Hypo’s in hot weather

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

Kaz84

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hey I hope everyone is doing ok in the lovely sunny weather.
I was wondering if anyone else’s blood sugars go a bit crazy in the warm weather? I seem slightly higher than usual 9-11 mmol in the day. I’m always higher at night around 13 mmol but working on reducing that with the diabetes nurse slowly. But then throughout the night I’m having hypo’s. I first thought maybe I took too much insulin but I didn’t. The next day I was a little freaked out because of the hypo woke me up I didn’t take my insulin the next day and I still had another hypo that woke me up again the next night. I’m gradually increasing my insulin to normal again but it’s really panicked me.
I take lantus twice a day no fast acting insulin.
 
Hypos are scary, particularly at night @Kaz84 Lots of people find the heat can affect their blood sugars. Have a read of this thread:

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/board...inding-down-their-basal-at-the-moment.106773/

You might need to reduce your insulin. Lantus can act up to 24hrs so it might take a little while to see the effect of any reduction. The bottom line is that if you’re having nighttime hypos, you are having too much insulin. The right amount is what keeps your blood sugar ok. This amount can vary due to weather, stress, illness, etc etc.

Also, if you’re having two injections of the Lantus anyway, you might be better off on a twice daily insulin that has a shorter profile of action eg Levemir or one of the isophanes.
 
Inka said:
Hypos are scary, particularly at night @Kaz84 Lots of people find the heat can affect their blood sugars. Have a read of this thread:

https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/board...inding-down-their-basal-at-the-moment.106773/

You might need to reduce your insulin. Lantus can act up to 24hrs so it might take a little while to see the effect of any reduction. The bottom line is that if you’re having nighttime hypos, you are having too much insulin. The right amount is what keeps your blood sugar ok. This amount can vary due to weather, stress, illness, etc etc.

Also, if you’re having two injections of the Lantus anyway, you might be better off on a twice daily insulin that has a shorter profile of action eg Levemir or one of the isophanes.
Click to expand...
Yes I definitely think it’s the weather I have been on the same dose of insulin over the past 4 months and has been working really well for me. Except for night as I snack a bit because I’m underweight. But cutting down on the sweet stuff. I am now checking my levels before bed and if I’m over 12 mmol il take it. If not I’m going to give it a miss. I was 9.8 mmol last night and woke up 8.9 mmol it’s a little higher but I feel a bit more comfortable being just slightly high than low.
Waking up with a hypo is very scary when I’m on my own. Luckily I’m due a call with my diabetes nurse next week. She wanted to put my daytime up to help my nighttime high but luckily I didn’t do it just because I’ve not been in a normal routine for work.
But nothing out of the ordinary to make sense of the lows.
I am luckily just waiting for a free sensor freestyle libre 2 for a trial so hopefully this can help me see what is going on. Although il have to pay for them myself I think it’s worth it for when things go a bit hectic like this.
 
As you are on insulin you are entitled to blood glucose sensors on prescription. The problem is some health trusts and /or consultants are withholding them illegally. My local Health Trust has had it wrists slapped over this!
 
MikeyBikey said:
As you are on insulin you are entitled to blood glucose sensors on prescription. The problem is some health trusts and /or consultants are withholding them illegally. My local Health Trust has had it wrists slapped over this!
Click to expand...
I was told I’m not entitled. I’m type 2 only on slow acting twice a day. Then I read you can only get the sensors on prescription?
 
You can buy libre 2, and dexcom g6, from amazon etc and i have done so...probably some others...i think libre 3 isn't on sale that way though
 
Kaz84 said:
I was told I’m not entitled. I’m type 2 only on slow acting twice a day. Then I read you can only get the sensors on prescription?
Click to expand...

My Apache name is "Big Shoulders" as I have been mislead by so many healthcare professionals that I will argue the toss with anyone!

If you are in England or Wales (I don't know the Scottish guidelines nor those for the Isle of Man) and are Type II on two or more injection of insulin a day you should be offered Libre or a similar system. If you can arrange transport I will come and give them an Alex Ferguson style blasting.

My main concern over the last decade has been PAD, the lack of proper checks (a DSN said my pulses were fine and a six weeks later I was diagnosed with PAD, ABPI < 0.7), diagnosis and treatment! The UK has a higher amputation rate than Western Europe and the US! Now I also get angry over endless people being mislead over Libre!
 
