How low before symptoms of hypo?

[UnexpectedDiagnosis]

How low do people's BG go before they get hypo symptoms?

Just got back from a long walk in the Welsh Hills, when returning home I scanned my libre which said I was 2.9 but when I finger prick tested I was 2.3. I was surprised it was so low as I felt completely normal.

Just curious really as I've had hypo symptoms with higher blood glucose readings previously

 

[Satan’s little helper]

How low do people's BG go before they get hypo symptoms?

Just got back from a long walk in the Welsh Hills, when returning home I scanned my libre which said I was 2.9 but when I finger prick tested I was 2.3. I was surprised it was so low as I felt completely normal.

Just curious really as I've had hypo symptoms with higher blood glucose readings previously

Hello,

No problems with the accuracy of your Libre. (Close enough in my book.)

I normally feel them at the mid 3s? Whilst awake. But I did wake this morning after a heavy night then my alarm sounded. By the time I’d worked out what was going on, treated & tested. I was 2.9.

Sometimes the severity of a low (or how early I feel it.) depends on what you were trending before the drop?
How were your levels during the walk?

 

[Lucyr]

How low do people's BG go before they get hypo symptoms?

Just got back from a long walk in the Welsh Hills, when returning home I scanned my libre which said I was 2.9 but when I finger prick tested I was 2.3. I was surprised it was so low as I felt completely normal.

Just curious really as I've had hypo symptoms with higher blood glucose readings previously

I feel hypos in the low 4s or high 3s. If not feeling it until 2.3 is a one off because of dropping very quickly and you’d normally feel them in the high 3s then okay but if that’s a regular occurrence then you need to be very careful. If you’re not feeling hypos in the high 3s then you really need to start running higher and not letting yourself go below about 5 to regain hypo awareness, and urgently speak to your diabetes team about whether you need to declare hypo unawareness to the DVLA which would lose your licence if you have one.

Additionally why didn’t your libre alarm? If you have the libre you should be able to set the alarms at at least 5 so you can treat before its low to run higher and regain your hypo awareness.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

@UnexpectedDiagnosis ,

I notice from your profile you use Novorapid?

Had it been around the 5 hour mark since breakfast with your hypo? (After your walk.)
In my experience, Novorapid can sometimes cause a rapid drop at that point, just when it should have tailed off..

 

[pawprint91]

I usually feel it around the 4 mark when I am moving around, if in a period of inactivity e.g whilst lying in bed but awake can sometimes be lower, nearer 3.5.

Like @Satan’s little helper I also have experienced novorapid giving the gift of a low 4-5 hours after injecting, when you'd expect it to be leaving your system (this usually happens when I am work).

 

[Satan’s little helper]

I usually feel it around the 4 mark when I am moving around, if in a period of inactivity e.g whilst lying in bed but awake can sometimes be lower, nearer 3.5.

Like @Satan’s little helper I also have experienced novorapid giving the gift of a low 4-5 hours after injecting, when you'd expect it to be leaving your system (this usually happens when I am work).

Ditto, same here, at work. Trucks along nicely. Almost looks like it’s about to rise? Then bang.
I was out for a walk yesterday. A friend visited. She has a dog. Planned some sight seeing in dog friendly areas.
Unusually, (I don’t normally do breakfast.) but we did that morning. We stopped somewhere on route just for a coffee (mine was black.) then around 3pm. “Hello?”

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Not feeling lows in the 2s is quite worrying. It can happen if you’ve been having quite a few ‘mild’ low BGs and your body has reset it’s thermostat to only declare an emergency at lower levels.

I generally feel lows in the low-mid 3s, but can feel them higher if my levels are dropping quickly.

I find it’s the slow drifting ones that can sneak up on me, so I find sensor alarms helpful and get an alert at 5.2 to head them off before they happen 🙂

 

[nonethewiser]

Start to feel symptoms around 4 mark, since using libre 2 hardly have any hypos now which is a plus.

 

[Tdm]

I usually feel it around the 4 mark when I am moving around, if in a period of inactivity e.g whilst lying in bed but awake can sometimes be lower, nearer 3.5.

Like @Satan’s little helper I also have experienced novorapid giving the gift of a low 4-5 hours after injecting, when you'd expect it to be leaving your system (this usually happens when I am work).

Yes, it does do that! I thought it was just me

 

[UnexpectedDiagnosis]

Thanks for all the replies, too many to quote so I'll reply to all in this post.

Yes it's quite normal for me to get to the mid 3's without feeling the effects of a hypo. And I missed the alarm from my libre.

My low was exactly 3.5 hours after my Nova Rapid.. but its great to know I can dive bomb around the 5 hour mark!!

I'm not sure what to say now? My bloods are usually pretty good imo. I was diagnosed in Jan when I went to A & E but I've not had a hypo in the last 7 weeks.

