Second honeymoon?

[Andra Gabriela]

I used to before I got the Libre, now it helps me to pre-empt any lows. I sometimes need substantial amounts of extra carbs when going for a long walk - I find I have to plan my novorapid doses based much more on planned physical activity than carb amounts. My novorapid requirements can vary a lot and can change significantly almost overnight. Over a period of weeks I might go from 5 units a day to 20, and vice versa. As a comparison, when I was diagnosed I was put on 20 units of lantus and 45 units of novorapid, which would probably kill me now! 😱 I think there are many reasons for my requirements falling - my body was in a state at diagnosis as I had DKA and lost 18 pounds in 3 days, BMI was around 17 😱 As I got used to the 'new me' I was able to get back into my running, which significantly improved my insulin sensitivity, plus, of course, I adapted my diet to reduce my carb intake, and largely stopped consuming 'high impact' carbs that were difficult to predict and inject for. For some reason, in me, I think my pancreas must have made a slow recovery which I have been able to maintain. Human beings are incredibly complex and I often think people - including healthcare professionals - are too ready to accept the rather crude definitions we assign to chronic conditions (particularly Type 2 diabetes, which has an even broader range of factors). There are so many individual factors involved that there is really only one expert on your particular take on diabetes - you! 🙂

Thank you so much for the in depth clarification. I am currently on no insulin whatsoever after going low too often and it’s much better. I am wondering if you can still get a hypo without insulin since I’m always trying to snack if I go under 6-7. I have a libre too and it’s so useful but sometimes I don’t trust it ( for ex today libre was very behind giving me a reading of 8 and by finger prick I was 5.6!)

 

[Northerner]

Thank you so much for the in depth clarification. I am currently on no insulin whatsoever after going low too often and it’s much better. I am wondering if you can still get a hypo without insulin since I’m always trying to snack if I go under 6-7. I have a libre too and it’s so useful but sometimes I don’t trust it ( for ex today libre was very behind giving me a reading of 8 and by finger prick I was 5.6!)

It's possible to go below 4.0 even if you have not injected any insulin - I believe a non-diabetic healthy person would normally be in the range of 3.3-6.5 mmol/l. It is possible for non-diabetic people to go even lower, but usually only in extreme circumstances. The body will normally prevent the body falling below the 'safe' range by either stopping insulin production or stimulating the liver to release more glucose - or both - to keep levels up 🙂 The problem with injected insulin is that it can continue to drive your levels down past that 'safe' point as you can't 'uninject' it. If you haven't injected then you don't need to be concerned 🙂 I can still remember how the stress lifted from me when I stopped the lantus completely, because it meant I was now safe from overnight hypos - I hadn't realised how much it was playing on my subconscious! 😱 🙂

The Libre is good, but if you are ever concerned or it doesn't match how you feel it's best to confirm your levels with a blood test. The sensors normally read about 1-2 mmol/l below actual blood levels for me, so I try to take that into account 🙂 Personally, I'm happy with levels between 4.0 and 10.0 mmol/l and am generally in this range about 98% of the time (nobody's perfect! )

 

[Andra Gabriela]

It's possible to go below 4.0 even if you have not injected any insulin - I believe a non-diabetic healthy person would normally be in the range of 3.3-6.5 mmol/l. It is possible for non-diabetic people to go even lower, but usually only in extreme circumstances. The body will normally prevent the body falling below the 'safe' range by either stopping insulin production or stimulating the liver to release more glucose - or both - to keep levels up 🙂 The problem with injected insulin is that it can continue to drive your levels down past that 'safe' point as you can't 'uninject' it. If you haven't injected then you don't need to be concerned 🙂 I can still remember how the stress lifted from me when I stopped the lantus completely, because it meant I was now safe from overnight hypos - I hadn't realised how much it was playing on my subconscious! 😱 🙂

The Libre is good, but if you are ever concerned or it doesn't match how you feel it's best to confirm your levels with a blood test. The sensors normally read about 1-2 mmol/l below actual blood levels for me, so I try to take that into account 🙂 Personally, I'm happy with levels between 4.0 and 10.0 mmol/l and am generally in this range about 98% of the time (nobody's perfect! )

98%? You’re my new hero. That’s amazing. And thank you so much for the in depth explanation it really calmed. Hopefully one day I’ll manage my t1d as good as you!