Keytones and Collapsing

[LottieL]

Hi all. First time posted.
MyBS hasn't been good lately. I have been eating more sweet stuff and my BS have been up and down. I have recently had Ketones and collapsed a couple of times. I am getting support for this. Has anybody else experienced this as it has un nerves me

 

[trophywench]

Well if you eat more sweet stuff your BG will go up - and if it goes too high you will get ketones and if they get too high you do collapse - so have you now cut back on the sweet stuff?

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome

Sorry to hear you are having problems. Ketones and collapsing are particularly worrying. Are you losing consciousness when you collapse?
Which insulin(s) do you use? Have you been injecting insulin to cover the sweet stuff you are eating? Do you check your BG levels when you collapse and if so, are they high or low? The more information you can give us the better idea we have about what might be going on.

 

[LottieL]

Hi thank you for replying to my question I have been diabetic 32 years and would treat myself now and again and give myself extra insulin for this So as I have gotten older 66yrs of age of doesn't work so well. My body is changing and Can't get away with certain things anymore My sugars went down to 3.7 and as I went to get some orange juice from fridge my whole body collapsed I didn't black out but very frightening and I just wondered if it had happened to anyone else? It's good to know. My doctor and I are sorting it out and I am looking to go on Lena testing to get better results for my be. Are you on this x?

 

[Kaylz]

You say "extra" insulin, to me that suggests you aren't carb counting and adjusting insulin to suit the carbohydrates consumed, is this the case?

Are you on a basal/bolus regime?

I'm not sure what Lena testing is? Might you mean a Libre?
xx

 

[LottieL]

Hi Barbara. I am planning to go on Libra in the near future. Sounds a lot easier to control what's going on with me. I am working with my Doctor and NEEDS to sort out I am now 66yrs old my body is changing. Also in this pandemic I have eaten lots more naughty but nice foods and have lost a bit of control I did not black out but so frightening ..I have been diabetic for 32 years and first time this has happened. I was adding insulin to cover the foods but I overcome it So being very good now the odd treat so I can get good control back Xx

 

[rebrascora]

Please make sure you have some jelly babies or dextrose tablets to hand (and I mean in pockets, handbag, in every room in the house within reach, including the bathroom and bedside table at all times) rather than having to make a trip into the kitchen to get some juice to treat a hypo. Far better to remain sitting and deal with the hypo than risk hitting the floor. I am fit and healthy but I always have hypo treatment in my pockets and handbag and within arms length wherever I am.

Which insulin(s) are you using?
I too would guess you are referring the the Freestyle Libre system of monitoring your BG levels?? It is a fantastic system and if your GP is prepared to prescribe it then you may find it a huge help.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi again Lottie

I see that you have accidentally posted your replies on someone else's thread so I have asked the moderators to move them here. If you type in the box at the bottom of a thread it will post your message on that thread, so in order to reply to me about your query here you need to click on this thread and then type in the box below as I am doing now and click post reply. I know it seems a bit complicated at first but you will soon get the hang of it and the moderators will sort it out as soon as they have a moment.

Yes I have done the DAFNE course which is brilliant. I hope you find the zoom refresher helpful.
Yes, Lockdown has meant that lots of people have reached for the comfort food, so you are no different to many others in that respect, but having had a scary incident, it is time to rein it in a bit I would say. A treat every now and then is important but keeping safe is important too. That said we all make mistakes/miscalculations with our insulin or diet at some time or another. Hopefully you did not sustain any lasting injuries and if you get the Libre prescribed then that should make a big difference.

 

[LottieL]

You say "extra" insulin, to me that suggests you aren't carb counting and adjusting insulin to suit the carbohydrates consumed, is this the case?

Are you on a basal/bolus regime?

I'm not sure what Lena testing is? Might you mean a Libre?
xx

Hi Yes Libra I will be going on. Injecting myself. Slow - Lantus and Novorapid for carbs For the last 32 years My kitchen come living room was only a few steps. Always keep orange juice. Fresh. On me and some carroT was out of the ordinary to collapse Thank you for your kindness and info. This is a special place x

 

[LottieL]

Hi again Lottie

I see that you have accidentally posted your replies on someone else's thread so I have asked the moderators to move them here. If you type in the box at the bottom of a thread it will post your message on that thread, so in order to reply to me about your query here you need to click on this thread and then type in the box below as I am doing now and click post reply. I know it seems a bit complicated at first but you will soon get the hang of it and the moderators will sort it out as soon as they have a moment.

Yes I have done the DAFNE course which is brilliant. I hope you find the zoom refresher helpful.
Yes, Lockdown has meant that lots of people have reached for the comfort food, so you are no different to many others in that respect, but having had a scary incident, it is time to rein it in a bit I would say. A treat every now and then is important but keeping safe is important too. That said we all make mistakes/miscalculations with our insulin or diet at some time or another. Hopefully you did not sustain any lasting injuries and if you get the Libre prescribed then that should make a big difference.

