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Reading too low...?

  • Thread starter Thread starter debrasue
  • Start Date Start Date
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debrasue

Guest
Newbie, T2, no meds
Reading before breakfast 6.7, two hours after breakfast 5.8, after lunch 8.3, but now - just before dinner - 4.3 and I do feel a little light-headed. Should I be worried? Is it normal to fluctuate like this? Any thoughts/suggestions?
Thanks
 
Your reading of 4.3 is not clinically considered hypoglycemia. However, if this happened just before dinner, it could be caused by fatigue and general lack of energy (calories of some sort).

The other possibility is that if you've only just recently gotten your levels under control your body can exhibit "false hypo" symptoms simply due to the fact that it's become used to much higher blood glucose levels.

As far as if your numbers are normal: they're certainly not unusual given the context you shared during which they occurred. Of course, it would depend how long after your lunch that you tested that 8.3 result.
 
Hi debrasue... As long as your feeling reasonably ok , your bs's will fluctuate in the beggining,, my advice would be...don't cut down too fast on your foods take it easy so your system gets into it nicely, clive
 
Until your body gets used to reduced carbs, your body is telling you to want more carbs, it's a bit like cold turkey, and you may be getting a touch of carb flu, which should last no more than a week or so.
In the meantime your blood glucose levels will be everywhere, up and down.
It is usual to get a normal reading in the fours, before eating, it is eating that boosts your levels. If you feel light headed, eat a low carb meal, after fifteen minutes you should feel better.
You should not be going hypo, if you are not on meds. Four is not a hypo!



You are best doing the before eating reading and two hours after.
If you can do this, you will get an idea, which foods you can tolerate.
 
TorqPenderloin said:
Your reading of 4.3 is not clinically considered hypoglycemia. However, if this happened just before dinner, it could be caused by fatigue and general lack of energy (calories of some sort).

The other possibility is that if you've only just recently gotten your levels under control your body can exhibit "false hypo" symptoms simply due to the fact that it's become used to much higher blood glucose levels.

As far as if your numbers are normal: they're certainly not unusual given the context you shared during which they occurred. Of course, it would depend how long after your lunch that you tested that 8.3 result.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. Your suggestion about 'false hypo' makes a lot of sense. I tested 2 hours after lunch.
 
nosher8355 said:
Until your body gets used to reduced carbs, your body is telling you to want more carbs, it's a bit like cold turkey, and you may be getting a touch of carb flu, which should last no more than a week or so.
In the meantime your blood glucose levels will be everywhere, up and down.
It is usual to get a normal reading in the fours, before eating, it is eating that boosts your levels. If you feel light headed, eat a low carb meal, after fifteen minutes you should feel better.
You should not be going hypo, if you are not on meds. Four is not a hypo!



You are best doing the before eating reading and two hours after.
If you can do this, you will get an idea, which foods you can tolerate.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this, @nosher8355. I was going by the article on this site What is a hypo? and got a little alarmed!
 
4's are fine. But I feel bad when I'm in the 4's, I much prefer to stay in the 5's.
I do work hard, and exercise hard though.
You're doing well, and you sound like you are getting a good handle on it, so keep doing what you're doing.
 
debrasue said:
Thanks for this, @nosher8355. I was going by the article on this site What is a hypo? and got a little alarmed!
Click to expand...
Again, depending on how you can cope with your blood glucose levels.
Hypos are usually below 3.5 mmols. Though we do have posters who live normal lives with no hypo symptoms at all at these levels, some posters experience symptoms in the fours or even the fives.
However if you do feel wobbly it is advisable to treat it, and if you are able to take a reading, to actually see what level you are.
It has been known, to feel rough as if you are having a hypo, but your levels are good.
Probably, and most likely if you have a virus or colds or flu.
Lots of things change blood glucose levels, including exercise and stress, even doing too much or too little.
I know it sounds confusing but, if you eat to your meter, you should be ok.
If you know what spikes you, just do without it. There is always another alternative and probably healthier for you.
 
nosher8355 said:
Again, depending on how you can cope with your blood glucose levels.
Hypos are usually below 3.5 mmols. Though we do have posters who live normal lives with no hypo symptoms at all at these levels, some posters experience symptoms in the fours or even the fives.
However if you do feel wobbly it is advisable to treat it, and if you are able to take a reading, to actually see what level you are.
It has been known, to feel rough as if you are having a hypo, but your levels are good.
Probably, and most likely if you have a virus or colds or flu.
Lots of things change blood glucose levels, including exercise and stress, even doing too much or too little.
I know it sounds confusing but, if you eat to your meter, you should be ok.
If you know what spikes you, just do without it. There is always another alternative and probably healthier for you.
Click to expand...
Thanks, @nosher8355. I'm a newbie at this - only diagnosed a week ago - and I'm learning my way and getting a lot of good information on this site. Being a little worried about the 4.8 reading, and feeling rather light-headed, I followed the advice on here and drank about 60ml of orange juice. I tested again after 20 minutes; the reading was 5.3 and I felt a lot better. I'm aware that one of my personality weaknesses is to be very 'all-or-nothing' (which probably led me into diabetes in the first place!) and I have thrown myself into LC quite enthusiastically. Perhaps a little TOO enthusiastically... But as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! :)
 