UK Team Completes a 100-mile, five-day Run with no Food - Diet Doctor

Eight runners ran 100 miles in five days without food. They aimed to dispel myths surrounding daily carbs and energy needs.

www.dietdoctor.com

I mean I'm not the only one to get such low BG's with no symptoms. I certainly won't be declaring myself hypo unaware anytime soon. I've been super fit and healthy my whole life and even now with T1 diabetes I don't feel like I couldn't complete a 13 mile tough mudder in around 2 hours 40 ‍🙂 I have to ask, does fitness have an impact on blood sugars? Could I naturally be running lower? I also used to intermittently fast 5 days a week for 20 hours a day...

I had been on a gradual decline trend wise since peaking for breakfast but I was away for the weekend so my typical diet wasn't kept to.

 

[nonethewiser]

Thanks for all the replies, too many to quote so I'll reply to all in this post.

Yes it's quite normal for me to get to the mid 3's without feeling the effects of a hypo. And I missed the alarm from my libre.

My low was exactly 3.5 hours after my Nova Rapid.. but its great to know I can dive bomb around the 5 hour mark!!

I'm not sure what to say now? My bloods are usually pretty good imo. I was diagnosed in Jan when I went to A & E but I've not had a hypo in the last 7 weeks.

UK Team Completes a 100-mile, five-day Run with no Food - Diet Doctor

Eight runners ran 100 miles in five days without food. They aimed to dispel myths surrounding daily carbs and energy needs.

www.dietdoctor.com

I mean I'm not the only one to get such low BG's with no symptoms. I certainly won't be declaring myself hypo unaware anytime soon. I've been super fit and healthy my whole life and even now with T1 diabetes I don't feel like I couldn't complete a 13 mile tough mudder in around 2 hours 40 ‍🙂 I have to ask, does fitness have an impact on blood sugars? Could I naturally be running lower? I also used to intermittently fast 5 days a week for 20 hours a day...

I had been on a gradual decline trend wise since peaking for breakfast but I was away for the weekend so my typical diet wasn't kept to.

Not quite sure what your asking regards to fitness & bg, are you asking if exercise lowers bg, if so answer is yes in most cases but, depending on type of exercise some find their bg can go opposite way.

Really only do walking, long walks & find that reduces bg levels so reduce insulin prior to it or take on extra carbs when out, I'm on pump so can adjust insulin beforehand.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Thanks for all the replies, too many to quote so I'll reply to all in this post.

Yes it's quite normal for me to get to the mid 3's without feeling the effects of a hypo. And I missed the alarm from my libre.

My low was exactly 3.5 hours after my Nova Rapid.. but its great to know I can dive bomb around the 5 hour mark!!

I'm not sure what to say now? My bloods are usually pretty good imo. I was diagnosed in Jan when I went to A & E but I've not had a hypo in the last 7 weeks.

UK Team Completes a 100-mile, five-day Run with no Food - Diet Doctor

Eight runners ran 100 miles in five days without food. They aimed to dispel myths surrounding daily carbs and energy needs.

www.dietdoctor.com

I mean I'm not the only one to get such low BG's with no symptoms. I certainly won't be declaring myself hypo unaware anytime soon. I've been super fit and healthy my whole life and even now with T1 diabetes I don't feel like I couldn't complete a 13 mile tough mudder in around 2 hours 40 ‍🙂 I have to ask, does fitness have an impact on blood sugars? Could I naturally be running lower? I also used to intermittently fast 5 days a week for 20 hours a day...

I had been on a gradual decline trend wise since peaking for breakfast but I was away for the weekend so my typical diet wasn't kept to.

Hello?

Where you DX’d in January this year?

Could be a little kick out from the pancreas as part of the “honeymoon period?”
You can’t beat the “home brewed stuff.”
Not exactly helping the working profile of your Novorapid. But it may well have caused the surprise too?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I mean I'm not the only one to get such low BG's with no symptoms. I certainly won't be declaring myself hypo unaware anytime soon. I've been super fit and healthy my whole life and even now with T1 diabetes I don't feel like I couldn't complete a 13 mile tough mudder in around 2 hours 40 ‍🙂

Just as long a you truthfully complete the DVLA questionnaire when your driving license comes up for renewal. That is your legal responsibility. And I believe failing to do so can invalidate your insurance.

There are shades of hypo awareness from fully aware, to impaired hypo awareness, to hypo unaware.

Impaired hypo awareness is not uncommon, but it really does need to be tackled as impaired hypo awareness puts you at significantly greater risk of severe hypos (which the DVLA really do need to know about.

How are you counting your hypos? Have you had no readings below 4.0mmol/L over the past 7 weeks? Or are you counting your hypos differently?

 

[UnexpectedDiagnosis]

Not quite sure what your asking regards to fitness & bg, are you asking if exercise lowers bg, if so answer is yes in most cases but, depending on type of exercise some find their bg can go opposite way.

Really only do walking, long walks & find that reduces bg levels so reduce insulin prior to it or take on extra carbs when out, I'm on pump so can adjust insulin beforehand.

