"PickledPepper"Just to throw this in the mix:
I asked my GP about hypos and she told me that I needed to worry when I get around the 3.0 mark.
This seems quite low compared to accepted wisdom?
depends on whose wisdom, certainly it isn't until below this that the brain becomes to be deprived of glucose .
Ragnar Hanas, in his book on T1 strongly suggests that the right level to be aware of hypos is between 3.5 and 4mmol; not above, not below.
This is a level above the level which causes a lack of glucose to the brain so treatment can take place before any problems arise.
He says that If you have lots of hypos below 2.5mmol/3mmol the risk is of not being aware until the brain is already deprived of glucose. The person may have problems trying to think rationally and therefore find it difficult to take appropriate action to treat. The solution here is to reduce insulin and increase overall levels so avoiding very low levels and raising the 'glucostat'
He also says that being aware at levels much above this (he says 4.5-5.5mmol) may be caused by keeping average glucose levels too high and gives instructions to lower the 'glucostat' downwards. You can read the chapter with google books (google:ragnar hanas hypoglycaemia awareness)
Here is another link,information validated by an eminent British Diabetologist.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/fac ... garlow.htm
note the last part
Normally, hypoglycaemia is easily treatable. A few mild episodes in a week are not harmful.
It starts to become dangerous only when the glucose level keeps dropping below acceptable limits – the brain's principal source of energy is glucose
I think hypos need to be placed in perspective, they are part and parcel of being on insulin and fortunately, most are of no consequence.
It is important to realise that symptoms may change over time, they become more subtle and less dramatic overtime .I remember sitting in a restaurant waiting for my meal with sweat pouring off me, whilst shaking uncontrolably. That wouldn't happen now so it is important to test frequently. Hypo awareness is exactly that knowing what your signs are,(there is a very good section in the Ragnar Hans book on teaching yourself to to detect subtle signs)
(physiologically there is almost always a blunting of counter regulatory responses which cause the physical symptoms when a person has had T1 for some time)
To the original question, I would go to bed at 5.8mmol : below 5mmol is the level I might eat a few carbs... it used to be lower but I discovered levels were sometimes slipping below 4 and then rising again . Other than that slight dip my levels don't vary that much overnight
but I only know that's whats going on by testing!
