Remission

[debra.a]

Hi,
I have recently been taken off Metformin as my blood results show I am in remission how ever I have since had several episodes of hypos. When I informed my GP he said because I am now only diet controlled diabetic I should not be testing my blood sugars. If I feel unwell to have a boiled sweet. As I have had over 14 episodes of hypos in the last 3 months I am anxious about going out and having an episode in public. I have purchased libre 2 plus sensors to keep a close eye on my blood sugars which has given me the confidence to go back out. Should I be monitoring my blood sugars if I am only diet controlled diabetic If so am I wasting my money on sensors. Thank for your help in advance Take Care Stay Safe Debbie

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum.
People can feel a bit wobbly when blood glucose is lower than they have been used to but is not actually in hypo territory but I would assume that yours has reduced gradually to to be getting those sort of symptoms now does seem a bit strange.
What was your blood glucose when you were experiencing your symptoms. As you are no longer taking the metformin it could be your blood glucose was actually high as the symptoms can be quite similar.
Many people have been doing finger pricks and do continue to do so when blood glucose gets down to normal and even if you have a Libre you would still be wise to check high and low readings with a finger prick as the Libre has limitations.
What dietary approach are you following.?

 

[JITR]

... also, how long after meals do these hypos occur?

Are you eating enough to sustain your energy levels?

 

[harbottle]

I doubt you’re having real ‘hypos’. Even if it does go low, which is perfectly normal, the body’s own mechanism will rapidly correct it. As you are diet controlled, there’s nothing interfering with this process.

Mine often goes below 4, usually with exercise combined with high carb food, but it usually corrects well within 15 minutes.

 

[rebrascora]

What are you using to measure these "hypos"? Some BG meters give false low readings when you don't get enough blood on the test strip. Libre certainly over estimates hypos for me and if you lie on the sensor in your sleep, that can cause a false low.
As @harbottle says, you have no need to be concerned about hypos. Readings below 4 can be corrected easily by your liver without you needing to do anything and in fact a true hypo is below 3.5 but those of us on insulin or drugs which cause the pancreas to produce extra insulin like Gliclazide) we treat it as below 4 to help preserve our hypo awareness. Those medications can lower BG levels potentially faster and lower than the liver can correct them, which is why we need to carry hypo treatments and use them when levels drop below 4.

If you can give us more info about when you have been having these hypos and what you use to measure your BG levels at these times, we might be able to shed more light on the matter.

 

[dannybgoode]

It's very rare to have a hypo of your not on insulin or a drug that causes an increase in insulin production. Metformin isn't one of these drugs.

Also a hypo is a defined 'thing' which is a BG reading of less than 4. If you're BG is over 4, despite how you may feel, you're not having a hypo.

I've had a fair few false hypos over the last few weeks and they're very horrid things however a finger prick reading has each time confirmed they were not actual hypos.

I completely understand the confidence aspect either way though. I'm going through that myself at the moment but I'm telling myself it's just a feeling so to get on with it...