Low Glucose Levels

[kevinr]

Hi all. I am struggling with my diabetes and glucose levels, they have been going great for the past 3/4 months but now some of my meter readings are scaring me. Take wed 21/7 my lunch time meter reading was 2.8 I felt really rough and the sweat was pouring out of me. Then on the Mon 26/7 my meter reading was 3.9 and then on Tuesday 27/7 my meter reading was 3.7. My meter readings are normally between 8.9 and 14.6 and this lunchtime my meter reading came out at 3.8 but I have just been taking toast and glucose tablets and my meter reading is now at 6.7 but how long will it stay up? In my case not long before it drops again. I can't do exercise as I have trouble walking and standing. Could my low glucose level be down to the hot weather or my other health issues I have got like prostate Cancer. Any help would be much appreciated

 

[PattiEvans]

Hi there and welcome. It could easily be the hot weather pushing your levels down as it does affect some people, but you haven't said what (if any) medications you are on and it could equally be one of those. Your prostate cancer is more likely to push your levels up as any ailment that stresses the body makes it produce Cortisol, a natural steroid. Hopefully someone else will be along soon to give their opinion, but meantime it would be helpful to know what meds you are on.

 

[Drummer]

Hi all. I am struggling with my diabetes and glucose levels, they have been going great for the past 3/4 months but now some of my meter readings are scaring me. Take wed 21/7 my lunch time meter reading was 2.8 I felt really rough and the sweat was pouring out of me. Then on the Mon 26/7 my meter reading was 3.9 and then on Tuesday 27/7 my meter reading was 3.7. My meter readings are normally between 8.9 and 14.6 and this lunchtime my meter reading came out at 3.8 but I have just been taking toast and glucose tablets and my meter reading is now at 6.7 but how long will it stay up? In my case not long before it drops again. I can't do exercise as I have trouble walking and standing. Could my low glucose level be down to the hot weather or my other health issues I have got like prostate Cancer. Any help would be much appreciated

Is it due to medication? If so then you really need to contact whoever is prescribing for you.

 

[kevinr]

I use Trulicity Insulin Injection 1.5mg every Monday morning this last me a week but I also inject twice a day Humulin M3 and at the moment I am 100 units in the morning and 100 units at teatime. I was told to increase it by one person at my Diabetic centre but then I was told by another person to cut it back so now I am getting confused with it all the time. If I go higher with my insulin I am in trouble but if I cut it back I am still in trouble then the hypos kick in.

 

[Inka]

Perhaps you could ask to try two separate insulins @kevinr rather than a mix. The problem with mixed insulin is you can’t increase one part of the mix without also increasing the other part (which you might not need increasing).

A separate basal/slow insulin and a separate bolus/meal insulin would be more flexible and could help you reduce your hypos.

 

[PattiEvans]

I use Trulicity Insulin Injection 1.5mg every Monday morning this last me a week but I also inject twice a day Humulin M3 and at the moment I am 100 units in the morning and 100 units at teatime. I was told to increase it by one person at my Diabetic centre but then I was told by another person to cut it back so now I am getting confused with it all the time. If I go higher with my insulin I am in trouble but if I cut it back I am still in trouble then the hypos kick in.

Hi Kevin, thank you for the information. Trulicity isn't actually insulin, it's a medication for T2 which helps your pancreas to produce more of your own insulin, it stops the liver producing glucose and slows digestion. There's a good and easy to understand guide here

As @Inka says, it's impossible with mixed insulin to up one part, or decrease the other without increasing or decreasing both. Separate insulins (one for your basal and one for your meal insulin) are much easier to use. I am a little puzzled when you say that if you cut it back you go hypo? From my own experience my insulin needs vary from time to time, for example when the weather warms up I do need to reduce my insulin. As has already been suggested, you do need to speak to your healthcare team in regard to this.

FWIW alsoyou will probably be on some sort of medication for your prostate cancer and that could have a bearing on your doses. My husband was lucky with an early diagnosis, had the prostate removed and is on no medication, but is monitored quarterly. My friend's husband is on multiple medication for his and that could also have an affect on your BGs thus complicating them beyond any suggestions of ours.