Not happy about hypos

[Salinda]

Diagnosed last June with type 2 and put on Metformin, I think I developed OCD in diabetes and have been so "good" that I am having a three month break from the Metformin. I am still being good with what I eat and walking about an hour a day. Normally when I walk, I take a small sandwich (a slice of wholemeal bread, low fat cheese spread and a sprinkling of mixed seeds) and as soon as I feel slightly wobbly, I eat it and feel fine. This morning before I did a long walk in the glorious sunshine along the canal I ate half a banana but about halfway my eyes went a bit strange and I felt decidedly peculiar. I had an apple and some carrots with me (still trying to lose weight) and ate those. It did improve things but I am wondering if I should be doing anything differently. I am not due to see the nurse for another couple of months when I have another blood test to see how I am doing without the pills.
Linda

 

[Northerner]

Hi Linda, sorry to hear about the lows, but many congratulations on your progress 🙂 Are you able to test your levels when you feel low? As you are not on any medication that might send you too low, it sounds like you are experiencing one of the sorts of lows that many non-diabetic people get after exertion, and a little food helps raise levels sufficiently to dispel the symptoms. Something like a couple of jelly babies or fruit pastilles would probably give you a quicker energy boost than the sandwich, but you could try having something sweet next time you feel this way and then follow it up with your sandwich. How much are you eating generally? Perhaps your calories are too low at the moment?

I wouldn't wait another couple of months before seeing the nurse or doctor again, as it may be related to something else, and not your blood sugar levels - low blood pressure, for example. It might be worth getting a meter and a few strips (or asking your doctor for some, after all, it would be the simplest way to know what may be happening!) so that you can see what sort of range your levels are in, both before your walk and if you feel low again. Good luck and let us know how things go 🙂

 

[slipper]

Hi Salinda, I have had the same experiences lately, but did measure and I have often been in the 3's late mornings before any lunch.

It was suggested that my calories were too low, and I am on a low carb diet, about 75g a day. I found that having 1 dextrose tablet had little effect, so I have now upped my calories and upped my carbs to 100g at least a day,( mainly with pitta bread).

One week later I feel much better, and oddly lost 1lb as a bonus having stalled for a while.

I will see my GP but cant get appointment for 2 weeks.

 

[Kwaka1]

Hi Salinda,
I would suspect that as Northerner says, these episodes are just lows that anyone will get. The foods that you say that you're eating to combat the 'Hypo' would have very little effect in doing so, as they are little or no carb foods. I would suggest testing, because if your levels are running high you may find that as they drop to normal levels you feel 'hypo'.
I always carry Jelly Babies and Lucozade to combat hypos, as they are quick acting carbs which will get you feeling 'normal' within a few minutes. However, you should also follow up with longer lasting carbs (starch), as sugars are used up quite quickly.