Struggling with low levels

[jalapino]

The last 3 days I have been struggling with low levels...I keep getting mild hypos during the day and despite drinking lucozade and eating jelly babies I keep going from a low 3.0 - 6.0 I just can't seem to get my levels above and stable....I am not eating a lot during the day as we have a lot of work on.

I have been working hard so maybe this is a factor as it seems to make my levels go low.....1 month ago I was used to having levels in the late 20's.

I understand that it takes a while for your levels to balance out and your body has to adjust to low levels but this is really knocking me back I keep getting all panicky.

I assumed that taking insulin would make it all good but I really feel scared now that I will keep having a hypo....and as soon as I feel funny my levels are very low.

It is a horrible feeling

I have missed out my morning injection and I am at 13.5 now and actually feel better than low levels.....I hate it I really do...I feel so down and confused.

I no a lot of you probably think I am over reacting but I am finding it so hard with hypos and working...I just cannot get to grips with it

 

[Lauras87]

Missing insulin isn't advisable Ant & I know exactly where you are coming from re low levels.

I was told that once you have a hypo then you are more at risk of having another hypo in the next 24 hours.

Can you not speak to your nurse? (I know you've said she isn't very helpful)

 

[AlisonM]

The more I read of your situation, the more you remind me of me. I begin to think you may, like me be LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adulthood, or slow onset T1) rather than T2. There are blood tests that can establish this, C-peptide and GAD and I wonder what the chances are you might persuade your doctor to do them.

Slow onset T1 means your pancreas still works to a degree from time to time. What may be happening now you have the insulin injections is that your body sometimes has too much floating about in there. Sadly, I've learned there's no way to predict when your pancreas will kick in and add some more insulin to the mix so that all you can do is react when it does and take less when you next inject. That's what happened to me last week. Such fun. 🙄

 

[jalapino]

Missing insulin isn't advisable Ant & I know exactly where you are coming from re low levels.

I was told that once you have a hypo then you are more at risk of having another hypo in the next 24 hours.

Can you not speak to your nurse? (I know you've said she isn't very helpful)

I can talk to her but she insists I need to get through the hypos and she is happy with my levels....I have not taken my evening insulin to as I am just dam right scared! I will start again tomorrow at a lower dose....the problem is I have been upping my dose every 3 days on and of to bring levels down now they are to low for me!.....I just feel lost

 

[jalapino]

The more I read of your situation, the more you remind me of me. I begin to think you may, like me be LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adulthood, or slow onset T1) rather than T2. There are blood tests that can establish this, C-peptide and GAD and I wonder what the chances are you might persuade your doctor to do them.

Slow onset T1 means your pancreas still works to a degree from time to time. What may be happening now you have the insulin injections is that your body sometimes has too much floating about in there. Sadly, I've learned there's no way to predict when your pancreas will kick in and add some more insulin to the mix so that all you can do is react when it does and take less when you next inject. That's what happened to me last week. Such fun. 🙄

My levels have been so high the last 6 months...but I only tested here and there due to strips....I have had readings where my meter cannot tell me what high levels are above 33.0.....but of late they are all over the bloody place....I feel scared to inject and scared my levels are high then low...there all over the place...my body feels so....odd! I feel lost

 

[suziepoo]

Hi
I know how you feel - I hate having hypos and they've started happening at roughly the same time each day, regardless of how high my levels was at breakfast. I hate the feeling of them and would rather keep my levels high to try and avoid them.
Had my lowest at 2.3 today - not happy. Especially when I got home to a letter cancelling my appointment next week and moving it to the week after. Not a major problem, apart from it being month end at work and the pump rep not being able to attend. Phoned the hospital and they said the earliest would be December!! I said I'd be 6 foot under by then as this was arranged to try and resolve my hypo issue. Suddenly it's been re-instated!!
I think the swings between severe highs and lows makes both extremes more uncomfortable.
Fingers crossed you can get on a more even keel.

 

[AlisonM]

My levels have been so high the last 6 months...but I only tested here and there due to strips....I have had readings where my meter cannot tell me what high levels are above 33.0.....but of late they are all over the bloody place....I feel scared to inject and scared my levels are high then low...there all over the place...my body feels so....odd! I feel lost

That's it exactly. That's how I felt until January, it was a nightmare. Thing is, if you're mis-diagnosed then the treatment you're receiving isn't going to be the best for you. My numbers were all over the shop too, running from stratospheric to basement levels without seeming to stop in the middle at all. Which is extremely wearing and can be very dangerous. A talk with your doctor is indicated to establish what's really going on.