MikeyBikey said:
If you are in England or Wales (I don't know the Scottish guidelines nor those for the Isle of Man) and are Type II on two or more injection of insulin a day you should be offered Libre or a similar system.
Click to expand...
You also have to be living in an area where the local health authority have adopted the NICE guidelines for type 2s, and you need to meet another criteria eg having been advised to test 8+ times a day. It’s not as simple as “inject insulin twice a day so can have libre”
 
Kaz84 said:
Yes I definitely think it’s the weather I have been on the same dose of insulin over the past 4 months and has been working really well for me. Except for night as I snack a bit because I’m underweight. But cutting down on the sweet stuff. I am now checking my levels before bed and if I’m over 12 mmol il take it. If not I’m going to give it a miss. I was 9.8 mmol last night and woke up 8.9 mmol it’s a little higher but I feel a bit more comfortable being just slightly high than low.
Waking up with a hypo is very scary when I’m on my own. Luckily I’m due a call with my diabetes nurse next week. She wanted to put my daytime up to help my nighttime high but luckily I didn’t do it just because I’ve not been in a normal routine for work.
But nothing out of the ordinary to make sense of the lows.
I am luckily just waiting for a free sensor freestyle libre 2 for a trial so hopefully this can help me see what is going on. Although il have to pay for them myself I think it’s worth it for when things go a bit hectic like this.
Click to expand...
I would be asking why they think you are Type 2 and not Type 1. Your profile shows you as 38yrs old and you say you are underweight. I know this subject has been discussed before and your mother is Type 1 and your Dad (supposedly) Type 2 on insulin, but misdiagnosis is more common than it should be and it is possible that your Dad may also be Type 1.

My gut feeling is that you are a slow onset Type 1 and you should be getting more support and as a Type 1 you would qualify for Libre on prescription more easily. Have you ever queried your diagnosis? Sometimes you have to push to get the tests and treatment you need, particularly in the current climate with the NHS. I know it is really difficult to fight your own corner, but you should be asking for Type 1 testing (GAD antibody and C-peptide tests) and ask why they have assumed you are Type 2 when you do not fit the profile and by the sound of it your insulin needs are very low but your levels go high very easily. If you were Type 2 on insulin, you would need large doses. You seem to be very sensitive to insulin which is the opposite of what you see with Type 2 diabetes so all these things point to Type 1.
 
rebrascora said:
I would be asking why they think you are Type 2 and not Type 1. Your profile shows you as 38yrs old and you say you are underweight. I know this subject has been discussed before and your mother is Type 1 and your Dad (supposedly) Type 2 on insulin, but misdiagnosis is more common than it should be and it is possible that your Dad may also be Type 1.

My gut feeling is that you are a slow onset Type 1 and you should be getting more support and as a Type 1 you would qualify for Libre on prescription more easily. Have you ever queried your diagnosis? Sometimes you have to push to get the tests and treatment you need, particularly in the current climate with the NHS. I know it is really difficult to fight your own corner, but you should be asking for Type 1 testing (GAD antibody and C-peptide tests) and ask why they have assumed you are Type 2 when you do not fit the profile and by the sound of it your insulin needs are very low but your levels go high very easily. If you were Type 2 on insulin, you would need large doses. You seem to be very sensitive to insulin which is the opposite of what you see with Type 2 diabetes so all these things point to Type 1.
Click to expand...
I had the test last year they confirmed type 2. I saw a new nurse last month who said I fit more of the LADA profile with being skinny and under 7 stone. I have always been skinny though. She said she is going to refer me back to the diabetes clinic as they are the only ones who can authorise them tests. A bit ridiculous really it’s only a blood test.
However I feel like I maybe making more insulin myself as my blood sugar seems to be ok on one injection instead of 2. I usually 14-16mmol at 11.30-12pm and currently I’m coming down 5-10mmol at these times. I do often wake up with a banging headache so I’m wondering if I’ve been having large drops in the night even if not hypo level.
 
MikeyBikey said:
My Apache name is "Big Shoulders" as I have been mislead by so many healthcare professionals that I will argue the toss with anyone!

If you are in England or Wales (I don't know the Scottish guidelines nor those for the Isle of Man) and are Type II on two or more injection of insulin a day you should be offered Libre or a similar system. If you can arrange transport I will come and give them an Alex Ferguson style blasting.

My main concern over the last decade has been PAD, the lack of proper checks (a DSN said my pulses were fine and a six weeks later I was diagnosed with PAD, ABPI < 0.7), diagnosis and treatment! The UK has a higher amputation rate than Western Europe and the US! Now I also get angry over endless people being mislead over Libre!
Click to expand...
I am in England (Manchester) I totally agree with you. This should be available to everyone. I think you have to have hypo unawareness or test so many times a day. Il be honest I get lazy I can’t be bothered pricking my fingers most of the time. The sensor has been a dream. I would pay for times like this when everything is erratic but it’s not affordable for everyday.
However I’ve had hypos and can send nurse these results so il wait and see.
I should probably figure out who I need to complain too to see why I’m denied it
 
Which tests did you have and what were the results and who interpreted them? Unfortunately there are a lot of medical professionals who really don't know enough about the less straight forward conditions they are overseeing.

