Re: How to correct hypos properly (wasWeak Legs)

[Guest guest]

, why are you having hypos? Are you taking a sulf? What kind of pills

are you taking? You're not on insulin, are you? I've forgotten -- how long

ago were you diagnosed? Did you have any instruction of any kind? Vicki

Vicki:

I was diagnosed, Type II, last Sept and was put on Glucophage......I am now

on 500 mg twice a day. Its that plus diet and exercise.

I don't know why I am having the hypos all of a sudden....except that my

eating patterns have been irregular lately, my depression has been acting up,

I had to quit my job and so just haven't been eating regularly. Just not

hungry. But today really scared me having two like that tonight: 8 PM : 50,

then I ate some turkey stew and some regular applesauce and took level right

away after and it was 103, then at 11:55 took it again and it was 57. So I

had some cereal and yougurt. Am waiting for a while and will take it again

before bed time. I will call Dr right away in the morning.

I don't think I should have taken my glucophage tonight but thought I had

corrected my problems from yesterday.

Actually today my levels have been 108-72-50-103-57. So I think the Dr needs

to take me off or at least cut back on glucophage.

Hope that answers some of your questions, I must admit I am really scared

about this.

hugs

[Guest guest]

Hypos happen to Type 2's who are not on insulin. I am insulin resistant,

recently started on glucophage. But for a long time before diagnosis I had

what I now know are hypos. They were reactive hypos caused by going high,

having body release too much insulin, and then not eating for 4-5 hours.

Lowest reading I ever got was 39 within the first couple of weeks of

diagnosis. I felt like I was having an anxiety attack at the time... I was

shaky all over and very light-headed. Since I started making sure that I

watch what I eat very carefully, I don't go high and almost never have a

hypo as long as I eat at regular intervals. Even if meals are delayed,

since I don't have all that excess insulin circulating, my BG generally

settles in the low 70s and stays there.

Anne

> Re: How to correct hypos properly (wasWeak Legs)

>

>

> In a message dated 01-01-21 22:06:13 EST, you write:

>

> << nd speaking of 50s tonight I had another

> hypo of 50.....got real scared..... >>

>

> , why are you having hypos? Are you taking a sulf? What

> kind of pills

> are you taking? You're not on insulin, are you? I've forgotten

> -- how long

> ago were you diagnosed? Did you have any instruction of any kind? Vicki

>

> Public website for Diabetes International:

> http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int

>

> Post message: diabetes_integroups

> Subscribe: diabetes_int-subscribeegroups

> Unsubscribe: diabetes_int-unsubscribeegroups

> List owner: diabetes_int-owneregroups

>

> URL: /group/diabetes_int

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I was on glucophage (1000 mg/day) for the 1st 6 months after my DM dx.

Although it is extremely unusual to hypo with this drug, it can happen. As my

bg control improved, I started to recognize lows and called the dr. In his

office, I tested in the 60's 2 hrs pp. He immediately stopped the med and

I've been running great numbers with diet and exercise. I still have to be

careful about eating regular meals; In Oct, I had to wait until 10 AM for a

fasting blood draw a few months ago and tested 51.

Carol T

In a message dated 1/22/01 3:36:19 AM Pacific Standard Time, cariapat@...

writes:

> I was diagnosed, Type II, last Sept and was put on Glucophage......I am

now

> on 500 mg twice a day. Its that plus diet and exercise.

> I don't know why I am having the hypos all of a sudden....except that my

> eating patterns have been irregular lately, my depression has been acting

up,

>

> I had to quit my job and so just haven't been eating regularly. Just not

> hungry. But today really scared me having two like that tonight: 8 PM :

50,

>

> then I ate some turkey stew and some regular applesauce and took level

right

>

> away after and it was 103, then at 11:55 took it again and it was 57. So

I

> had some cereal and yougurt. Am waiting for a while and will take it

again

> before bed time. I will call Dr right away in the morning.

> I don't think I should have taken my glucophage tonight but thought I had

> corrected my problems from yesterday.

> Actually today my levels have been 108-72-50-103-57. So I think the Dr

> needs

> to take me off or at least cut back on glucophage.

> Hope that answers some of your questions, I must admit I am really scared

> about this.

> hugs

>

>

[Guest guest]

> ... But Dr. Bernstein specifically

> recommends glucose tabs be used (and why)

> and that's good enough for me!

Yes, and I understand why, Vicki.

Hypoglycemia does not work like a switch, he makes it quite clear

that it starts off as " mild " (early) and progresses to " severe "

(late). So there is no threshold.

And he concentrates on insulin-dependent diabetics whose hypos are

more likely to continue on down into loss of consciousness if not

stopped. But if you look at the bulleted list in the middle of page

254 you can see that he brackets out the last three stages (loss of

consciousness, convulsions and death) for diabetics who do not take

insulin.