Are people who are generally fitter able to withstand more extreme lows than others who may not be as fit? Or maybe it's the nutritional ketosis which has the greater impact on blood glucose levels over time? - from the article i linked.

 

[UnexpectedDiagnosis]

Just as long a you truthfully complete the DVLA questionnaire when your driving license comes up for renewal. That is your legal responsibility. And I believe failing to do so can invalidate your insurance.

There are shades of hypo awareness from fully aware, to impaired hypo awareness, to hypo unaware.

Impaired hypo awareness is not uncommon, but it really does need to be tackled as impaired hypo awareness puts you at significantly greater risk of severe hypos (which the DVLA really do need to know about.

How are you counting your hypos? Have you had no readings below 4.0mmol/L over the past 7 weeks? Or are you counting your hypos differently?

A hypo to me is experiencing the symptoms of a hypo.... when I've had a hypo they have been very obvious and I can't not take immediate action.

I also comply with the rules in regards to driving. I test before and ensure my levels are correct, would stop for longer journeys etc. My last hypo gave me 10 mins warning, I however needed to walk a little to get back to a safer area of the manufacturing plant.

 

[nonethewiser]

Are people who are generally fitter able to withstand more extreme lows than others who may not be as fit? Or maybe it's the nutritional ketosis which has the greater impact on blood glucose levels over time? - from the article i linked.

No idea tbh, but hypo's are best avoided as much as possible so that you retain hypo awareness symptoms, especially if you drive.

As a newbie it might be encouraging to know that I've had type 1 for 41 years & still hypo aware, also never had to have any third party assistance in that time & first few years we didn't have bg meters.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

A hypo to me is experiencing the symptoms of a hypo.... when I've had a hypo they have been very obvious and I can't not take immediate action.

I also comply with the rules in regards to driving. I test before and ensure my levels are correct, would stop for longer journeys etc. My last hypo gave me 10 mins warning, I however needed to walk a little to get back to a safer area of the manufacturing plant.

Good to hear you are being careful around driving and the DVLA's guidance 🙂

Just be aware that with repeated exposure to low blood glucose the brain physically changes (in an attempt to 'perform better') and not waste expensive resources, eg the surge of stress hormones that give rise to some of the sensations of a hypo. So you can be hypoglycaemic without symptoms. Your brain's function is impaired as you go lower than 3.5 or 3.3, depending on who you ask, so you must ensure you aren't driving at those levels whether you feel any symptoms or not.

Clinical Practice Guidelines : Hypoglycaemia

www.rch.org.au

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I mean I'm not the only one to get such low BG's with no symptoms. I certainly won't be declaring myself hypo unaware anytime soon. I've been super fit and healthy my whole life and even now with T1 diabetes I don't feel like I couldn't complete a 13 mile tough mudder in around 2 hours 40 ‍🙂 I have to ask, does fitness have an impact on blood sugars? Could I naturally be running lower? I also used to intermittently fast 5 days a week for 20 hours a day...

Be very careful as in the eyes of the DVLA you are hypo unaware thus can not hold a driving licence.
You need to think about lowering your insulin and running a bit higher to bring your awareness back and perhaps set your libre alarms a bit higher so you catch the hypo before it catches you.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

A hypo to me is experiencing the symptoms of a hypo.... when I've had a hypo they have been very obvious and I can't not take immediate action.

I also comply with the rules in regards to driving. I test before and ensure my levels are correct, would stop for longer journeys etc. My last hypo gave me 10 mins warning, I however needed to walk a little to get back to a safer area of the manufacturing plant.

My experience of driving as a T1. (Especially for work.) is stress causes a liver dump for me. At “five to drive” with no bolus onboard, my BGs can raise to the mid 7s to 8mmol.

The DVLA’s definition of a hypo to my mind is dated & based on the symptoms from the porcine insulin of yesterday year. Which is what I cut my teeth on nearly 47 years ago. My symptoms have changed but not my awareness level. @3.9 to 4.4.

I’ve had hypos (or potential.) prior to having to drive. First thing come to mind is a doubt if I can do this. Then the eyes flicker. I just loose the intention to drive.
I’ve never been “blue lighted.” Even as a kid on porcine. Self preservation “auto pilot.” Feed that beast. (I can hold myself together with more aplomb than the sweaty “steel magnolia” (movie reference.) mess I was caught in as a kid.

Could I do five days with no food on my MDI basal? I’m not hypo. But I seriously doubt that.

 

[Lucyr]

Yes it's quite normal for me to get to the mid 3's without feeling the effects of a hypo. And I missed the alarm from my libre.

I’d suggest getting an urgent appointment with your diabetes team, or leaving a message on their voicemail, to discuss concerns about hypo unawareness.

You need to learn how to improve the awareness and get a professional opinion on whether you have hypo unawareness, and decide whether to inform the DVLA. It’s not about whether you test before driving. To get a licence you declare that you have good symptoms of hypos, you don’t though…..