Night time lows, known as nocturnal hypoglycemia, have been happening to me a lot recently. Again! I’m not sure if it has to do with the change in my training or if diabetes is just being its unpredictable self. After a reflection on my goals and progress I have start incorporating more HIIT cardio into my training and slightly less weight lifting. I was lifting fairly heavy and that was great for the power in my body, however, my cardiovascular stamina was suffering so I wanted to switch it up a bit. Also, this is a really positive thing for the body as it gets bored and adapts to the same style of exercise. Give it a go if you want a little boost in your fitness. If you run, try swimming or something.
Back to the hypos. The other night I woke up with a blood sugar of 1.5mmols which is the lowest I’ve ever been. Due to repetitive symptoms such as sweating (think “just got out of shower” look), foggy headaches and rebound highs I think this has been happening a lot. When hypos occur during sleep you may not wake up to the symptoms so your body responds by releasing glucose from the liver in order to bring blood sugar levels back up. However, although this may seem like a good thing and that you don’t have to worry about night time lows, it should not be relied upon because of the rebound highs that come as a result of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoyOqMWdUPw
Although I have basal tested and thought I had it all figured out I clearly haven’t. I increased carb insulin ratio and reduced basal and it still happens. I’m usually asleep before 11pm each night and I think it the hours between 11-3am that I haven’t got sorted out. I have noticed that if I catch the hypo and treat it with the appropriate amount of carbs I usually wake up with a great blood sugar. But if I sleep the whole night through I wake up with a hyper. Hopefully the CGM in June will give me the opportunity to fix this.
Do you experience night time hypos? How long did it take you to fix them?
Rowena x
Are you following Type 1 Active on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube?