I have some days where I just feel very “diabetic” all day long. Kind of shaky, unsteady hands, foggy feeling. Not like a full-blown low, and now exhausted like when I’m high. This will happen even in the 140-190 range which is, sadly, a very comfortable range for me right now. So why am I having these reactions? I can’t figure out a common element at all. I’m doing about 20u Levemire at night, and 3-5 units of Humalog pre-prandial. Anyone else have this that can share some insight? I can’t find anything about it on the boards…
Hi! If you are having the hypo feeling at 140-190…hum…Do you stay High all the time? If so your going to feel low when your not really low because your body is use to being so high. It’s kinds like your body is going through withdraws. Once you get to your goal bg and stay within the range you should feel better and only experience hypo’s when your truly hypo. I hope I didn’t confuse you.
Well I do have a “heightened” awareness of lows - but it generally doesn’t kick in until maybe 115 or so … I check my sugar because it just feels “low” and sometimes I treat it at that level even though it’s not dangerous I guess. I realize that my tolerance for lower BGs will get better over time. Still, I feel like I should be feeling OK at 160-180 or so, and many times I just am not. This may be a somewhat unusual thing and I need to address something else or try a different insulin or something. I was just wondering if it was something that others NEW to insulin ever experienced. Prior to starting insulin my average BG was probably around 270 or so, so yes, I was pretty high overall.
I agree with Cherise, if you are normally high then getting to a more normal BS will make you think your low because your body is not used to be that low. Once you are at those number for awhile the feeling should subside. I know since my A1C was 9.1 in September and is now 6.5 I went through the whole feeling low when I really wasnt I would just them snack on a cheese stick or something no carb so I had the feeling of treating a low but I was really helping myself out by not eating carbs which would put you back in that familiar area Which was slightly too high. My BS goals are between 90-140 its hard and I still feel low somtimes in that zone, it takes time. Good luck
I went through a similar experience. My last A1c was 11.2 and I was put on Glucovance (in addition to insulin I was already taking). As my blood sugar decreased I would feel false hypos. The nurse at my endo’s office said to not treat it unless I was below 70. But sometimes I’d have to have a snack b/c I felt so terrible. Eventually you will adjust.
Thanks everyone – I realized I was “overly sensitive” but I’m glad to hear that that might be the case even in the higher numbers. I can’t remember if it was my endo or my CDE who counseled me to “treat” hypos if I felt shaky (which I only feel REALLY bad under 100) because I can’t be shaky and woozy AND driving. I don’t treat them at the higher numbers, although a protein snack does usually help somewhat.
With my first A1c at 13 and the last at 7.4 I understand where your comming from. Its the big D comming to haunt you. I would highly suggest against treating anything higher than 80. Your just seeting yourself up for the same cycle. It took me geeting to understand that Im feeling this way because my body was loving the 300, not the 130. Once I adjusted to the treatment and my numbers came down, they feeling has subsided some. I can’t say I don’t get that feeling at 140 once in a while, but I know now its just my mind playing tricks on me so I can have a excuse for that (insert favorite pick me up here!)
I’m a well controlled Type 1 but after they’ve given me cortisone into my knee, I have a bunch of highs that I skeeter after for 4 days - highs of 4 days (Yes, I take double Lantus in the car after they’ve done it and I continue for 4 days). But this last time I was in a different town and I received a dose about twice what I usually get. So, the point of this is, I’m going through exactly what you are right now. I’m coming down. As the body slows down the swinging from high to high and your doses of insulin become adjusted to your needs, your shakes will settle into a lower range.
My body is getting settled down and soon the average will again be 95-120. The reactions of the body getting there, however, are really something to go through and they happen to us all. One of these days the shaking will be confined to a nice warning system at 70. Cheers!
I know exactly what you are talking about. Do you get it at about the same time everyday? I was getting it while using Lantus and still have it now on the pump. I get that feeling many days in the late morning, only thing that stops it would be eating lunch. I am usually around 90 when I get the feeling, which is about what I walk around at. My A1C is 5.8, I’m not usually high. I talked to my endo about it and she said that there is really nothing that can be done and didn’t explain the mechanics but she thinks it is related to a shift in insulin resistance that occurs around then. My basal rates are steady and pretty accurate, but I have a big shift between my breakfast and lunch carb ratios- 1:18 at breakfast and 1:11 at lunch.
This thread was really insightful, this happened to me today. I didnt get to breakfast until about 11am. (first meeting was at 6am) and i felt BAD, shaking, little short of breath but when i tested (which with my shaking, took about 7 pokes and 3 strips) I was at 83. i was like “hmm maybe im stressed or something” But it makes sense that ones body is use to higher levels, I was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago…so this makes sense to me! thanks!
That usually happens to me when I am experiencing a big swing. I don’t get the typical “low” symptoms, except for the shakiness. If it happens within say 10 minutes or 30 minutes from my last test, I’ll test and usually see a big change (going either way), like a 160 to a 100 or the other way around too.
THAT is interesting! I think that may be the case for me too. I certainly feel like numbers that are dropping can cause that. I was just feeling that way and checked and was 143. So I’ll check again in about 30 minutes and see if it’s much lower or higher to test that theory!
I really didn’t schedule this much time this year for a learning curve of this size!! 8c)
Yes of course I did mean 157 … I have got to learn to proofread especially with THAT computer where I have some kind of sticky keys! I’m not newly diagnosed really, just new to FINALLY getting some lower blood sugars thanks to my new best friends Lev and Huma!
