Did I (nearly) have a hypo?

[Salinda]

Hi there, me again with another question. Since diagnosis (T2) in June, my numbers have been fine (between 5 and 9). This morning it was 7 before breakfast which was my usual porridge and half a banana. I left home at 10.30 to go and meet some friends. Shortly before 12, I started feeling hot, clammy and sweaty and a bit wobbly. Away from home, I couldn't do a test but ate an apple and about 20 minutes later, felt absolutely fine. I am on Metformin and thought I understood that I was unlikely to experience a hypo. Should I be worried? I am out all day again tomorrow and will make sure I eat regularly.

 

[Northerner]

I don't think it's impossible, but very unlikely, to have hypos on metformin, although it's possible that you experienced a 'false hypo' i.e. a level lower than you have been used to for a while - you may for example have been hovering around 4.0. You did the right thing in eating something sweet! If it was a false hypo then you shouldn't get these symptoms once you get used to having the lower levels more often, but it is best to test so you can associate the symptoms with particular levels. Should the rare possibility occur that you are below 4 then something faster acting than an apple would be recommended e.g jelly babies or glucose tablets/lucozade 🙂

 

[Robster65]

There is also the possibility of reactive hypo, which I think can happen on metformin, when your insulin resistance is high enough to cause the pancreas to push out so much insulin that by the time the brain/body sees a change in BGs, the BG has actually started dropping and the insulin then causes your BG to drop too low, causing a proper hypo.

It may be that the poridge/banana combo is giving you a spike which your pancreas can't deal with.

I think bananas are notorious for spiking due to relatively high GI but I may be completely wrong on all counts ! 😱

Rob

 

[Northerner]

With bananas the GI increases as they ripen, so a 'black' banana will be much higher in sugar than a green one 🙂

 

[Robster65]

With bananas the GI increases as they ripen, so a 'black' banana will be much higher in sugar than a green one 🙂

...and I looooooooooooooooove really ripe bananas 😛🙄

Rob