I'd like to begin this entry with a short piece of conversation between my endo and I during a visit.
ME: "I am still having problems getting to sleep."
HIM: "That's because you're afraid of going low during the night."
ME: "No, I think its stress and worry that's mainly keeping me up."
At the time, I couldn't-or didn't want to-comprehend that I might afraid to go to sleep. I mean, who is afraid to drift into la la land?
Me, apparently. Terrified. Subconsciously, at least. I am rarely able to fall asleep until I know my sugar is in the low 180's. Which is actually a little higher than what I aim for. (90-150 is the range for me.) Everyone is different. Non pancreas challenged people are in another range altogether. Hmmm, I like that phrase.
The lowest-at least to my knowledge-that my sugar has been is 27. Not too far from 0. Which means I'm at very high risk at that point for a seizure or dying. Scary as h***. Luckily for me, and those around me, I seem to have a very high tolerance for LBS (low blood sugars-aka. hypoglycemia).
One morning, I woke up with my internal alarm bells blaring. I didn't even have to check in with my meter to know what was going on. Heart pounding. Fingers shaking. Anxiety. But I also had to remain calm and focus. I got downstairs and grabbed the first thing with sugar I saw. Boy, was I relieved when that sweet sugar hit my bloodstream! Big breath out.
I don't carry around a glucagon pen-its about $100 from the pharmacy. They also expire. And someone--not me, obviously--needs to know how to use it. (This is one shot I will never have to give myself!) I always try to carry around glucose tablets or some form of sugar. Or money, in case I should need to grab a snack. The more options I have, the more secure and safer I feel.
I also know that I am not alone with this feeling. Other pancreas challenged people, mothers and fathers with kids and babies stay up to make sure their child hasn't gone low during the night. I can only imagine what parents of babies with T1 go through. Babies can't tell you they are having a low or high sugar. I hate this thing!
ME: "I am still having problems getting to sleep."
HIM: "That's because you're afraid of going low during the night."
ME: "No, I think its stress and worry that's mainly keeping me up."
At the time, I couldn't-or didn't want to-comprehend that I might afraid to go to sleep.
The lowest-at least to my knowledge-that my sugar has been is 27. Not too far from 0. Which means I'm at very high risk at that point for a seizure or dying. Scary as h***. Luckily for me, and those around me, I seem to have a very high tolerance for LBS (low blood sugars-aka. hypoglycemia).
One morning, I woke up with my internal alarm bells blaring. I didn't even have to check in with my meter to know what was going on. Heart pounding. Fingers shaking. Anxiety. But I also had to remain calm and focus. I got downstairs and grabbed the first thing with sugar I saw. Boy, was I relieved when that sweet sugar hit my bloodstream! Big breath out.
I don't carry around a glucagon pen-its about $100 from the pharmacy. They also expire. And someone--not me, obviously--needs to know how to use it. (This is one shot I will never have to give myself!) I always try to carry around glucose tablets or some form of sugar. Or money, in case I should need to grab a snack. The more options I have, the more secure and safer I feel.
I also know that I am not alone with this feeling. Other pancreas challenged people, mothers and fathers with kids and babies stay up to make sure their child hasn't gone low during the night. I can only imagine what parents of babies with T1 go through. Babies can't tell you they are having a low or high sugar. I hate this thing!
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