What's the lowest hypo value you're ever had?

[azure]

Everything you wrote is true Juicy but I'm not content with merely controlling my type 1 diabetes, I want to beat it. And to do that, knowledge is key.

Aside from this, knowing the point at which I'll drop unconscious or lose my sight could indeed save my life, and likely has a few times already. I've run out of glucose pills from a severe hypo, then had another one, while walking, exercising and even driving. Stopping your car in the middle of nowhere could result in you dying too (imagine the horror of your phone being dead too...it's happened to me, all these things going wrong at the same time), so being resilient and able to get somewhere in one piece to get a candy bar is helpful.

The body can be trained to do many things, including work under mental duress and even outright impairment. I've had cases where I was working for hours and didn't realize my sugars were low the entire time, because, let's face it, while your brain is starved for sugar it's not in a competent / rational state (in fact you could probably get exculpated for your actions in this state). When I finally fixed my sugars and reviewed my work I wondered "what is this nonsense?" This is why I check my sugars before writing any emails at work, hypo and even hyper-glycemic episodes can have a detrimental effect on your professional career if you're not careful. Getting irritated / enraged / defensive / paranoid are only some of the reactions from this disease.

So yes, absolutely, knowing more facts on the signs and effects of hypos on the body and mind can help you out of a tough spot, or even mean the difference between life and death. I've woken up in my bed after a night out, not knowing how I got there, and with bruises, cuts on my knees and torn jeans (from crawling home on my knees while semi-conscious, presumably). I never black out from alcohol, but hypos have messed me up and blocked out many memories. This has even happened to me during the day, just walking home from work, literally falling over, banging my head. So tell me again how it's not important to know when you're going to collapse so you can yell to a stranger for help or even eat a candy bar from a shoppe despite not having any money or even being able to articulate what you're doing. My worst nightmare, not being able to ask for help or explain how I need a muffin or candy from a store clerk, has happened many times. It's infuriating, frustrating, degrading. Have you ever been arrested for your diabetes? I came close, twice. Once when I crashed my car due to a sudden blackout and complete loss of vision, and the cops assumed I was drunk and made me take a breathalyzer. I lost my license as a result (I got it back later when my hypo frequency got better).

All this is to say, that yes, I do think it's significant to know the rough point at which one will collapse due to a hypo. Frankly, I find it odd that I even have to rationalize my asking. Other type 1s should know exactly how this feels. And being able to tell this information to friends and family is also vital. I've had friends who nearly came close to killing me by thinking when I passed out that I needed MORE insulin. Ignorance is not bliss, it's a killer.

I completely agree hypos can be vicious and can come on suddenly. I sympathise hugely that you've suffered so badly.

However, I still don't understand the actual point of this enquiry. If I test my BS and it says 3.9 I eat something. I don't carry on with what I'm doing. Why would anyone do that? So how could the knowledge of at what level you'd lose consciousness help you? Surely you too would eat in the 3s? You wouldn't carry on with what you were doing because you 'knew' you wouldn't pass out until you were under 2 or whatever?

I'd also point out that it's not just the loss of consciousness that's the issue. Even while conscious, damage can be done to the body eg the brain cells, etc.

The trick is to test and spot a potential hypo before it happens. Just like we correct a BS that's a bit high rather than wait 'because we know you can't go into DKA until you get to 30.

The answer to your query re losing consciousness is somewhere between 2.5 and 0. There is no definite figure, and moreover there's not even a definite figure for an individual person at which they'll pass out.

 

[Snapsy]

Between 2mmol and 4.5mmol I have a whole range of hypo symptoms. Sometimes I feel VERY low at 4.1, sometimes I am very surprised when I suddenly find I'm 2.1 and still functioning.

A lot of this has to do with rate of fall. But a lot of it is just complete '***?' random factors.

Every hypo for me is different. I can't possibly begin to analyse them. I have been conscious (walking up a mountain) at 1.6. I have been unconscious while in the 2s.

Pretty arbitrary.

 

[tim2000s]

I've experienced very similar to @Snapsy - my lowest that I was conscious for was measured at 1.2mmol/l on the way back up. That was after I was able to stand up again and walk. It was a signposted low that I'd pre-treated, but I think it probably dropped below 1.0 mmol/l as my legs stopped working and I collapsed. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and it was **** hard to stay conscious. At the time I was also very low carb, so I suspect that had a part to play. In all fairness,

I've had very few extremely low episodes in 28 years and the ones where I've required assistance weren't as low as that registered. Having said that, at that level, a glucose meter has a wide range at which the readings could be showing, so it's very hard to tell what your low level really was.

 

[Medusa41]

Interesting topic - like others have said incl @Snapsy - different feelings sometimes with different numbers. My lowest was in Jan - 1.6 which had plummeted down v fast. Was still able to grab some juice & gulp it down but felt horrid. At other times a 3.3 has felt horrid & I've been shaky & sworn at my husband to get me some sugar!!! Trying to avoid them is our aim / since having a pump I have far less but the 1.6 one was with a pump too!

 

[Eireannn]

Sub-2.2, according to the Abbott customer service guy I spoke to yesterday.

Oh, thank you!

 

[isjoberg]

I've had a few lows and so far only three hypos which I have needed assistance with - lowest hypo was a LO and numerically 1.3 on diabetes camp incidentally!

 

[Gaztheoldpunk]

I'm curious what any of your lowest values were, where you managed to bring it back up and remain conscious.

