Hi
@NIck68, Welcome. And you have raised a good question. My thoughts as a T1D, not as professional advice or opinion:
Night time hypos are scary because one is likely to miss the early warning signs due to being asleep or very drowsy.
Some used to knock me for six, others less so. And I agree with
@Knikki,
the aftermath can be made worse by the rebound in BSL leaving one with the lingering effects of the hypos whilst feeling under thew weather with the high BSLs later.
This scenario also can set up a
type of see-saw. Hypo leads to hyper, leads to more insulin to bring levels down which increases the risk of another hypo ad infinitum !!
Gaining weight was one symptom/sign I latched onto as an indication of this situation.
If you have a bed partner or a pet astute enough to wake you before the hypo gets too severe , and someone who could give you a shot of Glucagon if you are unable to swallow ,they are your lifeguards. Of course you need to know that if you happen to drink alcohol and then go hypo,
glucagon will not work and you need an ambulance asap for some iv glucose.
As
@helensaramay suggests
the cause or causes for the hypos needs exploration otherwise you could be trapped in a vicious cycle.
So an idea of
your insulin types, timings and doses, your food intake and timing, and your daily activity such as exercise etc are key data.
Whether you wish to discuss those here or leave that to
the important discussion you need to have with your doctor is up to you.
The bottom line is that night hypos are dangerous, and as you describe, debilitating.
You might be
at risk of losing your driver's license as there is no guarantee that they will always occur just at night and driving after a hypo does not sound too safe from what you describe either.
So in fairness to yourself (from road safety angle, risk of litigation and risk of brain damage from hypos) and to others on the road
you need this hypo business sorted NOW. Some problem solving, suggestions and thoughts here if you wish but
to your GP as soon as possible. That is a personal duty as well as a civic one.
In short order if you have tried every way possible to stop/prevent these hypos, including seeing a consultant endocrinologist if need be, then
you may be eligible for going on an insulin pump to better control your BSLs and prevent the hypos.
After 45 years on insulin I was suffering with night hypos despite intensive monitoring and 8 plus injections of insulins per day.
I was about to lose my driver's license and have my work hours and scope curtailed. I had also suffered one hypo where my wife found me unconscious and about to stop breathing. Her care was all that saved me. So yes, you can die from these low blood sugar thingies !!!!
Going on an insulin pump saved the day and 7 years on it is still keeping me away from the bogeyman hypos of yore.
Please try not to be offended by what I have written. I have been where you have in some respects and all the stubbornness I had used over the years to keep my diabetes under control could not surmount this obstacle.
I had to think not just of myself but others as well.
Best Wishes for every success and soon.
