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Persistent lows

Engineer88

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,130
Location
Wales
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Does anyone else have persistent lows for up to a week or two every 3-6ish months?

I'm currently having 3 a day of 3.0/1 or there abouts since friday. I spoke to my DSN who I can see is trying to be helpful but, well, isnt.

I have no changes in activity or insulin. I an now on 40% less insulin than I should be on a monday.

I am not sick (anymore than normal).

I am a little stressed but not excessively.

I have changed set/pump recently incl site

I am under estimating carbs and reducing corrections by half (8 hours post hypo).

Any suggestions welcome
 
Basal testing @Engineer88? Worth doing when you experience unexplained hypo's.
 
Yep! Quite often (maybe every 3-5 months) I would get up to 2 weeks of constant hypos (up to 5 a day). There was no rhyme or reason to it and then they would just go back to normal. Haven't had that for quite a long while now, though, that you mention it.
 
Engineer88 said:
But I've been through this before @noblehead, a week and I'll be back to normal
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I see, then your probably doing the right thing making temporary adjustments to your boluses and corrections, why don't you also use a TBR until things return to normal.
 
I personally (and as a female) find that hormones play a huge part in how much basal I need throughout the month, 2 weeks out of 4 I have to increase by about a third, then drop after menstruation as I am hypo-ing 2-3 times a day. I don't know if this is relevant but hormones are something that really mess up my control.
 
I normally get this in the run up to a cold (I could almost eat a mars bar and not go high). It's always just around the time I think I've finally got this diabetic thing cracked when I start to sneeze and my levels go through the roof!
 
I do get a run of lows from time to time. I search for a reason but can't pin them to anything. I would say that this lasts for no more than 2 days, every 3-4 weeks. By the time I'm starting to correct for them, it's over, and I'm back to square one. I've wondered whether it's anything to do with my slow but steady weight-loss over the last 20 months. This could affect insulin ratios because although safe, slow and steady, the weight comes off in small fits and starts.
 
 

I would agree if it was monthly but its not at all. its maybe 3-4 months apart - I know it happened in Feb and had a milder version in the summer. all I can say is thank god for CGM
 
staffsmatt said:
I normally get this in the run up to a cold (I could almost eat a mars bar and not go high). It's always just around the time I think I've finally got this diabetic thing cracked when I start to sneeze and my levels go through the roof!
Click to expand...

Ive eaten full fat coke, cake, cereal the lot and not covered with bolus while on a temp reduced basal!!
 
My Basal drops like a bomb every 8 weeks or so. So I reset the basals. Then without warning or reason they need upping again. The increase/decrease can be as much as 8 units over different time slots during the day.
 
Hi engineer.
I kind of have the opposite. For one or two weeks every few months I seem to need more basal. Overnight I find I need to double my basal from 3 units to 6. Then randomly overnight I go back to my normal basal needs and have few days of hypo city trying to reduce the basal back down. It's happened about 3 times over the last year and can't find any reason for it. My last consultant thought I was a bit mad but next week I am seeking Dr Gallen who apparently is excellent so will see if he has any thoughts. I just end up testing and testing more, sadly I don't have cgm . Weird though isn't it!
Sorry not any helpful advice but just wanted to say I feel your frustration.
 
I usually have sudden drops like that when I gain muscle. I work out for months, not much seems to be happening, then (often after a week "off" or rest period), my insulin requirements drop through the floor and I'm battling hypos. Then it stabilizes again. Could it be that?
 


I find similarly to staffsmat - pre some colds i have lows for days, and when I had the worst ever lows i have had for up to a week, for no seeming reason, i got shingles.

Possibly the lows mean the immune system is acting up? That's my theory, as i have had other drops which go on and on when i have had other immune disease changes later. I now double up on keeping well if this happens, and look for other changes - and take the drop as something my immune system may be trying to tell me.....my other theory is that a random low may somehow temporarily alter the immune system leading me to need less insulin (not sure on this last idea)
 

Not really - I dont work out other than walking the dog
 
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