Type 2 plus 1x levemir, Lows, stop the panic

[Bobby105]

Hi. Im only on insulin once a day. Occasionally I get lows. These unnerve. I tend to overcompensate. now with consequent higher readings around 11- 15 after the next meal.
Any suggestions to quell the fear and to treat a low, (3.1 - 3.8 & two 2.6 over 3 yrs) sensibly,

 

[grantg]

what are you treating lows symptomatic with?
Cgm may help https://www.dexcom.com/en-gb/dexcom-one-plus-sample 10 day trial to see how much fast carbs needed to initially treat. Expensive if buying. I know your insulin is changing some point in next year max and seeing diabetic team shortly could be worth depending on levels asking if could get cgm prescribed at least initially to see levels with replacement when Levemir is discontinued and require to switch meds.

edit: removed previous first line.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi. Im only on insulin once a day. Occasionally I get lows. These unnerve. I tend to overcompensate. now with consequent higher readings around 11- 15 after the next meal.
Any suggestions to quell the fear and to treat a low, (3.1 - 3.8 & two 2.6 over 3 yrs) sensibly,

Hi @Bobby105 ,

Hypos can unnerve & can cause a panic in eating which could later rebound in high numbers. (Been there myself. & fathomed the personal effects of 10g of carbs affecting my BGs regarding my basal.)
I’m not sure what you use to treat your lows. But looking at the numbers you seem to settle at after treating, if that was me? I’d try half the carbs consumed for the low?

 

[Lakeslover]

Hi. Im only on insulin once a day. Occasionally I get lows. These unnerve. I tend to overcompensate. now with consequent higher readings around 11- 15 after the next meal.
Any suggestions to quell the fear and to treat a low, (3.1 - 3.8 & two 2.6 over 3 yrs) sensibly,

I think hypos can be unnerving. I’ve experimented over the years and find if I catch the hypo early just a couple of fruit pastilles is enough, if I’m in the low threes I might need a biscuit. But for me the unnerving bit is after I’ve eaten that, waiting for the BS to start rising and resisting the urge to have more too soon. Even worse if it’s the middle of the night and I just want to go back to sleep ( like last night!).

I think @Jaylee is right, try halving what you took last time, and once eaten try to wait 20 mins to see what happens before eating any more.

 

[Jaylee]

I think @Jaylee is right, try halving what you took last time, and once eaten try to wait 20 mins to see what happens before eating any more.

Hi,

Yep. In my experience CGMs lag longer in recovery to hypos. I feel back to normal but the response of my Libre takes it’s own time..
With regards to a meter. (Although it responds quicker than the sensor & more in tune with the awaiting hypo symptoms.) if I was to test 5 or 10 minutes after treating, the numbers tend not to change sometimes going 0.6mmol lower? Before showing a response 20 or 25 minutes later in the right direction..
I’ve learned to put my sensor on snooze after initial alarm taking the readings more seriously 45 minutes after the event. Thus siding more with my meter. With treating lows.

 

[Tony337]

Hi
Being an old hack i'm used to lows and funnily enough i'm 3.7 as we speak and had a freddo bar.

Fave story roughly 12 months ago........

In GP waiting room waiting for nurse appointment ...checked my libre 4.1 with arrow down.
Popped in 3 jelly babies as i had no fast acting insulin on board...
Called in to appointment and my alarm went off and the nurse showed concern.
I told nurse i had already eaten but she started getting edgy...

Finished appointment and i flashed my phone at her as i was leaving 5.5

We are all different and if i go really low like 2.3 then i go back to using my meter as it is more accurate and its normal to feel rough when your levels have gone back up.

I hope this helps

Good luck

Tony