Hypo addict?

[hellbell84]

i agree with copepod!!

the reason this forum is so popular is beacuse diabetics such as myself can ask honest questions without feeling like an idiot as we think we should already know the answer!!

Dont feel this forum encourages teens or anyone to misuse their diabetes to get an quick hit, its informing EVERYONE out there, what we feel when a hypo happens and asks for everyones opinion on it, i dont think ANYONE on this forum has said "get the lowest reading possible and feel the rush maaaaaan" or words to that affect

The post started off with a question, and wasnt endorsing any kind of misuse of their illness

rant over

Apologies

xxx

 

[Northerner]

snap, the nurse at the hospital told me that I had a psychological fear of high blood sugars, she's right!
I also correct hypos with the minimum amount possible... 1 dextrose tablet at a time. Being on the pump has helped because I can also suspend insulin for a while.

I think that this is the case with me. I'm so scared of complications that I feel much 'safer' when I'm at the lower end of my range. It's not that I like the sensations of a hypo, it's that I feel happier if occasionally I get the symptoms starting and can then have a little top-up. I never overcompensate either - just enough to get me feeling 'right' again.

For example, my last 9 pre-meal and bedtime readings have been 4.2, 4.7, 2.6, 4.1, 4.4, 4.8, 4.1, 3.2 and 4.1. Both the 2.6 and the 3.2 were surprises as I'd reduced my insulin after exercise and obviously not enough - I'm still learning!

I don't drive and nor am I responsible for any children or heavy machinery, so I'm happy at these levels. I feel perfectly normal until I drop below 3.5. I guess some people are scared of hypos - I'm not, I'm scared of hypers!😱

 

[sofaraway]

Wow, Nikki, I don't like being above 5 much of the time!

As I've posted on another thread today I like to keep my blood sugar above 5 as I need to feel when my blood sugar drops.
I am responsible for vunerable people in my job so need to make sure my blood sugar is in range.

 

[bev]

Hi all,

I dont know how this thread has changed so quickly - but - i would like to say that whilst iklemos views may be viewed as slightly 'different' from those held by most - they are her views and therefore i dont think she should be made to feel 'bad' about them.
She is just being incredibly honest - and i personally find her views very interesting as it will give me an insight into how Alex could possibly feel when he is older etc..Hopefully he wont feel this way - as it could have serious consequences for his health - but at least i am now aware of the fact - and can keep an eye out for it! Knowledge is power - and as a non-diabetic myself - it is a great source of enlightenment. 🙂Bev

 

[Copepod]

There are few absolutes in diabetes, nor in any part of life, but I feel strongly that abusing drugs is always wrong - and using insulin to induce hypoglycaemia is abuse of the drug that so many of us need to use very carefully keep ourselves alive.
Those of us who have experienced diabetes treated with insulin in person, as adults, have also experienced the problems and restrictions it brings eg banning driving minibuses and vans, professional SCUBA diving, working on oil rigs, serving in the Armed Forces etc. In some of these cases, there are considerations other than hypoglycaemia eg supply / care of insulin, but in the main, we work hard to avoid any reason for potential employers to reject us, to have our car (or motorbike) driving licences revoked. I have had to argue calmly and carefully to get people, including myself, with diabetes on expeditions to remote parts of the world.
Personally, I reckon the DVLA blood glucose level guidelines are reasonable, not just for driving, but also for other activities eg looking after children, operating machinery, driving tractors off roads, sitting on tribunals etc. That's not to say that I never get it wrong, but when I do, I stop what I'm doing, take action ie eat, test and then resume activity.

 

[katie]

Bev, some people stop taking their fast acting insulin and carry on eating whatever they want so that they start getting ketones and manage to lose a few lbs in a week so that they can get slimmer in time for a party at the weekend. It is so dangerous. I think someone who does that should pretty much be made to feel bad about it. That way they might stop risking their lives to lose a bit of weight 🙄

 

[bev]

Hi Katie,
Sorry i have missunderstood - i thought the point was that someone was enjoying an accidental hypo - i hadnt realised that it was self generated! Sorry !:Bev

 

[katie]

Hi Katie,
Sorry i have missunderstood - i thought the point was that someone was enjoying an accidental hypo - i hadnt realised that it was self generated! Sorry !:Bev

no need to apologise Bev 🙂

 

[Copepod]

Katie is talking about missing short acting insulin to cause HYPERglycaemia and ketonuria to cause weight loss - the opposite to HYPOglycaemia.
HYPER = high. HYPO = low (rhymes)

 

[Vanessa]

Angel30eyes, I read Ikeymo's post simply as a statement of explanation about how hypos feel. We all come to the forum with different experiences and pasts.

