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Fainting/Blacking out?

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jenround

jenround

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi Everyone. Things had been going really well over the past few days, but yesterday and today my bloods went to 15.1 and then down to 3.2 which is the lowest mines ever been considering Ive got high blood glucose. Well about two hours ago I was feeling really tired and lethargic, haven't been able to stop drinking all day, but as I took my two kids and my newfuew down the road to meet my mum from work I started feeling strange. Next thing I knew I was out on the floor with my hands cut and my head feeling like id been kicked in the head. I hadn't been kicked in the head but that was the feeling. I felt worried, scared and very embarrassed as we live on a main road and my kids and nefuew were terrified. This isn't something that happens often but the dizzy spells are becoming more frequent. I haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary. In total today I ate a pear for breakfast, home made fish pie with no added butter or anything else major with some rice and for tea I ate a fruit corner low fat yogurt. I've drank water all day, no tea ect. Does this happen to anyone else. Im a bit shaken right now.
 
Hi jenround 🙂

I can't really offer much advice with me being T1 but at what times were you 15.1 and 3.2 ?

To me, it sounds as if you're having very little for breakfast, a large chunk of carbs and protein at midday, then very little again for tea. I wonder if it may be better for you to spread out your carbs/calories more evenly so you're not experiencing the swings in BG.
Bear in mind I don't know what it's like to be on metformin but I hope you can work out what's gone awry and sort it out asap. 🙂

Rob
 
Hi Jen, very sorry to hear this :( I see you are on ramipril for your blood pressure - although you are only on a small dose, I wonder if your blood pressure is dropping low at times, which is what is leading to the dizzy spells? You should definitely make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible, as I have only really heard of people passing out with very low blood sugar levels (or very high, paradoxically - both situations are very difficult for the brain to deal with). To me, this doesn't sound diabetes related as such, so you should get it checked out.

Hope it is something that can be easily diagnosed and treated 🙂
 
Thanks Robster and thanks Northener.

Robster:- Im not a morning eater, to be honest, but I have to take my medication with food. So a piece of fruit is pretty much all I can stomach. On a normal day I usually eat a small portion of rice (the uncle bens wholemeal individual packets that are in a box of ten) with some tuna and low fat mayo (sounds kinda weird but its nice) and for tea its usually salad, or a couple of rice bread with low fat spread and ham. I will try spreading out my carbs through the day, Oh the times for those readings were yesterday and the 15.1 was before dinner and my 3.2 was before bed.

Northener;- I did have this problem before with my blood pressure, before I was put on medication. but since Ive been on it ive been doing a lot better. My blood pressure is usually around 140 over 95. I haven't got the monitor anymore to check it. I should probably purchase one. I am defiantly going to book an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow. Just after I fell I took my bg level and it was at 17.9 Thank you both for the advice. Gonna take a lie down now
 
I have this blood pressure meter: Omron MX2 Digital Automatic Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor, which is the same make as the one my doctor uses and I find it is very useful to keep an eye on how my BP is doing outside of the doctor's surgery (it's almost always higher when the GP takes it - white coat syndrome!). You might find that it's actually much lower than your GPs reading and therefore could be afactor in your dizziness. Mine was 98/55 today, so I'm thinking of asking for my BP meds to be decreased as I do feel rather light-headed at times.
 
Northerner said:
I have this blood pressure meter: Omron MX2 Digital Automatic Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor, which is the same make as the one my doctor uses and I find it is very useful to keep an eye on how my BP is doing outside of the doctor's surgery (it's almost always higher when the GP takes it - white coat syndrome!). You might find that it's actually much lower than your GPs reading and therefore could be afactor in your dizziness. Mine was 98/55 today, so I'm thinking of asking for my BP meds to be decreased as I do feel rather light-headed at times.
Click to expand...

Oh gosh. I really hope you get that sorted. I wish you luck. I use accucheck nova for my blood glucose, Im thinking of purchasing a blood pressure monitor too. Thank you for the link
 
I hope you feel better soon. Go see the doctor to talk about these blackouts. SOmeone else metioned your breakfast and evening meal seem quite small. I think I'd need to bulk them out a little more. You can always ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician who will help you work out what out need to be eating.
 
Hiya caroline, thank you for your advice. I was thinking the same also. Ive Just got back home from hospital. I went to see the doctor this morning and he sent me to the hospital for me to have my kidney levels ect checked. He's now changed my medication to Gliclazide twice daily. But urged me to take them with food and keep a packet of sweets with me as they can cause Hypoglycaemia. He explained that the blood in my sugar is high but the sugar actually in the cells is v.low. He explained things as well as he could but you've only got a small slot so I couldn't really ask too much. He's told me to have small meals breakfast, lunch and dinner but also something before bed too so thats four small meals i think. i struggle to eat in the morning and at night anyway. I nearly collapsed in the doctor's office >__< very embarrassing. At least I was in the right place this time. And to add to that when I fell yesterday I broke my little finger again >__< so yea im a walking disaster! lol
 
Jen, I have problems eating full meals too, especially first thing. So I have recently been having four smaller meals per day and that seems to work both in terms of keeping me satisfied without being too full (or empty) and also seems to even out the numbers a bit, I think my system used to go berserk whenever I did eat and I'd have a serious BG spike an hour or two later. I had to force myself to do it at first and still don't have breakfast early (not usually before 9:30 as I just can't do it without feeling really sick). Now my body has got used to the new regime and seems quite happy with it. Before, I was often skipping breakfast altogether and feeling very weak and dizzy by lunch time when I would have as big a meal as I could manage, then frequently skipping the evening meal as well. I was forever fallng over and having dizzy spells, but that has more or less stopped since I started a more regular eating regime.

It might well be a struggle, but you should try as it might actually help you feel better.
 
Glad you are getting help. The dread D is not an exact science, so one sized doesn't always fit all. We all have different ways of dealing with things and what will work for one may not work for another.

I always find the appointment time with my doctor too short. Many people find it helps to book a double appointment or take a list of the things they want to say. I find the list a real time saver.
 
Thank you Caroline, and thank you alison. I really do struggle to eat at breakfast time. I usually eat with my kids. But I think im gonna have to try and eat it. I was eating a piece of fruit, so im gonna decide on something a little more and a little later, instead of 8am try about 9.30 like you said. I hope your both doing well. thanks for everything 🙂
 
I see you're on metformin. I find that affects my appetitie and I don't want to eat so much.

For myself I am up around 4.30 am and generally only have a cuppa before I leave for work (I start work at 7am) and can't face food before I leave home, so bring something with me, but I make sure I always carry a hypo treatment just in case.
 
I know that being hypo increases your appetite and causes your stomach to empty quicker. I think that being hyper could have the opposite effect, so if you can get your BGs more level, you may find that you regain your appetite at either end of the day 🙂

Rob
 
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