Usually, when I go low, I have no trouble eating (I'm the queen of the low-induced kitchen raid!). But twice in the last few days, I have had a "nauseous low," that is, a low blood sugar accompanied by extreme nausea. I had one yesterday and it nearly scared me to death. I was home alone and was so nauseous that I couldn't even fathom putting anything in my mouth. I was in the low 50s and dropping, and I knew I needed to eat something, but my stomach was so upset that I actually contemplated breaking out a glucagon kit and using it! I finally managed to choke down some juice, but I was so scared I was going to throw it back up (thankfully, it stayed down).
Does anyone else have this happen sometimes? Has anyone found something that works when they're in this scary low+nauseous state?
It has happened to me a couple of times and is scary as all get out. One time I knew I could not get tabs down and went for the lemon gluco-gel. I'm one of those wierdos who love the taste. Another time I was alone when the "barfable low" hit and between that and neurological symptoms - panic and oncoming confusion - I went with the glucagon. Naturally between the shot and my own glucagon dump I shot from 36 to 587 in about 2 hours but as wretched as I felt I was alive to tell the tale.
Don't let this get around, but sometimes I actually like the taste of the orange glucotabs. They are like giant smarties! I've given myself glucagon a couple of times before, but that was always when I became sick after bolusing. And the side effects of that were not too fun.
With lows I get slightly nauseated and have difficulty chewing. A teaspoon of honey helps to get the BG on the way up, another if necessary, finally a DanActive (regular, not light). I carry mini York Mint Patties in my purse for away from home. Glucose tabs just don't seem to work for me.
I also get nauseated but only after having several lows a day and I cant seem to get anything in no matter how tempting it may be I just dont feel like taking anything. I dont do the glucose tabs cause like Trudy I feel as if they dont work for me they take forever to raise my glucose when I do use them I use the Dex4. I end up drinking a glass of milk that works really fast for me I dont drink juice. I never have any at home not even for emergency I just dont like the taste of it its too much sugar!
oh, i'm so sorry to hear. yes, i usually always get nauseous when I'm below 60's...i've actually thrown up too. i asked my endo about it because i was concerned...it's normal and comes with a huge headache and weakness. i had one yesterday as well, just low 60's (in the middle of starbucks) felt like I was going to pass out because it was a huge, sudden drop. i ate jelly beans, they're small and i could keep them down. i actually came back home and had to lie down for a bit before heading back out.
I have never had nausea but I do get really nasty headaches after a low. This has been particularly true when the wife has done the glucagon injection. They bring my sugar up but whack me out for some reason.
I mainly use regular Coke when I'm dropping fast or are really low....in both cases, I don't feel like eating anything. The Coke works the fastest for me. I buy the little bottles and just keep them in various places.
I don't get nauseate from lows but once when I was a kid (within the first year of diagnosis) I actually threw up during a low. It was horrible, but it's the only time it's ever happened. I think at the time my mom made me drink juice and may have used that nasty Insta-Glucose gel stuff. (I've used that since when I've had nothing else and I swear THAT in itself makes me feel sick!)
My best guess is that because it was during the first year and it was a fairly low-low, my body freaked out and pumped out a ton of glucagon which it can't as effectively since I've had thousands of lows and T1 for 20+ years.
I also get the migraine-like headaches after a really bad low. They are also horrible, but thankfully don't happen much now because I don't have super low-lows very often.
Honestlynot that I can remember having, I usually have those lows to where my world is.......ugh....... not right in any terms of the "right" word. Irritated That's what I get and I get irratated REALLY fast both when I run high and low. My husband, kids and g-kids run for high ground b/c I get mad sooooo fast at them.
That has happened to me twice. Once years ago I was in 5th grade class I was low and all I could do was cry. And just recently about 2 months ago I had been low the whole night and when I woke up I felt fine but as soon as I checked my sugar everything went grey and I started sobbing.. I think its weird too lol!!
Coke works for me too when I'm having a nauseating low. Something about the carbonation I guess just like when you're sick as a child and you sip coke and eat saltines.
Coke and gatorade are my go-tos when I'm dropping into a low fast although I'm not a fan of the taste of gatorade. I rely on jelly beans to bump up approaching lows.
Ah, yes, Ginger Ale!! That's what I need to get!!! Thanks for the reminder. It's the one thing I can usually choke down when sick. Of course, I'd need regular for this :-)
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who cries sometimes during a low. I hate when I do that, but sometimes I'll just burst into tears for no apparent reason (other than having a BG that's like lower that 60). I hate that. It's always really embarrassing.
I asked my PCP about this, after I threw up all over my husband one night! (Sorry, honey!) He said that nausea is a symptom of low BG. I usually have it as my BG starts to rise, but have had it once in a while before I treated. Coke is also my go to food when my tummy is upset, but I usually keep regular 7-Up in the house. If I am really sick, it works to keep my BGs on course.
Don't sweat it - pardon the pun. When I get cranky ,my bride will often ask me to check my BG. More often than not I'm crashing and didn't notice. Many times during a low I'll get to perspiring so bad that the cash in my wallet even gets dripping wet. I'll lose 5-7 pounds, end up with a migraine & chills so bad that once in the ER they treated me for hypothermia and that is in North Carolina in August.
