Bloods

[Samsheekey]

Hi

Tried to have a look but couldn't find much, just thought it be good to see what other T1s consider what there high and lows levels and at what point to you become aware that something isn't quite right, think some people will differ and be good to know, for me I would say

Consider anything under 3 to be a low start to notice a low at this level but has happened a few times when I've still been able to function a test my blood and had a few surprises of low 2'S

Consider really anything over 12 to be high and start to notice around this level thurst etc I like to be around 7-9 as a nice level.

Thanks Sam

 

[rebrascora]

Hi
With Libre sensors we try to keep readings between 3.9 and 10 as much of the time as possible but ideally 75+% of the time.
The beauty of the Libre system is that you can see what your levels are doing all the time, even right through the night (via a graph plotted and viewed the next morning) and scan as often as you like and each scan gives you a direction of travel as well as the actual reading which gives you the confidence to correct high's before they become too high or take carbs on board before you get too low. It is a really great bit of kit. Since getting the Libre three months ago I have been getting 91% of my time in the 3.9-10 range and my HbA1c has improved to 48
Usually around 9 I start to feel like I have lead weights attached to my legs and depending on how fast I am falling I can sometimes feel a hypo approaching at mid to low 4s but if it is a slow decline or when I am not physically active or asleep it will usually be mid 3s when I feel it.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Since getting the Libre three months ago I have been getting 91% of my time in the 3.9-10 range

I'm getting 80-90%, usually. (80% for the last 90 days, but 89% for the last 7 days. I've had at least one day when I had 100%, and now I look I see I've got 99% for the last 24 hours!)

(My second to last HbA1c was 49. Haven't called about the latest one yet, but I'm guessing it'll be similar. (If it's as low as 44 I think I'll assume it's falsely low.))

But yes, staying between 3.9 and 10.0 is what I'm trying to do, but I accept that I'm going above 10.0 for a bit (after meals) and below 4 when I mess up.

I feel lows now which is good and I think I don't really feel much until I go below what Libre shows as 3.5 or so. I feel highs but only over what Libre shows as 12ish, though sometimes a bit lower than that. (Much outside 3.9-10.0 I don't really trust the values too much so likely that doesn't matter. Below 3.9 is too low and above 10.0 is too high.)

 

[trophywench]

I'm rather happy that I usually feel lows when I'm in the low 4s. I'd say anything in double figures is a high, myself. Don't actually get the thirsts till I'm higher than that though.

 

[Kaylz]

Lows depends, if it's a fast fall I can feel low at 4.5, if its a slow decline I don't feel low until below 4, I feel high above 9 in that my lower legs go tingly and feel heavy if that makes sense to anyone else lol xx

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Consider anything under 3 to be a low start to notice a low at this level but has happened a few times when I've still been able to function a test my blood and had a few surprises of low 2'S

One of the amazing things the body and brain can do is to physically change in order to ‘perform better’ in the face of various stresses and situations. It’s how we can get fitter and stronger... lift heavier weights... run faster etc.

I’ve seen fascinating conference presentations that show brain imaging in people with diabetes that shows different responses to hypoglycaemia than ‘nonnys’. The body’s automatic counterregulatory hormone response of dumping glucose from the liver gets mangled too.

It's like we have been ‘crying wolf’ with all those slight miscalculations and the body just stops firing the expensive cortisol/adrenaline alert/restore responses

Of course with diabetes that’s a bit of a snag since the brain simply cannot function properly at a certain level, and the adaptation which is supposed to act as an early warning sign to give plenty of time to respond and recover can get eaten away and leave us perilously close to the cliff edge.

I impaired my warning signs over years, and have had to work very hard to get them back. I try to keep my minutes below 4.0 as low as I possibly can and generally get warning signs in the mid 3s

It sounds like you may not be getting much warning around 4 any more? The DVLA can take a dim view of that, so it might be worth working with your clinic to try to reduce the number of low level ‘irritating‘ dips along with the nastier lows?

Have you ever worn a sensor like Libre to see the ones you may be unaware of (eg those overnight)?