Well, I don't take insulin and I am quite certain that my hypos are

never going into that phase so therefore I do not need the " quick

fix " . And I believe that diabetícs should aim to take precautions

to keep away from the deep hypo stage. That is why I claim that NIDD

Type 2 diabetics can forget the glucose tablets for normal day-to-day

situations and take the precaution of maintaining their BG out of the

hypo range by planning their meals, activities and medication

appropriately.

I checked in my car this morning and found that I still had an

emergency set of glucose tablets in the glove compartment and that is

the way I prefer to regard them - just like the fifth wheel - only

for use in a dire emergency.

Wouldn't you agree, Vicki, that a diabetic who relies on glucose

tablets (nutritionally useless energy, after all) for regulation of

their BG profile on a regular basis cannot possible claim to

have " good control " ? It's like driving a car with one hand on the

hand brake!

I never really thought about it before now but you set me off!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 01-01-22 10:05:27 EST, you write:

<<

Wouldn't you agree, Vicki, that a diabetic who relies on glucose

tablets (nutritionally useless energy, after all) for regulation of

their BG profile on a regular basis cannot possible claim to

have " good control " ? It's like driving a car with one hand on the

hand brake!

>>

Nope, , can't agree. Those of us who try for " tight control " walk mighty

close to the line, not much room for error. So we might slip into hypos-

land very easily. And, of course, I'm a type 1, insulin dependent so I tend

to speak from my own personal POV. But I still think it's a good idea to use

glucose tabs to fix hypos. Vicki

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 01-01-22 12:48:01 EST, you write:

<<

> Hypos happen to Type 2's who are not on insulin.

****Hypos happen to Type 2's who are on insulin as well.

Barb >>

From the above, sounds like any diabetic can have hypos. V.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 01/22/2001 10:05:40 AM Eastern Standard Time,

lists@... writes:

<< That is why I claim that NIDD

Type 2 diabetics can forget the glucose tablets for normal day-to-day

situations and take the precaution of maintaining their BG out of the

hypo range by planning their meals, activities and medication

appropriately. >>

There are dm2's that take insulin but are not insulin dependent. Also some

who do have lows with orals, etc.,

glucose is the best answer which many DR's prefer because of overcompensating

when turning to food. glucose tabs contain exactly 4 mg carbs.

For me, when I start feeling low, its not that I'm already there, but it

means for me anyway, I'm about to take a nosedive. I'm lucky in this respect

I can pop a glucose tab, and be OK in just a few minutes and no spike.

So if I start feeling shaky, for instance, or any of my low symptoms, and I

read 70, I'm not OK, its about to go down, so this is why I prefer the

glucose tabs.

Your body knows for sure!! :-)

I'm one of the lucky ones, I get very definite signs before I go too low, and

also if I'm going to go high as well.

carol

[Guest guest]

wrote:

<< So are what you saying is, that I am having these lows as a reaction to

all the carbos I am eating? I will go to store this afternoon and see what

I can get that is carbo free......have been snacking on broccoli and

cauliflower....but can only eat so much of that.....need something for

energy also. >>

Yes, . We eat carbs ... our glucose spikes, sharply, then comes

crashing down. If we prevent the spike in the first place, that smooths out

our readings and we no longer feel like a pinball machine. Mostly work the

perimeter of the grocery store (although, from the middle aisles, you can

select dill pickles, olives, canned green beans and chick peas, canned tuna,

salad dressings, etc.). For energy, select the leanest cuts of meat, low-fat

cheeses, eggs, and fish. Some of the meat-based canned soups will do in a

pinch, but it is better to make your own from scratch. There are products

you can order on the internet if you cannot find them locally. I get hulless

barley and chana dal online from Bob's Red Mill. There are several purveyors

of low-carb products online. If you visit the website for the makers of the

" Pure De-Lite " imported Belgian chocolate bars (http://www.carblite.com, I

think it is), there are links to several low-carb sites, including:

http://www.lowcarbconnoisseur.com

http://www.netrition.com

The people advising you re diet are not on the right track, IMO. YOU are on

the right track. Hang in there, and don't get too worried. I promise you ...

you are not on injected insulin and you are not on a sulfonylurea. Your body

has an amazing ability to bail you out if you drop too low. Your liver keeps

a form of glucose in reserve that it can send out to help you. Your current

problems are twofold. One is that, because of the diet they prescribed, your

numbers have been higher than they need to be, so now that you are dropping

down, your lows feel *much* lower than they truly are. The other problem is

that, since you haven't been eating as often as you have been, you are

depleting your stores of glucagon in your liver. Let's get you back on

track, girl!

Susie