got the t2 diagnosis. Not on any relevant meds (just fluoxetine and heavy duty iron for my chronically low ferritin) so assume any hypos are t2 related. I do take your point that my gp doesn't seem that curious or knowledgeable though, if I could see someone more specialist I would.

A little bit more context from my experience.
I was misdiagnosed, similar to your results as T2.
Until I started having hypos.
I was only on metformin and diet restrictions. The eat well plate.
My GP couldn't understand it.
I thankfully got a referral.
After quite a few tests, I got a true diagnosis.
It was a hypoglycaemic condition.

I'm not saying that you do have one of these conditions and you may go under 4mmols natrually.
Do keep a record of your readings before and after meals.
You can learn so much about how much your body can tolerate.

Best wishes.