My unusual experience on very low blood sugars.
I've been type 1 now for more than 20 years. Before DAFNE training, I had many times where I have lost consciousness completely - and either been woken by the 'men in green coats', or been revived by people around me. Very irresponsible I know, but I was a slightly different and more optimistic soul when I was younger.
Interesting point is this - I had a long period in my life where I was living alone, and couldn't get help in these situations. Phone calls are of course impossible when your sugar is 1.2. For example, I remember trying to grab for a phone because I couldn't make it all the way to the kitchen, but realising that there's no way I could remember 999… or anything else. And eventually managing to drag myself over a long period to the place I needed to be.
What I discovered was that after I have already passed out - something wakes me and I struggle, however hard, to get some sugar - even if I'm asleep. Consciousness in these situations is almost completely gone. When I finally did come around, I couldn't remember how it had happened, except for the wreckage I had caused, and muscle strain and bruising. I always interpreted this as a survival instinct kicking in, and still partly believe this. I have since discovered about the liver releasing its stored sugars with very low blood sugar.
I'm still convinced that it was this basic "Will to Survive" that undoubtedly saved my life several times. Of course people do actually die from these type of situations, and it would be terrible advice to depend on this survival instinct saving you. But to me it was a very interesting experience that my life was saved in this way probably more than 8 times.
