Hypo's in type 2's

[Lucy77]

Hi All,

I'm newly diagnosed type 2, and have had a lot of other stress in last few days and not been eating properly, only having one small aa day.

Today it all came to a head!!! After having my tests for a lump on my neck come back all clear, I celebrated by taking my kids to the fireworks. Whilst in the que to buy them hotdogs I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to be sick, all sound became very, very muffled, I came out in a cold sweat and nearly fainted. I managed ,dunno how to stagger to tea stall and whack a hot chocolate down my neck. Sat down then 10 mins later felt ok.

But am I right in thinking type 2's don't have hypo's cause blood sugar is always high. Got to pick up metformin tomorrow diabetic nurse put me straight on 4 a day and told me not to bother with testing. Said my cholesterol needs to come down as its 5.3, and my hba1c was 7.7 and that's to high. Am bit fed up to be honest!!!

 

[Northerner]

It's possible that anyone can have a hypo. What may have happened in your case is that you have been used to having high levels for some time, but experienced a lower levels (perhaps due to adjustments you have made or the excitement/exertion of the event) - these lower levels can make your brain think you are lower than you actually are (it doesn't know the number, just that your levels have fallen lower than expected) and this can cause the symptoms you describe. A biscuit or jelly baby normally raises levels sufficiently to get rid of the symptoms, and the more you experience more normal levels, the less you will experience the symptoms. 🙂

 

[Lucy77]

Thank you, that makes sense . Am going to buy a test meter tomorrow, any suggestions where to buy other than chemists and supermarkets. Many thanks.

 

[robert@fm]

Thank you, that makes sense . Am going to buy a test meter tomorrow, any suggestions where to buy other than chemists and supermarkets. Many thanks.

People on here generally recommend the SD Codefree Meter which has test strips at around £8 for 50 — or cheaper if you buy 5 or 10 tubs of strips at a time..

 

[pav]

The SD code free is a popular one if you have to buy youf own test strips, because the big names in meters the strips are costly at around £25 + for 50 strips. Amazon sell the code free meters along with a couple of other places. If you are looking at the big named meters if you ring them they will normally send a meter out free, as they make the money iff the strips.

As Alan says if you are used to high levels, then coming back into more normal ranges will give you the symptoms of having a hypo.

Being on metformin alone does not cause hypos, but other meds taken by type 2's like gliclazide do cause hypo's.

If in the future they put you on such likes meds then you will need to test and the doctors should provide strips on prescription, as its a requirement any who drives is required to test.

Testing is the way forward as its the only way to see what foods effect you and in what way.
Doctors / nurses in a lot of cases won't provide strips, for type 2's but in the long run its false eccomony.

 

[grovesy]

I had a hypo once when I was only diet and exercise controlled, it was whilst I was exercising, and it was a definite hypo as I tested.