False Hypoglycemia... It's the Inside Story

The Diabetes Forum is the place to be when you have questions about diabetes. "Shortypro" asked about this topic in the forum this week.

"Well, I started 10 mg of Lantus every morning and that's it. Today while I was having lunch I felt shaky and lightheaded like I was low so I tested and it was 106. To someone normal that is great but I felt like it was 50! Could it be that my body is use to being 180, and 100 tells my body it's having a low, or am I just crazy??"

"Chollalamb", a Forum member since 2004 with over 3,000 posts under her belt, answers,

"Yes, it is shocking to the bod to come down to normal levels after being that high for a long time. It will take about a week or two to get adjusted. Just keep testing and don't panic. 15 grams sugar stuff for 15 points for 15 minutes and test again. then if still too low do it again. But as long as you don't go below 60 you are good to go other than the slight shakey feeling for a few weeks. half cup of OJ, or other juice, half cup of cola, measure and you know for sure how much you are getting. I like to add about 2 tablespoons of sugar to my coffee in the event I go low."

False hypoglycemia is a real phenomenon. Many times, if someone's blood glucose levels have been consistently running high (180 to 250 mg/dl or higher), dropping to a normal blood glucose level when first taking medication will make them feel like they are hypoglycemic, especially if the drop happens quickly. Within the course of a few weeks, the body will readjust to the more normal blood glucose level and the symptoms of hypoglycemia will disappear.

Read more about this topic...

• False Hypoglycemia - The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind
• What is Hypoglycemia?
• Hypoglycemic Unawareness

Sources:

Ann, Williams, RN, MSN, CDE, Anne Whittington, Connie Kleinbeck, RN, BSN, CDE, Betty Brackenridge, MS, RD, CDE, and Debra Sokol-McKay, CVRT, CDE, CLVT, OTR/L. "False Hypoglycemia." Voice of the Diabetic, The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind, Spring 2005, 16 May 2007.

Photo By Steve Woods