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Type 2 When does a hypo kick in?

Nodemus

Well-Known Member
Messages
53
Location
Southwest UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I’m starting to notice that I feel the effects of a hypo at around 5.2 mmol and under
I start shaking I get irritated and drowsy.
I had 4 jelly babies
Checked 10min later and they had risen to 10.1mmol
Is this normal? Are there other foods I can eat? Have my sugars risen to much? Diabetes has me asking more questions then I can answer.
Thanks community
 
5.2mmol is not an actual hypo if that reading was accurate. It is in fact a perfectly normal reading on its own. It might be a false hypo if you are accustomed to significantly higher levels or drop from a much higher level quickly. A type 2 not on hypoglycaemic medication will not usually hypo unless other conditions or medications are involved. I’d say 10.2 was quite high in most situations. Type 1 or on insulin will depend which direction and how fast what action needs taking.

Your profile doesn’t say what type you are and what medication you are on? This information is extremely relevant with regards to advice on hypos. Can you update your profile and this post please
 
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I was going to refrain from commenting on this thread but as you are on insulin I will put in my piece.

The risk with insulin is that you can go dangerously low, so fast acting carbs are sometimes necessary. As @HSSS said, false hypos may be a factor.. As a T1 who is used to insulin, I wouldn't regard 5.2 as too low, but I'd probably take a couple of jelly babies (or equivalent) at 4.2, just because I don't want to go significantly lower.

But I don't know what types of insulin you are on or how used you are to hypos or what your DN has said about the blood glucose levels you should aim for. All these things would influence my comments, which is one of the reasons why forum rules are so strict about not giving medical advice.

Most of the insulin dependent T1s posting will have experienced "eat the fridge" syndrome when hypo (as in you want to eat the contents of the fridge) and had some rebound highs after hypos. Experience helps you mitigate all these factors. (I've just chowed down on the equivalent of 2 jelly babies because my meter said I was 4,4 and dropping and now my meter says 9.5 sigh ).
 
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Thank you for hopping in. I tried to find what type/medication from older posts but couldn’t see anything so tried to be cautious in what I said.

I REALLY wish posters would fill in at least the basic info in their profile or post - this ones demonstrate how much difference it makes.
 
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