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Hypo's

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Kim23

Kim23

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hey everyone..

I wondered if anyone else gets the intense hunger/anxiety feeling when hypo? I was always brought up with have 2 dextrose and then a sandwich or something carby but seen alot on here that people only need 4 jelly babies to get over a hypo. I know I might sound stupid on how I have always treated mine but now I have started weight watchers I have to be careful with points and so far this week I have had 6 hypo's! Range from 2.6 - 3.7 and after various things so I am unsure what is causing them. My dsn said it because I am watching what I am eating but nothing has changed too much as I still have some carb with each meal.

I am doing my fastings over the next 2 weeks to see which of my basal's need changing as I have about 4/5 different levels throughout a 24hour period. Just wondered if anyone else has experience problems when starting doing a WW or equivalent.

Kim x
 
Are you losing weight successfully Kim? That would have an effect on the amount of insulin you need. It does sound like you need to adjust your basals . I do get very hungry after a hypo sometimes, but usually only when it has fallen very quickly - I think your brain demands food more, the more distressed it is!
 
The advice today from the expert insulin course was that if you are below 4 eat 3-4 jelly babies and give it 10 minutes, retest and if still below 4 have another 4 jelly babies (or whatever treatment you prefer) once above 4 have some long acting carbs - piece of toast or digestive biccie or something. You are having a rough time - that many hypos isn't good is it? I'd think about reducing my long acting insulin - depending when the hypos occur of course. And yes, the hunger/anxiety is huge!
 
Hi Kim have you lost any weight? If so this may be the cause of the hypos, thus a reduction in basal is needed.
2 glucose tabs isn't really enough to get you out of a hypo.
Each jelly baby is about 5 carbs. You should have at least 3 JB's or 15 fast carbs to treat a hypo.
From what you are discribing it sounds as if you are swiming in basal hence your bodies reaction of panic ie feed me quick 🙂

Have you not been told to not use slow follow up carbs whilst on a pump?
This is due to not having any long acting to soak up so to speak.
Hope your basal testing goes ok and WW is a great success for you.
 
I have only lost 1.5lbs as only in my 2nd week but I am happy with how it is going as it's downwards! 🙂

I have always had the 'intense' feeling ever since I was diagnosed over 20 yrs ago so not new on that one. I did try the jelly babies thing last week but I think I worked myself up as waiting for it to work made me drop to the 2.6 lol my poor hubby and work are having to help me lately as that has never happened.

I was not told to not use slow carbs after a hypo and I have been on a pump for over 7 years now. They have always said to do what I have always done, i do not like the new Glucotabs as so sickly sweet whichever flavour so I have stuck with old fashioned Dextrose.

My dsn said it might be the change of type of carb I now have, rice and couscous rather than spuds and that. I have a fear of night hypo's from bad experiences as a youngster so that is why my basal's change throughout the day. Hopefully my fastings will give us a clue of which one to change, I do want to change some now but it'll mess me up for a couple days if I chose the wrong one to change.

Thank you for all your comments to me, Kim x
 
Ah right - I stand corrected about the slow carbs - makes sense now. The advice today was for those of us on basal/bolus regime.
 
Flutterby said:
Ah right - I stand corrected about the slow carbs - makes sense now. The advice today was for those of us on basal/bolus regime.
Click to expand...

Tis odd how things change over the years from day 1 back in 1965 it was always quick acting carbs, never a mention of anything else.
As 5 year old it was 1 sugar lump per hypo and as I got older it increased to 2 sugar lumps. Or a rapid drop meant glucose powder in water.
In all my years as a diabetic I have never been told to follow with slow carbs, yet others have and now it's gone full circle again. Can't remember who it was but one of the members did say the thinking has changed now and follow up slow carbs are not needed for any routine pump or otherwise.

I wonder what the next rethink will be lol.
 
Kim23 said:
I have only lost 1.5lbs as only in my 2nd week but I am happy with how it is going as it's downwards! 🙂
well done 🙂I have always had the 'intense' feeling ever since I was diagnosed over 20 yrs ago so not new on that one. I did try the jelly babies thing last week but I think I worked myself up as waiting for it to work made me drop to the 2.6 lol my poor hubby and work are having to help me lately as that has never happened.
That just sounds as if far to much basal or perhaps wrong bolus type depending how long the hypo was after a meal
I was not told to not use slow carbs after a hypo and I have been on a pump for over 7 years now. They have always said to do what I have always done, i do not like the new Glucotabs as so sickly sweet whichever flavour so I have stuck with old fashioned Dextrose.
You def need to use more dextrose then. I hate the Glucotabs as well. Must admit I do like morrisons jelly beans. They work out to about 2 carbs each and 30 carbs worth fit in a glucotab reusable tube.
My dsn said it might be the change of type of carb I now have, rice and couscous rather than spuds and that. I have a fear of night hypo's from bad experiences as a youngster so that is why my basal's change throughout the day. Hopefully my fastings will give us a clue of which one to change, I do want to change some now but it'll mess me up for a couple days if I chose the wrong one to change.

Thank you for all your comments to me, Kim x
Click to expand...

Depending on the time of the hypos would indicate what is causing the hypos.
Do you think perhaps you have your combi or extended bolus slightly wrong for rice and couscous? Must admit I gave up on couscous as could never get it right so always ended up hypo :(
 
I use my carbs and cals app and the packets to help with dosing on the rice and couscous. I just don't like the intense feeling as my symptoms never seem to change over the years
 
Kim23 said:
I use my carbs and cals app and the packets to help with dosing on the rice and couscous. I just don't like the intense feeling as my symptoms never seem to change over the years
Click to expand...

Sorry Kim my bad what I was trying to say is perhaps you need to try experimenting with the split and or length of the bolus. I suspect you know your carb values inside out lol, but do wonder if it's not something that's always on the menu if this is your problem.

As to the intense feeling for hypos that's a good feeling as at least you know you are hypo, so many find the feelings dulled after many years of diabetes. 🙂
 
hi Kim Whenever I am on Weight Watchers I find that I need less basal otherwise I have more hypos. I have Lucozade for hypos because 150ml is only one WW point. well done on the weight loss
 
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