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Can't Feel Low Sugars Anymore
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street0909 posted:
I didn't realize how big a problem this was becoming until just now.

A few years ago, I was having problems with low blood sugars. My sugar would get very low very quickly and I wouldn't have enough mind power to address the problem. I scared my co-workers, sister, parents, etc. more than once acting confused and obstinate when my sugar would get low. I eventually got through it and my sugar stopped dropping and it hasn't been a problem... until now.

Now, a few years later, my sugar is dropping and I cannot feel it at all. I had an "episode" a few weeks ago where my parents called me and I wasn't making any sense over the phone (sound familiar?). They came to my house and force-fed me and I started acting right again. After I started feeling okay again, we checked my sugar, and it was in the 60s. Didn't think much of it but maybe I should have.

Because, now what I've discovered is that I am in full command when it's low. For example, I am at work right now and I have been a little tired. I finally decided to check my sugar just to be on the safe side and discovered it was 46. I am fully able to think, concentrate, and work (I have a job in IT) and my sugar is 46 (I'm eating Skittles, btw; I didn't run to WebMD without first addressing the more urgent/immediate issue). I hesitate to think what it might have been when I was confused the other night. 20s? Teens?

So I said all that to say this- what do I do? If I feel almost fine in the 40s, how do I fix that? Can you become re-sensitized to low sugars after becoming desensitized to them? I live alone and am honestly scared now that I could die from this. If my sugar falls too low and I can't feel it until its too late... scary thought.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Can't Feel Low Sugars AnymoreI didn't realize how big a problem this was becoming until just now.<br /><br />A few years ago, I was having problems with low blood sugars. My sugar would get very low very quickly and I wouldn't have enough mind power to address the problem. I scared my co-workers, sister, parents, etc. more than once acting confused and obstinate when my sugar would get low. I eventually got through it and my sugar stopped dropping and it hasn't been a problem... until now.<br /><br />Now, a few years later, my sugar is dropping and I cannot feel it at all. I had an "episode" a few weeks ago where my parents called me and I wasn't making any sense over the phone (sound familiar?). They came to my house and force-fed me and I started acting right again. After I started feeling okay again, we checked my sugar, and it was in the 60s. Didn't think much of it but maybe I should have.<br /><br />Because, now what I've discovered is that I am in full command when it's low. For example, I am at work right now and I have been a little tired. I finally decided to check my sugar just to be on the safe side and discovered it was 46. I am fully able to think, concentrate, and work (I have a job in IT) and my sugar is 46 (I'm eating Skittles, btw; I didn't run to WebMD without first addressing the more urgent/immediate issue). I hesitate to think what it might have been when I was confused the other night. 20s? Teens?<br /><br />So I said all that to say this- what do I do? If I feel almost fine in the 40s, how do I fix that? Can you become re-sensitized to low sugars after becoming desensitized to them? I live alone and am honestly scared now that I could die from this. If my sugar falls too low and I can't feel it until its too late... scary thought.
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MrsCora01 responded:
Yes, you can become resensitized to low sugar levels. But a lot of folks don't like to do it for a variety of reasons. What you have to do is run high (180 - 200 depending on who you talk to) for about 6 weeks and then your body gets used to that. Once you run normal again, you will feel the lows. Just as your body has become accustomed to the low sugars, you get get accustomed to the higher ones again. The problem is that given that you are used to running so much lower, you won't feel so hot at the higher numbers. Many people too get paranoid about complications (you won't run the risk of developing them by running high for this short amount of time).

The bottom line is that many folks have success with this. Talk to your endo about it and see what he/she has to say. Keep us posted.

Cora
Report This| Share this:Can't Feel Low Sugars AnymoreYes, you can become resensitized to low sugar levels. But a lot of folks don't like to do it for a variety of reasons. What you have to do is run high (180 - 200 depending on who you talk to) for about 6 weeks and then your body gets used to that. Once you run normal again, you will feel the lows. Just as your body has become accustomed to the low sugars, you get get accustomed to the higher ones again. The problem is that given that you are used to running so much lower, you won't feel so hot at the higher numbers. Many people too get paranoid about complications (you won't run the risk of developing them by running high for this short amount of time). <br /><br />The bottom line is that many folks have success with this. Talk to your endo about it and see what he/she has to say. Keep us posted.<br /><br />Cora
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