I would agree with your new nurse that you fit the LADA profile far more than Type 2 and it is great that she is going to refer you back to the diabetes specialist clinic.
 
rebrascora said:
Which tests did you have and what were the results and who interpreted them? Unfortunately there are a lot of medical professionals who really don't know enough about the less straight forward conditions they are overseeing.

I would agree with your new nurse that you fit the LADA profile far more than Type 2 and it is great that she is going to refer you back to the diabetes specialist clinic.
Click to expand...
No idea what blood test they did but the new nurse said they had done them and results were type 2 and she was very surprised and said it just doesn’t make sense. I told her to just re- test me. The tablets stopped working which is why I went on insulin a year ago and she said everything just sounds like LADA to her. I’ve only just been discharged from the clinic too.
To be fair I’m not a big eater. I eat 2 meals a day dinner and tea and I snack on crisps and sweets in the evening. I’m not a big eater but il be honest I don’t eat healthy and have issues losing my appetite so I just eat what I want.
 
Your new nurse is switched on.
Knowing what tests have been done and understanding the results of them, is an important part of managing your diabetes, so ask about what tests they have done and the results in numbers and if you don't understand them, come here and we will discuss them with you and help to explain them.
Simple things like how you prepare for the test is very significant with the C-peptide test and can make a big difference to how the result is interpreted. ie. Was it a blood or urine test and did you eat an hour two or several hours before the meal without insulin, to stimulate your pancreas to produce whatever insulin it can. If you took your insulin as normal or had a fasting test then it will not give you useful results, but unfortunately many people are not given the test preparation information they need to make the test useful. The GAD antibody test can be equally inconclusive, especially if you have been on insulin for a few years and doses are stable.

It is important that the clinician looks at the whole picture not just one individual test and I think your new nurse is looking at the whole picture and seeing you as an individual who does not meet the Type 2 profile, rather than the tunnel vision of your previous nurse.
 
rebrascora said:
Your new nurse is switched on.
Knowing what tests have been done and understanding the results of them, is an important part of managing your diabetes, so ask about what tests they have done and the results in numbers and if you don't understand them, come here and we will discuss them with you and help to explain them.
Simple things like how you prepare for the test is very significant with the C-peptide test and can make a big difference to how the result is interpreted. ie. Was it a blood or urine test and did you eat an hour two or several hours before the meal without insulin, to stimulate your pancreas to produce whatever insulin it can. If you took your insulin as normal or had a fasting test then it will not give you useful results, but unfortunately many people are not given the test preparation information they need to make the test useful. The GAD antibody test can be equally inconclusive, especially if you have been on insulin for a few years and doses are stable.

It is important that the clinician looks at the whole picture not just one individual test and I think your new nurse is looking at the whole picture and seeing you as an individual who does not meet the Type 2 profile, rather than the tunnel vision of your previous nurse.
Click to expand...
Yes I did really like her to be honest. How would you recommend I prepare for future test? Would you fast or eat as normal and take insulin? As far as I’m aware it was a blood test they had done. She just said it doesn’t make sense.
But she did say LADA is often very similar to type 2 so maybe it is still in early stages.

I did really want to try that new shake and soup diet because I’d love to put diabetes in remission. But again being underweight I can’t go on it. Now I fear that unfortunately remission is something that won’t be possible if the nurse is correct with her diagnosis.
My mum was about 40 when she found out she was type 1. 21 years ago l. I am not far off her age now.
 
It depends on the tests they did. You need to know which test you are going for. The C-peptide test is looking to see how much insulin you are able to produce yourself. The idea I believe is that you have something to eat before hand to push your BG levels up above a certain level, so that your body is triggered into trying to release insulin to bring them down itself. It depends on whether it is a urine or a blood test as to how long before the test you need to eat, but you should be given instructions and if you are not, then ask what you have to do before the test. The GAD antibody test doesn't need any preparation on your part.
 
Kaz84 said:
How would you recommend I prepare for future test?
Click to expand...

You have to ask what the test is and how to prepare. I had a stimulated cpeptide test this meant I had to book the test for 2hrs after lunch, I had to eat a lunch containing carbs with no insulin 2hrs before the test which meant my bg was 18 at the time of the test. If my bg had been under 10 the results would have been useless.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top