Hypo reactions [was Cranberry Sweet-and-Sour Pork]

[Guest guest]

metaylorokc@... wrote:

>Do type one's have more trouble with going hypo without warning. Like I will

>be doing something and without getting shaky or anything, Ill think " I feel a

>little dizzy " and take my sugar and it is like 50. My mother is a type 2 and

>she gets shaky etcc... Just wondering if there is a reason why this happens

>without warning.

The direct answer is Yes, T1's have more trouble with hypo (hypoglycemia -

too low BG) reactions because all insulin is injected (none made by the

body). When a normal functioning body produces insulin in response to

rising BG, it always makes " the right amount " for the conditions and

changes as the conditions change. When all insulin is injected (or

pancreatic function otherwise compromised), however, there is lots of room

for error such that the introduced insulin is " too much " for conditions . .

.. then a hypo reaction occurs. The balance is complicated by the fact that

many things affect BG levels but once the insulin is injected, it is

" there " and cannot be reduced, only compensated for (increasing BG).

" The Balance " (correct amount of insulin for conditions) is affected by

many factors. Among them:

1) Each type of insulin (Humalog, Lantus, Regular, Lente, Ultralente,

combos, etc.) has a particular " life " and " peak " that you must be aware of

as you learn to dose insulin, i.e., how long from injection to when it

begins to work, how long from injection to when it is strongest, how long

before that insulin is " out of the system " and no longer active (this

activity forms a curve on a graph). Many drug companies have charts/graphs

online showing and/or explaining the active life of each of their insulin

products.

2) Similarly, different foods (eaten) affect BG differently (also a curve)

depending upon how fast they hit, how high the BG spike they create, and

how long they last in the system . . . which depends on individual

metabolism as well as activity level (and lots of other physical factors

that can be different among individuals).

3) Physical activity . . . uses food faster (and often using less insulin).

4) Stress (emotional or physical) . . . raises BG.

The body does provide " warning " of hypo conditions . . . like being shaky,

etc. Those are the body's way of signaling danger and telling you to

increase the BG level (and keep the nutrition flowing to the brain). I get

a variety of hypo symptoms depending upon how fast my BG is dropping.

Often, the hypoglycemic progression of danger signals is (but can vary

among individuals and on how fast/how far the BG is dropping depending upon

active insulin in the system): shaky/feeling odd => disorientation =>

non-functional => unconscious => convulsions => death. A true hypo begins

at a BG of 65 (or less) but if your body is accustomed to much higher BG

levels, the hypo symptoms can appear with BG significantly above 65 because

your body is beginning to panic nonetheless. (This is more common in T2's

than T1's.)

All that applies to anyone who injects insulin (T1 or T2) though T2's with

insulin-resistance can tolerate much more insulin than is really " needed "

(because they don't utilize it properly) and it may take much more to be

" too much " and generate a hypo reaction. T2's can also get hypo reactions

in response to oral meds that artificially stimulate the pancreas to make

more insulin. In short, a hypo reaction is the body's warning signals that

there is too much insulin and/or not enough BG in the system.

Whew. Sorry I got so long-winded.

Sandy

T1 -1979