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Low BG but no symptoms

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.

pippin

Well-Known Member
Not too sure if I should be concerned or if the fact dad isn't on any diabetic medication enough to cope with some readings after dinner/exercise being under 4. It's not every time and his pre-meal readings are normally in the 5's with the odd one at 6.1.

Dad exercises regularly and I keep his diet as close as possible to a high GI/portion control. He has x3 good meals a day with snacks being nuts or some sort of protein. No pre-made meals at all everything home made.

The main thing is when his reading eg last night after dinner and cross training 3.4 (it was 5.5 before dinner) he doesn't feel dizzy or remotely different! I keep asking him if he has any feelings of low BG but he definitely doesn't, never has. we only know as we test although I know this can be 10/20% error on figures.
He just feels hungry and will have a snack.

I wasn't going to post about it as his figures have been mainly 4-5 but last night we added another under 4. Hope it isn't silly to ask about this as I know dad isn't on meds which would cause him to go too low. Is it correct just to make sure he snacks when this happens?

He feels healthy and could still do with gaining weight although how he doesn't i don't know as I can hardly carry his supply of veg etc home! If his weight at the end of the week equalled the shopping we buy he would be back to the weight he was!

Thanks
 
Hi Pippin, don't worry - it isn't a silly question and it's also not a problem that he doesn't have any symptoms. In fact it's a perfectly normal non-diabetic number around 3.5 and most non-diabetic people don't get symptoms at those levels because their system is working so smoothly. If levels start to drop below this then the pancreas produces a little glucagon which then prompts the liver to release a bit more glucose. So, great news for your Dad, and you for your excellent care! 🙂

p.s. a snack is fine as this will raise his levels instead of his liver trying to do it and will 'switch off' the glucagon response 🙂
 
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Thank you Northerner, really appreciate your advice. I'm sure the diabetes fairy will jump out of nowhere someday with a BG number to scare both of us 😉
I was hoping the snack would turn off glycogen response but wasn't sure if this was the same for dad's type of diabetes/treatment.

We both try to keep his exercise/diet as regular as possible as this seems to help dad's readings. The odd day which turns upside down with meal or exercise times BG definitely shows a differnce in his levels. Will be getting an upgraded model/another brand of cross trainer as the one we have has had problems twice. Thankfully the shop have been really good especially now they realise how often dad uses it. He refuses to let them take this one away until they deliver the new one!

Now the weather is getting better it's a mix of gardening with cross training and possibly add walking when it warms up enough for me.

Thank you for explaining all of this as I kept a wee worry in my head each time I saw the BG level in the 3's
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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