For new diabetics, your first insulin reaction

[Aftiel]

I was 16 and in the hospital.

I had just found out I was Type 1 Diabetic, and no one bothered to mention to me that I might have an insulin reaction sometimes.

I didn't know what an insulin reaction was.

Now we call them "hypos" or "lows," - but my first one scared me to death.

Anyone else remember their first insulin reaction? I was shaking like a leaf and had NO CLUE as to why, and the nurse acted as if it was nothing (and as if I was supposed to understand what was happening.)

At that moment, I decided to become MORE educated than the medical professionals, because it was clear that many of them couldn't be counted on totally.

So don't let anything throw you - but that first hypo is a scary scary experience.

- Aftiel

[jen_slc]

When I was diagnosed, and once I became stable after a few days in hospital, the nurses purposefully set aside a day for a "controlled hypo" to make sure I knew what to expect when it happened. They didn't increase my dose or anything, they just had me skip a meal (I was on NPH at the time). I don't remember it being too bad - a headache, some shakes, sweating, that was about it. I don't think they let me drop too low though, maybe to 4 mmol-ish? I was in the UK at the time and when I came back to the States they kept me in hospital for another week for their training but never included a "hypo day." I wonder if a controlled hypo as part of education is a common thing here or not?

[Aftiel]

I wish a controlled hypo day would have been part of the routine for me.

A hypo was never even mentioned - I had no clue. I just started shaking and couldn't stop - and had no idea what was happening.

- Aftiel

[rzrbks]

1st time I went below 100/5.5 my wife wanted to take me to the hospital, lol, we compromised, I had 1/2 an orange and felt better almost immediately.

You're correct, it was a shock to the system, though.

[Erin]

My first hypo was a biggie! I was still in the hospital for diabetes education, and it was my first or second day on insulin. I had to go get an x-ray for my kidneys (my kidneys were messed up long before Diabetes came knocking at my door) and I was standing in front of the x-ray machine and I remember feeling sort of dizzy, and then feeling nauseous. The x-ray technician was like "just hold on ONE more minute and then we'll come see what's wrong, hold still" and then it was one, two, three, Erin's down for the count.

At least I was already in the hospital! But nobody seemed to know what they should do, except my mom, who ran and grabbed somebody's sugar packets (it's a hospital x-ray department waiting room... lots of people had coffee) and she dumped them into my mouth (even though you're not supposed to do that when the person is passed out). I woke up pretty much immediately, and was like "I TOLD you I didn't feel well"

[DeusXM]

When I was dxed I asked about an artificially induced hypo. I was told by the nurses that there was no way they were going to do that because of the potential risks - if I died or something it might look rather bad if it was because of something they purposefully did.

That was back in 1998 so I don't think it's common policy in the UK to induce hypos.

Having said that, I too had my first hypo when I was in hospital when I was dxed. It was about 9pm and I was just sitting there watching TV when I suddenly realised I was really quite hungry. So I muched on a Cheesestring (I was 14, gimme a break!) and carried on watching TV. About 5 minutes later I was getting really hungry. I thought about scoffing the rest of the Cheesestrings and then I suddenly remembered reading about hypos. So I stumbled out to the nurses station, and ever so self-consciously said, "Um, I think I'm having a hypo."

They bundled me back in my room and brought in a pint of milk and some biscuits. Now I absolutely hate milk. I mean, really, really hate milk. I won't even eat cereal because you have to have milk. I'm not even keen on it being in my tea and I drink my coffee black.

And yet I downed the whole glass. It was horrible and I got those biscuits in straight away to take away the foul taste of liquid cow.

That was the very last time I drank a glass of milk.

[rzrbks]

I'm not even keen on it being in my tea and I drink my coffee black.

And yet I downed the whole glass. It was horrible and I got those biscuits in straight away to take away the foul taste of liquid cow.That was the very last time I drank a glass of milk.


Well, said!

[duck]

Controlled hypo...what a good idea!

My first insulin reaction came the day I went home from the hospital. What I still find amazing is the fact that it was NOT my first low-blood sugar reaction ever in my life to that point, just my first since I was diagnosed. I can think of at least two times in my life I felt that way before, years and years and years before...

