What, if any, long term problems from going low (other than the obvious coma).
Well, severe lows can cause seizures. Seizures can not only cause injury to the person with diabetes (I have seen broken bones as a result of a seziure), but if the seizure is prolonged, the brain can suffer from lack of oxygen causing lasting effects. You can also puke during a seizure causing an aspiration pneumonia. These are a cpuple of things that can happen during a seizure caused by a severe low. Severe lows while driving can cause accidents, etc.
Consistent lows are also bad for your eyes.
It can cause brain damage and strokes.
Causes stress and worry in your spouse.
My 1st thought is brain damage. Atleast that’s what my dr told me b/c of alot of lowes.
How true! My husband knows when I’m low & worries a lot. Diabetes takes a huge toll on our loved ones.
Really? I haven’t heard this. Good to know. Thanks!
Well, I’ve had my share of lows through the years, and never went into a coma first of all. They are not good for your body obviously and their are zillions of horror stories about them. Pretty much beyond the obvious, any low that requires assistance is something to avoid. Long term problems are something that has been debated, and questioned, and studied with no sure answer. Your title says Low Lows which is interesting. I am hypounaware, and avoid ALL lows but can go pretty low without symptom. Don’t get that way, fix just the regular lows so you don’t!
Being consistently low can result in hypo unawareness. You body adjusts to being at those blood sugar levels, you lose the fight or flight response to lows and the next thing you know, you are just sitting there on the couch staring at the TV, thinking things are fine except your blood sugar is 30 mg/dl.
I got an email just today from a Tu Friend who said that children who are low a lot “have messed up growth hormone.” I haven’t heard that before, and I haven’t researched it, but since this conversation just fell into my lap, does anyone know about this?
I had lots of seizures and other lows while young but I “grew” normally. Okay, I’m short(5’2") but so was my Grandmother and a couple Aunts too, who aren’t Diabetic. If that is what your Friend meant. Others may have experienced something different though.
I was severely overdosed at the Hospital by a Nurse when I was about 30. I had some brain damage and memory-loss. Some memories never came back. I find it difficult to concentrate sometimes. Some things that I have just learned, I have to repeat a few times or I may forget it. I usually remember stupid things though. 
Surpringly, I usually score about 131 on the MSN IQ test though, concerning the news.
I asked our CDE and got this response.
In answer to your question, frequent lows are just as undesirable as frequent highs. Reason being, the brain uses glucose as fuel for functioning; if the brain is deficient on glucose (as is the case in hypoglycemia) over an extended period of time, it actually can cause diminishing of ability to recognize lows, and eventually, cellular death in the brain. This isn’t something that can happen because of lows over 2-3 days, rather, it’s a result of longer-term hypoglycemia. Does that help? I hope I didn’t scare you with that answer, but those are the two major things we try to prevent by preventing hypoglycemia.
I am horrible (HORRIBLE) about having severe lows, so I can tell you side effects:
- There are physical ones. I frequently get bruising and cuts after seizures. I’ve broken a bone. I passed out in the bath a couple of times and once swallowed water and gave myself pneumonia.
- I’ve gotten a lot stupider. My memory isn’t nearly as good, and I don’t pick things up as quickly as I used to. I suppose that could be a result of age, but I’m only in my mid-20s, so I figure that’s because I’m having seizures daily.
Long-term problems though? I don’t know. I’ve probably had more severe lows than any other diabetic for about 10 years, but, other than physical damage and increased dumbness, I haven’t really noticed anything long term. However, I know it has to be bad for my body and my brain. I assume that, once I’m in my 40s, it will cause some real damage, but I guess we have to wait 15 years to find out.
If you don’t mind my asking, why do you think you’re having so many severe lows?
Oh, I’m terrified of high blood sugars and give myself too much insulin. Well, it’s more complicated than that, but that’s the main reason. I’ve been trying to stop for years, but…I have trouble.
You’re playing Russian roulette overdoing insulin. Don’t the seizures scare you?
Nah, not really. I always wake up just fine. (I mean, except when I’m bruised on in the hospital or something.) Like I said, I’ll probably have trouble waking up in 20 years, but, for now, I always come through just fine.
I’ve always felt the whole “severe lows can kill you” is massively overblown. Sure, they can kill you if you’re driving, but if you’re just sitting around, you come to. (Well, at least in my experience and for me. I’ve come to just fine after probably 500 or 1000 times, but someone else might not, so I shouldn’t extrapolate.) Anyway, I know it’s dangerous, but I wouldn’t liken it to Russian roulette. (I’m also being defensive, because whenever I talk about it on here, someone always yells at me and tells me I should just stop. I would if I could, but I haven’t been able to.)
I have a problem with hypo unawareness so I have a tendency to keep mine a little high but I’m getting better. I knowI do know lows are just as bad as highs. I think lows effect your brain more and highs effects you physically. I’m more afraid of lows. I check constantly so if it’s high I can get it down fast but lows happen too fast, without awareness and I don’t like waking up on the floor or in the emergency room!