[RANT]In my case, first they had me on Metformin and Sitagliptin, then it was Met and Gliclazide, then Glucophage SR. Then they took me off all that and gave me Byetta having already established I was LADA but thinking I didn't need insulin at that stage, wrong! Insulin added, but I was only allowed to inject once a day and not enough, or at times, too much if my Pancreas played silly games with me. Now I'm allowed to manage the insulin according to my BGs and have Victoza once a day to combat the insulin resistance caused by being overweight, things are much more stable though I still have blips. It's been a real battle to get to this stage and I haven't won the treatment war yet, though I'm getting there.

I had to go to extraordinary lengths to prove my point and get the needed tests, buying my own strips and recording everything. Documenting every morsel of food, every step walked and doing a good deal of research into both my family history (no T2s), along with a number of other health issues that made T2 less likely and how the medications made me feel (dreadful). It took six months to get the blood tests and more than three years to find a med regime that works for me. There were times when I felt like ending it all, and bouts of depression that left me too down to even try. The highs are exhausting and the hypos terrifying.

Different regions treat LADA differently, if they actually believe it exists. Some lucky souls are treated as T1s and seem to fare somewhat better than folk like me who are regarded by the local Health Trust as fast track T2 rather than slow onset T1s. That complicates things enormously for the poor soul on the receiving end as T2 meds aren't really appropriate.[/RANT]

For your own sake, at least try to get the GAD and C-peptide tests done. Whatever the result, it will at last give you a place to start working on the right treatment regime for you. Whether you turn out to be T1.5 and need just the insulin, or insulin plus something else. Or if you are T2 and the Metfartin doesn't suit you so that you need an alternative. Whatever it is, do yourself a favour and keep nagging till they help you find out.

Bit of a screed, sorry. 😱

 

[gabriele]

Hello Ant

first I sent you some big hugs

I agree with Alison , I do not believe that you are a T2 . And I think having BG levels above 10 feels better than very high or very low . The problem is , it is dangerous and you will damages you body .
My eyes are very bad and I would never ever wish anybody going through laser and eye OP .
You have to take care of yourself . Go back to your Doc and tell him how much you struggle with your insulin regime . Make him see that you cannot drive or work with this , it is dangerous and you cannot cope .
Ant , you are so young and you have little children you must do something .
Sorry , when it is a bit rude but I feel so sorry for you .

 

[pav]

sorry can't help with what type you are. think though this is where the MDI regime would come in use to you. At the moment you are injecting and then having to eat to feed the insulin you have injected, a bit like taking gliclazide with me. Skipping a meal is not an option, with me it would mean having a hypo like you are getting, even if I eat late I can be very close or having a mild hypo.

At least with MDI you can inject to the meal and the work you are doing, time to bring this up with the doctor, as I don't think your DN will listen to you to at least let you try going on MDI.

When you've learnt how to loose weight without missing a meal or going hypo let me know . At the moment always feel hungry and weight is starting to go on.

 

[happydog]

sorry can't help with what type you are. think though this is where the MDI regime would come in use to you. At the moment you are injecting and then having to eat to feed the insulin you have injected, a bit like taking gliclazide with me. Skipping a meal is not an option, with me it would mean having a hypo like you are getting, even if I eat late I can be very close or having a mild hypo.

At least with MDI you can inject to the meal and the work you are doing, time to bring this up with the doctor, as I don't think your DN will listen to you to at least let you try going on MDI.

When you've learnt how to loose weight without missing a meal or going hypo let me know . At the moment always feel hungry and weight is starting to go on.

Ant, I can't help in any way other than to send you hugs and urge you to go to see the doctor and really push for some better care. I am so sorry that you are having such a bad time and that you are not getting the help that you need.

 

[trophywench]

Ant - off to see the GP not the nurse.

Tell him you are fed up with all this up down how's your father, it ain't safe with you working up scaffolding - tell him his blooming nurse should try being up a scaffold with a BG of 2.3 if she thinks it's ok for anyone to do that - she is just an idiot really and clearly knows bog all about H & S, and not a lot more about diabetes.

So, you want to see a proper diabetologist at the hospital, please.

 

[AJLang]

You've got some great advice on here. I know that it can feel easier with higher levels but it's the unseen problems that it can cause that you don't want later on - but I know that you know this. Good luck with getting onto MDI - you will still have hypos but they should be a lot easier to manage especially as you can skip meals if you don't want to inject for them. Your body will really, really love you for having your BGs much nearer to normal levels. Big hugs.

 

[jalapino]

Tthankyou all very much for your good advice, I had a very early night hence late reply :0)
I have a doctor's appointment next week so I will put it to him in black and white.
Once again thankyou all for your support.