low blood sugar

[Banditsmom09]

I am using a Libretto freestyle2 to measure my glucose levels.They range from 58 to 124. Many times in the middle of the night, this monitor will wake me with a warning that it is low. Am sleep deprived. I don’t consume sugar, but my doc says to keep candy or a glucose tab on hand for these. I’d rather eat a banana. How can I manage this. I have read that those with cirrhosis can have a problem with low blood sugar. Any insights.

[nash2 Partner]

A lot of people have sleep issues with liver disease. It can upset your sleep cycles badly. Low blood sugar is also dangerous so not easy. I wonder if you might be a candidate for an insulin pump. Not getting enough sleep is unhealthy so something to talk with your doc about. If I was going to have something on hand to combat that I'd consider the glucose rather than candy as that is half fructose and not good for your liver.

[Banditsmom09 in reply to nash2]

Thank you. I don’t have diabetes so insulin is not an answer. My high is 144. Someone suggested fruit gummies. Will need to check ingredients. In the meantime they are sending me to an endocrinologist. That may take months. I put the monitor in the other room at night so it can’t connect to the sensor and won’t wake me. If I wake in the middle of the night, I will check it.

[nash2 Partner in reply to Banditsmom09]

An endo doc seems like the next logical step. Not an easy problem to solve.

[Justice1872 in reply to nash2]

Good morning Nash2. Not familiar with the relationship of low blood sugar and liver disease. Can you provide the connection for my understanding?

[nash2 Partner]

One of the circadian rhythms begins in the middle of the night to store some glucose in the liver for use when you wake up. If that cycle is disrupted you can have low blood sugar before the body goes through its wake up processes.

[Banditsmom09]

Thank you for an explanation. I took a look at medications I was taking to sleep and eliminated Diphenhydramine and a sleep gummy with a small amount of sugar. There was info that mentioned the effect of Diphenhydramine on blood sugar. Hopefully, this will help middle of the night lows.