Often low, never high

[OnTheLevel]

I’ve been experiencing hypoglycemia for many years now. It used to be much worse, but I am now wearing a glucose monitor and surprised to find how low my glucose levels are and how hard it is to keep them up/level. as a test I’ve eaten some cake and the level only goes up to 125 max (6.9). I eat pretty well generally, stay off of simple carbs and sugar.
Of the times that it drops 54 (3) I could REALLY feel it. this seems like non-diabetic reactive hypoglycemia?
Meeting with my doctor in a few weeks but just getting some feelers out to see if others have an experience similar to mine. Thanks!

 

[In Response]

Sorry to read of your issues.
However, please bear in mind that CGMs are not accurate at low levels.
With my experience of multiple different types of CGM, I would never take a 54 (3.0) on a CGM as gospel. If the CGM alerted me to the low, I would check with a finger prick.
I don't know what type of CGM you are using but I always try to calibrate my sensor to me (using a finger prick). Unfortunately, the cheaper CGMs such as Libre do not allow this so I "mentally" calibrate the readings: I compare the CGM readings with a few stable non-hypo finger prick readings and add/subtract the average difference for future CGM readings.
It is not uncommon for people to find Libre under reading by a unit or more. My (unconfirmed) hypothesis is that some of us are different to the "factory man" they use for factor calibration.

I hope your doctor helps you get to the bottom of your problems.

 

[OnTheLevel]

Yes I have heard that about the Libre. I’m wearing a dexcom g6 and when it’s reading low, I can sure feel it; I feel AWFUL. And when it’s reading normal, I can feel that too.
Sounds like the Libre is no good. Glad I didn’t get that one.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi, I have Reactive Hypoglycaemia.
If you are getting hypoglycaemic episodes, the tests necessary can only be done by specialists.
You will need to convince your doctor to refer you. Having the results from your cgm, and from a food diary giving fasting, pre meal, two hours and three hours, will show if your hypoglycaemia is triggered by food.

We do have the threads on the RH forums. There is a lot of information there. If you don't understand, keep asking, we will try to help you.

 

[Amy_S]

Hi, I have Reactive Hypoglycaemia.
If you are getting hypoglycaemic episodes, the tests necessary can only be done by specialists.
You will need to convince your doctor to refer you. Having the results from your cgm, and from a food diary giving fasting, pre meal, two hours and three hours, will show if your hypoglycaemia is triggered by food.

We do have the threads on the RH forums. There is a lot of information there. If you don't understand, keep asking, we will try to help you.

May I ask if you have found the cause of your Reactive hypoglycaemia? I’ve been monitoring my glucose with a finger prick test and I’m always on the low side. Im trying to figure out what’s going on always advised by my doctor to just eat extra carbs.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi, and welcome to the forum @Amy_S
I read an article on reactive hypoglycaemia, and also a paper proposing that there are a few causes for RH!
I would say that mine was caused by a bacteria in my gut called helicobactor pylori. But I can't be sure, it is open to question because my endocrinologist wasn't convinced. He suggested it occurred naturally.
There are other causes such as fructosine intolerance.
Glucose dumping.
Hypothyroidism.
Idiopathic hypoglycaemic syndrome.

And because of the recent changes in surgical techniques, which is very similar to glucose dumping, the bariatric surgery, is becoming a regular cause of Reactive Hypoglycaemia or similar in patients post surgery.

I am a firm believer in treatment rather than the cause.
For my RH, carb intolerance means that doing without carbs is far more important than outdated, outmoded, outrageous, dietary advice from health professionals that don't understand the logic behind the condition.

Healthy food is NOT healthy for me! Carbs are carbs! Ridiculous advice.

Best wishes, keep asking.

What is your interest in RH and it's causes?

 

[Grandadfatboy]

I am a type insulin dependant diabetic. I was lucky enough to receive a Libre 2 CGM to monitor my BG. It is my understanding that most, if not all, CGM's record lower than the actual reading when BG is going low. For this reason I have set my Low Glucose Alarm at 5.0.

If I receive a Low Glucose Alarm I always finger prick to confirm my BG is low. Sometimes the finger prick is within 0.5 of the Libre, but it is more normal for it to 1.0 different. The important thing here for me is, I've been warned my BG is going low, and how quickly. This gives me the opportunity to do something about the situation before it becomes an issue.

I have made it a point of finger pricking a couple of times a week when my BG is it its "normal" range for me, and I record it in the app I use with my monitor. This info is relayed to my diabetes team, and they can see my all the data collected by the monitor, and all the comments I include to help them see what action I have taken. For me CGM has helped me control my diabetes much better than with just finger pricking.