Thank you Dafne that's the name I know you are right of course Barbara Can't wait to go on to the Libre system. Did bang my knee and couldn't walk for a couple of days Needless to say I have upped my game Hopefully speak again. Thank you and best wishes x

 

[Inka]

That sounds scary @LottieL I find the little mini cans of Coke good for hypos - easy to store, easy to open, and, most importantly very fast-acting.

Had you injected Lantus reasonably soon before collapsing? There is something called a Lantus hypo (which you might already know of). Perhaps a change of basal might be something to consider.

 

[LottieL]

You say "extra" insulin, to me that suggests you aren't carb counting and adjusting insulin to suit the carbohydrates consumed, is this the case?

Are you on a basal/bolus regime?

I'm not sure what Lena testing is? Might you mean a Libre?
x

 

[LottieL]

H I I realise I need more info and education on this again. I want to be on your Hymn Page and I am not. Lost my way But the good news is. I am on my way back Look out for me in a few months as I hope to be posting good results. I will carry on the chats eff to keep me up to date with everything. DAFNE course Tuesday. Much needed. Talking to NEEDS about changing Insulin and Libre Thanks for all your replies. Need a course on this too xx

 

[Drummer]

I'm increasing the sweetness of my food - but using a granular sweetener.
I lost interest in eating but now find that pancakes made from egg and mozzarella cheese, plus a little psyllium flour, cooked and then served with lemon and whatever it is the jar in the cupboard are attractive enough to get me into the kitchen and eating with some interest. The pancakes don't even cause a flicker in blood glucose for me, so might help when you really want something sweet without having to count or account for carbs.

 

[LottieL]

That sounds scary @LottieL I find the little mini cans of Coke good for hypos - easy to store, easy to open, and, most importantly very fast-acting.

Had you injected Lantus reasonably soon before collapsing? There is something called a Lantus hypo (which you might already know of). Perhaps a change of basal might be something to consider.

Hi. Orange juice really works fast but thank you for the tip. No I hadn't taken Lantus anywhere near that time. I honestly have lost my way over the last few months. I am now realising How did I get to this? So Dafne course booked on Tuesday and really glad I joined this chat. Lovely caring people. Chat soon. X

 

[trophywench]

A Dafne or similar course, takes a week usually.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

So sorry to hear about your struggles @LottieL

Hope that the Dafne refresher, and adding the Libre for added BG information really help you to make some positive progress with your diabetes management.

 

[LottieL]

So sorry to hear about your struggles @LottieL

Hope that the Dafne refresher, and adding the Libre for added BG information really help you to make some positive progress with your diabetes management.

Thank you for your kind words. Can you explain a little about your pump etc

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

An insulin pump is a smallish electronic device which you wear 24/7, and which continually delivers insulin through a cannula - a short tube - under the skin. You fill a reservoir with a few day’s of rapid acting insulin, and the pump delivers a trickle over the next 3 days, and allowed you to deliver extra bursts for meals or snacks. Then you refill with the next 3day’s worth, and indert a new cannula. So it’s like one jab every 3 days, not several a day.

Some pumps have a piece of tubing so they can be tucked away in a pocket... Others are tubeless and are worn stuck to the skin like half a duck egg.

Because there is no ‘long acting’, you can have a much more varied and flexible delivery of basal insulin by setting a pattern that suits you. You can also temporarily reduce background insulin if you are going to be more active for example.

And because you always have your pump with you/attached to you, you always have insulin readily available for if plans change, unexpected meals are offered etc.

The doses can be given in tiny increments, so you can deliver 4.2 units for a small meal rather than having to round up or down to the nearest option on your pen.

They aren’t ‘set it and forget it’ - you still need to pay attention to your diabetes, instruct the pump to bolus for meals, adjust for illness or exercise etc - but they are a very flexible and accurate way of delivering insulin. Some can even make adjustments based on CGM sensor data to give you a helping hand.

Hope this helps. Lots of info in the pump section too.

 

[LottieL]

An insulin pump is a smallish electronic device which you wear 24/7, and which continually delivers insulin through a cannula - a short tube - under the skin. You fill a reservoir with a few day’s of rapid acting insulin, and the pump delivers a trickle over the next 3 days, and allowed you to deliver extra bursts for meals or snacks. Then you refill with the next 3day’s worth, and indert a new cannula. So it’s like one jab every 3 days, not several a day.

Some pumps have a piece of tubing so they can be tucked away in a pocket... Others are tubeless and are worn stuck to the skin like half a duck egg.

Because there is no ‘long acting’, you can have a much more varied and flexible delivery of basal insulin by setting a pattern that suits you. You can also temporarily reduce background insulin if you are going to be more active for example.

And because you always have your pump with you/attached to you, you always have insulin readily available for if plans change, unexpected meals are offered etc.

The doses can be given in tiny increments, so you can deliver 4.2 units for a small meal rather than having to round up or down to the nearest option on your pen.

They aren’t ‘set it and forget it’ - you still need to pay attention to your diabetes, instruct the pump to bolus for meals, adjust for illness or exercise etc - but they are a very flexible and accurate way of delivering insulin. Some can even make adjustments based on CGM sensor data to give you a helping hand.

Hope this helps. Lots of info in the pump section too.

Thank you so much. I will be asking my Dr about this too. Best wishes