Personally I dislike the hypo feeling intensely and have to be careful not to over react to low blood sugars and then have to spend a long while bringing the consequent rise down again through tight diet management

 

[angel30eyes]

Hypo

I get that people want to make others aware of how a hypo feels but saying it is not unpleasant and rather like my substance abusing student days is a terrible thing to say when young children read these posts, I am not saying you can't post about the feelings you get but telling people you like it is seriously messed up and giving out the wrong message to children

 

[ikeymo]

Bev, you are absolutely correct.
I'm amazed at the hostility I've found here simply by posting an honest account of how I feel. I have never abused or misused insulin. In fact I use very little, around 20 units per day of basal and bolus combined. Perhaps this is considerably less than many of those who have accused me of being irresponsible.
I have never willingly induced a hypo either, I'm anything but stupid. My point was simply that I felt a temporary release from the restrictions placed on me by my diabetes when my blood sugar falls a little low. The ability to eat something without working out an insulin dose to cover it is a rare reminder of how life used to be.
I have never driven a car when hypoglycemic, nor would I even consider it.
I'm determined to maintain a non-diabetic HbA1c because that is the greatest insurance policy against illness in the future. To risk a catastrophic blood sugar in order to achieve that is clearly counterproductive and not something I have ever willingly endured.
I had hoped that fora such as this might be populated by people with a degree of empathy and understanding of the problems encountered by others despite trying their hardest to ensure the health and welfare of themselves and their families.
Perhaps I was naive.

ikeymo

 

[Northerner]

Bev, you are absolutely correct.
I'm amazed at the hostility I've found here simply by posting an honest account of how I feel. I have never abused or misused insulin. In fact I use very little, around 20 units per day of basal and bolus combined. Perhaps this is considerably less than many of those who have accused me of being irresponsible.
I have never willingly induced a hypo either, I'm anything but stupid. My point was simply that I felt a temporary release from the restrictions placed on me by my diabetes when my blood sugar falls a little low. The ability to eat something without working out an insulin dose to cover it is a rare reminder of how life used to be.
I have never driven a car when hypoglycemic, nor would I even consider it.
I'm determined to maintain a non-diabetic HbA1c because that is the greatest insurance policy against illness in the future. To risk a catastrophic blood sugar in order to achieve that is clearly counterproductive and not something I have ever willingly endured.
I had hoped that fora such as this might be populated by people with a degree of empathy and understanding of the problems encountered by others despite trying their hardest to ensure the health and welfare of themselves and their families.
Perhaps I was naive.

ikeymo

Thanks ikeymo. I think this is more a case of misinterpretation of what you were trying to say, and this happens occasionally with 'text only' situations. I read things occasionally that 'get my goat', but that probably wouldn't offend anyone else. From my point of view, I appreciated just what you were saying because I have felt the same 'release' from being chained to this condition.

 

[Copepod]

I'm particularly grateful to Ikeymo for clarifying:
"I have never driven a car when hypoglycemic, nor would I even consider it."
and "To risk a catastrophic blood sugar in order to achieve that is clearly counterproductive and not something I have ever willingly endured."

Unfortunately, we do need to keep in mind how comments on a publicly accessible forum could be interpretted by others eg potential employers, DVLA decision makers etc. Sure, it's nice to have a reminder of what it feels like to eat without an injection first - that's why occasional very low carabohydrate or carbohydrate-free meals are a treat! However, I don't feel any competitive advantage over anyone who needs more insulin than I do.

 

[bev]

Bev, you are absolutely correct.
I'm amazed at the hostility I've found here simply by posting an honest account of how I feel. I have never abused or misused insulin. In fact I use very little, around 20 units per day of basal and bolus combined. Perhaps this is considerably less than many of those who have accused me of being irresponsible.
I have never willingly induced a hypo either, I'm anything but stupid. My point was simply that I felt a temporary release from the restrictions placed on me by my diabetes when my blood sugar falls a little low. The ability to eat something without working out an insulin dose to cover it is a rare reminder of how life used to be.
I have never driven a car when hypoglycemic, nor would I even consider it.
I'm determined to maintain a non-diabetic HbA1c because that is the greatest insurance policy against illness in the future. To risk a catastrophic blood sugar in order to achieve that is clearly counterproductive and not something I have ever willingly endured.
I had hoped that fora such as this might be populated by people with a degree of empathy and understanding of the problems encountered by others despite trying their hardest to ensure the health and welfare of themselves and their families.
Perhaps I was naive.

ikeymo

Hi Ikeymo,
Thank you for taking the time to clear things up - i think its been a case of completely miss-reading the words and taking them out of context - and that is the trouble with 'text'! I hope everyone now has a better understanding of your intentions ( i do) and we can draw a line under it. Please keep contributing to the forum - we are all individuals and therefore have a right to an individual point of view. (in my humble opinion!). Bev🙂

 

[Admin]

This Thread Is Now Closed

I completely believe in freedom of speech and expression of views - and do not feel that I should decide what can and cannot be said.

While I have found the thread interesting, and not offensive, I have had complaints from several members about the content of a post on this thread. In particular one mother complained as her young son read it and she had to explain that she was not on recreational drugs to him.

I completely understand what ikeymo was trying to say in her post - as I understand the objections.

I have been having a huge debate about whether to delete this thread - which will cause offense, or not, which will also cause offense to those that have complained.

I am in a no-win situation - so I have decided to close this thread, but leave it on the board.

I hope you all understand my reasoning for this.
And please, please keep expressing your views!

Reagards

Admin