September 4, 2013
7:26am
FBG 129 this morning, I had the hypo scare yesterday and ate a little,
ok a lot, more carbs, but I also decreased my pm insulin by 3U last night and
it was lower than the night before! The next few days should be interesting!
10:20am
PP 145 A bit high but this is due to my hypo panic yesterday which
occurred about this time. By tomorrow this number should be better.
I am going to start carrying a small jar of peanut butter so after I
eat some fast carbs to raise the blood sugar it does not drop again. The
protein will help keep it stable. Forgot to put some protein in my bag
yesterday so all I had was a Clementine and glucose tablets. Did not take the
glucose tablets because I rationalized the hypo wasn’t bad enough. Good thing I
was home in 5 minutes. My brain on anxiety. So from now on I m going to be
prepared and follow protocol rather than letting my anxiety rule the roost.
Happy because I just received my LCHF cookbook and after looking
through it I am very pleased and I do not see anything a domestically
challenged individual like me cannot cook. J
Here is Bailey reading “The Low Carb High Fat Cookbook” by Sten Sture
Skaldeman:
Anxiety, Panic and PTSD with
Hypoglycemia or approaching Hypoglycemia
My lowest Blood Glucose I ‘caught’ so far was 68, but this was enough
to frighten me. My nurse practitioner wants me to report anything lower than a
90 and at first I kind of questioned it as 90 is a normal blood sugar but I now
see her wisdom. Careful monitoring and reducing insulin doses esp. since I am
working so diligently with my diet and schedule we might just be able to avert
the scarier lows of 40 and 50 although it just may happen.
Anxiety and Panic are not good things although
sometimes one or both are hard to avoid. A caveat of good information regarding
the management of diabetes is the knowledge that the meds can be dangerous and
that people sometimes die when their blood glucose drops. This is very common
with diabetics but not spoken of so people with the diagnosis of diabetes are embarrassed
to say something and suffer alone and/or seem non-compliant. This NOT mental
illness, this is a very valid fear based on a potential side effect/s of
Diabetes and its treatment and it should be discussed with one’s doctor. It is
not uncommon to develop PTSD after
only one “low blood glucose” experience, even if it is minor, and it is
certainly not unheard of to develop PTSD
just from the trauma of the diagnosis, esp. if handled poorly. If the doctor
brushes it off or prescribes an anti-anxiety med without referring you to a support
group, diabetic coach or another member of the team to assist you seek a
support group, diabetic coach or specialty diabetic clinic. It is good to have
a number to call in case of an emergency of a support person who is willing to
talk it out with you
I get anxiety when my blood glucose hits 90 and does not come up after
eating fast carbs and a piece of protein within 15 minutes and continues to go
down. That has happened twice and it is due to the actions I am taking to
reverse DM2, lose weight, and get off of Insulin. So while these are good
signs, my knowledge sets of alarms in my brain. Anxiety mimics real Hypo.
Shakes, vertigo, shortness of breath, confusion, irritablilty and panic. Some
people sweat profusely and pass out. Others experience intense hunger although
this may be due to the fact they need to eat anyway and may have missed a
crucial meal. Some people become so frightened after a hypoglycemic episode
they take test their blood sugar 20 times a day, sometimes even more, even
after it gets to what they perceive as a comfortable number.
Forgetting whether one took
their medication or took it twice. Happens to us all, esp. in the
beginning. The first time I gave myself an injection when I got home from the
hospital I had such a panic attack that I thought I inadvertently hit a small
capillary vein that was rushing pure insulin to my heart. Irrational but that
is also an earmark of anxiety and panic. I took my blood glucose several times:
felt as if I was going to faint and was short of breath. I have gone to bed and
tried to remember if I took my insulin or not, opting not to because I just
didn’t know. I have checked my blood glucose many times thinking that maybe I
took another dose.
So many things are going on in a diabetics body a change in blood sugar
can cause fatigue and forgetfulness at times, just the emotional weight of the
disease and th day to management can be trying at times, esp. if live throws
you a couple of curves that may not have bothered you when you were younger or
prior to diagnosis.
I took the problem in hand
because I knew it was the only way to take control of this little problem:
I have a notebook and also a reminder on my mobile. I put the notebook
open to where I note the time and amount of my insulin on the table alongside my
mobile phone with the reminder app open. I then fill the syringe to the
required units, prepare the area I am going to inject. Then I jot down the time
and amount in the notebook and check off the reminder in the app and
immediately inject my medicine. It is so worth it and takes just a few seconds
for peace of mind. Especially important if you live by yourself or without
another adult in your home.
Over-carbing –eating foods
that raise the blood sugar so one feels safe. Problem is if one over-carbs fast
and with fast acting carbs such as syrupy sugary sweets one might get low after
the spike anyway.
The carb sleeping pill –
over-carbing to enable a peaceful night’s sleep and feeling secure one will
wake up in the morning.
Both the above are a result of diabetic PTSD or an occasional reaction
to hypo anxiety. The problem is high blood sugars, poor control and an
increased potential for damage to nerves and other organs.
Important Fact:
Dying from Hypoglycemia is rare in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 without
liver disease because the liver acts as a backup and shoots stored glucose into
the bloodstream elevating the blood glucose, often above normal into a high
range, but not dangerously high to compensate for the low.
Hope this helps someone. If you need some support you might want to
check out these wonderful communities:
As I learn more I’ll try to share, that goes with tips and tricks as
well
1:07pm
BG 84 Speaking of low blood glucose, but it is time for lunch and this
is my “five hour low”. Although this is not technically low and in normal
range, for me it is, based on parameters my nurse clinician and I decided on
according to my goals, my medication, rate of weight loss and carb intake. So
anything under 90 I am to report. Having had a “mini-crisis” yesterday and
having spoke with my nurse practitioner I will pass on reporting this at this
time and just adjust my morning insulin, lowering it my 2U and monitoring it. I
feel good and as long as it responds to the food I will be eating in a few
moments, I so no need for alarm. Lunch contains 13gms carbs, including good
protein and healthy fats but I added a Clementine bringing it up to a
therapeutic 22gms of carbs.
2:11pm
BG111, checked for my peace of mind, feel pretty good but am fatigued
because of not sleeping too well last night due to pain in my problem hip and
leg. Just wanted to be certain the fatigue wasn’t from “hypo.” It wasn’t. :)
3:40pm
PPBG 129. Good for the amount of carbs ingested at lunch, I overcompensated
a bit. It is better to avert the low in the first place.
8pm
BG 142. 47U pm dose of insulin. Ok, but a bit high, not really too concerned
because I take my evening dose of insulin and eat dinner at this time.
10:00pm
PPBG 123 This is good, I am pleased. Will check close to midnight.
11:49pm
BG 116 This is also good. I will eat a small portion, ½ cup, of Greek
yogurt to help balance blood glucose to avert a low BG. It’s low carb, about
7gm, to avert high fasting in the morning
FINI
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