update back from doctor "low sugar"

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2003
update back from doctor "low sugar"
16
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 4:23pm
Well im home, the doctor said im a hypo and that yesterday was Dangerously low, the nurse did not tell him I got that low.Im so angry at her and I think he was a little mad himself. I asked him what is dangerously low and he said that being in the 30’s is. I also asked should I call 911 at that point he said drink juice and it should go up. If it gets that low again im off to the ER .For all you ladies who are hypo can you please give me advice he gave me a care sheet and I also got my own meter. My husband had a diabetic band should I get one. Im sorry for so many?’s but yesterday so very scary for me.

Also im sorry if i did not take this more serious yesterday, i know you ladies were trying to help.I had no idea i had this.I think i was also thinking there's no way theres anything wrong with me.Oh i also told my mom to tell the doctor she works for she needs to go back to school after all she was the one that said i was o.k and had nothing to worry about.My husband said there is a gel you can get that you can carry in your bag and that if your levels get low you can eat it, where do i get this.I dont want to be out driving and have my levels drop.Also how low does it get for some of your ladies before you start to have syptoms.

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Edited 4/2/2004 5:26 pm ET ET by julieh2003

Edited 4/2/2004 5:27 pm ET ET by julieh2003


Edited 4/2/2004 6:55 pm ET ET by julieh2003

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Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 8:14pm

I am sorry Julie!!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 8:23pm
Im going to get as much info as i can and learn to adjust my diet.I found the Insta Glucose for myslef so if i happen to get into trouble while im driving i can pull over and take it.It works quick so i can wait untill i fill back to normal.
Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 11:17pm

Hi Julie,


I am glad you went to the doctor and got an answer to your problem. Now you know what you are dealing with.


As a hypoglycemic, as opposed to having a hypoglycemia reaction, you know that you are especially sensitive to sugar and other simple carbohydrates. But eating a diabetic meal plan often helps hypoglycemics and so if you can afford it, it would be worthwhile for you to have a visit with a dietitian who specializes in these conditions.


There is a glucose gel that you can get in the pharmacy as well as glucose tabs. My endo tells me they taste so terrible that folks don't over use them and therefore don't over treat the lows. There are also diabetic bars available in the pharmacy and in the special food section of your grocery store. I am sure you have noticed that I talk about having a glucerna bar in my purse. I carry a glucerna bar with me at all times. There are 24 grams of carbohydrates in the snack bar which is more than my doctor recommends that I use to treat the hypoglycemia.


Anytime your blood sugar drops below 50 you lose the ability to do high level thinking. You can't make choices at that time. This is why you need to have things like the glucerna readily available. You can't think and reason it out. You have to have programed yourself ahead for how to respond.


Anytime you feel headache, fatigue, weakness or blurry vision, check your blood sugar. Low blood sugar is an emergency and is more so than high blood sugar. I carry the peppermints that come on the check tray in my purse also and will eat one when I feel my blood sugar is too low.


You need to take 15 grams of carbohydrates and some non- caloric fluids when this occurs. Of course you will have checked your blood sugar first so that you know what you are dealing. Then you check your blood sugar again in 15 minutes to see if it has come back up where it is supposed to be. If it has fine, go ahead an eat your normal meal. If it hasn't, you need another 15 grams of carbohydrates. Then test again in 15 minutes. If it hasn't come up to the proper level go immediately to seek medical care.


I know you said that you don't have heath insurance but this is one of those times that you will need to pay for the emergency room visit and hope to be seen as soon as you arrive. ER visits can be pretty expensive but that is not reason not to treat this emergency.


I don't mean to scare you with this story, but unfortunately it is true. I had a friend who was a type 1 diabetic, adult onset, and who got really low blood sugars. He would be combative and really difficult to deal with when his blood sugars were in the 30 range and when they would get them back up to 70-80 range he would sign himself out of the emergency room against medical advise. When I was newly diagnosed he was a great help to me. One time he laid down to take a nap and he never got up. He was 40 years old. They never knew how low it got the final time because the paramedics gave him a shot of glucogon and the reading after that was 40. The reason that I told you this story is to show you why it is important to not mess around with this and to treat it quickly.


Incidentally you need to be checked every few years to make sure that you haven't become diabetic because 40 percent or so of the folks with hypoglycemia go on to become diabetic.


I will stop now because I don't want to overwhelm you with information. Please come back to me with your questions and comments.


A gentle hug,

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 11:28pm
Ohhhhhhh Thank you Mary Frances I didn't mean to step on anyones toes. I was doin the best I could. I have been on pins and needles just to get back to the board and check up on her. THANK GOD she went to the doctor. Blood sugar is NOTHING to play with.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 11:35pm

SEEEEEEE I TOLD YA *grin* Thank goodness you are ok. Hypo is scary but you learn more about you're body and how its feeling. headaches, dizziness you need to take even a small headache seriously. You're body is talkin to you. You got to listen to it!!!!!!!


hun I suggest you get some medical ID tag that sayes you are HYPOGLOXCEMIA. Not DIABETIC. I have one. I also have a fanny pack. it has my meter and supplys, It also has a BUNCH of goodies ( peanut butter crackers) and also SUGAR DROPS Peperment. That is for emergencys only. I know that. my sweet tooth don't LOL


NO SUGAR for you missy. you need to go to a dietician(sp) they will teach you what you need to eat and what NOT to eat.