[notme]

I don't remember my first low. hmmmmm I wonder if that is my age showing or if those brain cells were destroyed. :****mate:

[camjen1]

My first hypo was the same day I started insulin! I was brushing my hair and can remember my arms getting very heavy and I just wanted to go to sleep. I couldn't even finish my hair and had to sit down. I don't remember how low it got but I know my Mom was rushing to get me some OJ.

[David]

I was also given a "controlled hypo" while in the hospital. My parents were also there so they could see what to look for and what to do when it happened. This was a normal practice for my doctor with all his patients who used insulin. I don't know how many others do (or did) this.

David

[stella117]

Oh god yes--as if it were yesterday. Actually it was less than 3 months ago--LOL!!!

But I had been reading about insulin shock/hypos and I thought that will never happen to me--I can't even get my numbers below 300!!! Well, that was before my endo determined I was type 1.5 and added Novolog to the Lantus. My Lantus dosage had gone up to 30 units by that point and she neglected to drop it down now that I on Novolog. So I dose with 30 units (for reference--7-9 units is a proper Lantus dosage for me!) and go to bed. Wake up in the wee hours DRENCHED--had to towel off was sweating so badly. Shaking I think "this must be a hypo!" Test. 58. Drink a glass of apple juice, crawl back in bed. Wake up, test. 75. Felt fine so head off to the gym without eating (no-one ever told me not to!). Come back from a 2.5 hour cardio/weights/walking workout. Test. 50!!! And I felt just fine! Ooops!

That was the first.

[BriOnH]

And yet I downed the whole glass. It was horrible and I got those biscuits in straight away to take away the foul taste of liquid cow.

That was the very last time I drank a glass of milk.

I hate milk too. Is that pretty common around here (saw someone else does too)? A dr once told my mom when I was first diagnosed at 2 that he thought that a certain enzyme in milk could be a possible cause of diabetes. I just assumed that its a coincidence I hate milk and he thought it could possibly cause it, and still do, but rather interesting.

Back on topic though, I had so many lows as a kid, waking up in ER's, or my parents standing over me, I really dont remember the first. I do remember my last though 15 years ago, and it has traumatized me for life.
-Brian

[VanDamage]

yea i remember mine it was in october of last year i was diagnosed as a type 1 and my honeymoon started and i took my insulin shot i called the doctor i was so scared i ate so much food and felt better almost immediately.i think i hit 50 bs.talk about the shakes!

[Gangrel]

Wow, too far back for me to remember.... (23 years). I have also thankfully never passed out, though there have been a few times I've come close.

I think i'm a bit freakish tho, as there are times here at work when I say "gee, I feel low" and test, and my meter says 2.7 or something ridicously low like that. Yet, I can still get to fridge and grab a coke....... while i'm thinking i should probably be laid out on the ground?!?!

Guess I shouldn't complain, and hope it never changes...........

[KickStart101]

I had tons of reactions when I was little, so they are more or less a blur.
I do remember my second week of school when I had one though. They
didn't have a clue what to do with me. I was aged 5 in Gr. 1 (we didn't have Kindergarten then). I woke up(I had evidently gone unconscious on my desk)to this pretty blue-eyed face with a big smile. She was one of the Teachers. They didn't know what to do, so they just let me sleep. Everyone else had gone to the lunchroom or home for lunch. She asked how I was feeling and offered me some lunch. I didn't know her from a hole in the wall, but I went with her to the lunchroom. It was pretty scary since I didn't know
most of the people. But it turned out okay. :)

[SueM]

The 1st hypo I can recolect was just after diagnoses so I'm going back 41 yrs nows I was in the hospital aged 4 1/2 my brother had brought a tummy bug home from school given it to me too! My mum was not to far from giving birth to my younger brother so hospital it was for me so the hypos could be watched 24/7 the nursing staff didnt do a very good job I went to sleep and didnt wake up for many hrs even after IV glucose. I remember the fuss more than anything.
I remember the very 1st hypo I told my Mum I had we were walking in town and I told her I was going funny in the head :eek: I was not quite 5 yrs old at the time.
Mum took me into a sweet shop where I was given 2 boiled sweets :love: