The post-hypo slump - any tips?

[DeusXM]

One thing I'm increasingly finding now when I have hypos is what I'm terming the post-hypo slump. This is when you've successfully treated the hypo, your BG is normal and isn't going anywhere....but you feel utterly drained.

I'm finding with some hypos (even minor ones that only take a couple of glucose tabs) that I then get this fatigue and mental foggyness than can last a good couple of hours on a bad day. It's starting to become a problem because if I have one at lunchtime, it makes me feel out-of-action until mid afternoon, which isn't good from a work perspective. I don't think eating long-acting carbs is the solution as my BG will be 'normal' throughout. Does anyone have any tips?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry DeusXM, I've only really had a hypo hangover when levels have got very low and my brain well and truly went on the fritz (overnighters usually) - thankfully not had that for several years now.

Any pattern to the hypos? (I guess you are looking for that already!)

 

[trophywench]

This may sound really stupid Deus - but are you actually 100% certain your meter is correct as it could be? (I know my old one read at least 10% higher than my new one, whereas it had used to be exceedingly accurate as compared to a CGM I wore for a week at one time. Obviously past it's sell-by date by that time LOL)

Then are these plummeting hypos or gently sliding downhill ones? - I find the former far worse to recover from 100% than the latter.

And - back to basics time - tried retesting your basal and rechecking your carb ratios/correction rates at different times of day, recently?

 

[schmeezle]

Hi Deus,
I've felt similar to what you're describing when my basal's a touch high - basically a little washed out, even without the hypo. I can have good numbers 5.5 or slightly below, but feel 100% better after lightening basal and numbers move to 6.6-6.9.

 

[Twitchy]

I know that feeling...these days my favourite hypo stop is a mini can of coke - I suspect the caffeine helps with the post hypo slump! If you prefer the glucose tabs as a treatment what about a coffee or a can of diet coke once your levels are back to normal? Just watch your levels, as some people find caffeine ups their levels a bit, although it doesn't tend to do that to me...good luck!