A severe low!

[GrammyByer]

Hi all!
On Friday, 5/25, I took a nap in the afternoon because i felt exhausted. I checked my blood before dozing off and because it was 61, I treated with 15 carbs. I have no idea why, but during my nap, my glucose fell dramatically. i do remember having a very weird dream which often happens to me when I am low during the night. Unfortunately, because i suffer from hypo unawareness, I did not wake up. Luckily my husband checked on me and foumd me in a pool of sweat, soking wet. He knew that I was low. He tried to rouse me to no avail, so he tested my blood and it was for me an all time low - 25!!!! I must have been on the verge of being unconscious because after he swirled 1/2 cup of OJ into me, I still did not come to for a half an hour. It is really scarey to go so very low that you can not respond. I am trying very hard to get my unsyrance to cover a CGM for my paradym pump. It is a difficult battle and I will now write yet another letter with the story of this recent episode as further ammunmittion. Wish me some luck!:eek: :eek: :eek:

[xMenace]

You do realize you should have had more than just the bring me up? You layed down without following up. tch tch tch! (I can do this because afternoon naps have gotten me a few times.)

Were you busier than normal? Yard work?

[notme]

These lows can be scary, but even CGMS would not have helped if you were unable to help yourself while napping. I have had a few 23-25 range lows and they are not fun. Exhausting afterwards.

Make sure if you lay down to nap, your blood sugar is settled. Hidesight being 20/20, I am sure you realize this now. Another one of lifes little mean lessons. Glad you are ok.

Good luck on your quest for CGMS.

[GrammyByer]

Of course, you are right - I should have made sure that all was well before falling asleep. Hindsight is always 20/20!! And now that i think of it, I was doing a bit of yard work and stuff outside in the AM. It was scarey!! Thanks for the words of wisdom.

[VinceF]

Sounds like you need to talk to your doc about a glycogen kit! If you should pass out from a low the glycogen shot will fix ya fast. I have never used mine...but also have unawareness. My endo recommeded letting my BG numbers rise slightly for 3 months and not letting them fall below 80 also for those 3 months. This helped reverse much of my unawarness. before doing this it was not unusual for me to feel it around 35 sometimes as low as 27. I now know it around 65 or 70. The key is not to go low for 3 months.

[gettingby]

I'm sorry that you had such a scary experience. I, too, have had some pretty scary experiences.
Good Luck with the CGMS.:)

[GrammyByer]

Hi Vince - Your advice about trying to not go below 80 for 3 months sounds like a good idea. To do this, i guess i have to allow myself to run a bit high. This will not be easy for me. I am a bit nutty about keeping my A1c below 6.3. But, its worth a try. Thanks.

[xMenace]

Of course, you are right - I should have made sure that all was well before falling asleep. Hindsight is always 20/20!! And now that i think of it, I was doing a bit of yard work and stuff outside in the AM. It was scarey!! Thanks for the words of wisdom.


Hardly wisdom. More like the school of hard hypos.

[grace girl]

I've found that a low that follows physical activity (like yard work) won't respond well enough to the typical 15 carb correction. I usually require something much more substantial (peanut butter is a fav!) to keep it from dropping yet again.

[VinceF]

Hi Grammy- It has something to do with the chemical reaction that helps you recognize a low. Repeated lows dulls your sesitivity or depletes the enzyme that helps you recognize a low. There was a study done in the UK that showed improvment in Diabetics who have unawareness if they went a little higher and had no lows. As I recall the have no lows was the important part!

The first time I experienced it was shortly after I got a 6.2 A1c on twice a day NPH injections.

[GrammyByer]

Thanks Grace Girl for the info on exercise induced lows. I also do like peanut butter lots, so I will try your advice.

[spirosway]

Hi my friend!!!try to sleep with Bg near 100....that can save you from very low BGs!!!remember my words!!!

[ant hill]

Hi all!
On Friday, 5/25, I took a nap in the afternoon because i felt exhausted.
Yes i get that too. So i keep a jar of jelly beans beside my bed and i can have a BG of 10 / 180 and sleep then wake with a BG of 2 / 36 :eek: It's scarey and you feel so dumb. Diabetes SUCK BAD!!!

[Cyborg]

Yikes! 25 is very low. You may want to ask your endo for a prescription for glucagon. Pouring OJ down someone's throat is probably not the best approach for saving someone. Glad to hear everything ended up ok...

[It Ain't Over]

If someone were to have called in the Paramedics they may have treated you with oxygen. It will often bring one around quickly and then it is easier to get some juice down. My neighbor is a paramedic with the local fire dept. He said that is the current protocol. They ofter still hook up a glucose IV anyway, but he said the O2 will bring you back fast.

[shockme]

wow linda!25?!?!****-that's LOW...i think glucagon would be a good thing to have around...you could have lost consciousness and choked on the o.j.SCARY!take care,trish

[LVpam]

Hello to all. I am new to the Forum, but a veteran diabetic. I had severe reactions in the 2:00am - 4:00am time range. My "miracle" food before bed is PEANUTBUTTER!!! If my sugar is normal I'll have it with a Crystal Light or diet soda. If it's low I'll drink milk. Protien is a must or your sugar goes right back down.

[cheryl]

When i do a ton of work, I eat little small reese's cups the minature ones like 2 of them maybe three, they are about 4 and half carbs each one, so I am good to go, it's got chocolate and peanutbutter so it works well, I stay very steady, and by dinner always am a nice 106 instead of 40 LOL

heryl

[AJ21]

someone (i think my nurse..) told me that when you have a low, one of the great ways to get that crappy feeling off is after you finish treating it to drink something with caffeine. . .
anyone else hear this?