I've just been diagnosed with diabetes. What blood level is too low?

Question

Everything I read says below 70 is too low, but my doctor's nurse says thats ok. im confused.

Answer 1

The only time a low blood sugar below 70 or 3.8 mmol/l is ok is when you are just about to eat, or you have no insulin on board (and will eat fairly soon). NEVER ok if you will be driving though.

BUT, If you do not take insulin or oral medication, don't worry about this at all. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) would be pretty much impossible, since you are not taking anything to cause it. Your problem would be sustained HIGH blood sugar. Some Type 2's do produce too much insulin after a meal though, and may have reactive hypoglycemia. If this is you, work with your diabetes care team to prevent it (eat small frequent low carb meals, etc.).

If you are Type 1 diabetic or a Type 2 who uses insulin, the treatment of low blood sugar depends on how much insulin you have in your system, how low you are, how long until your next meal, and what activity you will be doing.

If your nurse said that 70 is fine, it is probably because you don't use any insulin or meds, or are very insulin resistant, and you are not at risk of dropping further. Some people (non-diabetics) have a blood sugar in this range just before meals if they have been fasting awhile.

It is the Type 1 diabetics (the severe non-preventable insulin requiring kind NOT related to obesity, usually first diagnosed in children) that usually have to worry about severe low blood sugar. If you are a Type 2 who uses insulin or are Type 1, you will need fast acting sugar (glucose tabs, juice, soda, lifesavers) to treat this, and you may need a following snack containing carbohydrate and protein. This will depend on how low you are and how much insulin you have in your system. Type 1 diabetics are usually very insulin sensitive, so they must be very careful to avoid severe low blood sugars.

Usually 15 grams of carbohydrate is used to treat a low blood sugar.

Some people will first find that they feel as though their blood sugar is too low when they are in normal range. This is because they have been running abnormally high before they were diagnosed. This is not dangerous, even though it feels bad. Your body will adjust in time.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Since you are newly diagnosed it may take a few weeks for your BG's to come down if they are high (over 200). Once you get your diabetes under control normal range varies from 70-130. A low for me in anything under 80. Some symptoms I've noticed is Ithat I get real shaky and uncomfortable. I might feel hungry and if I am talking it's really fast and awkward. Some people say it's kind of like if you were drunk. It's definitely a variation between different diabetics based on height, weight and other factors.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Welcome to diabetes.I know it's not all that fun and is scary now.It is however an opportunity to learn more about your body than you ever thought you'd like to know !
Sign up for a diabetes education class, read everything you can get a hold of with a copyright date of less than 5 years ago.Sign up for diabetes magazines . Go to a support group and make great friends.
BTW- when my sugar is 70 i am shaking so hard I have trouble making it to the kitchen for something to eat.Everyone here is different.
Good luck.

Answer 6

The new criteria for low blood sugar is 70, if you are at 70 you might want to drink some 2% milk and recheck yourself. Below 70, 2% milk and peanut butter and crackers. You need to talk to a dietician about how to manage your highs and lows

Answer 7

any diabetic can tell you that when they hit that 70 mark or below you can feel it. Anything under 70 is low.

Answer 8

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