• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Nearly died at the A & E

My BG reading before breakfast yesterday was 4.9 and this morning 4.7

Im beginning to start shaking / hypoglycemic so I ate breakfast and then I start shaking again.

Should I request the DN to lower my Insulin and start introducing Metformin?

Or should I increase my food intake?
 
Last edited:
Its unusual to get a hypo at 4.9 or 4.7 - so, yes, I'd recommend discussing this with a health care professional as this shaking may have nothing to do with BG. We can't diagnose any of your symptoms.
 
NewTD2 said:
Thank you for this info, I appreciate it.

Does roast crispy pork increase your cholesterol levels and high in calories?
Click to expand...

No it hasn't increased my cholesterol.

Also I am not on insulin or any medication. So I have much greater freedom when going carb lite.
 
Yes. I found that. Insulin needs carbs a little otherwise it starts using protein in its absence but it looks like those not on insulin haven't reported that, anywhere on this forum. Or am I wrong?
For type2s on insulin therapy, I'm referring too! I know hugely different for type1s.

I also found insulin therapy, for me, doesn't like high fat much either. Again, others may say I'm wrong, for them?
 
I'm not going to offer medical advice, just what I did. Sometimes I get a bit shaky when my levels get into the mid 4s. When they get into the mid 4s I usually drop my insulin dose by one unit. I didn't check with my doctor first, but my prescription said to adjust the dose as needed, and my sister (who's a T1) said that's what she would do. I asked my pharmacist and specialist (the next time I saw her), and they both told me that was the way to do it. If you want to make sure, maybe your doctor can confirm over the phone?
 
Hi @ickihun - I haven't noticed that protein issue either when I was on insulin injections or since I finished with it (thank goodness).
 
oldsle said:
I'm not going to offer medical advice, just what I did. Sometimes I get a bit shaky when my levels get into the mid 4s. When they get into the mid 4s I usually drop my insulin dose by one unit. I didn't check with my doctor first, but my prescription said to adjust the dose as needed, and my sister (who's a T1) said that's what she would do. I asked my pharmacist and specialist (the next time I saw her), and they both told me that was the way to do it. If you want to make sure, maybe your doctor can confirm over the phone?
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree - but just to be safe I think it best to get medical advice on the hypo symptoms in the mid 4s. The only time I ever got that was when I went straight on to a zero carb diet from having my BGs up in the high teens. Not something I would recommend to anyone as (I know now) it was a very stupid and dangerous thing to do.
 
And I'm sorry, I don't know if any of your questions are directed at me or not. If I'm missing any, let me know. Or feel free to message me.
 
Chook said:
Yes, I agree - but just to be safe I think it best to get medical advice on the hypo symptoms in the mid 4s. The only time I ever got that was when I went straight on to a zero carb diet from having my BGs up in the high teens. Not something I would recommend to anyone as (I know now) it was a very stupid and dangerous thing to do.
Click to expand...
I don't think mid 4s are technically considered hypos, but some people (myself included) do get a bit shaky at that point, especially if they aren't used to being that low. The reason I reduce my dose at that point is because I don't want my levels getting lower than that during the following night. It just doesn't seem right, imo, to increase carb intake to suit the insulin dose. To me, it should be other way around. Unless of course you're treating a hypo. But yes, if you want to make sure, then call.
 
oldsle said:
I don't think mid 4s are technically considered hypos, but some people (myself included) do get a bit shaky at that point, especially if they aren't used to being that low. The reason I reduce my dose at that point is because I don't want my levels getting lower than that during the following night. It just doesn't seem right, imo, to increase carb intake to suit the insulin dose. To me, it should be other way around. Unless of course you're treating a hypo. But yes, if you want to make sure, then call.
Click to expand...
Any reason for a near hypo on insulin warrants self observation and action to prevent a hypo. ......then take action to prevent them long term. Whether type1 or 2. Type1s mainly manage their diabetes with insulin variants. Type2s with diet variants.
I must admit I sometimes forget not everyone actions that, nor manage themselves perfectly. We are human not robots which the nhs account for, thankfully.
Perfection must be exhausting when actioned 100% of the time.
Any insulin prescriber for type2 will ensure hours of nhs time is spent in administration instructions. Part and parcel of the therapy, for me and many others I speak too. I think a minority who don't get a nurse to report back to. I don't think nhs is allowed to prescribe and discharge patients without the basics.

I think a myth that all insulin therapy taking type2s are eating carbs to feed insulin units longterm. Always an intrim problem.
Assumption on a lot of people's perception. I'm yet to see an obese patient other than me in our diabetes unit waiting room but I don't assume all diabetics are not overweight.
Sometimes to have to include what you don't see in the picture to see the honest full picture.
Assumptions can be very damaging eh?
 
NewTD2 said:
Your meals sounds delicious...thank you!

Im going to try eating more spinach too.

Tested my blood sugar this morning before waking up and it read 4.9 but I am still on 14 units of Insulin Glargine. My DN said they will slowly add Metformin 500mg before breakfast and dinner and at the same time wean down Insulin from this week.