Eating is the key along with exercise.


If you EVER get that low again call 911!!!!!!!!!! woman you scared me. It felt like I was going thru it.


*gonna get some glue and glue the phone to you* LOL

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 11:39pm
Mary frances thank you for all the info it was all very helpfull.Im so sorry about your friend that’s hard! I will look into those bars in the morning I just want to know I have something at all time's because as I found out yesterday it can come down without no warning. The feeling I had yesterday was like being drunk, I have not even drank in 4 years!!!

I’m going to take very good care of my diet, now if I cut out all sugar can me levels drop because im not having any sugar at all. My doctor was so busy today he was the only doctor in the clinic so he was rushed.Im going to also find out about a class in my area so I can handle the diet better, It can only help right?

I have noticed that when it does drop I loose my thinking very quick and can’t remember what im saying or I forget simple words. For the last couple of months I have been telling my husband im loosing my memory, I guess I know why now. I have been going to this doctor for 7 years and for the past 3 years I have been going to him telling him my head hurt's, he said today that he think I may have had this for a couple of years. I can even remember when I was pregnant with my now 3 1/2 year old almost passing out many time also.Im going to try to get a grip on this or I should say IM GOING TO get a grip on this. I just still have questions about if I should avoid sugar 100%. Also once I get my sugar to a normal level will it stay there with a proper diet, does exercise make you burn sugar? My father in law said to have a orange in the morning would that help




Edited 4/3/2004 12:42 am ET ET by julieh2003
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2003
Fri, 04-02-2004 - 11:56pm


Thanks Donna yes you was right along with the rest of the ladies. Thank you so much for your help yesterday it really did help knowing I had you there.Im going to look for tags in the morning I have a list im getting Glucerna bars, tags and also the glucose gel just in case. If there is a Next time and I hope there is not a next I will be ready. I just fill like I have had a non stop headache for a week I think because it’s been like a roller coaster for the sugar.Im also going to call around to my local hospitals on Monday to see if they have any classes to help with my diet. There is still stuff I don’t understand, like if I dont have any sugar at all will that make it do down?

Boy oh Boy no sugar for me again.....I am or should I say I was a big candy eater I love chocolate way too much. But that’s o.k. to stay alive I can live without it, I like being around for my kids and husband. My doctor said my husband and I are a right pair my DH is a diabetic and he gets up over 300 a lot. His way to high and im way to low, I think with this we can both work on each other diets as well as our own. I will Promise you if it gets that low again I will call 911, I just hope they can understand me I sounded like I was drunk my speech was all messed up. The strange thing was a could tell I was not talking right but could not do anything about it. Plus I was forgetting simple words while I was talking. Never do I ever want to be there again .I knows to never leave home without the cell or a glucerna care just in case!!


Thank you for all your kind words and help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 12:18am

You are so welcome and looks to me like you are on the RIGHT track.

 

 

Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 1:35am

I am so sorry you felt like you were being attacked, but I know that the wonderul members were not meaning for you to take it that way with them just being worried about you. I am so very happy that you went to see your doctor, because I just knew that you were hypoglycemic with so many lows happening to you even with eating. As for your question about wearing a medical alert. Yes, if I was you get yourself one just in case you are ever out and get low to the point you are unable to help yourself so this way others around you can read the tag and now just what to do to help you. Also you can get yourself some chewable tablets in different flavors from many places these days and they taste much better than the gel does, which in my opinion is like eating chalk. I have used the gel before and it is nasty tasting.


I am happy that you got your own meter and a sheet to get you started. Your doctor was right in being upset about the nurse not telling him how low you went, because that is a dangerous level to be at to the point you belong in the ER room if you cannot get it up on your own by having some juice. So good for him in letting you now how dangerous that was for you that night and good advice on calling 911 if it happens again since that really is the appropriate thing to do with that low of a blood sugar. Do take care of yourself and know that we are all here for you if you have any other questions we might be able to help you out with. Have a great weekend!

Denise Motorcycle 2


Mom to

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2003
Sat, 04-03-2004 - 11:58am
Thank you ladies well im off to a convension today in my area and thay have a diabetic both as well as other health things.I know im not diabetic but i think they may have my braclett.My husband is a diabetic so we always have the sugar free juice around for him, so i guess i will be drinking from his juice now and not the kids.I have a questhion when i got up this morning it was in the low 60's i had a orange ASAP.Is there something i can do to make sure i dont wake up with lows

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