Nocturnal Hypoglycemia - Night Time Hypo

Nocturnal hypoglycemia (night time hypo) can be worrying as you will only spot its symptoms once awake

Nocturnal hypoglycemia or night time hypos are common in people who treat their diabetes with insulin. Symptoms are usually only realised once waking up from a hypo.

Due to their nature, you will usually only find out about having a hypo during the night after waking up from a hypo.

Therefore people may not even be aware that they are having night time hypos, so it’s useful to be able to spot the signs and symptoms of when nocturnal hypoglycemia may be taking place.

Whilst nocturnal hypoglycemia is most common in insulin users, it can also occur for people who take oral anti-diabetic drugs.

Symptoms of night time hypoglycemia

Sometimes you may wake during an episode of nocturnal hypoglycemia.

However, if you don’t, you may notice one or more of the following indications that hypoglycemia may have occurred whilst you were asleep.

• Waking with a headache
• Experiencing seemingly unprovoked sleep disturbance
• Feeling unusually tired
• Waking with damp bed clothes and sheets from sweating

Having a clammy neck can be a particular indication of night time hypoglycemia.

Nocturnal hypoglycemia in children

For parents on children with diabetes, nocturnal hypoglycemia can be particularly worrying.

Parents of diabetic children may wish to check their child’s neck whilst they are sleeping if they are worried that night time hypoglycemia may be occurring.

Causes of nocturnal hypoglycemia

Chances of having night time hypos may be increased by the following:

• Physical activity during the day can increase insulin sensitivity which can lead to night time hypoglycemia, particularly for the first night after a sustained session of activity
• Absence of a night time snack when one is usually taken
• Alcohol consumption
• Too high a level of basal (background) insulin
• Following a period of illness

Preventing night time hypoglycemia

If you are having nocturnal hypos, they can usually be prevented in one of two ways;

• By decreasing your basal (background) insulin or
• By having an extra snack before bed.

Your healthcare team can help to advise an appropriate change to your regime.