How many low's do you have a week?

grace girl · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 06:01 PM

What would be considered normal? I've now had two different doc's tell me that tight control means anywhere from 5 to 7 a week. That seems a bit much to me.

What have you been told? And what is you're experience?
Can you have tight control on MDI and NOT have 5 to 7 lows a week?

karen · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 06:09 PM

My endo told me I would have more lows with tighter control and that amount does not seem out of line to me, especially when you toss exercise and for me hypoglycemic unawareness into the picture. The more boluses you throw into the day the more chances of having a low. If you don't move and don't eat you will avoid lows.

I have been diabetic for 39 years and for the last 5 years multiple injections/bolusing and now pumping for 3.5 of those 5 and yes I think I have more lows, but a lot less highs

Karen

parrotletzoo · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 06:12 PM

I think it depends on your definiton of low. One of my drs considers a low under 55 another considers a low under 70. I usually went with the 55 definition and had 4-5 lows a week, mostly because my work is physical and the amount of "exercise" i got at work varied from day to day. That being said, I've never had anyone tell me how many lows isnormal, none ofmy drs liked the 4-5 that I had a week. Post transplant, I've had zero lows.

am1977 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 06:24 PM

I think that saying that I have at least one low a day would be conservative. I've gotten to the point where I don't always recognize a low (unawareness) so I'm sure that a few have snuck by me

... which I know is dangerous. I guess that's why it's always important to test and have food near you at all time.

spike · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace girl

What would be considered normal? I've now had two different doc's tell me that tight control means anywhere from 5 to 7 a week. That seems a bit much to me.

What have you been told? And what is you're experience?
Can you have tight control on MDI and NOT have 5 to 7 lows a week?

hmmm...7 days in a week...so that would be about 10-15 lows for me

christie · #6 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 08:45 PM

this is funny since i told my last endo of how many lows i had per week and he told me in his opinion being high is better,i hate being over 150,of course i hate being low too.

Keezheekoni · #7 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 11:00 PM

Usually at least one a day... that's for the past couple of weeks. Before I really paid attention, probably one a week.

CiContention · #8 (**permalink**) 08-07-2006, 11:10 PM

It's depending basically on what I'm doing. I'm only in my sixth week of this. Have gotten my average weekly sugar down from 313 (right after I got out of the hospital) to 189 and descending. At first I was having no lows, and now I would say I have 2 to 5 per week. Generally overnight, too, which is sucky.

rzrbks · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 07:56 AM

Well, it depends.

If I'm in the mood for some special Hi-Carb food, then a Low is anything under 90/5>>>>Oh, my goodness, I'm low I'd better eat something like a Hershey bar

Being honest, anything under 80/4.4 under normal circumstances, anything under 90/5 if I'm getting ready to drive any place.

So, the honest answer is that I have anywhere from 2 to 8-10 low per week.

BUT

The time of year makes a big difference too. IN the middle of winter(when temps are way low) and middle of summer(like now when daily temp is above 100 F/38 C every day) I don't get the outside exercise I get in the spring and fall.

jen_slc · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 10:43 AM

Personally, I define a low bg at <=65. So based on that, I have an average of 5 a week. 5-7/wk as your endo mentioned doesn't seem unreasonable. It's true that with tighter control you run the risk of more hypos, but that doesn't guarantee you will have them, it's just means a greater risk.

grace girl · #11 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 11:23 AM

You know, it never occurred to me to ask either Dr what they considered to be a low. I'm going to ask.

My own personal interpretation would be below 70.

Low's drive me crazy. I get so angry, and I'm usually a really calm non-ruffled person. And sometimes they leave that wonderful hangover effect. How in the world can you deal with that many a week?

I've been trying to find a way to have tight control without all the lows. Now I'm thinking that perhaps it isn't possible. I may have to rethink this whole thing.

rzrbks · #12 (**permalink**) 08-08-2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

I've been trying to find a way to have tight control without all the lows. Now I'm thinking that perhaps it isn't possible. I may have to rethink this whole thing.

I have worked with 3 CDEs in two different programs and the # of lows is a major concern all 3 of them had with me. My standard A1c had been 5.4 - 5.6 and all three of them pushed for me to up A1c to 6.0 - 6.5 because they felt that less than 6 typically indicates you are having too many lows.

My feeling: I compromised and let it slide up to 5.9, but now I going back down. I HATE highs/hypers and will take a low/hypo over a high/hyper any day, Thank You very much.

Crystaldreams · #13 (**permalink**) 05-27-2007, 10:42 AM

I am new at being a hypoglycemic. I'm going through alot of bloodwork right now including waiting on the results for insulin Test and one other test that I have no idea what it's for. And going through diet changes. Right now, My BG is always low 24/7. We've been trying everything to bring it up and it won't go past 70, no matter what. It mostly stays in the lower 50's to lower 60's. So I am always shaky, tired, etc. So, I can't wait until the doctor pinpoints the problem so I can get my BG up.

spirosway · #14 (**permalink**) 05-27-2007, 11:41 AM

I have 2-3 lows which are between 65-70!!!

NoraWI · #15 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 07:45 AM

Crystaldreams, since you categorize yourself as "pre-diabetic," I suggest that you are having reactive hypoglycemia. Just before I became a full-fledged diabetic (T1, LADA), I, too, had reactive hypoglycemia. Each occurence could be linked to a compulsion to eat high carbohydrate foods. I interpreted that as my body not being able to utilize the glucose flooding my system and considering itself to be in a state of starvation evidenced by the raging hunger for high carbs.

After my dx I began eating low carb (omitting all grain products like pasta, bread, baked goods; potatoes and most root veggies, corn and peas) concentrating on meats and fish, eggs and low glycemic green veggies. I do eat fruit in limited quantities spaced out over an entire day. I also eat nuts and various full fat dairy products in moderation. I find that keeping within a tight range became much easier when my diet is limited in this way.

I consider readings below 65 to be low. I sometimes do go below that threshold (mostly because of strenuous activity during the day or a gross miscalculation of my bolus) but generally stay within a tight boundary between 65 and 110.