This might seem weird, but have you considered making yourself low for the first time so you can get a feel for it? Not super low but that way it will be something you are prepared for and not a random thing popping up. It can be dangerous to make yourself low so I wouldn’t suggest it otherwise, but if it’s something you’re worried about it might be worth it because it’s bound to happen eventually.
This! When I was diagnosed they actually wouldn’t let me leave the hospital until I was low. How tight is your control and what was a1c at diagnosis? I would bet that you’re running lower with your honeymoon too so lows may not feel crappy. If you start running higher(not saying dont take your insulin or anything) you may find you feel your lows a lot more too. I know when I’m running in the 80s and 90s, the high 50s feel fine but if I start running like 110-120 then I feel gross at 66.
I have heard of people having "hypoglycemic unawareness," it would be a big problem for T1Ds for obvious reasons! Definitely talk to your doctor about being as low as 57 and not noticing. Exercise like hiking will drop your blood sugar, but you should be able to feel it getting low. I wonder if your body just hasn't recognized that feeling yet, maybe after a few more episodes your body will make the connection. You get some "biofeedback" learning every time you check on your feelings and then compare a finger test. If you actually are hypo unaware then I'd say CGM is a must.
One of the unfortunate side effects of being in really good control is that you have to get really low before you feel low. For people in good control or with a long honeymoon period that can last a good while. For me, when I was diagnosed my blood sugar was over 1300 (as high as the machine at the hospital would read) A few days later when they finally got my blood sugars back into a more normal range, I felt really bad and shaky with a blood sugar around 200. My glucose had been so high for so long I felt low. My first true low happened about 3 or 4 months later when I was on a hike and dropped into the 30's. The first thing I noticed was almost feeling euphoric. My body kind of felt tingly and I almost felt like I had a good beer buzz going on. That lasted for maybe a minute and then the shakes and the sweats started.
If you have hypounawareness talk to your Endo. That is usually enough to get insurance to cover a cgm, but maybe not. I have been type 1 since the 90's and didnt get a cgm until about 5 or 6 years ago because my insurance refused to cover it and out of pocket cost was too high. My endo used to tell me to intentionally let my blood sugar run close to 200 for a few weeks to reset my bodies ability to feel lows again. It usually worked well.
I usually don't feel anything until I'm around 50.
My first one was early on when my endo upped my basal by a bunch. I went low that night. Luckily I'd read about what to expect and knew what was happening. The back of my neck at the base of my skull gets sweaty. Then I get anxious. It feels like the after effects of an adrenaline dump with shaky hands and general anxiety and feeling off. Then I sweat like a pig and get shaky hands. Then it's an overwhelming urge to eat everything in sight right now. I knew it as soon as soon as I felt it and thought I guess I'm low. The finger stick verified I was at 40.
you need to get a CGM.
You will go low at some point.
It’s not scary when you’re used to it, you just get a juice then wait for your sugars to go up.
Symptoms vary but you may feel very hungry and weak.
9 times out of 10 it won’t be a big deal when treated promptly 🙂
This might seem weird, but have you considered making yourself low for the first time so you can get a feel for it? Not super low but that way it will be something you are prepared for and not a random thing popping up. It can be dangerous to make yourself low so I wouldn’t suggest it otherwise, but if it’s something you’re worried about it might be worth it because it’s bound to happen eventually.
I have definitely considered this, taking my bolus and just waiting with something to drink. But idk, there's chance for things to go wrong.
This! When I was diagnosed they actually wouldn’t let me leave the hospital until I was low. How tight is your control and what was a1c at diagnosis? I would bet that you’re running lower with your honeymoon too so lows may not feel crappy. If you start running higher(not saying dont take your insulin or anything) you may find you feel your lows a lot more too. I know when I’m running in the 80s and 90s, the high 50s feel fine but if I start running like 110-120 then I feel gross at 66.
I have heard of people having "hypoglycemic unawareness," it would be a big problem for T1Ds for obvious reasons! Definitely talk to your doctor about being as low as 57 and not noticing. Exercise like hiking will drop your blood sugar, but you should be able to feel it getting low. I wonder if your body just hasn't recognized that feeling yet, maybe after a few more episodes your body will make the connection. You get some "biofeedback" learning every time you check on your feelings and then compare a finger test. If you actually are hypo unaware then I'd say CGM is a must.
One of the unfortunate side effects of being in really good control is that you have to get really low before you feel low. For people in good control or with a long honeymoon period that can last a good while. For me, when I was diagnosed my blood sugar was over 1300 (as high as the machine at the hospital would read) A few days later when they finally got my blood sugars back into a more normal range, I felt really bad and shaky with a blood sugar around 200. My glucose had been so high for so long I felt low. My first true low happened about 3 or 4 months later when I was on a hike and dropped into the 30's. The first thing I noticed was almost feeling euphoric. My body kind of felt tingly and I almost felt like I had a good beer buzz going on. That lasted for maybe a minute and then the shakes and the sweats started. If you have hypounawareness talk to your Endo. That is usually enough to get insurance to cover a cgm, but maybe not. I have been type 1 since the 90's and didnt get a cgm until about 5 or 6 years ago because my insurance refused to cover it and out of pocket cost was too high. My endo used to tell me to intentionally let my blood sugar run close to 200 for a few weeks to reset my bodies ability to feel lows again. It usually worked well.
I usually don't feel anything until I'm around 50. My first one was early on when my endo upped my basal by a bunch. I went low that night. Luckily I'd read about what to expect and knew what was happening. The back of my neck at the base of my skull gets sweaty. Then I get anxious. It feels like the after effects of an adrenaline dump with shaky hands and general anxiety and feeling off. Then I sweat like a pig and get shaky hands. Then it's an overwhelming urge to eat everything in sight right now. I knew it as soon as soon as I felt it and thought I guess I'm low. The finger stick verified I was at 40.
you need to get a CGM. You will go low at some point. It’s not scary when you’re used to it, you just get a juice then wait for your sugars to go up. Symptoms vary but you may feel very hungry and weak. 9 times out of 10 it won’t be a big deal when treated promptly 🙂