? on hypoglycemia for everyone

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
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Registered: 03-25-2003
? on hypoglycemia for everyone
12
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 12:51pm

There has been a lot of discussion lately on the board about hypoglycemia. So let's focus our discussion and let's see where everybody is at with this condition. I am not going to post this as a poll so that you can write longer answers if you need to.


1. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less?


2. How long did the episode last?


3. Did you check your blood sugar? If so, what was the test results?


4. Do you know what caused the event? (Such as not getting your meal when you expected, or you took too much medication, or you took extra medication, or too little to eat or too much alcohol, etc.)


5. Was assitance required during the episode?


6. How did you treat the episode?


7. Was there a prompt response to this treatment?


8. Was the hypoglycemic episode accompanied by loss of consciousness or convulsion/seizures?


9. Has your health care practitioner given you specific instructions on how to manage these events?


Hopefully you can copy and paste this questionaire. I look forward to reading your answers.


 

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


 

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Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 1:01pm

1. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less? Yes, several times since I started on the insulin. The most recent was this past Monday.


2. How long did the episode last? About 30 minutes


3. Did you check your blood sugar? If so, what was the test results? Yes, it was 64.


4. Do you know what caused the event? No, it was about 3 1/2 hours since I had eaten a small snack that my boss had given me and that was about 2 hours after I had eaten my lunch. I was really surprised when this happened.


5. Was assistance required during the episode? No


6. How did you treat the episode? I ate my glucerna bar and had some almonds to eat and I drank a diet coke.


7. Was there a prompt response to this treatment? Yes, I was at a meeting and I had some trouble focusing on the meeting and the decisions that needed to be made. I could feel my thinking get clearer as the time went on.


8. Was the hypoglycemic episode accompanied by loss of consciousness or convulsion/seizures? No, thank goodness


9. Has your health care practitioner given you specific instructions on how to manage these events? Yes.


I am trying hard to learn how to recognize these events before they get to be an emergency. But I am surprised at how quickly they come on. I am carrying my glucometer with me and I have diabetic bars in my purse so I can treat them quickly. I have figured out that since I have been put on insulin that I have to eat on schedule and there isn't much leaway to that schedule.

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2004
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 4:22pm

1. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 4:47pm

1. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less?


Yes, I have.


2. How long did the episode last?


I can get them resolved within 30 minutes when they occur.


3. Did you check your blood sugar? If so, what was the test results?


If I am not feeling "right" - and that feeling can vary within me, ranging from inability to concentrate to sweating and shaking or just feeling "off" - I reach for my monitor instantly.


4. Do you know what caused the event? (Such as not getting your meal when you expected, or you took too much medication, or you took extra medication, or too little to eat or too much alcohol, etc.)


Usually it's not eating enough/too much insuling for the meal


5. Was assitance required during the episode?


No.


6. How did you treat the episode?


I usually start with 3 glucose tabs (the generic Walgreens or Target brand - easier to bite and chew, they dissove much faster and have more flavors.

Blueliner4
(aka The Pixie Princess)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 10:15pm
Mary Francis, I think's it's a great idea to post this, especially after the last few posts. I think it's very important to know about hypoglycemia, especially if you are diabetic, b/c chances are you have experienced it at some point and it can be dangerous. I also believe any time you blood sugar gets to the point where you are physically feeliing ill, that steps need to be taken to improve matters. Whether having blood sugar levels in the 60s or in the 30s, what really matters then is to get that your numbers back in normal range, especially if getting down into the 30s (whether you are diabetic or not). The best way is to take something that is absorbed quickly into your blood stream such as orange juice, packets of sugar, or if those are not available anything that is sugary and has a decent amount of carbohydrates in it. I thought I would just add my 2 cents here.

1. Yes, being a type 1 diabetic I have experienced low blood sugar on several occasions.

2. The episodes last just as long as it takes for me to eat something to raise my blood sugar. I always try to treat the lows as soon as possible, b/c I know that it can be dangerous not to, and besides you feel pretty crappy when your levels dip low.

3. I have had blood sugar as low as in the 30's to being just under normal.

4. Lately, my lows have occurred after exercise, probably b/c I didn't eat enough before hand or b/c insulin was present and exercise on top of that just lowered my bg even more. At the beginning, I was in the honey moon period, so my Dr. was still trying to find the right amount of insulin for me. During that time I experienced it pretty frequently. Then I got in the habit of taking too much insulin, b/c I thought low was better than going high. Now, I get it much less frequently (being on the pump has helped with that) but every so often I will drop low, but mostly it's after exercise like I mentioned.

5. I have never needed assistance when I have an episode of low blood sugar, which I am glad of. I hope it never gets to that point.

6. I treated the low by eating something to get my sugars up.

7. Sometimes it takes a little while for me to feel better. I tend to overtreat the low, and end up with a high later on b/c I don't always feel much better right away. I tend to eat until I notice an improvement when I know you are supposed to eat about 15 grams of carb wait for a bit test and treat it again if it's still low.

8. No, thank God, I have never lost consciousness or had seizures. That sounds very scary and I hope I never have to go through that. I have heard of others going through that quite often without much warning, and I can't even imagine that. That's too frightening.

9. Yes, they always remind us to check blood sugars pretty often and to treat lows as soon as possible. They also like us to have glucogon on hand for emergencies. I still need to get one of those, but I don't know who would administer it to me, being that I live by myself and I don't think my cat would know what to do, lol :) No, I know this is serious, and I'm sure that it's still good to have it on hand.