I've woken up in the hospital a couple times in my life so had no idea what my value was for those times, but typically have managed to fix it myself, or have someone at hand to help me drink some OJ.

My personal lowest was 1.1 that I can remember.

Lowest I can remember is 2.2 and I came around in my front room with 2 paramedics!! Sometimes tho I can have bloods of 4.5 and have all the symptoms but sometimes it can be as low as 3 and I feel ok..... strange!!

 

[TeamHard2017]

1.2

 

[johnnyxs]

Before I post my lowest level I'd just like to say that I was shocked and dismayed to read the following post from a Diabetes Uk forum member and unbelievably from a Moderator too !

quote '
your query and poll offends me , as it seeks to establish some sort of "low" point
in any of our lives, that may have been beyond our control.
some of us ( including myself) have been unconscious , and ended up in ( A&E ) hospital with severe hypos.

your thread is at best macabre , and at its worst spurious.

This kind of personal attack and cyber bullying is simply intolerable and needs to be stood up against. Its PC gone mad. Everyone that gave the comment a thumbs up should be ashamed of themselves...... as should all those that questioned the point of hoping4cure's posting.

In the UK we have a Democracy and a crucial part of living in a democracy is having the right to hold ones own opinions and the right to voice them in free speech. Hoping4cure's intentions and expectations in posting are their own business and they should be under no pressure to account for their intentions or justify posting. Their question and poll in no way could be construed as being deliberately offensive and anyone that took offence needs to grow a thicker skin in my opinion .

Anyway I've got that off my chest and I've come down off the soapbox. i do hope that my opinion hasn't offended anyone as it wasn't my intention but I will always stand up for those being bullyed .

My lowest was 2.7 mmol/L March last year some 8 weeks after being diagnosed T2 with a BS level of 30mmol/L The occasional low BS level occurred mid mornings or after light excercise within 8-10 weeks of diagnosis . I have not had another episode since last March

 

[TheBigNewt]

I've had very few extremely low episodes in 28 years and the ones where I've required assistance weren't as low as that registered. Having said that, at that level, a glucose meter has a wide range at which the readings could be showing, so it's very hard to tell what your low level really was.

Yes I would imagine the absolute accuracy of meters might be a bit wanting at the upper and lower extremes. I think I had one just say: LO one time, but I was conscious. I understand you are supposed to test before you drive, which isn't a dumb idea. But who keeps track of those readings? I assume it's more or less voluntary right? So if you're in an accident are you supposed to have a meter with you to test at that time? Because I imagine your driver's license says you take insulin (ours does not)

 

[azure]

no, it's not voluntary @TheBigNewt You're issued with your licence and have to sign to say you're following the rules. But, as you say, who in their right mind wouldnt test before driving.

 

[Lamont D]

I have just gone through the thread and posts on this topic and it has been mentioned that that sometimes your glucometer reads LO!
I have been reminded that I had a few of them and I thought that this showed there was something wrong with the monitor, as according to my doctors at the time dismissed that I could go that low!
This had slipped my mind.
Symptoms in my hypo hell must have been responsible for the forgetfulness and memory loss.
Having fluctuating blood glucose levels is definitely not recommended especially when you rebound to double figures then crash to hypo levels and you haven't got a clue what was going on!

 

[whitesnake]

Thought this was a helpful forum the more I read on different threads I find some people rude and talk down to people so going to give it a miss from now on .

 

[Vegman1441]

I had a reading of 2.1 while in hospital having a total knee replacement, this was at gone midnight.
All my Diabetes kit was locked away in a box on the wall and it took shouting and threats to get my kit to test and insulin plus glucotabs. Seems hospitals don't have a dam clue about Diabetes.

 

[Lamont D]

Thought this was a helpful forum the more I read on different threads I find some people rude and talk down to people so going to give it a miss from now on .

Ignore the rudeness, look at the information given, that is the message this forum gives!

 

[whitesnake]

Thought this was a helpful forum I have had diabetes for 28 years I find some people rude to others and talk down to them on some of the threads I have looked at so think I will give it a miss from now.

 

[whitesnake]

Yes I do find some useful information but rudeness is one thing that gets to me everybody is in similar circumstances and just want a bit of information.

 

[whitesnake]

I had a reading of 2.1 while in hospital having a total knee replacement, this was at gone midnight.
All my Diabetes kit was locked away in a box on the wall and it took shouting and threats to get my kit to test and insulin plus glucotabs. Seems hospitals don't have a dam clue about Diabetes.

So true I have been in hospital and my word most of them new nothing.

 

[Lamont D]

Yes I do find some useful information but rudeness is one thing that gets to me everybody is in similar circumstances and just want a bit of information.

Bear with us for a while longer.
I don't mean to be critical but having a metabolic condition such as type 1 or my rarer type of RH, should make you more resilient to comments and opinions.
We have had to battle for the right to get the right treatment and generally ignore medical dietary advice and teaching.
This forum would not exist but for the stand it is taking to give information about how to make a real difference and the success it has had with the expertise of how diabetics can get off medication if the diet is right for that individual!

Ignore the rudeness, you are free to be part of the community on this forum!

 

[TheBigNewt]

no, it's not voluntary @TheBigNewt You're issued with your licence and have to sign to say you're following the rules. But, as you say, who in their right mind wouldnt test before driving.

So I'm sure some "follow the rules" more than others as with anything else. I don't test before I drive but I test 4 times/d and eat 2-3 meals/d and have some snack material at hand at all times. I've only had 4 serious low episodes behind the wheel in 34 years, and none in years now.