After 5-6 weeks of starvation, I started to eat from last week -

For breakfast I have raspberries/blueberries or strawberries (because they grow abundantly here in England) with plain soya yogurt, stevia (sweetener) and a few walnuts with a dash of cinnamon. Sometimes I have poached eggs with Keto bread. My mother makes her own low-carb bread made with low-carb almond flour. Recipes are on YouTube. Or sometimes I just have a pear.

For lunch, I have meat (chicken, fish or beef), mixed vegetables, steamed or stir fried with very little oil (usually pressed cold rapeseed oil or avocado oil). Mixed salad and tuna/salmon. Sometimes just vegetables soup.

Dinner: Similar to lunch

Snacks before going to bed: A slice of Keto bread, a small piece of smoked salmon (very cheap in England) or pomegranate seeds and walnuts, almonds, pecan nuts.

Question for you - isn't that we shouldn't be eating cheese and creams because they have casein and that turns into sugar and raises BG ?
Click to expand...

Casein .. in cheese does that turn into sugar... how many percent of cheese is casein ? , I think a pear is much worse... fructose is about the worst kind of sugar because it is mostly processed in the liver , and in most type 2 diabetics the liver is a bit overactive in spitting out blood glucose into our veins... but well about fanatism.. I myself can´t help eating some fruit once in a while , but mostly the days where I excercise a lot... ike today , where I have had 2 sharon fruits after burning 2000 calories in the fitness center..you´ll find your own balance in being strict and also in when you will think a little sin-full eating is okay
 
Just received a call from my Diabetic Nurse to tell me that I'm going to be weaned down from 14 units of Insulin Glargine to 6 units from this evening.

And from tomorrow will be completely off Insulin and will be transferred to Metformin 500 mg.

This is my 7th week from nearly dying with severe Ketoacidosis at the hospital. After my traumatic ordeal at the Accident & Emergency, I was so scared of eating and decided to go for "starvation diet" of 400-500 calories or less per day for 5-6 weeks, and lost over a stone (6 kilos) in the process and nearly died 2-3x.

I have now resumed eating normally but low-carb.

My current blood glucose readings are as follows:

Before breakfast: between 4.7 - 5.9
Before Dinner: between 6.4 - 7.2
 
Last edited:
My dear friend,

Just received a call from my Diabetic Nurse to tell me that I'm going to be weaned down from 14 units of Insulin Glargine to 6 units from this evening.

And from tomorrow will be completely off Insulin and will be transferred to Metformin 500 mg.

This is my 7th week from nearly dying with severe Ketoacidosis at the hospital. After my traumatic ordeal at the Accident & Emergency, I was so scared of eating and decided to go for "starvation diet" of 400-500 calories or less per day for 5-6 weeks, and lost over a stone (6 kilos) in the process and nearly died 2-3x.

I have now resumed eating normally but low-carb.

My current blood glucose readings are as follows:

Before breakfast: between 4.7 - 5.9
Before Dinner: between 6.4 - 7.2

Thank you so much for your advice. I couldn't have done it without your help and support.

Andrew
 
Wow! That's great Andrew. Your DN must be quite pleased with your progress. You've done so well. I hope you keep us posted on how you're doing.
 
NewTD2 said:
My dear friend,

Just received a call from my Diabetic Nurse to tell me that I'm going to be weaned down from 14 units of Insulin Glargine to 6 units from this evening.

And from tomorrow will be completely off Insulin and will be transferred to Metformin 500 mg.

This is my 7th week from nearly dying with severe Ketoacidosis at the hospital. After my traumatic ordeal at the Accident & Emergency, I was so scared of eating and decided to go for "starvation diet" of 400-500 calories or less per day for 5-6 weeks, and lost over a stone (6 kilos) in the process and nearly died 2-3x.

I have now resumed eating normally but low-carb.

My current blood glucose readings are as follows:

Before breakfast: between 4.7 - 5.9
Before Dinner: between 6.4 - 7.2

Thank you so much for your advice. I couldn't have done it without your help and support.

Andrew
Click to expand...


I'm actually a little worried about you coming off insulin in such a short time...

It may be a few days before insulin is fully out of body so maintain your checks consistently as rises may not really show for a few days.

I hope the 500g metformin will be enough with low carbing.. please think a lot on getting variations of food now... not necessarily to try now but having a boring diet isnt good... (as you experienced when basically starving yourself!... this is a lifestyle to be gained and kept going... and variation is the spice of life..

I hope your medic advice is actually good. I'm just a little waryof going from 14-6-0 so quickly...
 
Thank you so much. I couldn't have done this without your advice, support, help.

My DN is quite shocked and said she has not seen anything like it. I will be reducing Insulin from 14 units to 6 units this evening and then will be just taking Metformin 500 mg from tomorrow.

My BG readings today are as follows:

Before breakfast: 4.7
Before dinner: 6.4
2 hours after dinner: 6.5
 
What do you think will happen by reducing 14 units to 6 units?
 
I'm a bit surprised that she's reducing it by that much, but she wouldn't have decreased your insulin if she didn't think it was warranted. I went from 10 to 6 in about 6 weeks. I've had to increase it somewhat due to insomnia, but I'll get it down again. If you end up having to increase it again a bit for the short term, then that's fine too. She may just increase your metformin if need be. It can take a few weeks for metformin to fully kick in. Just keep an eye your readings and take it day by day. Don't worry and be proud of your progress. You can always contact her again if need be.
 
Back
Top