Thanks so much, Mary Francis, for posting this. I think it's very good and very important for people on this board to know about this.

Take care,

Andrea

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 11:43pm

1. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less?


Yes when I was diagnosied I had readings as low as 54


2. How long did the episode last?


about average 1hour


3. Did you check your blood sugar? If so, what was the test results?


about 54-65


4. Do you know what caused the event? (Such as not getting your meal when you expected, or you took too much medication, or you took extra medication, or too little to eat or too much alcohol, etc.)


was sick with a cold before I was dianosed. stressed out and didn't eat right.


5. Was assitance required during the episode?


yes, I passed out and had emergency people ( alot)


6. How did you treat the episode?


was told to breathe (technique(sp) ) small shallow breaths. and was given water.(didn't know I was hypo at time


7. Was there a prompt response to this treatment?


took 1 hour to get to feeling myself. but after eating during an episode it takes about hour to feel better. some times it takes dayes.


8. Was the hypoglycemic episode accompanied by loss of consciousness or convulsion/seizures?


Yes (passed out)


9. Has your health care practitioner given you specific instructions on how to manage these events?


Oh yes mamam. NO SUGAR. lol eat right 3 small meals and eat snacks every 2 hours.

 

 

Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 1:24am

1. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less? Yes, I have many times.


2. How long did the episode last? The last time it took about 40 minutes to get myself at a good level again.


3. Did you check your blood sugar? If so, what was the test results? 31


4. Do you know what caused the event? (Such as not getting your meal when you expected, or you took too much medication, or you took extra medication, or too little to eat or too much alcohol, etc.) Not getting my meal on time since I was the only one home with the boys.


5. Was assitance required during the episode? No, I seem to do just fine at this level even when my meter just says low I do not pass out unless I am pregnant.


6. How did you treat the episode? Had a 1/2 glass of juice to get me going right away and added some cheese with crackers since I knew I had a little while to before my meal would be ready to eat.


7. Was there a prompt response to this treatment? I checked myselg again 20 minutes later and my blood sugar was coming up slowly as it was 60 by that time.


8. Was the hypoglycemic episode accompanied by loss of consciousness or convulsion/seizures? No


9. Has your health care practitioner given you specific instructions on how to manage these events? Yes


Great questions Mary Frances and I am curious to see others answers to this.


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Avatar for debstermom
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 9:05am
1. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less? ** yes, only once

2. How long did the episode last? ** less than 30 min i believe

3. Did you check your blood sugar? If so, what was the test results? ** my bs was 53

4. Do you know what caused the event? (Such as not getting your meal when you expected, or you took too much medication, or you took extra medication, or too little to eat or too much alcohol, etc.) ** yes, i was in the hospital. I had measured out my isulin & gave the injection when the brought the food tray in the door. I should have looked at what was on it first. Too much insulin, not enough food

5. Was assitance required during the episode? ** no

6. How did you treat the episode? ** we were waiting in the NICU area to see the baby w/ my parents & it was during the 2 hrs after my meal. I felt warm & was really sweating when noone else was. I did wait till the 2 hrs were up & checked it.

7. Was there a prompt response to this treatment? ** We got to go see the baby right after i tested. the nurse took one look at me & said i didnt look good, would i like some juice? SO i had a 4 oz orange juice & a 4 oz apple juice. I dont remember if i tested after that, but i know i felt much much better

8. Was the hypoglycemic episode accompanied by loss of consciousness or convulsion/seizures? **no

9. Has your health care practitioner given you specific instructions on how to manage these events? ** yes, but i didnt follow it exactly. 15g carb followed by testgin in 20 min then a 1/2 sandwich if im in a good range, if not, 15 g more carbs & repeat






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Debi

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 3:49pm
Maryfrances, as a nurse I'm sure you're familiar with some curable forms of hypoglycemia, such as insulinoma (okay, so it's rare). IMO, people who are diagnosed with the condition need to be checked out thoroughly to rule out possible correctible causes. Sometimes the docs don't look past the noses on their faces..........
Avatar for happyscrapper40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 5:24pm
. Have you experienced blood sugars of 70 or less? NEVER lowest reading I have had is in the low 90's.



9. Has your health care practitioner given you specific instructions on how to manage these events? Has stated that I should not have them b/c of the medications I am on do not cause hypo. However, have been told to eat 15 grams of carbs. and repeat in 15 minutes if needed. MH

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 9:09pm
Nope, my cats sure don't know how to dial 911! I live alone also. That's why at first I was so out of kilter because I was getting symptoms at 80 or just below. Live and learn.

I think years ago I must have had problems with hypoglycemia. My h (at that time) and I would be invited to a party, and I wouldn't eat before we went, and often wouldn't eat there either. A couple of times I fainted right there. I've never been one to want a lot of attention, but that sure did it!

Y'all have probably read that I'm getting together an emergency kit. Well, so far: glucose tablets, cheese & crackers, snack bars (Choice which only have 1 unit of carbs per bar), bottle of water and some little bottles of juice that my jewelry pal told me about (hee hee)...that's about all for now. Still am working on how to carry the meter, strips and lancets in our hot weather. I'll get it together. The weather has cooled down for the last two days to in the low 60's---yipee!!! It's been raining off and on. Not going to get dehydrated in the cool weather.

My friend, Judy, gives her father some OJ with a teaspoon of sugar in it when his numbers get too low. I was trading "what should I do's" since she's a RN and her father is a brittle diabetic. Now I hope I can just count on my common sense and all the board members to keep me on the straight and narrow.

;-)

P.S. Mary Frances...thanks bunches!!!

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