Hypo sans spike?

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Christine - 07 Aug 2005 23:53 GMT

As per the advice I received when I posted about my (to me) strangely
low numbers following a low-carb meal (in the high 70s-mid 80s range),
I tested every 30-60 minutes for a good couple of hours after I had
lunch today--the numbers went like this:

30 min - 79
60 - 85
1h30 - 92
2h - 93
2h30 - 98
3h10 - 101
3h40 - 95

So I figure, okay, I had a mini-spike (sloping hill, more like), I can
stop testing now. I fell asleep, then, 3 hours later, I wake up shaky
and with a headache, and I test--72. I ate a Werther's original candy,
supposed to have 5g of sugar carb going by the label, just tested after
15 minutes--69 (rargh), though I do feel slightly better. Not really
hungry at all, not feeling like dinner and/or more Werther's, though.

Is it possible that after I stopped testing I had a spike, leading to a
large insulin release, making me go hypo and waking me up feeling
strange? It doesn't seem likely. But I think the key may be sugar
alcohols--again, I had some chocolate made with lactitol, which didn't
spike me last time, but I *have* felt in this hypo-y way before, always
in connection with the lactitol as far as I can remember. It never
happens "right away," i.e. within a few hours of eating them, but it
will happen on occasion. Also, the last few times I've gotten the shaky
feeling, it's happened after I felt sleepy and took a nap or went to
bed for the night. I've NEVER gotten this hypo feeling without a
connection to lactitol (that I can remember) --which I suppose is my
body telling me to give it up. Anyone want some Reese's?

Christine

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Priscilla Ballou - 08 Aug 2005 01:04 GMT

> As per the advice I received when I posted about my (to me) strangely
> low numbers following a low-carb meal (in the high 70s-mid 80s range),
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> connection to lactitol (that I can remember) --which I suppose is my
> body telling me to give it up. Anyone want some Reese's?

Ummm, you didn't go very high. Indeed, the entire range appears to me
to be within the margin of error of a home glucometer. Maybe you just
didn't eat enough lunch and got hungry? Low 70s is where I find myself
sometimes when I'm just really hungry.

Priscilla

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Beav - 08 Aug 2005 02:11 GMT

> As per the advice I received when I posted about my (to me) strangely
> low numbers following a low-carb meal (in the high 70s-mid 80s range),
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> So I figure, okay, I had a mini-spike (sloping hill, more like),

You didn't spike, your sugar simply climbed a little and it's bearly
measurable. Meter's are god, but they're not 100% accurate and any of those
numbers could've come with any of those tests, so what read as 92 at the 1hr
30 point could actually have been 102 or even 80. Same for all the others.
Your BG's plotted an almost non diabetic movement.

I can

> stop testing now. I fell asleep, then, 3 hours later, I wake up shaky
> and with a headache, and I test--72. I ate a Werther's original candy,
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> large insulin release, making me go hypo and waking me up feeling
> strange?

VERY unlikely. It's more likely to be a slow slide to almost hypo levels,
but not DANGEROUSLY hypo levels. 72 would be easily dealt with by drinking a
glass of milk.

It doesn't seem likely. But I think the key may be sugar

> alcohols--again, I had some chocolate made with lactitol, which didn't
> spike me last time, but I *have* felt in this hypo-y way before, always
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> connection to lactitol (that I can remember) --which I suppose is my
> body telling me to give it up. Anyone want some Reese's?

I think the important question is "Do you use ANY kind of diabetic meds"?

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Christine - 08 Aug 2005 03:06 GMT

> You didn't spike, your sugar simply climbed a little and it's bearly
> measurable. Meter's are god, but they're not 100% accurate and any of those
> numbers could've come with any of those tests, so what read as 92 at the 1hr
> 30 point could actually have been 102 or even 80. Same for all the others.
> Your BG's plotted an almost non diabetic movement.

