Over-Treating Hypo's

CycloneKitty · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 01:56 AM

I seem to have a problem with over-treating hypo's when I have them. Especially when I get the hypo at night-time. I find that I can't stop stuffing my face until the shaking has stopped. And I often am extremely hungry when i hypo so just go to town on anything that is in the fridge or cupboard. On a typical hypo I will consume between 2-4 slices of toast, and 2 glasses of OJ. But in many instances it may be up to 6 slices of toast, 3-4 glasses of OJ, raid the ice-cream, as well as a few choc-chip cookies or any type of chocolate i can get my paws on. And then I wonder why i wake up with a BG of over 20. Sometimes I know I have pigged-out way too much and have some insulin to compensate for all the food i have consumed, but usually when i'm in a hypo state and recovering I forget to do that. Just doesnt seem right to inject insulin when u have just come out of a hypo.

I just want to know if other people have problems with over-treating hypo's, and if anyone can suggest what I can do so I don't go over-indulging when I do hypo.

Simon · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 02:45 AM

Not an easy one this. It does require a lot of self control.
Having a pre-measured carb fix helps. If you know a given snack will raise your bs by say 2 mmol/l then you know you can only have one of them.
The best solution is not to have hypo's in the first place. If you're basal is right you shouldn't be having night time hypo's anyway.

2high · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CycloneKitty

I just want to know if other people have problems with over-treating hypo's, and if anyone can suggest what I can do so I don't go over-indulging when I do hypo.

stop smoking pot and u wont get the munchies!

DeusXM · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 02:59 AM

I'm exactly the same with nighttime hypos - my body just panics and I keep eating until I don't feel hungry - and then 10 minutes later I feel absolutely stuffed.

Self-control in that sort of situation is near impossible. There aren't many feelings worse that lying in bed after eating a few glucose tablets, waiting for them to kick in. The best solution is to obviously prevent hypos. However, when I do let myself down, I go by my 'fullness' and comp. bolus about 10 minutes afterwards. It's not a perfect solution but it does limit the aftermath.

2high · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusXM

However, when I do let myself down, I go by my 'fullness' and comp. bolus about 10 minutes afterwards. It's not a perfect solution but it does limit the aftermath.

I do that too, Deus...

naughty, but better than going hyper

Stuboy · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 03:38 AM

i've done this a couple of times! Had a hypo and felt awful... i just stuffed myself with every sweet thing i could find in the kitchen, i knew i shouldn't be doing it but felt an "urge" to do it. boy was i high after!!

That was on mixtard, so if i do that again i might try what's been suggested, take a bolus afterwards!

Cyborg · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:42 AM

Rule of thumb for treating a hypo, is 15g carbs (fast acting glucose), then retest in 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary...

Of course this goes against the urge to stuff carbs until you feel better. Overtreating usually leads to a "ping-pong" effect where your numbers take awhile to settle down.

JediSkipdogg · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Rule of thumb for treating a hypo, is 15g carbs (fast acting glucose), then retest in 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary...

Of course this goes against the urge to stuff carbs until you feel better. Overtreating usually leads to a "ping-pong" effect where your numbers take awhile to settle down.

That's the rule of thumb but that doesn't do much for someone like me....Here's why....

1 unit of insulin is 35 mg/dl for me. 1 unit of insulin for most parts of the day is 19 grams of carbs. So....

15 grams/19 grams per unit insulin = .8 units of insulin
.8 units of insulin * 35 mg/dl per unit= 27 mg

If I'm running 50, that only bumps me to say 77. And we all know carbs don't work instantly, so that bumb may take 30 minutes. That and 77 is still not a safe zone. The rule of thumb is good, but not foolproof.

Here is what I do. I indulge, and count the carbs of my indulgences. Then, once I'm full, I see what math I need to do and then give the insulin for it. That then makes the food react before the insulin therefore meaning I won't take my low and go lower (unless I eat a pound of cheese with the OJ.) So far, it seems to work for me with no problems. Then again, when I wake up at night I'm awake enough to do the math in my head while stuffing my face with food.

Cyborg · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Here is what I do. I indulge, and count the carbs of my indulgences. Then, once I'm full, I see what math I need to do and then give the insulin for it. That then makes the food react before the insulin therefore meaning I won't take my low and go lower (unless I eat a pound of cheese with the OJ.) So far, it seems to work for me with no problems. Then again, when I wake up at night I'm awake enough to do the math in my head while stuffing my face with food.

And your last a1c was????

Stuboy · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:59 AM

I guess we come back to the famous statement here...

Everyone's different!!

JediSkipdogg · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyborg

And your last a1c was????

I'll let you know in 48 hours.

ProudNanaof5 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 05:46 AM

I do have hypo's here recently... I have been changing up meds and so I haven't come up with right solution yet... I have started excersize classes and that sometimes brings on the hypo. I carry a small bottle of oj with me at all times. I know I feel like I could just eat and eat but I try to catch my hypo before I get to that stage. Around 60 I still have my facilities about me to control my munchies. But at 55 I start the shakes and at 45-50 I start my not responding. I sorta go into outer space. Hubby starts asking if I'm okay...I know what he is saying but I don't care... Anyway, if I catch myself early enough I go for my oj. So far it has helped in about 5-10 min. I sure don't like those feelings.

Cyborg · #13 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 05:50 AM

I love OJ. I used to buy it all the time and enjoy it when I had lows. Now if I buy it, my son drinks it all before I get a chance... Fresh squeezed Florida orange juice is really really good.

kgm0612 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 05:51 AM

I try following the "Rule of 15" when I'm low. I start out doing so, and then that inner voice inside says "you're low........eat the donut"! LOL

I find I'm better off taking my 15g of food and leaving the kitchen area. When I stay in the kitchen, I tend to eat way more than I should.

Karen

mageerobin · #15 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 06:19 AM

I pig out also with nighttime lows. I think it's a psychological issue. I think, for me, the hypo is a little more advanced because I'm asleep. Then when I wake I'm in full animal instinct mode. Just like when you give table scraps to a dog and no other animals are around and they eat everything in about 30 seconds. Some of us diabetics do this with hypos. My brain is telling me after the third cookie (or whatever I'm eating/drinking) to stop and wait for it to digest, but I honestly can't stop myself. And for all you goody goodies out there, yes I have tried to limit myself to two gluco-tabs or 1 piece of peppermint... The URGE is just to great for me. I guess I'm weak minded and my a1c is also horrible.

Robin

Ps Halloween Confession: Under the light of a full moon I turn into a werewolf and no matter how hard I try I cannot resist the URGE to howl.
I'm weak............WEAK I tell you.