Blood sugar WAY low! I need to know all of the possibilities!! ?

Question

It has been as low as 13!!! And I will still be conscious. I need to know:

1. What can alter the results? The METER itself is ok, but can the strips 'expire'? would it say error or something if the strips were bad?? HELP

2. What is is called when you have low blood sugar all the time??

3. Is there anything else besides hypoglycemia where this happens?

4. Are there medications for these problems?

5. What could create false lows?

Answer 1

A blood sugar under 45 is starting to destroy brain cells... think of it like oxygen deprivation... sugar deprivation is very similar.  if you are that low and still conscious then you probably have hypoglycemia unawareness.  This can KILL you!!!!  Talk to your doctor asap!

Ok I'll answer your questions in order as best I can.  I am an EMT and am hypoglycemic so I know what I'm talking about.

1.Strips can expire and you may or may not get an error message it depends on your brand of meter and sometimes it jut depends on the strips themselves.  I've never personally gotton an error for expired strips- I use a one touch ultra mini.

2.  Hypoglycemia and it is very dangerous.  It may be caused by something called an insulinoma which is a tiny tiny tumor on your pancreas that secretes insulin.  

3.  Well... seeing as hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar... no there is nothing else that causes low blood sugar haha.  sorry.  But really there are many things that can cause it and it will take blood tests and a lot of cooperation with your doctor to find out what's really going on.  Acute alcohol injestion, especially on an empty stomach can cause it.  A tumor- as I states eralier.  Some hormone deficiencies but that's most common in kids.  Malnutrition can be another cause.  Exercising too much... being ultra sensative to insulin levels in your body... really there are countless possible causes.

4.  yes.... but more often all it takes is a diet high in protein low in carbs... eat every 3 hours and avoid all things starchy sugary or carb loaded.

5. dehydration, shock, if the strip isn't all the way in the meter or if there's not enough blood on the strip, squeezing the fingertip too hard because no blood is flowing, testing somewhere other than your fingertip, and having a high hemocrit(the opposite of being anemic)

check out this website it has some good information:

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/hy...

whew.  I hope that was enough info haha.  Good luck and please- go to your doctor.

Answer 2

Answers:

1. Test strips can expire

2.Diabetes

3.Diabetes-a disease when the kidney doesn't work or doesnt make enough insulin.

4.Medicines, yes. Insulin shots or pills

5.The meter or test strips

Answer 3

1) test strrips DEFINATELY expire.  Check the date on the box/bottle.

There is NO error indicator if the strips are bad.  Three is no way to tell except by looking at the box/bottle.

AND . . .the meters need calibrated.  Some meters require that you use the buttons to enter a special code number that you read off the strip's box/bottle. The meter's "code" MUST match the code on the box/bottle. My meter uses a special Integrated Circuit that just plugs in (they send you a new one with every box of strips]

2) Low blood sugar is called HYPOGLYCEMIA.  That's the name for it.  It's not a disease as much as it is a symptom of another disease.

3) There are LOTS of thing that can cause "hypo":

>>Not eating enough

>>Forgetting to take your medicine

>>Taking the wrong dosage of your medicine

>>Taking too much insulin

>>Taking the wrong insulin

>>Getting too much exercise without eating properly

>>Other sickness (colds and flu)

>>Infections (urinary tract (UTI), tonsils, kidneys, etc).

>>Being stressed out

4) The doctor will recommend medication, if needed, for these other problems AFTER he tests you to see what your problem really is.

5) "False Lows" (incorrect readings) are almost always caused by improper operation of the meter:

>>Bad coding (see above)

>>Expired strips (see above)

>>Not getting enough blood into the strip (you GOTTA fill that little slit full -- ONE FULL DROP)

>>Meter battery going dead (replace it once a year, on your birthday, even if it says its good)

>>Meter going bad (If your meter is more than 5 year old, you should replace it.  Most doctor give them away free)

If you use the merter right (and it IS working right) then the reading will be correct.

There is a special Test Fluid that you can buy to test your meter.  Look up your meter manufacture on-line, and contact them for proper ordering.

But a readin of "13" is D-E-A-D!  NOBODY should be that low! A reading that low shows that you simply do NOT have enough sugar to stay alive.  You should be in a coma. . . . .

But you're not, so I suspect that you have mishandled your meter, as detalied above.

If you need further help, contact your doctor.  He can put you in touch with a Diabetic Trainer who can help you find the problem.