Hypos - How low?

[ms6282]

I was wondering at what blood sugar level people start to experience hypos.

When I was diagnosed I was told I could have problems if my BS dropped below 4. However, I start to experience symptoms around 5. They can even kick in around 5.2. If I drop below 5 I know about it!

Mike

 

[am64]

I was wondering at what blood sugar level people start to experience hypos.

When I was diagnosed I was told I could have problems if my BS dropped below 4. However, I start to experience symptoms around 5. They can even kick in around 5.2. If I drop below 5 I know about it!

Mike

ditto mike ...basically as your body gets used to lower levels the symptoms will ease ...but a true hypo is below 4 and needs to be treated as such . if mine drop below 5 i will have a small amount to eat such as a peice of wholemeal (i eat vogel) toast ...but not the instant sugar you would need if going hypo ...
often if im feeling that way and test an all is ok i have some water ...sometimes it just im thirsty ....

 

[Catwoman76]

ditto mike ...basically as your body gets used to lower levels the symptoms will ease ...but a true hypo is below 4 and needs to be treated as such . if mine drop below 5 i will have a small amount to eat such as a peice of wholemeal (i eat vogel) toast ...but not the instant sugar you would need if going hypo ...
often if im feeling that way and test an all is ok i have some water ...sometimes it just im thirsty ....

Hi mike it can vary with me, maybe in the low 3's or on Sunday morning it was 1.9 before I noticed something was wrong ( it could be that I have had D for many years, but I tested my little grandaughter Grace last week, before lunch, and she was 2.4, and showed no symptoms! ) Sheena

 

[Robster65]

Non-diabetics can be happily running around below 4, so the body is deisgned to go down to the high 3s without any real issues, but the liver would be upping the rate of glucose secretion and lowering insulin production at those levels.

As a type 2, you needn't worry if you're in the 4s. In fact, you can pat yourself on the back !🙂

If you're on any BG lowering meds you need to keep a close eye on it. If you get to 4 or close to it, you should eat a small snack or quick acting carbs to make sure you don't go too low.

Anyone on insulin needs to be more careful as t can lower BGs much quicker and therefore 4 is set as the low limit to eat quick acting carbs, before you reach the 3s, so it gives time to bring BGs up again into safe figures. This is why you should never drive below 5, so that there's a buffer zone if it does drop subsequently.

All of the above is my opinion and cannot be relied upon as medical advice ! 😉

Rob

 

[mcdonagh47]

I was wondering at what blood sugar level people start to experience hypos.

When I was diagnosed I was told I could have problems if my BS dropped below 4. However, I start to experience symptoms around 5. They can even kick in around 5.2. If I drop below 5 I know about it!

Mike

Could be the speed of the drop rather than the absolute figure.
If your body isn't used to normal levels, reaching them can give false hypo feelings until you acclimatise to good c ontrol.

 

[trophywench]

Could be the speed of the drop rather than the absolute figure.

I find that - some days I can be in the 2's and OK I know I'm hypo but don't feel awful, can still co-rdinate and hold a sensible conversation; another time I can be high 3's be shaking, sweating, seeing spots, can't co-rdinate and feel awful - as you say, it's the speed of the drop, the faster the more I 'feel' it.

 

[Jennywren]

I suffer with hypo unawareness and was walking around the high street the other week at 2,2 😱 it was only cos we went for a cuppa of tea that my husband told me to check bs the week before i collpased at 2 .