nosher8355 said:
Again, depending on how you can cope with your blood glucose levels.
Hypos are usually below 3.5 mmols. Though we do have posters who live normal lives with no hypo symptoms at all at these levels, some posters experience symptoms in the fours or even the fives.
However if you do feel wobbly it is advisable to treat it, and if you are able to take a reading, to actually see what level you are.
It has been known, to feel rough as if you are having a hypo, but your levels are good.
Probably, and most likely if you have a virus or colds or flu.
Lots of things change blood glucose levels, including exercise and stress, even doing too much or too little.
I know it sounds confusing but, if you eat to your meter, you should be ok.
If you know what spikes you, just do without it. There is always another alternative and probably healthier for you.
Click to expand...
I tried to log onto your blog, BTW, but the website tells me I don't have permission...
 
debrasue said:
I tried to log onto your blog, BTW, but the website tells me I don't have permission...
Click to expand...

I think you need to have more posts. Think its eighty!
If you go to the top of the page, it says blogs. Press that, then look for my blog page.
Be warned I am weird.

If you want to get your post count up go to the forum games forum. And build them up playing word games.

On feeling rough, the best way to treat that or a hypo, which I don't believe you are, is treat it as gently as you can without treating it too gently. You do have to do a lot of experimenting with things to know what's good for you.

A few sweets, a couple of biscuits, orange squash or juice, something that will make you feel better after fifteen minutes. If you treat it too much, you will spike higher than you should, but only you know what works for you.

Some suggest a bottle of ordinary coke or a bottle of lucozade, I think thats too much.
Even some glucose tablets would do. Every chemist has them. They are for just in case!
 
debrasue said:
Thanks, @nosher8355. I'm a newbie at this - only diagnosed a week ago - and I'm learning my way and getting a lot of good information on this site. Being a little worried about the 4.8 reading, and feeling rather light-headed, I followed the advice on here and drank about 60ml of orange juice. I tested again after 20 minutes; the reading was 5.3 and I felt a lot better. I'm aware that one of my personality weaknesses is to be very 'all-or-nothing' (which probably led me into diabetes in the first place!) and I have thrown myself into LC quite enthusiastically. Perhaps a little TOO enthusiastically... But as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! :)
Click to expand...

Debrasue, please don't be scared of a low number. unless it begins with a 2 or a 1. For most, a 3 would lead to feeling a bit rough, although I only feel rough at 3.2 or lower, but to be fair, that would usually be if I'm just about to eat, so I would be feeling naturally hungry.

When I go very low, I find I don't need fruit juice, sweets or anything fancy. I find a cup of tea, with milk, just lifts me a bit, until can have my next meal.

Whilst I appreciate your number was higher than I would feel low, and you are pretty new to this, please try not to over-treat things as part of the feeling a "bit off" is your body objecting to the changes you are making. If you over-treat, there is a chance it will just take longer for your body to get used to things. You have to use your judgement, and you certainly shouldn't make yourself poorly.

Bearing in mind how quickly you are achieving these great levels, I would be hopeful you will be able to achieve good, consistent levels, once your body gets used to your new way of eating.

Good luck with it all.
 
AndBreathe said:
Debrasue, please don't be scared of a low number. unless it begins with a 2 or a 1. For most, a 3 would lead to feeling a bit rough, although I only feel rough at 3.2 or lower, but to be fair, that would usually be if I'm just about to eat, so I would be feeling naturally hungry.

When I go very low, I find I don't need fruit juice, sweets or anything fancy. I find a cup of tea, with milk, just lifts me a bit, until can have my next meal.

Whilst I appreciate your number was higher than I would feel low, and you are pretty new to this, please try not to over-treat things as part of the feeling a "bit off" is your body objecting to the changes you are making. If you over-treat, there is a chance it will just take longer for your body to get used to things. You have to use your judgement, and you certainly shouldn't make yourself poorly.

Bearing in mind how quickly you are achieving these great levels, I would be hopeful you will be able to achieve good, consistent levels, once your body gets used to your new way of eating.

Good luck with it all.
Click to expand...
Thanks, @AndBreathe You're right - I am VERY new to this, but I'm learning a lot from this site. My levels today have been not too bad - 8.3 fasting, 7.1 two hours after breakfast and 6.1 two hours after lunch, and I feel pretty good today (especially after getting on the scales and discovering that I've lost 10lbs in my first week, despite still suffering from water retention! VERY encouraging - this LC/HF stuff really works, doesn't it?!!)
I'm sticking with the programme... :-)
 
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