Glucose levels on Libre (diabetics and non-diabetics)

[MrsKypp]

Hi

I've just started the Zoe programme which includes glucose monitoring using the FreeStyle LibreLink device and app. AFAIK I am not diabetic, but I do have hypothyroidism.

So far, I have noticed that I had 3 hypoglycaemic moments during the night in my first night of this.

Anyone else got this or know about it?

It'd be interesting to see your results too if you feel like sharing.

I have been doing the Zoe programme too. I seem to spend a lot of my time in the red despite not having any health issues I'm aware of!

@momoftwo11

That's so interesting! Have they responded to that with any feedback at all?

Interesting. I was thinking of signing up as my glucose is always 5.5-6.5 on waking so I just presume it's high all night

@DyslexicPoster

Mine was something like 5.6 on waking, so I wouldn't have known about the times overnight in red without this constant monitoring.

Zoe is one way of doing this (I signed up) but I think you can go straight to the glucose company if it's mainly the blood sugar you'd like to track: https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/home.html

HI I use a libre for diabetes and know that I get compression lows if I lie on the libre too much. If you are on blood glucose lowering medication then hypos are generally nothing to worry about.

Melody

Are you lying on the sensor? It might not be a real hypo but slow moving interstitial fluid. The Libre doesn’t test blood so can give false hypo readings especially if you’ve been lying on it.

@melody1771

Thanks for letting me know about compression causing false hypo readings, I didn't realise. I'm not on any blood glucose medications, this test is part of the Zoe gut microbiome thing, not a true medical diabetes test from my GP or anything.

I have hypothyroidism though, and have heard how that can be connected to blood sugar issues. When I get hungry my body isn't tolerant to waiting for food, I get weak and shakey, so it'll be interesting to see what my levels are then.

@Cazzovuoi

Ah, so that's how it works - I was wondering why it was painless to attach because if it was testing blood I'd have expected a painful jab with a needle.

Being during the night while asleep, it could certainly be a possibiliity that I was lying on it those 3 times. I will only really believe a lower than normal reading while awake from now on then.

Thanks so much both of you for your replies!

I often had this in the early hours doing Zoe and it was at times when I woke up ravenously hungry, so I'm pretty sure it was not just lying on the sensor. I haven't tracked since but find the midnight hunger tends to happen if I've had an evening meal which spikes my blood glucose. I started having a bedtime snack to see if that helped but it seems to make it worse. However, if I make sure I have a slow release evening meal and no bedtime snack I don't wake up hungry so I assume it's staying in normal ranges during the night. Experiment while you have the sensor on - it's fascinating to see.

@UnaOfStormhold

It's really fascinating isn't it. I keep scanning to see my glucose levels.

They fell very, very fast yesterday evening while I was doing some resistence training. At one point I felt unwell and sweaty, checked the monitor and it was too low - 3.5. They were 8.5 when I started working out after my normal meal. Huge drop.

I don't usually have that problem but after the tonne of bricks muffins and a normal evening meal (so huge total calories over the day) my body was probably just too full and couldn't balance out the sugar levels.

My Zoë test came through in April 22, my levels were quite stable (except after eating) but overall quite high, on average 7.5.

A year later, having lost four and a half stone, I tried just the CGM again and was pleased to see my levels dropping again much faster after a meal and staying pretty staff with an average 5.5.

Best part of the whole Zoë programme for me.

Have a look at the faqs in the Zoe app as these night dips are a common thing. Plus you'll probably find once the sensor calibrates after a couple of days you won't get these night dips.

I'm type 2 diabetic - it's possibly dawn phenomnenon.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/dawn-phenomenon.html

Not yet, hoping they do though

Hi there
this is really interesting. I bought the librelink sensor separately - Zoe a bit expensive for me just now - really to see if I could lift my energy levels, see what was going on.

I do follow Zoe but I feel like I’m missing a piece of the jigsaw. Can anyone let me know what they recommend you’re trying to achieve? Assume to have it in range, consistently? Any pointers would be really appreciated.

Back to the original conversation, I started yesterday and went low twice, for quite a long period. Nighttime - I’ll give to lying down but during the day I wasn’t. However so far today, it’s been in range. I cut out coffee and my supplements and will add that back in tmrw to see what happens. I think maybe it was just acclimatising?!

Compression lows from sleeping on the sensor I imagine (so not actually low)