Hi @Janine83965 and if you’re new, welcome.
For some reason my body can tolerate lows. I’ve been waking around with friends and no one noticed anything though I was in the 40s😳. On the other hand there was a time I needed a little assistance at 80. I don’t think there’s a definite number that applies to anyone, although below 80 would be cause for concern as it does not leave you much cushion if you drop.
Glucagon has to be mixed, and if you need it or are close to needing it, it’s not likely you’ll have the coordination or perhaps even the mindset to do it. There is now an inhaled form called Baqsimi that might be do-able but I don’t know. The real key is to avoid going there in the first place:
Learn your signs. Even if you use a CGM (next point), know what to look for in case your supply order is late or something happens while it’s warming up. I myself start to feel low if I’m dropping, even if my numbers are normal. Technology is excellent but it’s still important to know the basics.
Use a CGM - it’s HUGE peace of mind and can be set to alert you if you’re dropping as well as if you hit a number you program in. And
Always always always have some fast acting carbs on you.
Liquids work faster but you probably don’t want to carry a juice box in your purse😊. My favorite is Clif Bloks chews, which I found at a sporting goods store. Can’t stand the texture of glucose tabs myself and prefer these gels. Glucose tabs, Lifesavers, Mentos - lots of options so you should be able to find what you like.
Follow up with something more substantial. Juices and candies give a quick rise but don’t stick with you. Talk with your nurse educator, nutritionist, or endo about how to handle things.
Ginger ale helps with stomach problems and you might be able to tolerate that even with vomiting. Speaking of which, if you do get sick and aren’t able to eat, call your doctor for instructions on adjusting your insulin. Sickness actually tends to raise blood sugar but there’s still a balancing act to keep from dropping. When I’m sick I crave crave crave fresh fruit - it’s light and sits well on my stomach. Crackers are soothing too.
I’m not a medical professional - just sharing my learnings.
Hi @Janine83965 a couple thoughts. If you are conscious, you’re better off not using glucagon. Glucagon works by releasing sugar stored in your liver. If you have stored sugar, your blood sugar rises rapidly. If I was awake I’d chew glucose tabs. This simple sugar is the fastest. Fructose and fiber (orange juice) is not as fast but may taste better. If you are awake, you can even put glucose tabs or gel and hold it in your mouth ( for tabs chew them up) the glucose can be absorbed without even swallowing. Anyway. Glucagon can be self administered but I can’t think of a reason why I would want to. It is really for if you are not conscious.
There is no low number that you pass out at. Plus our finger stick and CGM wouldn’t be accurate enough even if there were. You should try to correct if you get below 70 mg/dl Cheers!
Joe is completely correct (of course!), but if you want a general idea of what happens around when for most people, you might consider this short article from UMich for guidance on what generally happens around 70 (feeling tired, shaky, etc.), 40 (irritability, confusion), and 20 (unconsciousness, seizure)
But again, Joe is totally right that there is not one magic number, and also that our instruments aren’t precise enough to tell us even if there were.
Plenty of experienced PWD will tell you they’ve felt low when their number said they weren’t, and not-low when their number said they were. Sometimes extremely so.
@Janine83965 - @joe gives very wise advice - fur those and other reasons
For a number of reasons, Glucagon is the treatment of last resort - frankly I don’t even keep it, but that’s just me. @srozelle provides a great resource for symptoms. The items listed are common but yours may vary: I sometimes drum my fingers when I’m low; and I once read about a woman who could do complex math calculations in her head, but struggled when her numbers were down.
Discuss with your medical team what to do - it’s tempting to over-treat in the panic of the moment, which will drive you high later.
Related to this thread but a little off topic, I was prescribed nasal spray glucagon. It’s called baqsimi. I paid $25 for it with the worst insurance. It’s pretty handy and easy to have me on all times in my bag.
Thanks! I don’t always know when I’m going low. I’m having problems after exercise with lows and hear/feel the pump alerting me. I am treating it, but I am probably confused or just feel sleepy. At least it makes me want to sit down. If treating it doesn’t take care of it, and I can’t think to use glucagon I found that if I can just remember to push 911 on my cell phone with the location on that they will try and locate me if I can’t speak clearly to give them my address. My cell phone carrier has a record of my home location and hopefully I could be found based on the gps if I’m unconscious. It makes me feel better that someone might come to help. It is great to hear how others handle this experience!
Since you get an alert from your pump/CGM you could set your CGM to alert you at a higher number. I just checked my Tandem pump (I use Dexcom CIQ) and I can set the low alert for up to 120. You can also set Dexcom to alert you if you’re falling (or rising) even if you’re normal, so you can keep an eye on things. The latter might be annoying but it could be a valuable annoyance for you - in any case it’s an option. I would definitely consider setting a higher low alert number given the concerns you’ve shared.