Hypo in the early hours ...

[ClaudiaKiwi]

Hi There
Over the last week or so I have found myself waking up between 2-4am sort of time needing to use the bathroom and when I get up I’m like ooooohwps I feel wobbly and drunk so have tested and been getting readings of around 4.2-3.6.
I’m wondering do I need to eat more for dinner perhaps ? Should I be having a snack before bed? Anyone else experienced this at all?
God there is so much to get used too isn’t there.
My worry is if I didn’t wake up to use the loo would I keep dropping and end up in trouble ? Really worries me.
Thanks for any ideas or thoughts in advance 🙂

 

[Robin]

Hi There
Over the last week or so I have found myself waking up between 2-4am sort of time needing to use the bathroom and when I get up I’m like ooooohwps I feel wobbly and drunk so have tested and been getting readings of around 4.2-3.6.
I’m wondering do I need to eat more for dinner perhaps ? Should I be having a snack before bed? Anyone else experienced this at all?
God there is so much to get used too isn’t there.
My worry is if I didn’t wake up to use the loo would I keep dropping and end up in trouble ? Really worries me.
Thanks for any ideas or thoughts in advance 🙂

This is a common problem, with no easy answer, I'm afraid. As you fall asleep, your liver starts shutting down the production of the glucose that it constantly dripfeeds into your system to keep your vital organs functioning, as it figured it won't need so much overnight, and then towards dawn, it picks up again and gives your body a boost for the coming day. This means that if you were to see a trace of your blood glucose overnight ( as those of us who use the Freestyle Libre monitoring system can) it would,look a bit like a slack washing line.
The trick is to try and have your basal at such a level that it might be a bit higher then you'd like at bedtime, and might start rising as you get out of bed, but stays out of hypo territory in the middle of the night.

 

[New-journey]

Hi There
Over the last week or so I have found myself waking up between 2-4am sort of time needing to use the bathroom and when I get up I’m like ooooohwps I feel wobbly and drunk so have tested and been getting readings of around 4.2-3.6.
I’m wondering do I need to eat more for dinner perhaps ? Should I be having a snack before bed? Anyone else experienced this at all?
God there is so much to get used too isn’t there.
My worry is if I didn’t wake up to use the loo would I keep dropping and end up in trouble ? Really worries me.
Thanks for any ideas or thoughts in advance 🙂

Robin has good advice about adjusting your basal, what is your number before bed? I would take a snack if I was lowish before bed,
I remember being terrified about hypos during the night at the beginning and that I might not wake up but my body wakes me up so much less worried now. It is scary at the beginning and I promise it gets easier. You are right there is so much to get used to.

 

[ClaudiaKiwi]

Reassuring as always. Thank you. Makes good sense

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I'd be inclined to lower my basal half a unit if I had that problem, Claudia. Having a snack at night might help, but on the other hand it might mean your blood sugar goes up at the beginning of the night and then goes down and you just hypo a bit later on.

Though having said that I always have something to eat before bed, mainly because I tend to be hungry then - and I certainly wouldn't go to bed without a snack if my bgl were much under 6.5 at bedtime. I was told to aim for a bgl of around 8 at bedtime, to allow for it dropping in the night.

 

[stephknits]

I would agree with Juliet. Having been on the DAFNE course for Type 1 they would recommend a reduction in basal by 10 - 20 percent if you have a hypo in the night.
I know I feel like it is just a lucky coincidence that I happen to wake up when I am low, but in reality I'm sure our bodies are waking us on purpose.

 

[SB2015]

I suspect that your hypo woke you Claudia, and that is a common time of night to experience a drop.
As you thought it is either more carbs just before bed, or less insulin overnight. Do you have a half unit pen (if not they are very useful -ask you DSN)? If so I would try dropping basal (nighttime) insulin by half a unit and see what happens. I know I had to gradually reduce my basal insulin a while after diagnosis.

 

[ClaudiaKiwi]

I feel like I have this amazing team of advisors who just have brilliant suggestions and advice which are all solid and sound and I shall be acting on them. Received gratefully. Thank you everyone xx