How many lows?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by lane jaeckle santos on June 5, 2008 at 10:58am

I'm not totally insulin dependant yet, but on bad days I go low sometimes twice. Commonly- it's in the 70s (when I start feeling like crap and get a bit out of it and irritable) at least 3-4 times a week.

I have only rarely been in the low 60s- which is good because I was totally useless then and as belligerant as you could possibly be. It was because of these, and the common lows that I finally instituted two policies- 1. I never leave work and drive without testing myself first. 2. I got a medic alert bracelet, even thought I am not on that much insulin. I finally realized that if I can get lows now, and as often as I do, then I should be prepared.

How functional are you when you are low?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Flo on June 5, 2008 at 11:07am

The question is how low are you going?? Also, maybe if it's becoming a problem maybe you need to make adjustments to your insulin regimen. Sometimes with better control you will have what I call nuisance lows...like in the 60's or 70's that aren't serious just annoying.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Karen Vecchitto on June 5, 2008 at 11:45am

Monday it was 3 times. Tuesday none. Wednesday one. Today nothing below the 60's. I probably average 3 times a week. Sometimes more. Never less.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jackie on June 5, 2008 at 12:04pm

I've found myself averaging about one completely unexplainable one per week, plus usually one that can be explained, i.e. overnight after working out for 45 mins at 7pm.
I've also noticed a tendency to cluster, which you seem to have too. Once I get one in a day, I feel like I need to be extra cautious, like skip the gym or take the bus instead of walking home, to avoid another.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kristin on June 5, 2008 at 1:58pm

Thanks for your responses! It helps to know that I'm not the only one going low frequently.

Most of my low's are in the 50's and 60's and I feel them. I am relatively functional with the lows. My control has improved recently.... so some of them might be the "nuisance lows" that Flo described.

I noticed that I am not as aware at night as I used to be. So that worries me the most. I wake up at 40 now. I have a much lower basal at night already, but I will lower it more I think...

I also notice that my lows cluster. Once I have one, then I have several. Could this be because our liver is not able to "re-stock" in time to respond to the lows that come soon after ? ( a really non-scientific guess)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Flo on June 5, 2008 at 2:19pm

I have noticed that my night time lows aren't the same as the ones I have during the day. I have little to no symptoms at night. The only clue I have that I may have/had a low is waking up from a nightmare. That is usually the only indicator I have that I may be low. During the day I'll have the shakes, a gnawing sensation in my stomach, and on some occasions, what I call tunnel vision. At night NONE of these symptoms manifest.

It just seems to be a fact that when you have one low you usually have more. Why that is, I haven't a clue. Maybe someone will come along and explain that one to us...:)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kristy on September 21, 2009 at 8:57pm

I can't explain it but found this on http://www.diabetesnet.com and in my case it make sense.

Prevent Follow-up Low Blood Sugars
"One low blood sugar increases the risk for another. Researchers in Virginia found that the chance for having a second low after one initial reaction increased by 46 percent over the next 24 hours, 24 percent on the second day, and 12 percent on the third day after the original hypoglycemic event.35 An enhanced sensitivity to insulin following the first low blood sugar contributes to this increased risk.

Not only is the risk of a second low greater, but symptoms during the second one are milder and harder to recognize. After stress hormones are released during the first low blood sugar, the body's stores are reduced for the next two to three days, causing a reduction in warning symptoms.

Do not take chances. Take steps to keep your blood sugar higher for the next 24 hours after a low by eating free (uncovered) carbs or lowering your carb boluses."

Adapted from Using Insulin © 2003. Walsh, Roberts, Varma, Bailey.

I find this seems to hold true for me.. I can go a week or so with no hypos but as soon as I have one I usually have another and they do seem to increase in intensity.. I get lower each time and I'm usually less aware of the symptoms.

I had one today..I forgot about the fiber when I added up my carbs.. doh!

BTW, I just noticed how old this post was doh! again

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peyton Love on June 5, 2008 at 4:07pm

When I was first diagnosed (in January) I was low very often. Usually 2-3 times everyday. I adjusted my basal dose and some other things and am doing better now. I was originally doing 22 units of Lantus every day and now I'm doing 14. I go low maybe 2-3 times a week now, but I've been having a few more highs (I think because I've moved and my exercise routine got interupted) but nothing bad, never over 180.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Liz on June 5, 2008 at 5:11pm

Kristin, I sometimes go low 1 or 2 times a day. Other times I can go 3-4 days without any. I feel so much better about things since I've started using the CGM. The Dexcom 7 will sure wake a person out of a dead sleep! And it has helped me to set my pump settings more to what they should be. But then I have the problem of my insulin needs changing SO VERY often, like every other day. I wish I was one of the luckier ones whose needs stay the same.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Libby on June 5, 2008 at 5:39pm

I'm Type 1.5, still have some insulin but I recently started on basal in addition to rapid for meals. For the first couple of weeks I was getting a lot of "nuisance" lows- high 60s low 70s and feeling them each time. Over the weekend, I was gardening and went down to about 65 three times. The last few days, my body has adjusted and I am regularly testing at 77-80 between meals and I feel great. Part of it is what you are used to. I had similar fasting levels for long periods of time and then 75 feels OK. But when my BG has been running a bit higher, then 70s feel like a low.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Karen Doering on June 5, 2008 at 5:47pm

Wow, I feel so much better now, as I suffer from lows daily sometime 2-3. I recently started exercising a ton, so I know that is a big part of the problem, so I am logging with Libby's logs she sent me and making changes to my basals. I am on the verge of giving up exercise as it is easier to control my bgs, but then I look in the mirror and say who is that person with all that extra weight, so I continue to log and decrease my basals. My endo stated with tight control comes lows, but lately this is bordering on the ridiculous, but this post makes me feel normal. ;) ha!! Then of course lows means eating, ahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jan on June 5, 2008 at 6:40pm

Hi. Tight control and lows go together. I find there are patterns with my niece. High/normal, normal with a few lows a week, then beautiful numbers, meeting postprandial goals, with many more lows. We test a lot so we catch them. We do night testing as well. We adjust insulin but it is difficult to keep her stable in the normal/few lows a week pattern. My tip would be if your numbers seem to be really great, postprandials good, look for lows. The better the control, closer to the edge it seems to be. YDMV, though. If on a pump, you can reduce basals for your reverse dawn phenomenon. She also goes lowest 2:30 or 3am thru 5:30 a.m.

▶ Reply to This

• First
• Previous
• Next
• Last