Yep, sorry, being imprecise with my language there by using "spike" in
the sense of ANY sort of post-prandial rise in BG. I was simply on the
lookout for a trajectory, not necessarily a spike. Point well-taken as
regards the meter's margin of error... that applies especially well to
me, given that I'm using one of the crappier brands when it comes to
accuracy, heh (Walgreens-brand Prestige IQ).

One question, though--given that meters AREN'T 100% accurate, mine
probably very much less so, what is an appropriate range to assume that
the readings might include? I can see that I'm not spiking--is that
adequate knowledge for BG control, without knowing exactly whether my
BG's at 80-90 rather than, say, 110-120?

> > Is it possible that after I stopped testing I had a spike, leading to a
> > large insulin release, making me go hypo and waking me up feeling
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> but not DANGEROUSLY hypo levels. 72 would be easily dealt with by drinking a
> glass of milk.

<snip>

> I think the important question is "Do you use ANY kind of diabetic meds"?

Nope, but then again I'm only prediabetic at this point, and it appears
I can control it pretty well with a low-carb regimen. I know that a 72
is only lowish and not seriously hypo, but I'm concerned by the
hypolike symptoms--shakiness, headache, sweating, etc., so I figured I
might as well ask the learned folk here.

By the way, thanks again to everyone who gave me testing advice--I now
bleed painlessly and copiously. :)

Christine

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Beav - 08 Aug 2005 23:06 GMT

>> You didn't spike, your sugar simply climbed a little and it's bearly
>> measurable. Meter's are god, but they're not 100% accurate and any of
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> probably very much less so, what is an appropriate range to assume that
> the readings might include?

IIRC the manufacturers say a 20% discrepancy is acceptable, but I tihnk ANY
of the meters are far more accurate than that. I wouldn't worry about the
meter being wildly out of "tune", as your BG readings will relfect the true
nature (trend) of your BG .

I can see that I'm not spiking--is that

> adequate knowledge for BG control, without knowing exactly whether my
> BG's at 80-90 rather than, say, 110-120?

A spike is pretty much normal for any diabetic, but the severity of the
spike and the duration should also be taken into account. You has a VERY
slight slide one way, then back the other with nothing in the way of a
danger level or duration being reached. I wouldn't be worrying if I were in
your shoes. Remember, you'd never get a DM diagnosis if your BG didn't reach
at least 126 and that would only trigger another test on another day. You'd
need to be consistently above 126 for any doc to make the dx. 120 wouldn't
be a worry for me.

>> > Is it possible that after I stopped testing I had a spike, leading to a
>> > large insulin release, making me go hypo and waking me up feeling
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Nope, but then again I'm only prediabetic at this point, and it appears
> I can control it pretty well with a low-carb regimen.

Well without the meds normally associated with diabetes (for T2 it's a sulph
type and T1 it's insulin) you won't ever reach the "clocking off" stage
(unconsciousnes) as the problem with an untreated diabetic (or pre-diabetic)
is we have too MUCH sugar, not too little. the problem of hypo's for you now
is that if you've been higher than normal for any length of time, a drop in
BG levels will make you feel less than 100%, but that's not ACTUALLY being
hypo, it's just feeling shitty, and like said, a glass of milk will bring
those feelings to a grinding halt in VERY short order. You may have reactive
hypoglyceamia, but I wouldn't jump onto that bandwaggon unless it's proven
and that's not going to happen with just the odd occasion of not feeling
"100%" and showing a reading of 72. As it happens, 72 is perfectly normal
for a non diabetic.

I know that a 72

> is only lowish and not seriously hypo, but I'm concerned by the
> hypolike symptoms--shakiness, headache, sweating, etc., so I figured I
> might as well ask the learned folk here.

The feelings come when the drop is quick (not normal for most unmedicated
diabetics I have to say) but as you're a low carber, it's not unexpected. A
few more grams of carbs at each meal could see an end to those feelings
without you going so high (BG wise) that you're damaging yourself.

> By the way, thanks again to everyone who gave me testing advice--I now
> bleed painlessly and copiously. :)

Don't get bound up in testing every five minutes either. It's not necessary.
A couple of times a day is plenty if you're not taking any meds.

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